                                                                  ,
                                           .                     ,$
                 .                                              ,$'
                                           .        .          ,$'
                 :      ,g$p,              .         $,       ,$'
               y&$       `"` .,.           $&y       `$,     ,$'
               $$$     o oooy$$$yoo o      $$$        `$,   ,$' -acidjazz
         .     $$$%yyyp, gyp`$$$'gyyyyyyp, $$$yyyyp,   `$, ,$'     .
       . yxxxx $$$"`"$$$ $$$ $$$ $y$"`"$$$ $$$"`"$$$ xxx`$,$'xxxxxxy .
         $     $$7   l$$ $$$ $$$ $$7   """ $$7   ly$     .$'       $
         $     $$b   dy$ $$$ $y$ $$b   $$$ $$b   d$$    ,$`$,      $
       . $xxxx $$$uuu$$$ $$$ $$$ $$$uuu$$$ $$$   $$$ x ,$'x`$, xxxx$ .
         .           """ """ """       """       """  ,$'   `$,    .
           B i t c h    -      X     [ F   A   Q ]   ,$'     `$,
                                                     $'       `$,
[BitchX FAQ v. 1.5.4 by Xavier & IceBreak...........'..........`$,.............]
[Based on original FAQ by IceBreak and sh00p....................`$,............]
                                                                   `
[Foreword...................................................................0.0]
The latest BitchX version at the time of writing this FAQ is BitchX-71p3, and
BitchX 72-a5(non stable). If you have ideas or comments, read the section
5.1 about how to contact the authors.

[Table of Contents..........................................................0.0]

1.0	BitchX - General Stuff
	1.1 	What is BitchX?
	1.2 	Where can I get it?
	1.3 	What are the system requirements to run BitchX?
	1.4 	What OS'es does BitchX work on:wq
	1.5 	Installing BitchX with source
	1.6 	Installing BitchX with binaries
	1.7 	Other files
	1.8 	BitchX scripts

2.0	Useful Features
	2.1 	ircII Windowing - hidden windows
	2.2	ircII Windowing - multiple visible windows
	2.2 	CDCC/XDCC
	2.4 	Using BitchX XWindows

3.0	Questions asked in #BitchX
	3.1	What is bxglobal, and where do I get it?
	3.2	What is .bitchxrc and .ircrc, and how are they different?
	3.3	What are the color codes in BitchX?  How do I use them?
	3.4	How do I script in BitchX?  How do I find out what arguments
		should go to which function or command?
	3.5	I've heard rumors that BitchX has backdoors!
	3.6	What are the environment variables I can set before starting
		BitchX?
	3.7	Can I spoof my host with BitchX?  I've seen people use
		BitchX to change their hostname before!

4.0	Miscellaneous
	3.1 	Contacting
	3.2 	Where the hell did sh00p go?
	3.3 	Revisions

5.0	Credits

[General Information........................................................1.0]

	1.1 What is BitchX?

BitchX is a VERY heavily modified ircII client.  It includes many 
things such as built in CDCC (XDCC) offering, built in flood protection, etc.
It is easier to script things in BitchX because unlike plain, vanilla
ircII, half the script does not have to be devoted to changing the appearance 
of ircII.  It also includes many other new features, such as port scanning,
a CD player, a mail client, etc.

	1.2 Where can I get it?

BitchX has many FTP and WWW sites devoted to it, but sadly, most of
them are not stable enough to be listed.  At the time of this writing, BitchX
71-p3 (stable) and 72-a5 (not stable) have been released and sites that are 
up right now are:

	ftp://ftp.bitchx.com
	ftp.uk.logics.com://pub/irc/clients/BitchX/
	ftp://aurora.bridges.edu
	ftp://bitchx.stuph.org
        www.hiatt.ml.org/bitchx
	www.sasknet.com/~pionh
	ftp://fixed.underworld.net

The source file name is called ircii-pana-xx.tar.gz and the binary is
BitchX-xxxx.gz . If the ftp or www sites are not working, you best chance is
to go to the irc and join #BitchX on EFnet, and do /ctcp #bitchx cdcc list.

	1.3 What are the system requirements to run BitchX?

You need about 1 megabyte free on a system with a UNIX OS.  Your terminal
program should support ANSI if you want BitchX to show color and high
ascii if you want the display to work exactly right.  If you run
Linux or Win95/NT, don't bother.  For Linux, you should only worry about disk
space and configuring your external devices (/dev/audio, etc) and network
stuff.  For Win95/NT, BitchX will probably crash at times no matter what you
do, as it is in a VERY experimental stage.   Don't worry about it.

