This is a simple guide to show you how to connect to the AgendaStats IRC network and join the chat.

1) Download mIRC - The program is completely free, just follow the installer and you'll be fine.

2) Connecting to a server - In the status window that open with the program, type this line into the text box: /s irc.agendastats.com

That's it, these two steps will get you immediately into the chat. I will post more information below about what to do once you're connected, but this is essentially all you need to know for now, and the rest will come over time and while talking to people on the server.

Nickname management

This will register the nickname you are currently using. You must identify with this nickname at least once every 90 days or it will be dropped from the system, then anybody will be able to register it.

If you like to use more than one name but would like to have just one password to remember, you can "group" different nicknames together.

You must first have a nickname registered of course, then this command will make it so the nickname you are currently using will use the same password and have all the same access as the nickname you already have registered(the one you enter as a parameter).

To view the nickname you have in your group you can type:

Many people lose connection or have their PCs crash on them every so often. When this happens a "ghost" can be left on the network with your nickname. This is where it can be useful to have alternate nickname with the same access as your primary name, but there is a simple and easy way to get rid of the ghost.

This will disconnect the nickname you specified from the network, so long as the password entered is correct.

*TIP: I would suggest making an alias(/command) to identify with your nickname. It's not impossible to make a mistake while identifying and have you password displayed to everyone in a channel. You can avoid this by making a simple alias by doing this:

This will make it so you can type only "/id" and you will identify yourself with nickserv. The same thing can be done for grouping and ghosting nickname. Many interesting or common things can be simplified by making use of mIRC's programming language.

Channel Management

This will register a channel in your name with the password you specify. You must be in the channel and opped(+o) in order to register it. The description CAN have spaces in it, contrary to what many people believe.

There are five different channel specific access levels available. These are OWNER(+q,~ or @), SOP(+ao,& or @), AOP(+o,@), HOP(+h,%), and VOP(+v,+). These can be set through chanserv. You cna only set an access level if you exceed it(i.e. an AOP can set someone as a HOP).

XOP can include any of the following access levels: SOP, AOP, HOP, VOP.

PARAM can include and of the following parameters: add, del, list, clear. "list" and "clear do not require a nickname to be specified. "clear" will remove every nickname from an access list.

You can also give temporary access by using the /mode command. For example:

This would "voice" a user. You can also give multiple users different access at the same time.

nick1 would recieve a voice(+v), nick2 a halfop(+h), and nick3 an op(+o). Once again, in order to give the access level you must exceed that level.

If your nickname is dropped, any channel you have registered will also be dropped. You can avoid this by setting a successor. A successor will become the channel owner if your nickname happened to be dropped. This way the channel and all its access level remain intact.

You cannot group channel as you can with nicknames. Each channel must be registered individually.

Aliases can also be made for chanserv commands in order to simplify changing and organizing access levels, identifying, or other things.

Server Management

Adding a server: Go to the File menu and click on "Select Server.." (alternatively press Alt+E). In the window that pops up click on the "Add" button. Another window with several text boxes will open. Enter the following information in each box:

Press "Add." Now you no longer have to type in "/s irc.agendastats.com" each time you open mIRC, you can just select the server and press connect.

You can also have mIRC execute certain commands each time you connect to a network. To do this, press Alt+O. On the left side of the popup window, under the "Connect" drop menu, select "Options." Click on the Perform button. Here you should have an empty drop menu and a checkbox. First, check the checkbox. Then click on Add, and find the "AS" group that you added as directed previously. Once added, highlight AS in the drop menu, then in the text box add:

Fill in my placeholders with the appropriate information. There are many more commands you can add here to make life easier, but for now this will ensure that each time you connect you'll have the name you want, be in the channels you want to be in, and be identified with the server, all without having to type anything.