Installation problems --------------------- You'll need to have perl support compiled with irssi. If "/LOAD" doesn't show perl in list of loaded modules, you have a problem. See INSTALL file for information about perl problems. Running scripts --------------- Scripts are run with /SCRIPT LOAD command, or the default /RUN alias. "/SCRIPT" shows list of running script, and /SCRIPT UNLOAD can unload scripts. Scripts should be placed to ~/.irssi/scripts/ or /usr/local/lib/irssi/scripts/ (or depending on where irssi was installed) directories. After that /RUN script_name should work, you don't need to add the .pl prefix. Irssi's signals --------------- Irssi is pretty much based on sending and handling different signals. Like when you receive a message from server, say :nick!user@there.org PRIVMSG you :blahblah Irssi will first send a signal: "server incoming", SERVER_REC, "nick!user@there PRIVMSG ..." You probably don't want to use this signal. Default handler for this signal interprets the header and sends a signal: "server event", SERVER_REC, "PRIVMSG ...", "nick", "user@there.org" You probably don't want to use this either, since this signal's default handler parses the event string and sends a signal: "event privmsg", SERVER_REC, "you :blahblah", "nick", "user@there.org" You can at any point grab the signal, do whatever you want to do with it and optionally stop it from going any further by calling Irssi::signal_stop(); For example: sub event_privmsg { # $data = "nick/#channel :text" my ($server, $data, $nick, $address) = @_; my ($target, $text) = split(/ :/, $data, 2); Irssi::signal_stop() if ($text =~ /free.*porn/ || $nick =~ /idiot/); } Irssi::signal_add("event privmsg", "event_privmsg") This will hide all public or private messages that match the regexp "free.*porn" or the sender's nick contain the word "idiot". Yes, you could use /IGNORE instead for both of these :) You can also use signal_add_last() if you wish to let the Irssi's internal functions be run before yours. A list of signals that irssi sends can be found from signals.txt file. Creating/replacing /COMMANDS ---------------------------- You can create your own commands, or replace existing ones with Irssi::command_bind(). The command handling work internally pretty much the same as signal handlers, so if you replace existing command and don't wish to let it run, call Irssi::signal_stop(). Here's an example: # Usage: /HELLO [] sub cmd_hello { # data - contains the parameters for /HELLO # server - the active server in window # witem - the active window item (eg. channel, query) # or undef if the window is empty my ($data, $server, $witem) = @_; if (!$server || !$server->{connected}) { Irssi::print("Not connected to server"); return; } if ($data) { $server->command("MSG $data Hello!"); } elsif ($witem && ($witem->{type} eq "CHANNEL" || $witem->{type} eq "QUERY")) { # there's query/channel active in window $witem->command("MSG ".$witem->{name}." Hello!"); } else { Irssi::print("Nick not given, and no active channel/query in window"); } } Irssi::command_bind('hello', 'cmd_hello'); Message levels -------------- Several functions expect message levels. They're used to roughly classify messages. They're used by a lot of things including logging, ignoring, highlighting, etc. so you should use as good level as possible. It's possible to have several levels in one message, like ACTIONS+PUBLIC or ACTIONS+MSGS. Here's all the levels that irssi supports currently: CRAP, MSGS, PUBLIC, NOTICES, SNOTES, CTCPS, ACTIONS, JOINS, PARTS QUITS, KICKS, MODES, TOPICS, WALLOPS, INVITES, NICKS, DCC, DCCMSGS, CLIENTNOTICE, CLIENTCRAP, CLIENTERROR And a few special ones that could be included with the levels above: HILIGHT - text is highlighted NOHILIGHT - don't check highlighting for this message NO_ACT - don't trigger channel activity when printing this message NEVER - never ignore or log this message (not a good idea usually) You can use them with a MSGLEVEL_ prefix, for example: $server->print("#channel", 'Hello, world', MSGLEVEL_CLIENTCRAP); Writes text to #channel window with CLIENTCRAP level. Window items ------------ Meaning of "window" should be pretty clear, but "window item" is something I couldn't really figure out a better name for :) They're simply something that's inside a window, a channel or a query usually. Windows can have multiple items inside them. It's possible to create non-channel/query window items too, currently the third possible window item is created by /EXEC -interactive. In scripts, I think you can quite safely assume that the window item is query or channel if the script is intended to be run in one of them. Stupid users won't probably have other window items, and smart users know where to run the script, or at least later figure out why it didn't work :) Functions that