Confer Use Tips

Confer Use Tips

If you are not familiar with CONFER, here are some tips:

  • The most common commands (from the Do Next? prompt) are:
    "NEW" to view the new messages, responses, and items.
    "TRANSMIT" to send a message to another participant.
    "MENU" to see a list of all the items.
    "LOGOUT" to exit confer.

  • When you don't want to see the remaining output type "NO" at the More? prompt. If you wish to see the remaining output, type "YES" or just hit return.

  • If there are just too many items and responses for you to deal with at first, type "START" and the computer won't output any responses on items except for the last couple days' worth.

  • Enter a question-mark ("?") whenever you want to know which options are available, or if you don't understand what's wanted.

  • Use just ENTER or RETURN at the start of a line to terminate the entry of text, when responding to an item.

  • The WAIT command allows you to change the maximum number of lines that will scroll onto the screen at a time. For example, if you've typed WAIT 15, when displaying many lines of text, Confer will prompt you with "More?" after fifteen lines. The default value is 21.

  • If your Backspace or Delete key doesn't work as expected, try holding down the Control key while you press Backspace. On a Macintosh, you can select Backspace under the session menu of NCSA Telnet.

  • To change the default editor from confer's own to pico, vi, or emacs, the command is Change Editor.

  • If you are having problems with new messages not showing up as new on your screen, the command FIXIT lets you reset which messages appear as new.

  • To see the command shortcuts that the organizers have defined, the command is ODC. If you have any suggestions to add, trans an organizer.

  • To view the SCP's (Student Conferencing Project) policy on the proper use of alias names, type "ALIAS" (without the quotes) at the Do Next? prompt.

  • To discuss meet-students policy and issues, as well as SCP-wide policy and issues, join the meet-planners conference.

  • If you have any further questions, message an organizer (who can be reached by sending a message to one of the names on the banner shown as you join meet-students) or enter a response on item 2, which is specifically for user questions.