Microsoft Knowledge Base

• The Microsoft Network, versions 2.0, 2.5
• Microsoft Chat version 2.0 for Windows 95

SUMMARY

This article lists answers to frequently asked questions about using Microsoft Chat 2.0 on MSN, The Microsoft Network.

MORE INFORMATION

1. Q. What is Microsoft Chat 2.0?

   A. Microsoft Chat 2.0 is the only Internet chat program that gives
      you the option of conversing inside a comic strip. When you use a
      standard chat program, you enter a chat room on an Internet server
      and conduct real-time conversations with other people. However,
      when you use Chat 2.0, you may also pick a cartoon character to
      represent you. Your conversation appears as word balloons inside
      the frames of a comic strip. As a cartoon character, you may
      express a wide range of emotions, send "thoughts," whisper to a
      selected recipient, and save the chat session for off-line viewing.

      The Chat 2.0 window is composed of the following parts:

       - A viewing pane where the conversation is displayed.

       - A member list pane that lists all the members in a chat room.

       - A compose pane (a text box at the bottom of the window) where
         you type your messages.

       - Buttons you may click to send messages.

      When you use the Comic Chat option of Chat 2.0, you see the
      following:

       - A "starring" pane that displays the title of the chat and lists
         the participants.

       - A self-view pane that shows what your character looks like.

       - An emotion wheel that enables you to control all of your
         character's emotions.

2. Q. What are the differences between Comic Chat 1.x and Chat 2.0?

   A. Although Comic Chat 1.x and Chat 2.0 are very similar, Chat 2.0
      has some significant enhancements and features, including:

       - Better support for text chat.

       - Customizable fonts in both text and comic (voice balloon) areas.

       - A toolbar with one-click access to tools and resources, as well
         as easy execution of common tasks.

       - A user list that allows you to search for users in all rooms on
         a chat server.

       - Macros that let you have a favorite reply instantly ready.

       - Sounds that you can send to embellish your conversation, from
         small noises to music.

       - Enhanced whisper capabilities that let you whisper to people in
         other rooms.

      To determine if you are using Comic Chat 1.x or Chat 2.0, look at
      the top of the window that appears while you are running the chat.
      Either Comic Chat or Microsoft Chat is displayed on the title bar.

      You can also click Start, point to Programs, and then look in the
      alphabetical list of programs to see whether Comic Chat or Microsoft
      Chat is listed.

3. Q. How do I view the Web page of a Chat 2.0 room member?

   A. To view the Web page of a chat room member, use the following steps:

      1. Right-click the member's name in the list of chat room members.

      2. Click Visit Home Page.

4. Q. How do I enter one of my favorite Chat 2.0 rooms?

   A. To enter a favorite Chat 2.0 room, use the following steps:

      1. On the Favorites menu, click Open Favorites.

      2. Click the room that you want to enter.

5. Q. How do I send e-mail to a Chat 2.0 room member?

   A. To send e-mail to a Chat 2.0 room member, use the following steps:

      1. Right-click the member's name in the list of chat room members.

      2. Click Send E-mail.

6. Q. How do I add a Chat 2.0 room to my Favorites list?

   A. To add a chat room to your Favorites list, click the Favorites menu
      while you are in the chat room, and then click Add to Favorites.

7. Q. How do I define the size of the comic strip?

   A. To define the size of the comic strip, use the following steps:

      1. On the View menu, click Options.

      2. Click the Comics View tab.

      3. In the Page Layout list, click the number of comic strip panels
         you want to display across the window.

8. Q. How do I ignore incoming Microsoft NetMeeting calls?

   A. To ignore incoming NetMeeting calls, use the following steps:

      1. On the View menu, click Options.

      2. On the Settings tab, click the Receive NetMeeting Calls check box
         to clear it.

9. Q. How do I customize my chat room?

   A. To customize your chat room, click Room Properties on the Room menu,
      and then select the room properties you want.

10. Q. How do I change the comic strip font?

    A. To change the comic strip font, use the following steps:

        1. On the View menu, click Options.

        2. On the Comics View tab, click Change Font.

        3. Click the Font, Font Style, and Size that you want.

11. Q. How do I get information about other members?

    A. To get information about other members, use the following steps:

        1. In the list of members, use the right-click the member you want
          to get information about.

        2. Click Get Profile.

12. Q. How do I refuse all incoming file transfer requests?

    A. To refuse all incoming file transfer requests, use the following
      steps:

        1. On the View menu, click Options.

        2. On the Settings tab, click the Receive File Transfer Requests
          check box to clear it.

13. Q. How do I read Chat 2.0 conversations off-line?

    A. To read Chat 2.0 conversations off-line, use the following steps:

        1. On the File menu, click Open.

        2. Select the conversation that you want to read off-line.

14. Q. How do I find other members?

    A. To find other members, use the following steps:

        1. On the Member menu, click User List.

        2. Under Search For, click the appropriate option.

        3. Type any search information into the Names Containing box, and
          then click Update List.

    NOTE: You can whisper or send invitations to people displayed in the
   User List dialog box even if they are in a different chat room.

15. Q. How do I ignore a member?

    A. To ignore a member, use the following steps:

        1. Right-click the member you want to ignore in the Members list.

        2. Click Ignore.

    NOTE: You will no longer see messages from this member. However, other
   members of the chat room will still continue to see them.

