Difference between revisions of "Communication"

Revision as of 10:07, 16 September 2009

This Page is part of the User's Manual, discussing the communication features of the Second Life Viewer.

Second Life has multiple methods of communicating between users. These include public and private text chat, notecards, voice chat, your profile, and streaming audio and video. Many of these are activated by the bottom toolbar.

Chat Bar

The chat toolbar is activated with the button in the bottom left corner of the screen. It appears just above the row of function buttons at the very bottom. Chat settings can be found at the top menu Preferences_Window_Guide#Text_Chat_tab Edit > Preferences > Text Chat tab.

Local Chat - This button opens the chat history window. Local chat is displayed for 20-60 seconds on the screen before fading away. The history will show all chat since you logged in. If you use [Edit > Preferences > Communication > Logging Options] you can save chat to a text file on your computer.

Besides human users, other items can generate chat messages. These are displayed in selectable colors, controlled from the top menu Edit > Preferences > Text Chat tab.

Bottom Toolbar Chat and Communicate Buttons

Chat Text Entry Box - Entering text here and hitting enter will display the chat text on your screen above the box if chat history is closed, or in the history box if it is open. Chat is also visible to anyone within range in the 3D view area. Normal chat range is 20 meters. If you use the Whisper or Shout buttons, the range is changed to 10 or 100 meters respectively.

The name of the Avatar sending the chat starts each line. if you type /me at the start of the line, it leaves off the ":", and is used to indicate an action or emotion, rather than spoken words.

Mute List

Muted Residents and Objects Window

You may find some users or objects to be annoying. The mute list prevents you from receiving communications from them, and in the case of avatars, from seeing them. You can add items to the list using the following methods:

The Mute Resident... and Mute Object... buttons in this window
If an account profile is open, using the Mute button
When a popup message appears from a user or object, using the Mute button.

Mute List Box - The main portion of this window lists Resident accounts and objects you have muted.

Mute Resident... - Opens Choose Resident window to select a name.

Mute object by name... - Opens a list of objects which have recently generated chat.

Communicate Window

Contacts Tab: Friends

Friends Tab

Contacts Tab: Groups

Groups Tab

Local Chat Tab

Local Tab

Instant Message

Instant Message Tab

Friends Conference

Friends Conference Tab

Media Console

Media Console

Streaming Audio FAQ

Voice Chat

Voice Console

Voice COnsole

Active Speakers Window

Active Speakers Window

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 This Page is part of the [[User's Manual]], discussing the communication features of the Second Life Viewer.
-Second Life has multiple methods of communicating between users.  These include public and private text chat, notecards, voice chat, streaming audio and video.  Many of these are activated by the bottom toolbar.
+Second Life has multiple methods of communicating between users.  These include public and private text chat, notecards, voice chat, your profile, and streaming audio and video.  Many of these are activated by the bottom toolbar.
 ===Chat Bar===
-[[File:v1.23 Bottom Toolbar Left.jpg|thumb|right|500px|'''Bottom Toolbar Chat and Communicate Buttons''']]
 The chat toolbar is activated with the button in the bottom left corner of the screen.  It appears just above the row of function buttons at the very bottom. Chat settings can be found at the top menu '''[[Preferences_Window_Guide#Text_Chat_tab Edit > Preferences > Text Chat]]''' tab.
@@ Line 15: / Line 13: @@
 '''Local Chat''' - This button opens the chat history window. Local chat is displayed for 20-60 seconds on the screen before fading away.  The history will show all chat since you logged in.  If you use '''[[https://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Preferences_Window_Guide#Communication_tab Edit > Preferences > Communication > Logging Options]]''' you can save chat to a text file on your computer.
-Besides human users, other items can generate chat messages.  These are displayed in selectable colors.
+Besides human users, other items can generate chat messages.  These are displayed in selectable colors, controlled from the top menu '''[[Preferences_window#Text_Chat_tab|Edit > Preferences > Text Chat]]''' tab.
+[[File:v1.23 Bottom Toolbar Left.jpg|thumb|right|500px|'''Bottom Toolbar Chat and Communicate Buttons''']]
 '''Chat Text Entry Box''' - Entering text here and hitting enter will display the chat text on your screen above the box if chat history is closed, or in the history box if it is open.  Chat is also visible to anyone within range in the 3D view area.  Normal chat range is 20 meters.  If you use the Whisper or Shout buttons, the range is changed to 10 or 100 meters respectively.
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 [[File:V1.23 Communicate Mute.jpg|thumb|right|482px|'''Muted Residents and Objects Window''']]
+You may find some users or objects to be annoying.  The mute list prevents you from receiving communications from them, and in the case of avatars, from seeing them.  You can add items to the list using the following methods:
+* The '''Mute Resident...''' and '''Mute Object...''' buttons in this window
+* If an account profile is open, using the '''Mute''' button
+* When a popup message appears from a user or object, using the '''Mute''' button.
+'''Mute List Box''' - The main portion of this window lists Resident accounts and objects you have muted.
+'''Mute Resident...''' - Opens [[Group_Windows#Choose_Resident|Choose Resident]] window to select a name.
+'''Mute object by name...''' - Opens a list of objects which have recently generated chat.
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