Many people think that since version 4.x of the Skype Windows Client does not have "Public Chat" support, that it now is impossible to place links on your web site, blog or in your emails to invite others to Skype chats you have created.
I am here to tell you, this is NOT true, and better yet. I will show you how to do it and the links to your chats will work for people that have older Skype versions, as well as Linux and Mac Skype versions.
You can turn any Skype chat into an easily found one using links on web pages, in blogs and in your emails by following these instructions. If the chat is already created, simply skip the chat creations steps and follow the rest of these instructions.
First You will need to create a Skype group chat, you can do that by using the Skype 4.X Windows Client:
Contacts -> Create New Group
The Default name of the Group will be "Emtpy Group" you can change the name of this group chat by simply entering in the group chat window you just created as you would do when you send any chat message, enter the text below and then send the command:
/topic [text]
Of course you can use the Skype chat window and change the text and add or change a picture for the Skype group chat you just created as well.
If you want to protect the topic text and any picture you assign to this Skype group chat from being modified by anyone but you, the creator, you can do this by simply entering in the group chat window you just created as you would do when you send any chat message, enter the text below and then send the command:
/set options +TOPIC_AND_PIC_LOCKED_FOR_USERS
You will now need to determine what options your group chat will support:
Option Description
- JOINING_ENABLED When this bit is off, new users cannot join the chat.
- JOINERS_BECOME_APPLICANTS When this bit is on, new users will be able to join the chat but they will be unable to post or receive messages until authorized by one of the chat administrators (CREATOR or MASTER).
- JOINERS_BECOME_LISTENERS When this bit is on, new users will be able to receive message in chat but unable to post until promoted to USER role. Basically a read-only flag for new users.
- HISTORY_DISCLOSED When this bit is off, newly joined members can see chat history prior to their joining. Maximum amount of history backlog available is either 400 messages or 2 weeks of time, depending on which limit is reached first.
- USERS_ARE_LISTENERS Read-only flag for chat members with USER role.
- TOPIC_AND_PIC_LOCKED_FOR_USERS When this bit of options is off, USER level chat members can change chat topic and the topic picture.
/set options +JOINERS_BECOME_APPLICANTS
or to remove the chat option
/set options -JOINERS_BECOME_APPLICANTS
NOTE: Please remember that if the JOINING_ENABLED option is not set, then people will NOT be able to join your chat via a link, you will need to add them or invite them.
So, even if you post a link to your chat if JOINING_ENABLED is not set as a chat option, the link to your chat will do nothing.
Always use the /get options command to check what current chat options are set for your chat, just to make sure that all the options are as you want them.
You can even set a password to join your chat if you desire. Simply enter in the group chat window you just created as you would do when you send any chat message, enter the text below and then send the command:
/set password [text]
No spaces are allowed in the password. You can also provide a hint about the password, so that people who may forget might remember if they see the password hint. Simply enter in the group chat window you just created as you would do when you send any chat message, enter the text below and then send the command:
/set password_hint [text]
You can set the password and the password hint at the same time. Simply enter in the group chat window you just created as you would do when you send any chat message, enter the text below and then send the command:
/setpassword [password] [password hint]
If people want to see what the password hint is, they would simply enter in the group chat window you just created as you would do when you send any chat message, enter the text below and then send the command:
/get password_hint
To show at anytime what chat options are set simply enter in the group chat window you just created as you would do when you send any chat message, enter the text below and then send the command:
/get options
NOTE: If you decide to not let people post messages right away when they join your chat, or not let them join your chat before they are approved, you will need to manually change each persons role in the chat when you allow them to join or post messages in the chat or if you promote them to more than a normal user of the chat, see /set role below for more information.
All people in your chat can have roles, here are the roles each person can be assigned:
- Creator Member who created the chat. There can be only one creator per chat. Only creator can promote other members to masters.
- Master Also known as chat hosts. Masters cannot promote other people to masters.
- Helper A semi-privileged member. Helpers will not be affected by the USERS_ARE_LISTENERS option. Helpers cannot promote or demote other members.
- User Regular member who can post messages into the chat.
- Listener Member can only see messages but not post anything into the chat.
- Applicant A member waiting for acceptance into the chat. Member cannot be demoted to applicants once they have been accepted.