you can use in Irssi's Perl scripts -------------------------------------------------- If there's a "Xxxx::" text before the command, it means that it belongs to that package. Like "Server::command" means that you should either call it as Irssi::Server::command($server, $cmd); or more easily: $server->command($cmd); Commands that don't have the Xxxx prefix are called as Irssi::command(); Information from most objects can be fetched with $object->{data}, for example current nick in server could be read with $server->{nick}. List of all the information that are in objects are in "Object->{}" sections below. Commands are split in two groups, generic ones that could be used with any chat protocol, and IRC specific commands. If you want to use IRC specific commands, or use IRC specific ->{data} in your scripts, you'll need to add "use Irssi::Irc" to your scripts. IRC specific commands are listed after the generic ones. *** General Window active_win() - return active window Server active_server() - return server in active window windows() - return list of all windows servers() - return list of all servers reconnects() - return list of all server reconnections channels() - return list of all channels queries() - return list of all queries commands() - return list of all commands logs() - return list of all log files ignores() - returns list of all ignores Server::channels() - return list of channels in server Server::queries() - return list of queries in server print(str[, level]) Server::print(channel, str[, level]) Window::print(str[, level]) Windowitem::print(str[, level]) Print `str'. Default level is MSGLEVEL_CLIENTNOTICE. command(cmd) Server::command(cmd) Window::command(cmd) Windowitem::command(cmd) Send a command `cmd' (in current channel). The '/' char isn't needed. *** Themes You can have user configurable texts in scripts that work just like irssi's internal texts that can be changed in themes. First you'll have to register the formats: Irssi::theme_register([ 'format_name', '{hilight my perl format!}', 'format2', 'testing.. nick = $0, channel = $1' ]); Printing happens with one of the functions: printformat(level, format, ...) Window::printformat(level, format, ...) Server::printformat(target, level, format, ...) Windowitem::printformat(level, format, ...) For example: $channel->printformat(MSGLEVEL_CRAP, 'format2', 'nick', $channel->{name}); *** Settings settings_get_str(key) settings_get_int(key) settings_get_bool(key) Return value for setting. settings_add_str(section, key, def) settings_add_int(section, key, def) settings_add_bool(section, key, def) Create new setting. settings_remove(key) Remove a setting. *** Signals signal_emit(signal, ...) Send signal `signal'. You can give 6 parameters at maximum. signal_add(signal, func) Bind `signal' to function `func'. signal_add_first(signal, func) Bind `signal' to function `func'. Call `func' as soon as possible. signal_add_last(signal, func) Bind `signal' to function `func'. Call `func' as late as possible. signal_remove(signal, func) Unbind `signal' from function `func'. signal_stop() Stop the signal that's currently being emitted. signal_stop_by_name(signal) Stop the signal with name `signal' that's currently being emitted. *** timeouts / IO listener timeout_add(msecs, func, data) Call `func' every `msecs' milliseconds (1000 = 1 second) with parameter `data'. Returns tag which can be used to stop the timeout. timeout_remove(tag) Remove timeout with tag. input_add(source, condition, func, data) Call `func' with parameter `data' when specified IO happens. `source' is the file handle that is being listened. `condition' can be INPUT_READ, INPUT_WRITE or both. Returns tag which can be used to remove the listener. input_remove(tag) Remove listener with tag. *** Message levels level2bits(level) Level string -> number bits2level(bits) Level number -> string combine_level(level, str) Combine level number to level string ("+level -level"). Return new level number. *** Commands Command->{} cmd - Command name category - Category command_bind(cmd, func[, category]) Bind command `cmd' to call function `func'. `category' is the category where the command is displayed in /HELP. command_runsub(cms, data, server, item) Run subcommands for `cmd'. First word in `data' is parsed as subcommand. `server' is Irssi::Server rec for current Irssi::Windowitem `item'. Call command_runsub in handler function for `cmd' and bind with command_bind("`cmd' `subcmd'", subcmdfunc[, category]); command_unbind(cmd, func) Unbind command `cmd' from function 'func. *** Windows UI::Window->{} refnum - Reference number name - Name width - Width height - Height history_name - Name of named historylist for this window active - Active window item active_server - Active server servertag - active_server must be either undef or have