Create a Group Chat Using Adium

Group chats, also called conferences or multi-user chats (MUCs), allow you to chat with multiple contacts simultaneously.

Notes about Stanford IM group chats:

• Do not invite a non-Stanford IM user to your group chat. Non-Stanford users cannot connect to the Stanford IM server.
• Chatting is encrypted between Stanford users.
• Group chat sessions are not logged on the IM server. Recent discussions are kept in memory on the server and displayed when connecting to an existing chat.
• When inviting contacts to join a group chat, you must use their SUNetID@stanford.edu address. If you are not sure what someone's SUNet ID is, send that person an email asking for the information.

Finding a Chat

The Adium IM client does not have a way to list the existing chat rooms on the Stanford server.  A web page with a current list of chat rooms is maintained on the IM server.

Creating a group chat

1. In the File menu, click Join Group Chat.
2. Enter the following:
   • Account: your SUNetID@stanford.edu address (your Jabber ID)
   • Chat Room Name: anything you wish; spaces are not allowed
   • Server: conference.stanford.edu
   • Handle: name that you want displayed in the group chat; the default is your alias if you have one
   • Password: leave blank (assigning a password to a chat room does not make the room more secure)
   • Invite Contacts: SUNetID@stanford.edu address of your contacts; separate contact names with commas (see Alternative way to invite contacts, below)
   • With Message: (optional) message to be displayed in the invitation
   
   
3. Click Join.
4. Click Accept Defaults.  Accepting the defaults results in a chat room that will be open to anyone at Stanford to access.  If this is not what you want then select Configure Room and change the room settings.
   
   
    
5. A chat room will be created and invited contacts will receive an invitation. As they accept, their names are listed on the left side. Type your messages in the box in the lower-right corner of the room.
   
   

Alternative method: Inviting contacts to a group chat

Once a chat has been created, you can invite Stanford IM contacts who are online to join the chat.

1. Hold down CTRL and click the contact name, point to Invite to Chat, and then click the name of the chat room.
   
   
2. Add a message to the invitation if you wish and then click Invite.
   
   

Accepting an invitation to a group chat

1. When you are invited to join a group chat, you will receive an invitation. Click Accept to join the chat.
   
   
    
2. The chat room will be displayed and your name will be added to the list.