Using JWChat With Rutgers IM

Table Of Contents

About JWChat

JWChat is an open-source Instant Messaging software program recommended for Windows 2000, Windows XP or Macintosh computers. It can be used with the Rutgers IM service at Rutgers.

What makes JWChat different is that it uses a Web browser and thus doesn't require downloading and installing software. JWChat works with Windows-compatible browsers supported at Rutgers, such as Mozilla Firefox , and Internet Explorer . Additionally On Macintosh computers, JWChat works on Safari .

The Rutgers Office of Information Technology supports JWChat only for University users.

Using Internet chat services at Rutgers is subject to the terms of the Rutgers Acceptable Use Policy for Computing and Information Technology Resources. Chat service features such as file transfers over the Internet also contribute to bandwidth use. Students who connect to the Rutgers Network from the residence halls would benefit from monitoring their usage with the Network Usage Tool . Files transferred through JWChat to or from systems outside of the .rutgers.edu domain count toward the Internet Usage limits.

Using JWChat

Note: Using Rutgers IM with JWChat on the Rutgers Network requires an existing NetID account on the Rutgers Central Server Systems. Rutgers University students, faculty and staff can create a NetID and an associated e-mail account by clicking here.

1. Open a compatible Web browser to http://rim.rutgers.edu . Please make sure the web browser is set to allow popup windows for this page. The page content may change from time to time but should look like the illustration below:

2. Enter your Rutgers NetID as the Username (NetIDs should always be entered all in lowercase letters) and the case-sensitive password associated with that account, then click the Login button.

Note: JWChat can also be used with Rutgers departmental accounts. Members and administrators can log in as departmental_account_name and use your_netid:your_rci_password, the same as any other application.

A chat window should open:

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Adding Buddies

In most cases buddies will need to be added to your buddy list. The process of adding a buddy to your buddy list is called subscribing. Subscribing is a two step process which involves a user being invited to be added to your buddy list and then the user accepting the invitation:

1. Click on the Add Contact icon (the plus symbol) at the bottom left of the JWChat window:

2. The Send Subsciption dialog box will appear. Enter the Rutgers NetID of the person (in the form of netid@rutgers.edu) to be invited to the buddies list and enter an invitation message or use the preset Jabber message. Note: the Open Search and Service options are unavailable at Rutgers at this time.

3. Click Send to invite the prospective buddy to join your roster. When buddies accept an invitation their NetIDs will appear in the JWChat window:

4. Buddy rosters can be managed by right-clicking on the NetID. In this case a buddy is about to be removed from the roster:

 

 

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Configuring Buddy Rosters

JWChat allows specific buddy options to be set by clicking on Preferences at the top of the buddy roster. The Options dialog will open:

  • Hide offline users is self-explanatory
  • Automatically open messages and chats enables a corresponding dialog box to appear automatically.
  • Auto-Pop-Up if away toggles pop-up messages although your status is not "available" or "chat"
  • Play sounds will play short jingles for certain actions like incoming messages or users going on- or offline.
  • Raise window if a new message is received opens your contact list or your chat dialog over all other open windows if a new message arrives
  • Display timestamps in one-to-one chats shows the time when a message arrived right to the users name in the chat dialog

Once the desired options are chosen, save them by exiting the options dialog

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Creating and Using Chat Rooms

1. Click on the Group icon in the JWChat window:

 

2. The Join group chat window will open. Leave the - Choose Bookmark - option as is, as well as the Server and Password options. However, you can choose a nickname to use in the room apart from your NetID as long as it is in the form of netid-something, and give the room its own name if you wish. Then click Join:

 

3. The room window will open. Enter a Topic for discussion if desired. The room will also appear in the JWChat window:

 

4. Buddies can now be invited into the room by clicking the Invite button and choosing from the roster:

 

5. Click Invite and if the invitation is accepted the buddy will appear in the room:

 

6. Buddies can be managed by the room moderator by right-clicking on on the NetID and choosing the desired action:

 

 

6. Chat rooms can be exited by clicking the red box with the white X.

 

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Configuring Chat Rooms

When creating a chat room for the first time you will have the option of accepting the Jabber default options or configuring the room with specific options:

 

1. Click Cancel to continue with the Jabber default options and open the room.

2. Clicking OK will open the room and allow the room to be set up to the owner's preference through the Config button:

 

These options will be available:

  • Room Title is any name you wish to give the room
  • Make room persistant? leaves the room on the server as the owner exits it; the default is the room will be deleted when the owner exits. (Note:Persistant chatroom names can not be reused until the owner of the chat room destroys the room.)
  • Make room publicly searchable? enables public Jabber users to search for the room
  • Make participants list public? enables users in the room to see other participants.
  • Make room password protected? secures the room with a password that the owner must give to participants so they can enter the room
  • Password text box is for the owner to enter a password for the room, and has to be given to those who wish to enter the room
  • Maximum number of Occupants The maximum number of users allowed in a room at one time
  • Present real JIDs to?: enables either the room moderators or any users to see the participants' real names
  • Make room members only? limits the room to access by room members only
  • Make room moderated? allows or declines access for participants
  • Default users as participants? sets participants as members of the particular room
  • Allow users to change room subject? is self explanatory
  • Allow users to send private messages? enables private conversations between users in a room
  • Allow users to query other users? allows inquiry into other users' profiles.
  • Allow users to send invites? allows users to invite other participants to the room
  • Allow users to change nickname is an option OIT recommend to prevent anonymity

 

 

 

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Departmental ("Become") Account Chat Room Information

Some departments may find it useful to create private departmental chat rooms staffed by a number of people, such as a department charged with answering questi\ ons in "real time" from students, staff and faculty. However, since logging into a departmental chat room requires authorized members to "become" that account the users' identities are unknown.

As a solution, OIT allows adding a hyphen so people in the departmental chat room or those visiting--for instance, a support chat room for users with computer- related questions--can talk with someone they can identify. For example, a possible room named "helpdesk" can have members named info-A and info-B and info-C, or helpdesk-joe, helpdesk-john and helpdesk-rob. OIT requires the departmental name (in this example "info" or "helpdesk") correct, but what the department chooses to use after the hyphen is up to the account owner and any appropriate convention is available.

Departmental chat rooms can also be created hidden so that users outside of the department wouldn't try to enter them, and password protected. In the "helpdesk" example above, the password would next be given to 30 staff members members and they are all told to go into the room when they log in. What makes that important is:
  • The list does not need to be maintained on the server. The account owner gives the password to whomever s/he wants. If a new staff member is hired there isn't a change made on the server to update the list. Instead, the new staff member is given the password and invited into the room.

  • Everyone in the room can see who is present in the room. Those who want to chat with someone else they just look at the list of people in the room, and then can talk with them privately. The particular chat client might use the room's "send an instant message to this user" feature or the sender can use the name and send and send a regular instant message to them.

  • When staff members leave the department all the account owner need has do is change the room password and distribute it to the group.

Internet Relay Chat (IRC) Options

An especially useful feature in JWChat and Jabber is the IRC options. By entering a slash (/) and a command, JWChat enables shortcuts to perform functions within a chat room. For example, typing /clear will clear the screen of the current conversation, while /help will open a new page in a Web browser displaying the available commands for a context, or the particular room. A full list of IRC commands is available by clicking here (note that not all commands may be available with Jabber at Rutgers ).

 

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Need Help?

Contact a Help Desk on your campus:

Camden: 856-225-6274

New Brunswick/Piscataway: 732-445-HELP (4357) or send e-mail to helpdesk@rutgers.edu

Newark: 973-353-5083

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