MCabber won't connect. It says jab_start: SSL negotiation failed: self signed certificate.

Use ssl_verify = 0 in the configuration file, or set the certificates options correctly. With mcabber >=0.10 the option name is ssl_ignore_checks.

How do I connect to my Google Talk account?

With mcabber >=0.10, setting the jid variable should work. With mcabber 0.9, it should work with the following options:

set username = your.email@gmail.com
set server = talk.google.com
set ssl = 1
set ssl_verify = 0

I want to bind a key, how do I know the code number?

If the key is available, the key code will be displayed in the log window when you hit that key.

How do I create a group?

Use /move, if the target group doesn't exist it will be created.

How can I set a transparent background?

Seti color_background = default.

How do I use PGP encryption?

Please see the OpenPGP page.

How do I use OTR encryption?

Someone wrote a small HowTo.

How to retrieve mcabber source using Mercurial?

See Building mcabber from Mercurial.

How comes the cursor is not at the end of line (EOL) when I use the Up and Down arrows?

By default these keys are bound to iline hist_beginning_search_bwd/hist_beginning_search_fwd, which is very useful once you get used to it. Of course you can rebind the keys (259, 258) to iline hist_prev/hist_next if you don't like this behaviour...

Can I get rid of this timeout after hitting Escape?

You can decrease the timeout value by setting the (Ncurses) environment variable ESCDELAY (for example export ESCDELAY=25; mcabber). With mcabber > 0.9.5 there is an escdelay option.

How can I prevent mcabber from scrolling when I receive a message?

See /buffer scroll_lock and scroll_unlock. You can bind a key to buffer scroll_toggle too.

Can I use a transport with mcabber?

You cannot register with mcabber. However, once you're registered, you can log into and out of transports by sending presence to them (see /status_to).

MCabber says WARNING: Bad permissions! What are "good" permissions for mcabber?

MCabber expects its directory to be 700 (rwx------) and your configuration file should be 600 (rw-------) to ensure that nobody else can read it.

Fifo does not work in version >= 0.10.2! (also url regex)

In 0.10.2 fifo and url regex were put into a separate from mcabber modules. Module can be loaded with command /module load fifo (or url_regex respectively). This command can also be put into your mcabberrc to load them automatically at startup. Note, however, that you must set parameters for the module before loading it.

I have a feature request!

Come and tell us in the mcabber MUC room.

I want to make a donation...

Really? Get my email/jid from the sources and contact me! ;-) There's also a PayPal button on MCabber's homepage.