***** GROUP-COMMANDS ***** Commands: g-list-groups g-describe g-list-members g-best g-join g-invite g-kick g-list-joining g-list-invited g-message This help file will go over groups commands and other technical features of groups. For general information about what sort of groups we have and might create in the future, please see "help groups". Commands for Groups: g-list-groups lists the groups that have been created. (Only ICC administrators can create groups.) g-describeshows the parameters of the group, including a brief description of the group, the URL for the group's web page, the operator or operators for the group, and the channel reserved for the group (if any). (Some groups may want to have their channel be open to all, rather than restricted to group members, in which case it would just be an informal convention to be noted in the group's description.) "g-list-members " lists the members of that group. "g-best " displays the highest rated players in that group, according to whatever rating category that group uses for that purpose. Not all groups have a best list. "who & " shows who is in the group, among the players currently logged in. This can be combined with other arguments to the "who" command. "g-join " will add you to a group or request admission to that group. You may also need for an operator of the group to invite you, and in that case you should ask the operator to do so by message or other means. If there are special requirements or procedures to join a group, they should be mentioned in the group description and/or on the group's web page. Each group has an operator, a privileged player able to invite players into the group or kick them out. (In principle, a group can have a group of operators, but that gets complicated.) Administrators have operator power in all groups, but seldom use them. Commands for operators: "g-invite " will allow a person to join the group with the "g-join" command. When an administrator uses this command, the person will be joined automatically without the person having to do use "g-join". "g-kick " will remove a person from the group. "g-list-joining " will list those who have requested membership in the group. "g-list-invited " will list those that have been invited to join the group. "g-message " will send a message to all group members. This should be used sparingly, as most people aren't going to appreciate group spam. If a group member needs to get a message out to the whole group, he will need to coordinate with the operator. Also see the rules in "help advertising". More technical info: "finger " lists at the bottom what groups the player is in. (Except for groups with private membership lists, see below.) Groups also have a web page on the ICC web site, at www.chessclub.com/groups/nameofgroup Some groups' membership lists are more private. These groups won't appear in "finger", and only operators of the group can use "g-list-members " or "g-best ". Only members of the group can use "who & ", if the group is private. Also, if such a group has a restricted channel, the "who c#" "inchannel # (#)" and "vars " commands know not to tell people outside that channel who is in the channel. However, do not assume that no one will find out that you're in one of these groups; it's not impossible for them to see it, just harder. The event list (corresponding to the Event Window in Blitzin) can have items that are only shown to members of a particular group. The Tomato tournament robots can run tournaments just for the members of a group. We have plans for more group features. Let us know if there's a feature that would enable or streamline activities for your group. See also: groups, channels