/setrole [Skype Name] MASTER | HELPER | USER | LISTENER
You can change the role of anyone in your chat at anytime. To see what the role of a person currently is, simply enter in the group chat window you just created as you would do when you send any chat message, enter the text below and then send the command:
/whois [Skype Name]
You now should be ready to get the link to use for your web pages, blogs or email for this new chat.
To get the link for this new group chat using a Skype for Windows Client of 4.x simply enter in the group chat window you just created as you would do when you send any chat message, enter the text below and then send the command:
/get uri
Right click on the link displayed and choose "Copy Link Location"
Replace the Bold text below, with the text you copied by doing "Copy Link Location" by highlighting the Bold text and then right clicking on it with your mouse and selecting paste after you copied this example text below where your link will reside.
Now, on your web site, blog or email, you can create a link to the Skype chat of your choice, by doing one of the following:
Using this page as an example:
http://www.skype.com/share/buttons/wizard.html
You can use the JavaScript, with your Group Chat Link, example. I used to wizard to build with a button, and chaged the a href to the uri of the chat instead. Of course, you can use your own image, or link, as well. These are just examples.
Copy the uri from this command in your chat:
/get uri
HTML Example for Web Pages, Blogs and the like:
<!--
Skype 'Chat with me' button
http://www.skype.com/go/skypebuttons
-->
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/js/skypeCheck.js"></script>
<a href="skype:?chat&blob=fEwLUAFlBjsZA8OU_FtG8RKf0Kfo0fU47IMUh1K1LaEuVXR8AnC1tgm8IdCJdAc6HZKersOzmRwb1ATuw
OAo-GVeIBfhRXKOdsfg1mjhC90V9t_hl1MTSL3h8hvPEVzPYpUtUjnTCVJRbzf7JzscFnmGAJn4CUOAh4dk4V1tb8HltLa
5t_MCuv65mFIC1p6qPotDUf48erU"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/chat_blue_white_164x52.png" style="border: none;" width="164" height="52" alt="Chat with me" /></a>
If you change the wizard above to use email, and again, replace the a href with the chat uri, you can have a link to download and install Skype, with your button as an example.
This is the ONLY method that will work for all Email, since most email clients, will not alow JavaScript. This allows the person to "Get Skype" if in fact the uri fails.
HTML example for Email:
<a href="skype:?chat&blob=fEwLUAFlBjsZA8OU_FtG8RKf0Kfo0fU47IMUh1K1LaEuVXR8AnC1tgm8IdCJdAc6HZKersOzmRwb1ATuw
OAo-GVeIBfhRXKOdsfg1mjhC90V9t_hl1MTSL3h8hvPEVzPYpUtUjnTCVJRbzf7JzscFnmGAJn4CUOAh4dk4V1tb8HltLa
5t_MCuv65mFIC1p6qPotDUf48erU"><img src="http://download.skype.com/share/skypebuttons/buttons/chat_blue_white_164x52.png" style="border: none;" width="164" height="52" alt="Chat with me" /></a>
<br /><a href="http://www.skype.com/go/download">Get Skype</a> and call me for free.<br /><br />
So, as you can see, there is absolutely, NO difference in the methods of the older Public Chat links, these methods, work EXACTLY the same.
Note: You can also change the text "Chat with me" in both cases to any text you like.
There are many many more chat commands, here are some links to more about them:
http://support.skype.com/en_GB/faq/FA10042...mands-and-roles
http://kosi2801.freepgs.com/2008/12/20/sky...t_commands.html
You should now be able to create as many chats as you wish, with as many different settings as you wish and provide links for people to join them, in your web pages, blogs and emails.
You also can at anytime get help for most of these commands, simply enter in the group chat window you just created as you would do when you send any chat message, enter the text below and then send the command:
/help
You also can make the buttons and links to many other Skype services as well from Blog pages, Web pages and in Email. Here is a working example, see top center:
http://VirtualPhoneCalling.com
Here is how it was done:
("Note: All these links below are helpful"):
http://www.skype.com/share/buttons/
http://www.skype.com/share/buttons/wizard.html
http://www.skype.com/share/buttons/advanced.html
https://developer.skype.com/Docs/WebCopy?ac...webdevnotes.pdf
If you have any questions about how to do these things or need help doing these things, please post them here.
Enjoy