	1.4 What OS'es does BitchX work on?
	
BitchX now works with almost all UNIX OS's and Windows 32-bit. 
Here is the list of OSes that BitchX is reported to work on:
	Windows 95/NT
	BSDI 2.0/2.1/3.0
	SunOS 4.1.4, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.5.1
	Linux (All)
	IRIX
	HP-UX 9.x/10.x
	OSF/1 (DEC Alpha)
	FreeBSD 2.x
	DEC Unix
	Ultrix
	AIX
	IRIX

If you need binaries for those OS, just go to the FTP sites, or ask in
#BitchX for them. If your operating system is not listed, chances are that
the source will compile, or that some person has a binary avilable. Usually
get your binary from people that have ops in #BitchX, since they are more
likely to be trojan/backdoor free.

	1.5 Installing BitchX with source
	
Download the source file, ircii-pana-xx-xx.tar.gz, and do this:
	gzip -d ircii-pana-xx-xx.tar.gz
	tar xvf ircii-pana-xx-xx.tar.gz
	cd ./BitchX
	more INSTALLATION (Specific OS problems, etc...)
	make 
	make install (only if you are root - to install for system)

	1.6 Installing BitchX binaries.
	All you really need is the BitchX binary, you might want some of 
the files in Section 1.7 though.

	1.7 Other files

Here is a list of other files that BitchX has:
BitchX.reasons - Random kick messages, for /kick without a reason.
BitchX.quit - Random quit messages, for doing /quit without an argument.
BitchX.help - The help file for BitchX (/bhelp).
you may also put the ircII help files, then /set HELP_PATH to their directory.
all the BitchX files go to the ~/.BitchX directory.
ircii-x.xhelp.tar.gz - ircII base help files.

	1.8 BitchX scripts

Most of the BitchX specific scripts can be found in the ./BitchX/CubicZ
directory. If you want the latest version of a script, come to #BitchX, and
do /ctcp #bitchx cdcc list, most of the script authors will usually be
offering theirs.

[Useful Featuress...........................................................2.0]

	2.1 ircII Windowing - hidden windows

Okay, first of all, I personally do not know anything about the split windowing
functions in BitchX/ircII. I think (notice this is my opinion) that split
screens are somewhat pointless and uncomfortable, although there are a few
real life situations that may warrant it.

Instead, I use hidden windows, which are really neat if I do say so myself.
To get started, let's try something easy. Go to #BitchX on EFNet. Type
/window new hide and you should not really notice anything. BitchX has
created a new window for you, and that window, hereafter referred to as (2)
is hidden. To switch to it, press ^[-2. It's that simple. You will notice
that it only has one status bar, but this can be corrected by executing the
following in window 2:

/window double on
/window split on

Now you are ready to go, it's as easy as that. There are somewhat unlimited
options with this type of windowing.  I will go through them one by one:

Multiple Channels, Same Server: Simply type /j #channel in window 2. To
switch back to #bitchx in window 1, press ^[-1

Besides doing multiple channels and keeping them separate, you can also use
these multiple hidden windows, your new friends, to organize your IRC life
in these ways:

        /q <nick> in a window will make that window a dedicated query window
                  to <nick>

        /m =<nick> in a window will make that window a dedicated dcc chat
                  window to <nick>

        If you simply create a new window and dont do anything, it will
        automatically show things like /whois info and other normal /msg's
        in that window.

        You can even do multiple server connections to different IRC servers
        in one BitchX session. To do this,
        type /server +irc.server.name in the window you want it to be in.

        Note: If for example, you have window 1 and 2 on EFnet, and window 3
        on Undernet, and you create window 4 and join a channel, it will
        join that channel on Undernet.

Now you know the basics of ircII windowing.  More work will be done on
BitchX's windowing, hopefully.  Only one more thing you need to know, how
do I get rid of them?

        To kill a window, use /window kill.
        To kill a window on a different server,
        use /server -server.name.here and then /window kill.

	2.2 ircII Windowing - multiple visible windows

Tired of the single-window approach to IRCing? Well then, master the 
windowing commands built into BitchX (and trusty ol' ircII, as well).

With the windowing commands, you can create as many windows as will fit 
on your screen, and assign each to a channel, assign one to receive all 
your /msg's (or even script something to create auto-query-windows when
someone /msg's you, like in mIRC, or some such).

Here are the standard ircII windowing commands available (/help window)

ADD            BACK           BALANCE        BIND
CHANNEL        CREATE         DELETE         GOTO
GROW           HIDE           HIDE_OTHERS    HOLD_MODE
KILL           KILL_OTHERS    LASTLOG_LEVEL  LEVEL
LIST           LOG            LOGFILE        MOVE
NAME           NEW            NEXT           NOTIFY
NOTIFY_LEVEL   NUMBER         POP            PREVIOUS
PROMPT         PUSH           REFNUM         REMOVE
SCROLL         SERVER         SHOW           SHRINK
STACK          SWAP           UNBIND         WINDOW


The way to use these are to bind them to particular keys.. I like to make
^W a meta character (/bind ^W meta2_character), and then use the NEW,
SHRINK, GROW, with 2 key strokes, like ^W n for a new window, ^W s to do a
SHRINK, etc. 


