How-to Guides

Wiscchat: Create a public chatroom

September 16, 2009 by Sue Weier

A Wiscchat public chatroom is a simple and easy way to chat with a group. Features of the public chatroom include:

• Access through a web browser, so no extra software is required. 
• Login with UW netid, so no special accounts are needed.  
• Listing in the browsable Wiscchat directory
• Default temporary status, meaning that the room disappears when the last participant exits.  This can be changed to permanent status, if desired. Permanent chatrooms remain available until manually deleted by the owner. 

Typical Uses:  This sort of chatroom is great for casual use - to chat about an assignment, prepare informally for an exam, or just review. It would probably not be appropriate for an instructor-led course activity or office hours.

Any UW netid holder can create a public chatroom following these instructions:

1. In your web browser, go to https://wiscmail.wisc.edu/chat. If you are already logged into Wiscmail, click the Wiscchat link at the top.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and click "Join or create a chatroom".
3. Type in a name for your room. Do not use spaces or punctuation. For example: suesroom, not Sue's room
4. Click Enter>>.  You will be logged into the room with your netid.
5. For help with commands in the chatroom, click "How to use this" in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Next, you'll want to alert your friends/classmates about the chatroom.  You can send the URL of the chatroom to participants, or the participants can visit http://wiscmail.wisc.edu/chat and enter the chatroom name.

Remember that any UW netid holder could potentially find the room in the Wiscchat directory and log in.  As the owner of the chatroom, you have special privileges, including "kick" and "ban".  Kick will force an individual out of the room.  Ban prevents an individual from returning to the room.  Right-click on the individual to use these commands.