this same tag (unless there's items in this window). This is used by /WINDOW SERVER -sticky level - Current window level sticky_refnum - 1 if reference number is sticky data_level - Current data level hilight_color - Current activity hilight color last_timestamp - Last time timestamp was written in window last_line - Last time text was written in window theme_name - Active theme in window, undef = default UI::TextDest->{} window - Window where the text will be written server - Target server target - Target channel/query/etc name level - Text level hilight_priority - Priority for the hilighted text hilight_color - Color for the hilighted text Window::items() Return a list of items in window. Window window_create(automatic) Windowitem::window_create(automatic) Create a new window. Window::destroy() Destroy the window. Irssi::Window Windowitem::window() Returns parent window for window item. Window window_find_name(name) Find window with name. Window window_find_refnum(refnum) Find window with reference number. Window window_find_level(level) Server::window_find_level(level) Find window with level. Window window_find_closest(name, level) Server::window_find_closest(name, level) Find window that matches best to given arguments. `name' can be either window name or name of one of the window items. Window window_find_item(name) Server::window_find_item(name) Find window which contains window item with specified name/server. Windowitem window_item_find(name) Server::window_item_find(name) Window::item_find(server, name) Find window item that matches best to given arguments. window_refnum_prev(refnum, wrap) window_refnum_next(refnum, wrap) Return refnum for window that's previous/next in windows list. windows_refnum_last() Return refnum for last window. Window::item_add(item, automatic) Window::item_remove(item) Window::item_destroy(item) Add/remove/destroy window item Window::set_active() Set window active. Window::change_server(server) Window::set_refnum(refnum) Window::set_name(name) Window::set_history(name) Window::set_level(level) Change server/refnum/name/history/level in window. Windowitem::set_active() Change window item active in parent window. Window::item_prev() Window::item_next() Change to previous/next window item. Windowitem::change_server(server) Change server in window item. Windowitem::is_active() Returns 1 if window item is the active item in parent window. Window::get_active_name() Return active item's name, or if none is active, window's name *** Server Connects Connect->{} type - "SERVER CONNECT" text chat_type - String ID of chat protocol, for example "IRC" address - Address where we connected (irc.blah.org) port - Port where we connected chatnet - Chat network password - Password we used in connection. wanted_nick - Nick which we would prefer to use username - User name realname - Real name Connect server_create_conn(address[, port=6667[, password=''[, nick=''[, channels='']]]]) Create new server connection. *** Server functions Server->{} type - "SERVER" text chat_type - String ID of chat protocol, for example "IRC" (..contains all the same data as Connect above..) connect_time - Time when connect() to server finished real_connect_time - Time when server sent "connected" message tag - Unique server tag nick - Current nick connected - Is connection finished? 1|0 connection_lost - Did we lose the connection (1) or was the connection just /DISCONNECTed (0) rawlog - Rawlog object for the server version - Server version last_invite - Last channel we were invited to server_operator - Are we server operator (IRC op) 1|0 usermode_away - Are we marked as away? 1|0 away_reason - Away reason message banned - Were we banned from this server? 1|0 lag - Current lag to server in milliseconds Server Connect::connect() Connect to server. Server::disconnect() Disconnect from server. Server server_find_tag(tag) Find server with tag Server server_find_chatnet(chatnet) Find first server that is in `chatnet' Server::isnickflag(flag) Returns 1 if flag is a nick mode flag (@, + or % in IRC) Server::ischannel(data) Returns 1 if start of `data' seems to mean channel. Server::get_nick_flags() Returns nick flag characters in order: op, voice, halfop ("@+%" in IRC). Server::send_message(target, msg, target_type) Sends a message to nick/channel. target_type 0 = channel, 1 = nick *** Server reconnections Reconnect->{} type - "RECONNECT" text chat_type - String ID of chat protocol, for example "IRC" (..contains all the same data as Connect above..) tag - Unique numeric tag next_connect - Unix time stamp when the next connection occurs *** Chat networks Chatnet->{} type - "CHATNET" text chat_type - String ID of chat protocol, for example "IRC" name - name of chat network nick - if not empty, nick preferred in this network username - if not empty, username