v0.10.0-dev, March 2010

mcabber - a simple Jabber (XMPP) console client

`mcabber(1)` is a small Jabber (XMPP) console client. +

- 'SASL/SSL/TLS support'.

- 'PGP, OTR support'

  `mcabber` can save discussions to text history log files.

- 'Modules:'  `mcabber` can load modules (a.k.a. plugins) at runtime that

  extend its features.

-h::

-V::

        Displays `mcabber` version and compile-time definitions.

To send a message, move to the chosen buddy in the buddylist, type your

Here is a quick description of the default key bindings:

        '#[C] \x@y.c';;   You are participating in \x@y.c conference room, and there are unread messages

/add [jid [nickname]]::

        Add the "jid" Jabber user to our roster (default group), and send a notification request to this buddy.  If no nickname is specified, the jid is used.  If no jid (or an empty string "") is provided or if jid is ".", the current buddy is used.

        ['jid' [nickname]];;  Add to our roster "jid" as "nickname"

        Example: "/add somebody@jabber.server.com Somebody"

        This command let you to add aliases which can simplify sophisticated commands. +

        You can manage your aliases by:

        (without arguments);;  Print list of currently defined aliases

        'name';;  Print the value of alias called "name"

        'name'=;;  Unset alias called "name"

        'name' = command line;;  Set alias called "name" with value "command line"

        Example: "/alias away = status away"

/authorization allow|cancel|request|request_unsubscribe [jid]::

        This command manages presence subscriptions: it allows you to request presence subscriptions from others on your roster, and allows you to control who receives your presence notifications. +

        If no JID is provided, the currently-selected buddy is used.

        'allow';;  Allow the buddy to receive your presence updates

        'cancel';;  Cancel the buddy's subscription to your presence updates

        'request';;  Request a subscription to the buddy's presence updates

        'request_unsubscribe';;  Request unsubscription from the buddy's presence updates

        Bind the command to the key given as "keycode".  To examine which keys are currently not used look at `mcabber` log window and press examined key.  For example: "Unknown key=265" means that you can bind some command to key #265.

        (without arguments);;  Display list of current bindings

        'keycode';;  Display the command line bound to this key

        'keycode'=;;  Unbind key with code "keycode"

        'keycode' = command line;;  Bind "command line" to the key with code "keycode"

        Example: "/bind 265 = status away" (265 is F1). +

        Note: keycodes can be different depending on your ncurses configuration. +

        Tip: aliases also can be used instead of commands.

/buffer clear|close|close_all|purge|list::

/buffer save filename::

        Buddy's buffer manipulation command.  Eg. you can search through buffer for "text", clear chat window etc.

        'clear';;  Clear the current buddy chat window

        'close' [jid];;  Empty all contents of the buffer and close the current buddy chat window

        'close_all';;  Empty all contents of the chat buffers and close the chat windows

        'purge' [jid];;  Clear the current buddy chat window and empty all contents of the chat buffer

        'list';;  Display the list of existing buffers, with their length (lines/blocks)

        'top';;  Jump to the top of the current buddy chat buffer

        'bottom';;  Jump to the bottom of the current buddy chat buffer

        'up' [n];;  Scroll the buffer up [n] lines (default: half a screen)

        'down' [n];;  Scroll the buffer down [n] lines (default: half a screen)

        'date' [date];;  Jump to the first line after the specified [date] in the chat buffer (date format: "YYYY-mm-dd")

        % n;;  Jump to position %n of the buddy chat buffer

        'search_backward' text;;  Search for [text] in the current buddy chat buffer

        'search_forward' text;;  Search for [text] in the current buddy chat buffer

        'scroll_lock';;  Lock buffer scrolling

        'scroll_unlock';;  Unlock buffer scrolling

        'scroll_toggle';;  Toggle buffer scrolling (lock/unlock)

        'save' filename;;  Save the contents of the current buffer to the file "filename"

/chat_disable [--show-roster]::

        Disable chat mode. +

        With --show-roster, the fullscreen mode will be disabled.