BitchX already has some of these binds built in. (/bhelp window)

   [window shortcuts]:
     ^W- - Shrinks current window 1 line
     ^W+ - Grows current window 1 line
     ^Wm - Moves current window down 1 line
     ^Wl - Lists current windows
     ^Wk - Kills current window
     ^Wh - Hides current window
     ^Wb - Balances window sizes
     ^Wn - Swaps to next window
     ^Wp - Swaps to previous window
      /# - Shows window number (1-4)


Of course, there doesn't appear to be one to actually create the windows, 
so what I'd do is a "/bind meta2-c window new".

So, you're up with one window going.

hit ^W-c, and bingo, your screen is chopped in half... You can tell which 
window is the "current" window by the ^^^^^^^ in regular BitchX. With 
some scripts, it may be harder to tell which one is current (usually can 
be determined by which window the usermode appears on, or on your input 
prompt, which may be the channel name)

Ok, now you're ready to /join in the new window... The next most 
valuable command is the NEXT_WINDOW, which I have bound to ^O, of course, 
its personal preference... Make it an easy to hit key because you'll be 
toggling like a bitch, once you have several windows up...

To Shrink, or Grow, ^W- or ^W+... It's really quite simple once you got 
it down.

Another handy feature, is to actually have each window connect to a
different server! The way to do this is get into an empty window, and do
"/window server irc.blah.com"... This way, you can be on EFnet, Undernet, 
Dalnet, etc., etc., all with the same client.


	2.3 CDCC/XDCC

	BitchX offers built in support for public file offering called CDCC.
As this is not what is normally used by mIRC & ircII scripts, which for the
most part use XDCC, BitchX will recognize XDCC requests as CDCC requests.
/CDCC <command> will give you a list of options.  In BitchX, /CDCC without
an argument will give you a list of arguments/commands you can use.


	2.4 Using BitchX with XWindows

	Lately, there have been a lot of requests for help with getting 
color and function keys working in XWindows in the channel.  Before you
ask for help in the channel, please make sure that you have obtained
the xterm variant called rxvt, and the font vga11x19.  These should be
readily obtainable from sunsite.unc.edu or one of its mirrors.  If you
fail to find it there, try http://torgo.ml.org/las, the Linux Archive
Search.  When you start rxvt, run it with the options "-bg black -fg white
-fn vga11x19".  If you do not have vga11x19, get it!  Meanwhile, use 
the font vga as a substitute.  If function keys don't work, you may need
to add this to ~/.bitchxrc:

/bind meta3-1 chelp
/bind meta3-2 CHANNEL_CHOPS
/bind meta3-3 CHANNEL_NONOPS
/bind meta3-4 CDCC_PLIST
/bind meta3-5 DCC_PLIST
/bind meta3-6 DCC_STATS

	Those are the default BitchX function key bindings and should
work as such.  


[Commonly Asked Questions in EFNet #BitchX..................................3.0]

	3.1 What is bxglobal, and where do I get it?
	Unless you are root, you won't have to worry about bxglobal.  BitchX
runs fine without it.  What is it?  Nothing more than a global .bitchxrc

	3.2 What is .bitchxrc and .ircrc, and how are they different?

	.bitchxrc and .ircrc are both variants of the same thing, a file
loaded up by BitchX automatically.  What are the differences?

	.ircrc - this is loaded by all ircII clients, only put stuff
		that will work with base ircII scripting here.  Also,
		this is loaded upon connecting to a server.
	.bitchxrc - this file is loaded as soon as BitchX starts.  Put all
		BitchX-specific scripting here.

	3.3 What are the color codes in BitchX?  How do I use them?
%K - Dark Gray				%k - black
%G - bold green				%g - dark green
%Y - yellow				%y - brown
%C - bold cyan				%c - cyan
%B - bold blue				%b - blue
%P and %M - bold purple/magenta		%p and %m - and purple/magenta
%R - bold red				%r - red

%n - null color (will nullify colors before it)
%0 %1 %2 %3 %4 %5 %6 %7 %8 %9	- background colors
%F flashing foreground
%U underline text.

To set color in formatting and status (/set FORMAT_* and /set STATUS_*), you
don't need to do anything special.  To use colors in echo, say, etc., try using
/eval (say/echo/etc) $cparse(%Xtext%n) and so forth.

	3.4  How do I script in BitchX?  How do I find out what arguments
		should go to which function or command?
	To script, you should have at least some experience using the client
so you know how things SHOULD react, etc, etc.  There is no designated 
"guide" to scripting, just look at the scripts that come with the BitchX
source, or ircII scripts that you already have/can get.  

