Aliases

Aliases are simply custom commands or macros that you can define for Vortec. To create aliases, select the Alias option from the main menu. This Alias definition window will be displayed. In order to make use of aliases you must of course already be familiar with IRC and basic IRC commands.

You should NOT create an alias with the same name as an existing IRC command as Vortec always gives precedence to IRC commands over aliases. You may also use aliases within your popups and your events & controls.

The Alias Editor Window

Open the alias window by clicking the Alias button in the tool bar or select the Aliases option from the tools menu. The Alias editor is divided into 3 parts: the alias list that contains the names of all the aliases defined, the editor pane where you enter the alias commands and the control panel that has several buttons that allow you to save changes, load alias files etc.

You can right click on the alias list to display a popup menu that contains some additional commands, such as renaming aliases, and load/extracting Vortec scripts or PIL scripts .

You may also customize script code colors and editor options by right-clicking the editor window and selecting "Customize".

Defining Simple Aliases

The simplest aliases included only the aliases name followed by the command to be executed.

Vortec: /join #Vortec typing /Vortec will now allow you to join the channel #Vortec

P:/part # typing /p will allow you to leave the current channel

Variables

Vortec defines the following variables which can be used in your aliases definitions:

$me your nickname

# the current channel or nickname

$# the # symbol

$1..$9 command line parameters

*1..*9 sequential command lines parameters start with the number provided

$+ trims extra space from between parameters

$activewin the name of the active window

$apppath the directory from which Vortec is running from

$audience the current channel or nickname (same as #)

$day the current day of the week

$date the current date according to your computer's internal calendar

$getpath your default dcc download path

$host your local host name

$ip your local ip number

$logpath your log file directory

$members returns the number of people in a channel

$netid name of the network you're connected to

$progpath the directory from which Vortec is running from (same as $apppath)

$sendpath default dcc upload path

$soundpath default Sounds folder

$server the name of the server you are connected to

$snick currently selected nickname in a channel

$time the current time according to your computer's internal calendar

$topic topic string for the channel (only available for channel related aliases)

$umode your personal user mode

$version the version of Vortec which you are using

$?="prompt" Displays an input dialog box, returning the entered information

Special Variables/Funtions

$file "<prompt>" <filemask>

Pops up a file dialog allowing you to select a particular filename to use. You must specify a file type between quotation marks!

Example: WAV:/sound # $file "select a file" c:\*.wav hope you like this sound

Common Aliases & Examples

Join Aliases

J:/join $# $+ $1

Joins a channel without having to enter the # symbol... ie /j Vortec will cause you to join #Vortec

HOP:/part # | /join #

Cause you to leave the current channel and rejoin it immediately

Sound Aliases

S:/sound # $1 *2

Plays a sound to the current channel (or nickname in a message window)

SND:/sound # $file "*.mid" *1

Allows you to pick a sound file from a file list and play it to the current channel/nick.

Operator Aliases

OPS: /opnotice # *1

Send a notice to all channel operators in the current channel.

Misc Aliases

N: /nick $?="Enter a new nickname"

Displays an input dialog box allowing you to change your nickname.

CHAT:/dcc chat $?="Enter a nickname to chat to"

Function Keys

You may also assign aliases to the Function keys (F2 - F12) by creating an alias with the key name. For example, to assign an alias to the F2 key, just create an alias named F2.

You may also use accelerator combinations as well. For CTRL key use C, for Shift use S, for Alt use A. Please note that these need to be in alphabetical order, with F as the last key. For example, to use CTRL+ALT+F2 use ACF2, not CAF2.

ACSF2 - ALT+CTRL+SHIFT+F2

SF3 - Shift+F3

etc...

This also works with the Escape key. You can name an alias ESC and have it execute when you press the ESC key. Accelerator keys are supported for ESC as well.

Windows System keyboard shortcuts cannot be overridden this way.

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