        This command is actually an alias for "/buffer clear".  It clears the current buddy chat window.

/color roster (status wildcard (color|-)|clear)::

/color mucnick nick (color|-)::

/color muc (jid|.|*) [on|preset|off|-]::

        The 'color' command allows setting dynamic color properties of the screen.

        'roster' clear;;  Remove all color rules for the roster. All roster items will get its default color.

        'roster' status wildcard color;;  Set a color rule (or overwrite, if it already exists). The status is string containing all statuses the roster item can have for the rule to match, or * if any status is OK. Wildcard is the file-matching wildcard that will be applied to JID. Color is the wanted color. If color is -, the rule is removed. If more than one rule matches, the color from the last created (not overwritten) is used.

        'mucnick' nick (color|-);;  Marks the nick to be colored by given color. If a MUC has colored nicks, this one will be used. If color is -, the color is marked as chosen automatically, which means it will not be used in 'preset' coloring mode, but will stay the same in 'on' coloring mode.

        'muc' (jid|.|*) [on|preset|off|-];;  Sets a MUC nick coloring mode. If a jid (. means currently selected jid) is provided, the mode will apply to this specific MUC. If * is used, it will be applied to all MUCs, except the ones set by their jid. Mode 'on' colors all nicks, 'preset' only the ones manually set by /color mucnick command and 'off' colors none. If not specified, defaults to 'on'. Mode '-' removes the mode from given JID, which means the global one will apply. You can not remove the global mode. Default global coloring mode is 'off'.

/del::

        Delete the current buddy from our roster, unsubscribe from its presence notification and unsubscribe it from ours.

        Terminate the connection to the Jabber server. +

        Note: the roster is only available when the connection to the server is active, so the buddylist is empty when disconnected.

/echo message::

        Display "message" in the log window.

/event #n|* accept|ignore|reject [event-specific arguments]::

        Tell mcabber what to do about pending events. +

        If the first parameter is '*', the command will apply to all queued events. +

        Event-specific arguments will be interpreted on event-to event basis. The only built-in case, when argument is used is MUC invitation reject - argument, if present, will be interpreted as reject reason.

        #N|* accept [event-specific arguments];;  Event number #N/All events will be accepted

        #N|* ignore [event-specific arguments];;  Event number #N/All events will be ignored

        #N|* reject [event-specific arguments];;  Event number #N/All events will be rejected

        'list';;  List all pending events

/group fold|unfold|toggle [groupname]::

        This command changes the current group display.

        'fold' [groupname];;  Fold (shrink) the current/specified group tree in the roster

        'unfold' [groupname];;  Unfold (expand) the current/specified group tree in the roster

        'toggle' [groupname];;  Toggle the state (fold/unfold) of the current/specified tree

/help [command|+topic]::

        Display help for command "command" or topic "topic". +

        Example: "/help buffer"

/iline fchar|bchar|char_fdel|char_bdel|char_swap::

/iline fword|bword|word_bdel|word_fdel::

/iline word_upcase|word_downcase|word_capit::

/iline hist_beginning_search_bwd|hist_beginning_search_fwd::

/iline hist_prev|hist_next::

/iline iline_start|iline_end|iline_fdel|iline_bdel::

/iline iline_accept|iline_accept_down_hist::

/iline compl_do|compl_cancel::

/iline send_multiline::

        Input line commands

        'fchar';;  Move to the next letter

        'bchar';;  Move to the previous letter

        'char_fdel';;  Delete the letter at cursor position

        'char_bdel';;  Delete the letter before cursor position

        'char_swap';;  Transpose chars

        'fword';;  Move the cursor forward to the end of the current or next word

        'bword';;  Move the cursor back to the start of the current or previous word

        'word_bdel';;  Delete the word from cursor position to its start

        'word_fdel';;  Delete the word from cursor position to its end

        'word_upcase';;  Convert the word from cursor position to its end to upper case

        'word_downcase';;  Convert the word from cursor position to its end to down case

        'word_capit';;  Capitalize the word from cursor position to its end

        'hist_beginning_search_bwd';;  Search backward in the history for a  line  beginning  with  the current  line  up  to the cursor (this leaves the cursor in its original position)