preferred in this network realname - if not empty, realname preferred in this network own_host - address to use when connecting this network autosendcmd - command to send after connecting to this network chatnet_find(name) Find chat network with name. *** Server redirections This is a powerful feature of Irssi that I haven't seen in other IRC clients. You can EASILY grab the server's reply for a command you send to server without any horrible kludges. redirect_register(command, remote, timeout, start, stop, opt) Register new redirection command. By default irssi has already registered at least: whois, whowas, who, list, ison, userhost, ping, "mode channel" (/MODE #channel), "mode b" (/MODE #channel b), "mode e" and "mode I". `command' specifies the name of the command to register, it doesn't have to be a real command name, but something you just specify to redirect_event() when using this redirection. `remote' specifies if the command is by default a remote command (eg. sent to another server). redirect_event() may override this. `timeout' - If remote is TRUE, specifies how many seconds to wait for reply before aborting. `start', `stop', `opt' - hash references with "event" => argpos entries. List of events that start and stop this redirection. Start event list may be empty, but there must be at least one stop event. Optional events are checked only if they are received immediately after one of the stop-events. `argpos' specifies the word number in event string which is compared to wanted argument, -1 = don't compare, TRUE always. Example (already done by irssi): Irssi::redirect_register('mode channel', 0, 0, undef, # no start events { # stop events "event 324" => 1, # MODE-reply "event 403" => 1, # no such channel "event 442" => 1, # "you're not on that channel" "event 479" => 1 # "Cannot join channel (illegal name)" }, { # optional events "event 329", 1 # Channel create time } ); Server::redirect_event(command, count, arg, remote, failure_signal, signals) Specify that the next command sent to server will be redirected. NOTE: This command MUST be called before sending the command to server. `command' - Name of the registered redirection that we're using. `count' - How many times to execute the redirection. Some commands may send multiple stop events, like MODE #a,#b. `arg' - The argument to be compared in event strings. You can give multiple arguments separated with space. `remote' - Specifies if the command is a remote command, -1 = use default. `failure_signal' - If irssi can't find the stop signal for the redirection, this signal is called. `signals' - hash reference with "event" => "redir signal" entries. If the event is "", all the events belonging to the redirection but not specified here, will be sent there. Example: # ignore all events generated by whois query, except 311. $server->redirect_event("whois", 1, "cras", 0, undef, { "event 311" => "redir whois", "" => "event empty" }); $server->send_raw("WHOIS :cras"); *** Window items Windowitem->{} type - Type of the window item, for example "CHANNEL" or "QUERY" chat_type - String ID of chat protocol, for example "IRC" server - Active server for item name - Name of the item createtime - Time the window item was created data_level - 0=no new data, 1=text, 2=msg, 3=highlighted text hilight_color - Color of the last highlighted text *** Channels Channel->{} type - "CHANNEL" text chat_type - String ID of chat protocol, for example "IRC" (..contains all the same data as Windowitem above..) topic - Channel topic topic_by - Nick who set the topic topic_time - Timestamp when the topic was set no_modes - Channel is modeless mode - Channel mode limit - Max. users in channel (+l mode) key - Channel key (password) chanop - You are channel operator names_got - /NAMES list has been received wholist - /WHO list has been received synced - Channel is fully synchronized joined - JOIN event for this channel has been received left - You just left the channel (for "channel destroyed" event) kicked - You was just kicked out of the channel (for "channel destroyed" event) Server::channels_join(channels, automatic) Join to channels in server. `channels' may also contain keys for channels just like with /JOIN command. `automatic' specifies if this channel was joined "automatically" or if it was joined because join was requested by user. If channel join is "automatic", irssi doesn't jump to the window where the channel was joined. Channel::destroy() Destroy channel. Channel channel_find(channel) Find channel from any server. Channel Server::channel_find(channel) Find channel from specified server. *** Nick list Nick->{} type - "NICK" text chat_type - String ID of chat protocol, for example "IRC" nick - Plain nick host - Host address realname - Real name hops - Hop count to the server the nick is using