perm filename TALK[3,2]8 blob
sn#642641 filedate 1982-02-21 generic text, type T, neo UTF8
(If you want to know about the TALK program on the Altos, READ DMCHAT,
which describes both Alto DMCHAT and Alto TALK. The writeup below is for
the TALK command on SAIL, which is completely different from Alto TALK.)
The command to communicate with another user is called TALK. Its
argument is either the programmer name of the person you want to talk
to, the device name of the terminal you want to talk to, or an ARPAnet
address. For example:
TALK MRC
TALK TTY34
TALK RMS@AI (% is legal as a host name delimiter also).
The command may fail for any of the following reasons:
. user not logged in (use MAIL)
. user logged in more than once (use a terminal instead of a user spec)
. user gagged or (for ARPAnet TALK) refusing links (use MAIL)
. the ARPAnet site is unreachable or does not support network linking
When you are in a (local) talk ring, what you type goes only to the
terminals in the ring, not to the monitor or a user program. To leave
the talk ring, type [CALL] (control-C from non-displays).
TALKing to local users does not run a program; hence the core image is
preserved.
TALKing to network users runs a program. To leave network talk, type
<CONTROL><META>[LF] (control-Z from non-displays).
It is considered antisocial to use the TALK command to establish
communication with strangers. A better way is the SEND command, which
will send a message to a user but does not interfere with his work.
For this reason, the TALK command requires that you be logged in. If
you don't have an account, you can use SEND to request the user TALK
to you. Type "HELP SEND" for more info.