        'hist_beginning_search_fwd';;  Search forward in the history for a  line  beginning  with  the current  line  up  to the cursor (this leaves the cursor in its original position)

        'hist_prev';;  Previous line of input line history

        'hist_next';;  Next line of input line history

        'iline_start';;  Go to the beginning of the input line

        'iline_end';;  Go to the end of the input line

        'iline_fdel';;  Delete from the cursor to the end of line

        'iline_bdel';;  Delete from beginning of the line to the cursor

        'iline_accept';;  Accept line

        'iline_accept_down_hist';;  Accept line and put the next history line in the input line

        'compl_do';;  Complete current word, in the input line

        'compl_cancel';;  Cancel completion

        'send_multiline';;  Send/terminate a multi-line message

        For users, resources are displayed with the status, priority and status message (if available) of each resource.

/module load|unload [-f] module::

/module info module::

/module [list]::

        Load, unload or show info on module.

        'load' [-f] module;;  Loads specified module. If -f flag is specified, most of module loading errors will be ignored.

        'unload' [-f] module;;  Unloads specified module. Note: The force flag will not remove any dependent on this modules!

        'info' module;;  Shows available information about this module.

        ['list'];;  Lists modules in a format: [modulename]  [reference count] ([Manually/Automatically loaded]) [any extra info, like version or dependencies]

        Move the current buddy to the requested group.  If no group is specified, then the buddy is moved to the default group.  If the group "groupname" doesn't exist, it is created. +

        Tip: if the chatmode is enabled, you can use "/roster alternate" to jump to the moved buddy.

        Send a multi-line message.  To write a single message with several lines, the 'multi-line mode' should be used. +

        In multi-line mode, each line (except command lines) typed in the input line will be added to the multi-line message.  Once the message is finished, it can be sent to the current selected buddy with the "/msay send" command. +

        The 'begin' subcommand enables multi-line mode.  Note that it allows a message subject to be specified. +

        The 'verbatim' multi-line mode disables commands, so that it is possible to enter lines starting with a slash.  Only the "/msay" command (with send or abort parameters) can be used to exit verbatim mode. +

        The 'toggle' subcommand can be bound to a key to use the multi-line mode quickly (for example, "bind M13 = msay toggle" to switch using the Meta-Enter combination).

        'begin' [subject];;  Enter multi-line mode

        'verbatim';;  Enter verbatim multi-line mode

        'send' [-n|-h];;  Send the current multi-line message to the currently selected buddy

        'send_to' [-n|-h] jid;;  Send the current multi-line message to "jid"

        'toggle'|'toggle_verbatim';;  Switch to/from multi-line mode (begin/send)

        'abort';;  Leave multi-line mode without sending the message

        The -n or -h flags turn the message to "normal" or "headline" accordingly, as opposed to default "chat" message.

/otr key::

/otr start|stop|info [jid]::

/otr fingerprint [jid [fpr]]::

/otr smpq|smpr [jid] secret::

/otr smpa [jid]::

        You can use the shortcut-jid "." for the currently selected contact.

        'key';;  Print the fingerprint of your private key to the Status Buffer

        'start' [jid];;  Open an OTR channel to the specified jid (or the currently selected contact)

        'stop' [jid];;  Close the OTR channel to the specified jid (or the currently selected contact)

        'info' [jid];;  Show current OTR status for the specified jid (or the currently selected contact)

        'fingerprint' [jid [fpr]];;  Show the active fingerprint of an OTR channel. If the fingerprint is provided instead of "fpr", the fingerprint will become trusted. If you replace "fpr" by some bogus string the fingerprint will loose the trusted status.

