Zephyr is a text-based messaging system. Think of it as "AIM" without all the bells and whistles programmed in. You can use zephyr to send messages to anyone at CMU, and a couple other schools. You can also have group discussions on "classes", which are similar to chat rooms. Zephyr can be very simple to get started, and you can add and use other features as you go along.

These are like chat rooms that people can send & receive messages. People subscribed to the zephyr class receive all the messages sent to that class.

1. In your home directory, open a file called ".zephyr.subs" (Type "pico ~/.zephyr.subs") If this file does not exist, opening it in pico will create it.
2. Type "cia,*,*" on a line by itself.
3. Type "Ctrl-X" to exit Pico. Type "y" to save the changes you made.
4. Type "zctl load". This will make the changes come into effect.

These instructions assume you are sending to the CIA class.

1. Type "zwrite -c cia -i instance" and press Enter.
   -c is the zephyr class, in this case "cia"
   -i is the instance, or subject. Please make the subject one word, or multiple words separated by periods instead of spaces (e.g. - "garage.hours"). Avoid symbols.
2. Type your message. Remember to press "Enter" at the end of each line (about 80 characters).
3. To send the message, type "Enter" to reach a new line, a period, then "Enter" again.

Set-Up: Set up a file with a list of who you want to see if they are online.

1. In your personal main directory, open a file called ".anyone" (type "pico ~/.anyone")
2. Type Andrew userids, one per line, no symbols.
3. Type "Ctrl-X" to exit Pico. Type "y" to save the changes you made.
4. To check your list without editing it, type "cat .anyone"

• While logged into zephyr, type "znol"
  This will show you all the people on your list & are logged in to zephyr.
• If you are not logged in to zephyr, type "znol -l"
• Adding People: Type "echo userid >> .anyone"
• Removing people: Type "cat .anyone | egrep -v ^userid$ > .anyone"
• You will also receive login and logout messages each time someone in your .anyone logs in or logs out, respectively.
• From a UNIX machine:
  This will open a window with a list of all the people in your .anyone who are currently online.
  1. Open a new "Xterm" window.
  2. Type "zwatch"

This is for cases where you lost your connection but didn't log out from zephyr. Zephyr will show that you are still logged in. These phantom connections are also called "Ghosts."

1. Before zstarting again, type "zctl flush_locs" You can now log in, but you are hidden when you zstart again (no one can see when you log in).
2. Type "zctl unhide"

This displays the last message you received.

1. Type "zrepeat" and press Enter.
2. To see messages before that one, type "zrepeat #"
   Example: "zrepeat 2" will display the second to last message you received.

This is to change the name that appears with every message you send.

1. In your personal main directory, open a file called ".zephyr.vars" (type "pico ~/.zephyr.vars")
   If this file does not exist, opening it in pico will create it.
2. Type "zwrite-signature = ", followed by your new signature.
   Example: zwrite-signature = Go CIA Buggy! Note: Signatures work best if they are only one line.
3. Type "Ctrl-X" to exit Pico. Type "y" to save the changes you made.

This sets up zephyr to send you a personal message each time you receive new email.

1. In your personal main directory, open a file called ".zephyr.subs" (type "pico ~/.zephyr.subs")
2. Type "mail,*,%me%" on a line by itself.
3. Type "Ctrl-X" to exit Pico. Type "y" to save the changes you made.

Set-Up: This is to shorten what you type each time you send a message to a friend or class.

1. In your personal main directory, open a file called ".cshrc" (type "pico .cshrc")
   Leave the contents in the file untouched and add your shortcuts to additional lines.
2. Type alias ""
   Example: alias zcia "zwrite -c cia -i" alias zu "zwrite userid" (Replace "u" & "userid" with the initial and userid, respectively, of the person you are writing to)
   alias f "finger"
   alias zz "zstart; znol"
   alias zadd 'echo \!* >> ~/.anyone'
   alias zremove cat ~/.anyone \| egrep -v \"^\!\*\"$ \> ~/.anyone.temp \; mv ~/.anyone.temp ~/.anyone
   Notes:
   1. Commands that need a subject are left blank at the end, like the class instance or finger profile. You will have to fill in the instance or userid when you use these aliases.
   2. The ";" symbol acts like pressing "Enter"
   3. Long commands need to be on ONE line. For the last alias, open pico by typing "pico -w .cshrc". This allows you to paste it all onto one line.
3. Type "Ctrl-X" to exit Pico. Type "y" to save the changes you made.
4. Open your login file by typing "pico .login" (This makes the aliases work next time you log in).
5. At the end of the file (after the last line), type "source .cshrc"
6. Type "Ctrl-X" to exit Pico. Type "y" to save the changes you made.
7. To use aliases before logging in again, type "source .cshrc" at the normal prompt.

This makes your letters blue on most telnet screens.

1. In your message, put @b(word) around the word, phrase, or letters you want bolded.
   Example: "Go @b(CIA) Buggy!" will make "CIA" bold.
   Note: You can also use this in your zsig.

This is for cases when you want to have personal conversations without seeing class messages.

1. Type "zctl punt class instance *@REALM"
   Example: "zctl punt cia \* \*" The next time you log in, you will receive class messages again.

This will stop messages and pull it out of your .zephyr.subs file.

1. Type "zctl dl cia \* \*"

This will allow you to send and receive messages, but not show up when someone types "znol"

1. Type "zctl hide"
2. To become visible again, type "zctl unhide"

You can send messages to people at MIT, in CS at CMU, or AB Tech, to name a few other groups that use zephyr. To send a message to someone in a different realm, type "zwrite userid@REALM.ORG"
Example: zwrite someone@ATHENA.MIT.EDU
zwrite geek@CS.CMU.EDU
zwrite alum@ABTECH.ORG
(This works better with real userids of course ;-)

The CIA zephyr class is not protected. Anyone can subscribe to it. At this time members of Radio Club, ABTech, Pioneers, or non-affiliated people also read messages sent to the CIA zephyr class. Please refrain from discussing confidential buggy information.