On the second question. First of all, try looking in BitchX.help (/bhelp).  
If it's not in there, try the base ircII help file. Also, look in scripts
and see if you can try figure out the syntax/arguments a particular command 
should have. Check and see whether it is a script defined function.  Try 
reading the script to see whether it is defined in there.  If you're lazy to
do that you might try /loading the script and comparing the /loaded scripts
output with that of typing it in at the command prompt. (/eval echo 
$func(args) and /command).  If it's definitely an "undocumented feature",
e.g. you can't find out what its' use is, ask in the channel, someone
may be able to help.

	3.5  I've heard rumors that BitchX has backdoors!
	The person who started that rumor was some fool Undernet ircop
who didn't know what he was talking about posting on bugtraq.  The complete
article is available in #BitchX from lurker (/ctcp lurker CDCC LIST).   
The part that concerns BitchX is quoted here:

"Bitchx has a number of "backdoors" and is widely denigrated as a
pestilence on Unix related channels on Undernet IRC network. I haven't
dealt with the pimpz IRC script, but the spelling alone raises my hackles
as an Undernet IRC server operator/admin with long experience in dealing
with abuse scripts." -- Alan Brown, Undernet Oper (alan@MANAWATU.GEN.NZ)

	First off, he is talking about something which he has no knowledge
of.  BitchX is a program, not a script, and there are no bugs/backdoors in
it other than the accidental bugs a normal program that is under development
would have.  
	Secondly, I doubt greatly that it's safe to trust the judgement of
someone who gives programs a snap judgement on the name of it alone.  It's
obvious from the phrasing of the article that he thinks BitchX is a script,
not a program, and from that we can surmise that he has not even tried it. 
	The only "backdoors" in BitchX are those of a program under constant
development and revision -- bugs may turn up, but they are fixed as soon as
they are discovered.  

	3.6 What are the environment variables I can set before starting 
		BitchX?
	Assuming you are using the bash shell, this is how you would do it:

bash:~$ setenv VARIABLE="value"

	Variable 	Value
	IRCSERVERS	- "server:port server2:port2 server3:port3" 
	IRCNICK		- "nickname"
	IRC_HOST	- "virtual hostname here" (see sec. 3.7 for details)

There are a few others, they will be added as the FAQ continues to grow and
improve.

	3.7	Can I spoof my host with BitchX?  I've seen people use
		BitchX to change their hostname before!

	No.  BitchX is NOT a spoofer.  To spoof your hostname, you need
external programs.  Please don't ask how to do this in #BitchX, you will at
the very least be ignored, as spoofing is illegal as well as lame.
	BitchX can be used to utilize virtual hosts (multiple hostnames 
registered to the same machine), so that you can decide what hostname you would
like to use.  This is not spoofing, because the virtual host is already 
registered to your machine.  The way to do this would be to set an environment
variable called IRC_HOST before you start BitchX.  For example, if I were using
the bash shell on computer.com, which also had an alias called data.org, I
would do this:

bash:~$ setenv IRC_HOST="data.org"
bash:~$ BitchX MyNick irc.server.com

When I connect to the server, I would then /WHOIS MyNick, I should then show up
as user@data.org, instead of user@computer.com.

[Miscellaneous..............................................................4.0]

	4.1 Contacting

For more information about this FAQ, and for comments, you can talk to
IceBreak(ice_break@hotmail.com) or Xavier (xavier@sedated.net) on IRC.

If you want information about BitchX, you can talk to the author panasync
(edwac@sk.sympatico.ca) on irc, or join #BitchX on EFnet, and ask your
question.

	4.2 Where the hell did sh00p go?

sh00p is on vacation, he'll work on the FAQ a bit when he comes back.

	4.3 Revisions
6/11/97		- Fixed grammar & punctuation.  Fixed spelling errors.
		Added Yngve's section on ircII window manipulation.
		Added questions asked on #BitchX section. v1.5.4.
		Changed the look of the FAQ again.
6/8/97		- v1.5.0 came out.  Rush job, quickly formatted and
		checked for errors.  Some overlooked.  Changed the
		"look" of the FAQ.
??/??/??	- BitchX FAQ v1.0.0 by IceBreak and sh00p came out.

[Credits....................................................................5.0]

Contributors to this FAQ:
	panasync	(edwac@sk.sympatico.ca) <- kick ass client, man
	Xavier		(xavier@sedated.net) <- the new guy
	IceBreak	(ice_break@hotmail.com) <- original FAQ and new one
	sh00p		(shupijr5@wfu.edu) <- where the hell are you man? 
	Yngve		(yngwie@glock.triax.com) <- ircII windowing
	#BitchX EFNet   <- keep being a great place to chill in, guys

[EOF........................................................................EOF]