        'smpq' [jid] secret;;  Initiate the Socialist Millionaires Protocol with the secret and the buddy

        'smpr' [jid] secret;;  Respond to the Initiation of the jid with the secret

        'smpa' [jid];;  Abort the running Socialist Millionaires Protocol

/otrpolicy::

/otrpolicy (default|jid) (plain|manual|opportunistic|always)::

        You can use the shortcut-jid "." for the currently selected contact.

        (without arguments);;  Prints all OTR policies to the status buffer

        ('default'|'jid') (plain|manual|opportunistic|always);;  Sets either the default policy or the policy for the given jid The plain policy should never be used, because you won't be able to receive or send any OTR encrypted messages. If you set the policy to manual, you or your chat partner have to start the OTR encryption by hand (e.g. with /otr start). The policy "opportunistic" does that itself by sending a special whitespace-sequence at the end of unencrypted messages. So the other OTR-enabled chat client knows, that you want to use OTR. Note that the first message will always be unencryted, if you use this policy. With the policy "always" no message will be sent in plain text. If you try to sent the first message unencrypted, mcabber will try to establish an OTR channel. Please resend your message, when you get the information that the channel was established. If someone sends you plaintext messages while the policy is set to "always", you'll be able to read the message but it won't be saved to the history.

        This command manipulates PGP settings for the specified jid (by default the currently selected contact). +

        Please note that PGP encryption won't be used if no remote PGP support is detected, even if PGP is enabled with this command.  You can force PGP encryption with the "force" subcommand.

        'disable' [jid];;  Disable PGP encryption for jid (or the currently selected contact)

        'enable' [jid];;  Enable PGP encryption for jid (or the currently selected contact)

        [+|-]'force' [jid];;  Enforce PGP encryption, even for offline messages, and always assume the recipient has PGP support.  If a message can't be encrypted (missing key or key id), the messages won't be sent at all.  This option is ignored when PGP is disabled.

        'info' [jid];;  Show current PGP settings for the contact

        'setkey' [jid [key]];;  Set the PGP key to be used to encrypt message for this contact. If no key is provided, the current key is erased. You can use the shortcut-jid "." for the currently selected contact.

/quit::

        This command closes all connections and quit mcabber.

/rawxml send string::

        Send "string" (raw XML format) to the Jabber server. +

        No check is done on the string provided. +

        BEWARE!

        Use this only if you know what you are doing, or you could terminate the connection. +

        Example: "/rawxml send <presence><show>away</show></presence>"

        Rename the current buddy or group to the given "name".  If "name" is -, the name is removed from the roster (and mcabber will display the JID or username).

/request last|ping|time|vcard|version [jid]::

        Send a "IQ" query to the current buddy, or to the specified Jabber user.  If the resource is not provided with the jid, mcabber will send the query to all known resources for this user.

        'last';;  Request "last" information (usually idle time)

        'ping';;  Send an XMPP Ping request.  Note that you should use the full JID since a ping sent to a bare JID will be handled by the server.

        'time';;  Request time from the buddy

        'vcard';;  Request VCard from the buddy

        'version';;  Request version from the buddy

/room join|leave|names|nick|remove|topic|unlock|destroy::

/room privmsg|invite|whois|kick|ban|unban|role|affil::

/room setopt print_status|auto_whois [value]::

/room bookmark [add|del] [-autojoin|+autojoin] [-|nick]::

        'join' [room [nick [pass]]];;  Join "room", using "nick" as nickname.  If no nickname is provided (or if it is an empty string), the "nickname" option value is used (see sample configuration file).  If the currently selected entry is correctly recognized as a room by mcabber, the shortcut "." can be used instead of the full room id.  A password can be provided to enter protected rooms.  If your nickname contains space characters, use quotes.

        'leave' [message];;  Leave the current room

        'names' [--detail|--short|--quiet|--compact];;  Display members of the current room

        'nick' newnick;;  Change your nickname in the current room

        'privmsg' nick msg;;  Send private message "msg" to "nick"

        'remove';;  Remove the current room from the roster (you must have left this room before)

        'topic' -|newtopic;;  Set topic for current room

        'unlock';;  Unlock current room (if you are the owner)

        'destroy' [reason];;  Destroy the current room (use with care!)

