BASIC CHAT ROOM INSTRUCTIONS

- Once the window loads, you will be able to see other members' names in the list on the right side of the screen.
- If there are no other members present, consider keeping this page open for a while, and someone will likely join you shortly.

To Send a Message:
- Type your message in the box next to your username, and click "Send" or press "Enter" on your keypad.
- If you get a message that says, "You must be connected to send a message," then you will need to re-connect by clicking on the Connection icon (). If it looks like this icon () and says, "You're already connected," but yet you are still unable to send a message, try reloading/refreshing your browser window.

Private Chat with Another User:
- Click on that user's name in the right column, and then click on the private chat icon ().

To Create a New Chat Channel
- A new chat channel is a separate chat area that you would like to designate for a specific topic only. To create it, type in the message box: /join [name] - The [name] should be the name of your channel, for example: /join singles if you want to create a channel for singles to meet other singles. Other examples might be: /join travel lovers or /join health talk
- Once you've created a new chat channel for your topic of interest, you can invite others who are present in the main chat room to join you. You can send a public message in the main chat window, or send a private message to each user you want to invite. If you do not invite/notify anyone, then no one will know about your new channel.
(When your new chat room becomes a popular space, in the future, we can add it as a permanent channel for everyone to see. If you have an idea for a channel you would like to see - email us)

Other Tips:
- Type: /clear to clear the screen.
- Sound notification is enabled so you can put your chat window in the background and listen for someone to post a message.
- To view a user's profile, open the "View All Members" page, and browse profiles.
(We'll work on a better way for you to lookup the other users' profiles.)