XCHAT FAQ

X-Chat uses GNU gettext which in turn requires gmake, either install that and or use ./configure --disable-nls with Sun's own make.

2. Section Two: Using X-Chat.

1. How do I enable identd in X-Chat?

UNIX:
Identd isn't actually apart of X-Chat. You will need to download and install your own ident server. Most distributions, including Fedora, come with an ident server program called oidentd. Make sure it is enabled in /etc/xinetd.conf or read you distribution's documentation. As an alternative, you can try this experimental identd server: xchat_auth

WINDOWS:
The win32 version of X-Chat comes with a built-in identd server. It is enabled by default, but can be disabled with /set identd 0.

#if !defined(AFX_WMPSTRINGCOLLECTION_H__782BAE9B_652B_476D_9448_808027B17262__INCLUDED_)
#define AFX_WMPSTRINGCOLLECTION_H__782BAE9B_652B_476D_9448_808027B17262__INCLUDED_

#if _MSC_VER > 1000
#pragma once
#endif // _MSC_VER > 1000
// Machine generated IDispatch wrapper class(es) created by Microsoft Visual C++

// NOTE: Do not modify the contents of this file.  If this class is regenerated by
//  Microsoft Visual C++, your modifications will be overwritten.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// CWMPStringCollection wrapper class

class CWMPStringCollection : public COleDispatchDriver
{
public:
	CWMPStringCollection() {}		// Calls COleDispatchDriver default constructor
	CWMPStringCollection(LPDISPATCH pDispatch) : COleDispatchDriver(pDispatch) {}
	CWMPStringCollection(const CWMPStringCollection& dispatchSrc) : COleDispatchDriver(dispatchSrc) {}

// Attributes
public:

// Operations
public:
	long GetCount();
	CString Item(long lIndex);
};

//{{AFX_INSERT_LOCATION}}
// Microsoft Visual C++ will insert additional declarations immediately before the previous line.

#endif // !defined(AFX_WMPSTRINGCOLLECTION_H__782BAE9B_652B_476D_9448_808027B17262__INCLUDED_)

17. How do I play sound files on certain events?

In the menus, go to: Settings > Preferences > Sound. Select the event you want to make a sound on, then type in a sound filename (or use the Browse button).

18. How do I auto-load scripts at startup?

You just have to place the scripts into XChat's data directory. XChat will auto-load scripts if they have the right extension .e.g If a filename ends in .pl, it will be loaded as a Perl script. This data directory is different on each platform:

Windows

It depends on your version of Windows and where it stores the Application Data folder. On Windows XP it is usually:

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\X-Chat 2\
or simply:
C:\Program Files\XChat\Plugins\

UNIX

~/.xchat2/ Where "~" represents your home directory i.e.: $HOME/.xchat2/

19. How do I minimize X-Chat to the System Tray (Notification Area)?

There are two plugins available that allow this:
Unix: SysTray Plugin
Windows: xTray

Note that XChat 2.8.0+ has its own tray feature, but you can disable it in Settings > Preferences > Alerts and still run these plugins, if you prefer.

20. Can I select and copy text with the time stamps?

Yes, but this requires at least XChat 2.6.3. Simply hold down SHIFT while marking the text and the time stamps will be included.

21. What's the deal with opening URLs in XChat on Unix/Linux?

Right-clicking on a URL and selecting Open Link in Browser will open the link in your "preferred browser". In Gnome, your preferred browser can be changed in System > Preferences > More Preferences > Preferred Applications.

Notes for 2.8.0 or newer:

Everything should just work automatically without any changes from you. Here's how the current logic works:

Notes for 2.6.8 or older:

If you're not using Gnome, e.g KDE or some other desktop environment, you're fresh out of luck!
Note for Debian and Ubuntu: Integration with Gnome is broken on this distro! Please set sensible-browser instead. We have no control over what the Debian packagers do, so complain to them for this screw up. Example: sudo update-alternatives --set x-www-browser /usr/bin/firefox

More details

While holding down CTRL you can single left-click a URL to open it in your preferred browser. If you really want to change this to plain left-click you can type: /set gui_url_mod 0, provided you have XChat 2.6.6 or newer.

You can also add more items to the right-click menu in XChat: Settings > Advanced > URL Handlers.
For example, you could add an entry like !firefox -a firefox -remote 'openURL(%s,new-tab)'
But this kind of messing around shouldn't be necessary, it just works automatically in Gnome, KDE and Windows with 2.8.0+!

22. Where are the log files saved to?

UNIX

~/.xchat2/xchatlogs/
where ~ represents your home directory.

Windows

Windows XP/2000: C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\X-Chat 2\xchatlogs
Windows Vista/7: C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\X-Chat 2\xchatlogs

23. How do I rotate log files every so often?

Requires: 2.6.1+

By default settings, no rotation occurs, your log files will just keep getting larger.

Go to Settings > Preferences > Logging and change the log filename to any one of these:

%Y, %m and %d represents the current year, month and day respectively. %n is the network name, e.g. "FreeNode" or "UnderNet", and finally, %c is the channel. In these examples, a new log filename and folder would be created after midnight.

You can find more possibilities at http://xchat.org/docs/log/.

24. How do I enable graphical smilies (emoticons)?

This feature is only available in the official Windows XChat release. You have to TICK this feature during installation. If you didn't do this, you can simply run the installer again, and TICK the "Eye Candy Theme" when given the option.

If you want to use the graphical theme, but disable it just for smilies (i.e leave it ON for things like Join/Part, Modes etc only), type this command and restart:

/set text_emoticons off

3. Section Three: Contributions, Development and Bugs.

1. Why does X-Chat leak so much memory?

The simple answer is, it doesn't! There are some GTK+ pixmap based themes around that leak a lot of memory. Please try using a different theme and see if that resolves the problem. X-Chat itself only allocates about 40kb of memory through malloc()!

2. My copy of X-Chat crashes, what can I do?

Firstly, make sure it's the latest stable version of X-Chat. Stable versions have an EVEN middle number, e.g.: 2.8.0 or 2.8.1. Often late fixes are placed in this directory: 2.8.x patches

If you still experience crashes, you should consider running it through GDB. This will help us find a fix quickly, and it's easy to do! See here.

3. Can I write a new language translation for X-Chat?

You sure can, but I don't accept translations directly. They must be done through the Translation Project. All the relevant information should be on that page.

Setting	Example filename that would be written
%Y-%m-%d/%n-%c.log	2006-12-30/FreeNode-#channel.log
%n/%Y-%m-%d/%c.log	FreeNode/2006-12-30/#channel.log
%n/%c.log	FreeNode/#channel.log (no rotation)

X-Chat 2.8 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Section One: Compiling and Installing.

2. Section Two: Using X-Chat.

3. Section Three: Contributions, Development and Bugs.

1. Section One: Compiling and Installing.

1. I get this error: /bin/sh: no: command not found

2. How do I compile X-Chat on my Sun OS system?

2. Section Two: Using X-Chat.

1. How do I enable identd in X-Chat?

17. How do I play sound files on certain events?

18. How do I auto-load scripts at startup?

19. How do I minimize X-Chat to the System Tray (Notification Area)?

20. Can I select and copy text with the time stamps?

21. What's the deal with opening URLs in XChat on Unix/Linux?

22. Where are the log files saved to?

23. How do I rotate log files every so often?

24. How do I enable graphical smilies (emoticons)?

3. Section Three: Contributions, Development and Bugs.

1. Why does X-Chat leak so much memory?

2. My copy of X-Chat crashes, what can I do?

3. Can I write a new language translation for X-Chat?