gone, serverop - User status, 1 or 0 op, voice, halfop - Channel status, 1 or 0 last_check - timestamp when last checked gone/ircop status. send_massjoin - Waiting to be sent in a "massjoin" signal, 1 or 0 Nick Channel::nick_insert(nick, op, voice, send_massjoin) Add nick to nicklist. Channel::nick_remove(nick) Remove nick from nicklist. Nick Channel::nick_find(nick) Find nick from nicklist. Nick Channel::nick_find_mask(mask) Find nick mask from nicklist, wildcards allowed. Channel::nicks(channel) Return a list of all nicks in channel. Server::nicks_get_same(nick) Return all nick objects in all channels in server. List is in format: Channel, Nick, Channel, ... *** Queries Query->{} type - "QUERY" text chat_type - String ID of chat protocol, for example "IRC" (..contains all the same data as Windowitem above..) address - Host address of the queries nick server_tag - Server tag used for this nick (doesn't get erased if server gets disconnected) unwanted - 1 if the other side closed or some error occured (DCC chats) Query query_create(chat_type, server_tag, nick, automatic) Create a new query. Query::destroy() Destroy the query. Query::query_change_server(server) Change the active server of the query. Query query_find(nick) Find query from any server. Query Server::query_find(nick) Find query from specified server. *** Masks You should use the Server version of the function if possible, since with different chat protocols the mask matching could be different. mask_match(mask, nick, user, host) Server::mask_match(mask, nick, user, host) Return 1 if `mask' matches nick!user@host. mask_match_address(mask, nick, address) Server::mask_match_address(mask, nick, address) Return 1 if `mask' matches nick!address. masks_match(masks, nick, address) Server::masks_match(masks, nick, address) Return 1 if any mask in the `masks' (string separated with spaces) matches nick!address. *** Rawlog Rawlog->{} logging - The rawlog is being written to file currently nlines - Number of lines in rawlog Rawlog rawlog_create() Create a new rawlog. Rawlog::destroy() Destroy the rawlog. Rawlog::get_lines() Returns all lines in rawlog. rawlog_set_size(lines) Set the default rawlog size for new rawlogs. Rawlog::open(filename) Start logging new messages in rawlog to specified file. Rawlog::close() Stop logging to file. Rawlog::save(filename) Save the current rawlog history to specified file. Rawlog::input(str) Send `str' to raw log as input text. Rawlog::output(str) Send `str' to raw log as output text. Rawlog::redirect(str) Send `str' to raw log as redirection text. *** Logging Log->{} fname - Log file name real_fname - The actual opened log file (after %d.%m.Y etc. are expanded) opened - Log file is open level - Log only these levels last - Timestamp when last message was written autoopen - Automatically open log at startup failed - Opening log failed last time temp - Log isn't saved to config file items - List of log items Logitem->{} type - 0=target, 1=window refnum name - Name servertag - Server tag Log log_create_rec(fname, level) Create log file. Log::update() Add log to list of logs / save changes to config file. Log log_find(fname) Find log with file name. Log::close() Destroy log file. Log::start_logging() Open log file and start logging. Log::stop_logging() Close log file. Log::item_add(type, name, server) Add log item to log. Log::item_destroy(item) Remove log item from log. Logitem Log::item_find(type, item, server) Find item from log. *** Ignores Ignore->{} mask - Ignore mask servertag - Ignore only in server channels - Ignore only in channels (list of names) pattern - Ignore text pattern level - Ignore level exception - This is an exception ignore regexp - Regexp pattern matching fullword - Pattern matches only full words ignore_add_rec(ignore) Add ignore record. ignore_update_rec(ignore) Update ignore record in configuration ignore_check(nick, host, channel, text, level) Server::ignore_check(nick, host, channel, text, level) Return 1 if ignoring matched. *** *** IRC specific functions. All objects below this are prefixed with Irc:: *** *** IRC servers Irc::Server->{} (..contains all the same data as core Server object..) real_address - Address the IRC server gives usermode - User mode in server userhost - Your user host in server Irc::Connect->{} (..contains all the same data as core Connect object..) alternate_nick - Alternate nick to use if default nick is taken. Connect::connect() Connect to IRC server. Server::get_channels(server) Return a string of all channels (and keys, if any have them) in server, like "#a,#b,#c,#d x,b_chan_key,x,x" or just "#e,#f,#g" Server::send_raw(cmd) Send raw message to server, it will be flood protected so you don't need to worry about it. Server::send_raw_now(cmd) Send raw message to server immediately without flood