h1. FAQ

Frequently asked Questions (FAQ) of the Community IRC Messaging Service Script (cims.tcl) for eggdrop bots.

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If you need further assistance, read the other documentation files included with this script. :-) Or read the wiki on http://redmine.b4r.org/projects/cims/wiki

h2. (X) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

(Q) What is CIMS?
(A) 'cims' is the abbreviation for Community IRC Messaging Service. It's
    a broadcasting service for IRC useful for big communities. It is
    implemented as a TCL script/plugin for eggdrop bots, one of the 
    most popular IRC bot systems (http://www.eggheads.org).

(Q) What is mnet?
(A) 'mnet' means Messaging Network and is the name under which this stuff has been
    known for a long time. Now, it's called CIMS.

(Q) How's 'cims' related to 'aq2net'?
(A) Aq2net is a network that uses the cims-technology to broadcast its messages.
    Pitty Aq2net is not active anymore.

(Q) Do you have nice tennis-socks?
(A) No.

(Q) Why is there a need for a network maintainer? I thought this is free software?!
(A) Sure, this is free software. You have the sourcecode to it, right? Still, the concept of 
    having a big network would not work out if everyone could easily link to a 
    broadcasting network that uses cims. That would be a big mess.

(Q) I have seen this "technology" working in IRC before?!
(A) Yes, quite possible. The difference is: I am not keeping the sourcecode closed.
    I asked once whether it's possible to use 'their' technology for other communities
    but noone understood nor wanted to understand me.
    So I re-coded 'their' so-beloved technology from scratch and gave the power to the 
    people by GPL'ing it. It's free software now.

(Q) This is a clone of some other technology, it is! Why should I use this instead? 
(A) Because you want to be in participative control, don't you? 

(Q) Dude! I'm working on a better script than yours, I'll be out soon!!
(A) That wasn't exactly a question, but please, keep up your work. Our stance on 
    competition is not a secret: We're lovin' it. :-) 

(Q) What is a 'frequency'? 
(A) While a message network consists of bots sitting in certain channels, not all channels
    might be interested in all the stuff floating around in that network. Thus, frequencies are
    something like 'groups of interest'. Or a frequency. You know, those on old school radio. 
    Or television. 

(Q) Uh, I see it working. Well, how do I disable a frequency for a channel I'm in? 
(A) .<frequency>_disable, like in .aq2_disable or .qw_disable

(Q) I just went online and me thinks I missed something. Gimme history!
(A) .<frequency>_history - here you are.. (Watch your "notice window".)

(Q) It says I need to be opped to do that! 
(A) Yepp. That's the ultra secure way[tm] of preventing normal users from tinkering with stuff
    they usually are not to touch. :-)

(Q) Is there a command so it doesn't send messages to all channels?
(A) No, there isnt. CIMS is a broadcasting service script. Broadcasting means casting broad.

(Q) How do I start my own frequency?
(A) Ask your friendly network maintainers to set it up or start a network of your own 
    by creating a centralized configuration. It can be loaded and used by your bot alongside the
    other network configuration(s). It's as easy as that! (see cims_config.tcl)

(Q) Ok, now I have network Foo and network Bar loaded into my bot (She's called Kunigunde and
    I love her, btw.). Both networks do contain a frequency 'fubar'. Eek? What happens?
(A) Never ever cross the rays, or else the universe will vanish!!!!11
    No, in fact, the network loaded as the last one will gain precedence over the other(s).
    That's not so nice. Just rename one of the frequencies, so it doesn't interfere.

(Q) How do I use the bot?
(A) There's not very much commands.. just .<frequency_prefix>_history .<frequency_prefix>_disable
     .<frequency_prefix>_enable and .<frequency_prefix> itself to send messages.
    .<frequency_prefix>_status, .<frequency_prefix>_color_toggle etc...
    Anyhow, better ask your network maintainers about the usage. Perhaps they changed something.

(Q) Why do you use colors?
(A) CIMS uses colors to distinguish itself from normal chat lines. It isn't excessive, it's only using 
     one color if the network maintainer wanted it. You may toggle colored output!
     Try .<frequency_prefix>_color_toggle. Or, if it suits you in any way, you can get mIRC-scripts
     for filtering out the messages to an extra mIRC-window.
     Try these http://qwnet.quadaver.org/?show=fil .. perhaps?


(Q) I hate you!
(A) Drop me a mail. Perhaps I will publish it when I collected enough hate-mails.
    Always worth the fun.

(Q) I love you!
(A) Send me some money. :)

(Q) Contact?
(A) The CIMS-crew can be found at #quadaver @ QuakeNet. 
    Main-coder is "Haudrauf".

Some footnote. This is the end. For more information on thoughts and facts about CIMS please read the README.

Have fun with CIMS!