Guide to mIRC Scripting
By Eric Marcarelli


REMOTE SCRIPTING:

To start open mIRC and go to tools -> remote. This is where you will type most of your 
code. The remote is also probably the only part you'll need if you're making a bot.

Once it's open type this:

on *:text:hi:#: {
msg $chan Hi
}

NOTE: If you are on more then one channel you will probably want to go in a testing 
channel and change the # to #that_channel. 

Now have someone (or a clone) type hi in the channel. You can't trigger an on text your 
self, which is a great thing for bots. You should say Hi. Take a minute to look at the code 
and see if you can guess how it works. Change things and see what happens.

The on *:text:hi:#: part means that the commands inside the { } will be done if anyone 
but yourself says hi in the channel. A few things to note are that the commands are, for 
the most part plain mIRC commands. They don't need a / in front of them (you may put 
one if you wish) and that $chan will be replaced with the active channel (# works the 
same way). For a full list of commands type /help. We will also cover more basic ones as 
we move on. 

I'm sure your ready for more complex things so I'll move right ahead. Type this in the 
remote under the previous script (or in its place want to). 

on *:join:#: {
notice $nick Welcome to $chan $+ ! Enjoy you stay!
}

Have a clone join. See how it's greeted? This script covers a few new items. You can 
probably guess that on *:join:#: means when someone joins the channel. For a full list of 
on something commands type /help on. $nick means the nick of the user that triggered the 
script. Notice $nick will send a /notice to the $nick. Since no commands can be directly 
next to other text, if you want a word to be next to something like $chan you must use $+. 
$+ simply connects the two words on each side of it. 

Now you understand the script, but there's a problem. Unlike text, you can trigger join. 
So, to stop this you need an if statement. If statements are VERY important, and luckily, 
easy to understand.

Update that code with this:

on *:join:#: {
if ($nick != $me) {
notice $nick Welcome to $chan $+ ! Enjoy you stay!
}
}

The if tests to see if $nick is you, you are $me. If you aren't $nick the command is 
executed, if not the script stops. != means not equal, == means equal. Notice the if has 
it's own set of { }. These work the same as in C, when you open one you have to close it. 
To see if all are closed hit the { } button at the top right. 

What if you only wanted to send a different message to certain people? Say you wanted 
Guest1, and Guest2 to get special messages, and the rest, excluding yourself you get the 
normal one. Replace the script with this:

on *:join:#: {
if (($nick != $me) && ($nick != guest1) && ($nick != guest2)) {
notice $nick Welcome to $chan $+ ! Enjoy you stay!
}
elseif ($nick == guest1) {
notice $nick HEEEEEY $nick $+ !!!!! :D
}
elseif ($nick == guest2) {
notice $nick I HATE YOU!! GET OUT!! >:O
}
}

You can test it or just figure out what it does. Elseif works like if, it is simply the next 
one to check if the if or elseif above it didn't work.  Once you study it's workings you'll 
see that this long script is simple and your ready to move on!     

Let's stay with this on join script, and see what it can do. How about making the regular 
message random? The notices timed to be sent 10 seconds after a join? 

Ok.
First thing to do is create a new .txt file (use notepad) and save it to your mIRC folder 
with the name joinmess. Skip the first line of the file and fill it in like this:
Welcome to $chan $+ ! Enjoy you stay!
Hi $nick $+ !
Welcome $nick $+ !

Then save again.

Now replace the script with this one:

on *:join:#: {
if (($nick != $me) && ($nick != guest1) && ($nick != guest2)) {
timer 1 10 notice $nick $read(joinmess.txt)
}
elseif ($nick == guest1) {
timer 1 10 notice $nick HEEEEEY $nick $+ !!!!! :D
}
elseif ($nick == guest2) {
timer 1 10 notice $nick I HATE YOU!! GET OUT!! >:O
}
}

The script looks more complicated, but it's really not. $read(filename) simply selects a 
random line from that file. The timer works like this. There is a . so you don't see it set 
and halt (annoying messages). The first number after timer is the interval to count in, in 
seconds. The second is the number of intervals. .timer 1 10 means in 10 seconds, .timer 
60 60 would mean is an hour. 

Now what if this is a bot, or, even if is not. You may want to add some fun, to it make 
anyone able to add a line to joinmes.txt. Replace with this:

on *:join:#: {
if (($nick != $me) && ($nick != guest1) && ($nick != guest2)) {
timer 1 10 notice $nick $read(joinmess.txt)
}
elseif ($nick == guest1) {
timer 1 10 notice $nick HEEEEEY $nick $+ !!!!! :D
}
elseif ($nick == guest2) {
timer 1 10 notice $nick I HATE YOU!! GET OUT!! >:O
}
}

on *:text:!write message *:#: {
write joinmess.txt $3-
notice $nick Your message ( $+ $3- $+ ) has been added successfully.  
}

The only thing that changed is the addition of the write script. When someone types 
!write message (text here), the (text here) will be added to joinmess.txt. /write adds a line 
to the file. Example: /write file.txt hi would add the word hi to the end of file.txt. But 
wait, why $3-? $3 means the third word with on text. $3- means the third word and 
beyond. 

That's fine for a while, but soon people start to abuse it. Messages like "GET THE FUCK 
OTTA HERE" are being added. You delete them but it still goes on. You like the script 
so deleting it isn't an option. The problem can be solved with an if statement.