protection. Server::send_raw_split(cmd, nickarg, max_nicks) Split the `cmd' into several commands so `nickarg' argument has only `max_nicks' number of nicks. Example: $server->send_raw_split("KICK #channel nick1,nick2,nick3 :byebye", 3, 2); Irssi will send commands "KICK #channel nick1,nick2 :byebye" and "KICK #channel nick3 :byebye" to server. Server::ctcp_send_reply(data) Send CTCP reply. This will be "CTCP flood protected" so if there's too many CTCP requests in buffer, this reply might not get sent. The data is the full raw command to be sent to server, like "NOTICE nick :\001VERSION irssi\001" *** IRC channels Ban->{} ban - The ban setby - Nick of who set the ban time - Timestamp when ban was set Channel::bans() Return a list of bans in channel. Channel::ban_get_mask(nick) Get ban mask for `nick'. Channel::banlist_add(ban, nick, time) Add a new ban to channel. Channel::banlist_remove(ban) Remove a ban from channel. *** DCC Dcc->{} type - Type of the DCC: chat, send, get orig_type - Original DCC type that was sent to us - same as type except GET and SEND are swapped created - Time stamp when the DCC record was created server - Server record where the DCC was initiated. servertag - Tag of the server where the DCC was initiated. mynick - Our nick to use in DCC chat. nick - Other side's nick name. chat - Dcc chat record if the request came through DCC chat target - Who the request was sent to - your nick, channel or empty if you sent the request arg - Given argument .. file name usually addr - Other side's IP address. port - Port we're connecting in. starttime - Unix time stamp when the DCC transfer was started transfd - Bytes transferred Dcc::Chat->{} id - Unique identifier - usually same as nick mirc_ctcp - Send CTCPs without the CTCP_MESSAGE prefix connection_lost - Other side closed connection Dcc::Get->{} (..contains all the same data as core Dcc object..) size - File size skipped - Bytes skipped from start (resuming file) get_type - What to do if file exists? 0=default, 1=rename, 2=overwrite, 3=resume file - The real file name which we use. file_quoted - 1 if file name was received quoted ("file name") Dcc::Send->{} (..contains all the same data as core Dcc object..) size - File size skipped - Bytes skipped from start (resuming file) file_quoted - 1 if file name was received quoted ("file name") waitforend - File is sent, just wait for the replies from the other side gotalldata - Got all acks from the other end dccs() - return list of all dcc connections Dcc::destroy() Destroy DCC connection. Dcc dcc_find_item(type, nick, arg) Find DCC connection. Dcc dcc_find_by_port(nick, port) Find DCC connection by port. Dcc Windowitem::get_dcc(item) If `item' is a query of a =nick, return DCC chat record of nick. Dcc::chat_send(data) Send `data' to dcc chat. Server::dcc_ctcp_message(target, notice, msg) Dcc::ctcp_message(target, notice, msg) Send a CTCP message/notify to target. *** Netsplits Netsplit->{} nick - Nick address - Nick's host destroy - Timestamp when this record should be destroyed server - Netsplitserver object channels - list of channels (Netsplitchannel objects) the nick was in Netsplitserver->{} server - The server nick was in destserver - The other server where split occured. count - Number of splits in server Netsplitchannel->{} name - Channel name nick - Nick object Netsplit Server::netsplit_find(nick, address) Check if nick!address is on the other side of netsplit. Netsplit records are automatically removed after 30 minutes (current default).. Nick Server::netsplit_find_channel(nick, address, channel) Find nick record for nick!address in channel `channel'. *** Notify list Notifylist->{} mask - Notify nick mask away_check - Notify away status changes idle_check_time - Notify when idle time is reset and idle was bigger than this (seconds) ircnets - List of ircnets (strings) the notify is checked notifies() - Return list of all notifies Notifylist notifylist_add(mask, ircnets, away_check, idle_check_time) Add new item to notify list. notifylist_remove(mask) Remove item from notify list. Notifylist notifylist_find(mask, ircnet) Find notify. Server notifylist_ison(nick, serverlist) Check if `nick' is in IRC. `serverlist' is a space separated list of server tags. If it's empty string, all servers will be checked. Server::notifylist_ison_server(nick) Check if `nick' is on IRC server. Notifylist::ircnets_match(ircnet) Returns 1 if notify is checked in `ircnet'. *** /EXEC processes Process->{} id - ID for the process name - Name for the process (if given) args - The command that is being executed pid - PID for the executed command target - send text with /msg ... target_win - print text to this window shell - start the program via /bin/sh notice - send text with /notice, not /msg if target is set silent - don't print "process exited with level xx"