For a fun and friendly instant messaging client try Kopete for the KDE desktop. You can use Kopete to communicate with your friends and family, even using multiple communication protocols at the same time.
Kopete Features
Kopete also offers some key features that are lacking in other instant messengers. Advanced users can also expand the functionality of Kopete using plug-ins without much hassle.
More About Kopete
Kopete is also designed to integrate well with the KDE Plasma desktop, and the level of documentation is truly amazing. Be sure to check back soon, we will surely be expanding this section.
Installing Kopete
So if your current instant messenger will not suffice maybe you should try Kopete today. To install Kopete on your system open your terminal and type these commands.
$ sudo apt-get install kopete
Before you can use Kopete you may have to register an account for the service you wish to sign in on, if you don’t already have one. To register an account it is usually best to go directly to the website of the individual service. Then you can start Kopete.
Add New Accounts
To add accounts you can click on the settings menu and open the configuration window. Then click on the accounts icon and press new to add a new account. When the new account wizard opens you can select the service you want to use, then add your password and user information. After you add all the relevant information just press finished and log into your new account.
Account Options
When setting up new accounts you can also configure a few additional options. Users will be offered the ability to have Kopete remember passwords for the account being added, or you can have Kopete connect automatically when the desktop is started.
After you start Kopete your contact list will pop open and your contacts will appear if you have already set up at least one account.
Contact List
The primary part of the main window is used to display your contacts. You can right-click on each contact in your contact list to see more ways of interacting with them.
Menus
There are menus at the top of Kopete that you can use to adjust preferences or complete other actions.
Toolbar
There is also a toolbar under the menu bar. The toolbar has a few quick actions like changing your status message, and you can configure the toolbar if you want.
Status Bar
There is also a status bar at the bottom of Kopete that you can use to change your online status. And right above your status bar there is a convenient shortcut to quickly add new accounts to your Kopete contact list.
With Kopete users can also change their status or presence. This is used to determine who can see you on the network, or to let people know that you are not available for chat.
Change Your Status
You can change your status to away, or free for chat, whenever you come and go from the computer. Change your status using the status bar at the bottom of the contact list window.
Here are some of the actions and options available for the Kopete contact list.
Chat With A Contact
To begin chatting with one of your available contacts you can first right-click on the desired contact inside the contact list. Then Select the send message option, or the start chat option.
Sending Files
You can also send files to users in your contact list, that is if the chat protocol you are using supports file transfers. If file transfers are supported you can find a send file option inside the right-click menu.
Contact Groups
When using Kopete you can group contacts that use several different chat protocols into a single contact. You can also create contact groups which you can use to separate your contacts.
Adding Contacts
Users can add additional contacts from the file menu, just select the add contact option. The add contact wizard will then open guiding you through the process.
Rename Contact
From the edit menu you can select the rename contact option. In many cases you can set your own username for your contacts if their chat protocol supports it.
Remove Contact
You can even remove contacts that are no longer needed. There should be a remove contact option that can be found in your menus.
Users should also learn more about the chat window, this is where the majority of the action takes place. This is where you can communicate with with your contacts and send messages back and forth. The Chat window can even be customized. The chat window make work differently based on the service you are using and the settings you have chosen.
Chat Members
Some chat services allow for multiple contacts to chat together at the same time from the same window. If you choose to chat this way you may see a chat members list for which displays the people in the current chat.
Chat Input
This is where you can type in the messages that you would like to send to the contact or contacts that you are chatting with. Users can change the font and color of text from the chat input area toolbar.
Status Bar
The chat window also contains a status bar that is able to tell you when other users that you are chatting with are typing.
Tabbed Chatting
When you are using Kopete you can also chat with many individuals privately, but still from the same window. You can then switch witch contact you are chatting with at the time by using the tabs at the top of the chat window.
Now lets have a closer look at some of the plugins that are available for the Kopete instant messenger.
Alias Plugin
Try this plugin if you want to create your own commands, shortcuts, or scripts for the Kopete chat window.
Auto Replace Plugin
If you find yourself frequently misspelling words or constantly using abbreviations, you can use this plugin to automatically correct the parameters that you define.
Bookmarks Plugin
With this plugin you can automatically add the URL’s from incoming messages to your KDE bookmarks list.
Connection Status Plugin
This plugin will detect when your internet connection is enabled and changes your status to active or available.
Contact Notes Plugin
Store useful information about your contacts with this Kopete plugin.
Highlight Plugin
This plugin is a bit of a mystery, I believe it is able to cause automatic responses when receiving messages. The plugin is able to play sounds and even highlight text.
History Plugin
With this plugin you can record all of your conversations and read them again later.
Off The Record Plugin
Use this plugin to encrypt your conversations from anyone that may be able to intercept them.
KopeteTex
Turn your chat window into a Latex markup editor allowing you to send scientific or mathematics expressions.
Motion Auto-Away
If you are using a webcam you can use this Kopete plugin to detect when you are away and change your status.
Now Listening
Share what you are listening to with people you are chatting with using this plugin.
Statistics
Create a database that can be used to display activity patters for your contacts.
Text Effect
This plugin will add funny effects to your text when activated.
Translator
Here is a really amazing Kopete plugin, with this you can translate incoming or outgoing messages into several different languages.
Here are a few useful keyboard shortcuts that are available to help users interact with the Kopete instant messenger.
Move Through Contacts
Use the keyboard to browse through contacts inside your contact list with the next shortcuts.
Up Arrow, Down Arrow
Open And Close Groups
You can also expand groups or close groups of contacts that are opened.
Left Arrow, Right Arrow
Start A Chat
Users can also start chats using the keyboard, just navigate to the contact you want and use the shortcut below.
Enter
Display Menu Bar
You can toggle the Kopete menu bar with the next shortcut
Ctrl + M
Display Offline Contacts
Users can even toggle the display of offline contacts on or off with the following shortcut.
Ctrl + U
Display Empty Groups
Toggle the display of empty contact groups on or off with this shortcut.
Ctrl + G
Send A Message
When you finish typing a message in the chat input area you can use the shortcut below to send the message, this shortcut works differently depending on what part of the Kopete you have selected.
Enter
Print Chat Window
Thats right, use the shortcut below to quickly queue up the contents of the chat window as a print job.
Ctrl + P
Save Chat
If your settings will are set to not save chat sessions you can manually with the next shortcut.
Ctrl + S
Close Chat Tab
The next shortcut will let you close an individual chat session tab, if it is the only chat session tab in the window then the entire window will close.
Ctrl + W
Switch Chat Tab
You can also switch between chat tabs using only the keyboard, just use the shortcuts below.
Ctrl + , or Ctrl + .
Separate Tab From Window
If your chat windows become too crowded you can easily move a single tab to a separate window at any time, the next shortcut will help.
Ctrl + Shift + B
Auto Complete Nickname
When you are chatting with someone you can even use the shortcut below to have Kopete auto-complete their nickname after you have only typed part of the name.
Tab
Open Message
If you a new incoming message you can open the message window with the following shortcut.
Ctrl + Shift + I
Display Or Hide Contact List
With the next shortcut you can open your contact list, do it again to hide the contact list. If your Kopete system tray icon is disabled you will need to use this shortcut again to display the contact list, don’t forget.
Ctrl + Shift + C
Tags: chat, download, install, KDE, kopete, kubuntu, messaging | Posted in Applications
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