Replace with this:

on *:join:#: {
if (($nick != $me) && ($nick != guest1) && ($nick != guest2)) {
timer 1 10 notice $nick $read(joinmess.txt)
}
elseif ($nick == guest1) {
timer 1 10 notice $nick HEEEEEY $nick $+ !!!!! :D
}
elseif ($nick == guest2) {
timer 1 10 notice $nick I HATE YOU!! GET OUT!! >:O
}
}

on *:text:!write message *:#: {
if ((*fuck* !iswm $3-) && (*shit* !iswn $3-) && (*damn* !iswn $3-) && (*bitch* !iswn $3-) && (*leave* !iswn $3-) && (*out* !iswn $3-)) { 
write joinmess.txt $3-
notice $nick Your message ( $+ $3- $+ ) has been added successfully
}
else {
notice $nick Your message ( $+ $3- $+ ) contains unsuitable text and will not be added.   
}
}

It looks like a lot is happening but only the second part has had any changes. These 
additions scan $3- for offensive text and, if none is found the message is written. If it is 
found it gives an error and is not written. 

Iswn checks to see if certain text is with in other text. !iswm means "something is not 
with in something". The word before iswm is the word looked for. An * in it means 
anything can be beyond that point, until other text. Example: *hi* would work with hi 
how are you, ummm hi there, and wouldn't work with hqi. How*you would work with 
how are you, how you, and wouldn't work with how are u. Else is different from elseif in 
one way, it doesn't test anything. It's just triggered if the other ifs aren't.

Wow. Look what that simple script turned into! There is still a LOT more for you to learn 
about remotes. But this is where this guide leaves them. For more commands look to 
/help.     


POPUP SCRIPTING:

Popup scripting is the best time savers I've seen when it comes to scripting. The sole 
purpose of them is to save time by just hitting a menu option. They are very simple and 
aren't THAT different then remotes. 

Click on the popups tab to the top of your screen (assuming you in the remote). You will 
see a script already there. That is the status screen popup. I don't find it useful to edit it so 
go up to view and choose menu bar.

You should see soothing like this:

Commands
Join channel:/join #$$?="Enter channel name:"
Part channel:/part #$$?="Enter channel name:"
Query user:/query $$?="Enter nickname and message:"
Send notice:/notice $$?="Enter nickname and message:"
Whois user:/whois $$?="Enter nickname:"
Send CTCP
.Ping:/ctcp $$?="Enter nickname:" ping
.Time:/ctcp $$?="Enter nickname:" time
.Version:/ctcp $$?="Enter nickname:" version
Set Away
.On:/away $$?="Enter away message:" 
.Off:/away
Invite user:/invite $$?="Enter nickname and channel:"
Ban user:/ban $$?="Enter channel and nickname:"
Kick user:/kick $$?="Enter channel and nickname:" 
Ignore user:/ignore $$?="Enter nickname:"
Unignore user:/ignore -r $$?="Enter nickname:"
Change nick:/nick $$?="Enter new nickname:"
Quit IRC:/quit    
    
In popups the first word is what you will see in the menu. After the : is the script. If you 
want to enter text you use $$?="Explanation:". A box will popup when you use the popup 
with the text Explanation: and a text entry box. 

What we are going to do is update the away so that it tells everyone you are away and 
when you come back. Replace 

Set Away
.On:away $$?="Enter away message:" 
.Off:away

With: 

Set Away
.On: {
set %away $$?="Enter away message:" 
ame is away, reason: %away
}
.Off: {
ame is back from %away
away
}

Use the script once and you'll see basically what it does. Ame messages all the channels 
your in on that server. A . makes a sub menu option. Set %variable value sets the 
%variable to value. %away is set to be your current away info.

Now we have that, but wouldn't it be great if it changed to a custom away nick too? To 
do this, replace the code with this:

Set Away
.On: {
set %away $$?="Enter away message:" 
ame is away, reason: %away
nick $$?="Enter away nick:"
}
.Off: {
ame is back from %away
away
nick $$?="Enter your old nick:"
}
   
If you always want to change your nick back to the same thing you can use nick that_nick
instead if nick $$?="Enter your old nick:".
   	
Popups are very easy to pick up on. Your current popups have examples for you. Now 
it's time to move on the final portion of this guide.

ALIAS SCRIPTING:

Click over to the aliases tab. You should see something like this:  

/op /mode # +ooo $$1 $2 $3
/dop /mode # -ooo $$1 $2 $3
/j /join #$$1 $2-
/p /part #
/n /names #$$1
/w /whois $$1
/k /kick # $$1 $2-
/q /query $$1
/send /dcc send $1 $2
/chat /dcc chat $1
/ping /ctcp $$1 ping

Alias, in my opinion are the weakest form of scripting. The first word is the trigger, (only 
you can trigger them) the rest is the script. This seems so self-explanatory I will only give 
one quick example:

/hello msg $chan Hello! How are you?

When you type /hello, you say Hello! How are you? Into the channel. 



Well with that my guide is ended. I put a lot of work into this, I hope it helped. If you 
need more assistance or have a comment look for me in #scripters, or email me at 
webmaster@programmingcentral.tk.

Enjoy Scripting!