        'whois' nick;;  Display MUC information about "nick"

        'ban' jid [reason];;  Ban jid from the current room

        'unban' jid;;  Unban jid from the current room

        'invite' jid [reason];;  Invite jid to the current room

        'kick' nick [reason];;  Kick "nick" from the current room

        'role' jid role [reason];;  Change jid's role (role can be "none", "visitor", "participant", "moderator")

        'affil' jid affil [reason];;  Change jid's affiliation (affil can be "none", "member", "admin", "owner")

        'setopt' print_status|auto_whois [value];;  Change settings for the current room For print_status, the possible values are "default", "none", "in_and_out", "all". For auto_whois, the possible values are "default", "off", "on". When the value is "default", the options muc_print_status / muc_auto_whois is used.

        'bookmark' [add|del] [-autojoin|+autojoin] [-|nick];;  Add, remove or update a bookmark (default is add). If autojoin is set, mcabber will automatically join the MUC room when it connects to the server. To see the list of bookmarks, use /room bookmark in the status buffer.

/roster display|hide_offline|show_offline|toggle_offline::

/roster item_lock|item_unlock|item_toggle_lock::

        The 'roster' command manipulates the roster/buddylist. +

        Here are the available parameters:

        'bottom';;  Jump to the bottom of the roster

        'top';;  Jump to the top of the roster

        'up' [n];;  Move up [n lines] in the roster

        'down' [n];;  Move down [n lines] in the roster

        'group_prev';;  Jump to the previous group in the roster

        'group_next';;  Jump to the next group in the roster

        'alternate';;  Jump to alternate buddy.  The "alternate" buddy is the last buddy left while being in chat mode.  This command is thus especially useful after commands like "/roster unread_next" (Ctrl-q).

        'unread_first';;  Jump to the first unread message

        'unread_next';;  Jump to the next unread message

        'search' bud;;  Search for a buddy with a name or jid containing "bud" (only in the displayed buddylist)

        'display' [mask];;  See or update the roster filter. The mask should contain the shortcut letters of the status you want to see ([o]nline, [f]ree_for_chat, [d]o_not_disturb, [n]ot_available, [a]way, [_]offline). For example "ofdna" to display only connected buddies.

        'hide_offline';;  Hide offline buddies (same as /roster display ofdna)

        'show_offline';;  Show offline buddies (same as /roster display ofdna_)

        'toggle_offline';;  Toggle display of offline buddies

        'item_lock' [jid];;  Lock the roster item so it remains visible regardless of its status

        'item_unlock' [jid];;  Undo the effects of item_lock

        'item_toggle_lock' [jid];;  Invert the current lock flag

        'hide';;  Hide roster (full-width chat window)

        'show';;  Show roster

        'toggle';;  Toggle roster visibility

        'note' [-|text];;  Set/update/delete an annotation. If there is no text, the current item's annotation is displayed -- if you are in the status buffer, all notes are displayed. If text is "-", the note is erased.

/say [-n|-h|--] text::

        Send the "text" message to the currently selected buddy.  It can be useful if you want to send a message beginning with a slash, for example. +

        The "-n" flag turns the message to "normal" type, "-h" to "headline". "--" can be used to send chat message beginning with -n or -h.

/say_to [-n|-h] [-q] [-f file] jid text::

        Send the "text" message to the specified jid. +

        Please note that this command doesn't set the default resource for a contact, so if you want to send several messages to a specific resource you will have to use "/say_to" for each message. +

        The "-n" flag turns the message to "normal" type, "-h" to "headline".  "--" can be used to send chat messages beginning with -n or -h. +

        When "-q" is used, the message will be sent in the background and will not change the current active window. +

        A text file can be provided with the "-f" switch (in which case there's no need to pass a text argument after the jid, of course).

/screen_refresh::

        Refresh the mcabber screen.

/set option [= value]::

        Display or set an option value.

/source pattern::