RootsChatterBox is an area where you can conduct a RootsChat instantly with a number of other people at the same time. It can be very useful if you've only got a quick easy to answer question, or perhaps if you just want to natter. It's sometimes difficult to work out what's going on in RootsChatterBox at first, and it can be confusing seeing others peoples messages on the screen - but after a while you will get the hang of it! There is a short delay between messages, so you will need to take this into account when using the RootsChatterBox.

To enter RootsChatterBox go right down to the bottom of the main index page (to "RootsChat Summary") and click on "Enter RootsChatterBox". A window should open showing the RootsChatterBox information screen.  The information screen will then change after a moment to the RootsChatterBox screen. 
 

RootsChatterBox functions:

Online List (upper right):  The names of all the other RootsChatters are listed here.  Clicking on a user's name will display that user's profile.

Reload:  Refreshs the message area of RootsChatterBox.

Online List (lower right):  Refreshs the Online List above.  This is useful when somebody leaves the chatroom without logging out properly.

Reload Target:  Refreshs the list of users on the Target list.  Again, this is useful when a user leaves the room without logging out properly.

Info:  Displays the RootsChatterBox Information Page.

Logout:  This control properly logs you out of the chatroom and closes the RootsChatterBox window.  Simply closing the window to leave the chatroom will leave you being shown as still logged in (that will confuse those left in there!)

Color:  Sets the text color for your messages (so that they stand out against other people's messages).

Type & Target:  Selecting Private on the Type control allows users to send messages to individual users (selected from the Target list) instead of everybody in the chatroom.  To send a private message to a single user both the "Private" setting and the user name must be selected otherwise the message will go to all users
Note: some users have reported that there is a bug in this function that we cannot fathom out.

Emotion:  Allows you to express "emotion" with the selected emotion appearing before their messages in the message area.

Message Box:  This is where you type messages.  To post a message type it in the box and press enter.  The message should appear in the message area.  If you want to be very snazzy you can use Bulletin Board Code (BBC) tags too.

Chat Shortcuts:  RootsChatterBox shortcuts are keywords that expand to longer phrases or Bulletin Board Code (BBC) tags when typed in the Message Box.  All of these shortcuts begin with a forward slash such as /shortcut.  To see a list of shortcuts available in RootsChatterBox type /chatshortcuts in the Message Box.  A list of shortcuts and their associated phrases will appear.  Chat shortcuts are case sensitive.  The shortcut /Poe is not the same as /poe.  If a chat shortcut is used in a message, the entire message will be replaced.  For example, typing Here is my /shortcut will yield only the shortcut message and the Here is my part of your message will be discarded.

Getting Help:  Type /help in the Message Box and press the enter key.  The Chatroom Help link to the help file will appear in the message area.  Click the link to view this page you are reading.