16. Q. How do I send a cartoon character expression without talking?

    A. To send a cartoon character expression without talking, use the
      following steps:

        1. In the emotion wheel, drag the black dot to an emotion.

        2. Right-click the emotion, and then click Send Expression.

    The expression appears in the most recent comic strip pane.

17. Q. How do I choose a comic background?

    A. To choose a comic background, use the following steps:

        1. On the View menu, click Options.

        2. Click the Background tab.

        3. In the Background list, click the background you want.

    The background you selected appears in the Preview area.

18. Q. How do I send a file to a Chat 2.0 room member?

    A. To send a file to a Chat 2.0 room member, use the following steps:

        1. Right-click the member in the list of members to whom you want
          to send a file, and then click Send File.

        2. Specify the file you want to send.

    NOTE: You can configure Chat 2.0 to refuse all incoming file transfer
   requests.

19. Q. How do I whisper to other people?

    A. To whisper to other people, use the following steps:

        1. In the list of members, select the members to whom you want to
          whisper.

        2. In the text box at the bottom of the window, type what you want
          to say, and then click Whisper. Your message appears only to the
          members you selected.

    NOTE: You also can send whispered messages using the Whisper Box.
   This enables you to keep track of several whispered conversations at
   the same time.

20. Q. How do I create a message macro?

    A. To create a message macro, use the following steps:

        1. On the View menu, click Options.

        2. Click the Automation tab.

        3. In the Key Combination list, select the key combination you
          want to use to run the macro.

        4. In the Name box, type a name for the macro.

        5. In the Macros box, type the message you want the macro to send.

    NOTE: You can use macros to send the same message over and over again
   without retyping it each time. For example, "Where are you from?"

21. Q. How do I choose a character?

    A. To choose a character, use the following steps:

        1. On the View menu, click Options.

        2. Click the Character tab.

        3. In the Character list, click the character you want.

    Your character now appears in the Preview area.

22. Q. How do I allow others to host my chat room?

    A. To allow others to host your chat room, use the following steps:

        1. In the list of members, select the member you want to host
          your chat room.

        2. On the Member menu, click Host, and then click Host.

    NOTE: Only a chat room host can select other people to become hosts.

23. Q. How do I provide information about myself in Chat 2.0?

    A. To provide information about yourself in Chat 2.0, use the following
      steps:

        1. On the View menu, click Options.

        2. In the Nickname box, type a name by which you would like to be
          known.

        3. In the Brief Description Of Yourself box, type something that
          you would like other people to know about you. This information
          appears when other people request your profile.

    NOTE: You can make it easy for others to send you e-mail or visit your
   Web home page by including your e-mail address and home page address in
   your personal information.

24. Q. How do I invite others into a chat room?

    A. To invite others into a chat room, use the following steps:

        1. On the Member menu, click Invite.

        2. Type the nicknames of the members you want to invite into the
          chat room.

    NOTE: To invite more than one person, type a comma between nicknames.

25. Q. How do I place a NetMeeting call to a Chat 2.0 room member?

    A. To place a NetMeeting call to a Chat 2.0 room member, use the
      following steps:

        1. Right-click the person in the list of members to whom you want
          to place a NetMeeting call.

        2. Click NetMeeting.

    NOTE: Both you and the person to whom you are placing the call must
   have NetMeeting installed.

26. Q. What can I do when I host my own Chat 2.0 room?

    A. When you host a Chat 2.0 room, you can:

        - Decide the topic of the chat room.

        - Control access to the chat room with a password.

        - Limit the number of members in the chat room.

        - Designate which members can participate and which can be only
         spectators.

        - Banish members who are disruptive or offensive to the chat room.

27. Q. How do I enter a specific Chat 2.0 room?

    A. To enter a specific Microsoft Chat 2.0 room, use the following
      steps:

        1. On the File menu, click New Connection.

        2. In the Go To Chat Room box, type the name of the chat room you
          want to enter.

    NOTE: If you type the name of a chat room that does not exist,
   Chat 2.0 creates a new chat room with that name.

28. Q. How do I save a Chat 2.0 conversation?

    A. To save a Chat 2.0 conversation, use the following steps:

        1. On the File menu, click Save.

        2. Double-click the folder in which you want to save the Chat 2.0
          conversation.

        3. In the File Name box, type a name for the conversation,
          and then click Save.

    NOTE: You can save a conversation as an .rtf file when you are in
   Plain Text view. All character formatting is saved, including font,
   color, size, and style.  By saving conversation files off-line, you can
   view and print chat-room sessions and share them with your friends.

29. Q. How do I define a chat room's topic?

    A. To define a chat room's topic, use the following steps:

        1. On the Room menu, click Room Properties.

        2. In the Chat Room Topic box, type a description of the chat
          topic for your room.

    NOTE: You must be the host of a chat room to change its properties.

30. Q. How do I send sounds to other members?

    A. To send sounds to other members, use the following steps:

        1. Click Play Sound.

        2. In the Sound File To Play box, click the sound file you want
          other members to hear.

        3. In the Accompanying Message box, type a message to send with
          the sound you selected.

    NOTE: To hear your sound before you send it, click Test. Other people
   can hear sound files only if the files are already on their computers.

31. Q. How do I chat using text only?

    A. To use text only, use the following steps:

        1. On the View menu, click Plain Text.

        2. In the text box at the bottom of the window, type what you
          want to say, and then click one of the buttons to the right
          of the text box, or press ENTER.