You have the option of telling the irc server to send a message to anyone who tries to contact you (while you are away from your keyboard). This is your <away message>. You can use the -all option to set all servers to the same <away message>. When you return, use the command without any arguments. If your <away message> starts with a hyphen, you can prefix it with a double-hyphen so it won’t be treated as an option.
While you are away:
Remember to execute the AWAY command with no arguments when you return, so the server will know that you are back!
Most networks don’t send your <away message> after a netsplit, so servers on the other side will not know you are away.
The <away message> is customarily limited to about 80 characters. If your server truncates your <away message> this is probably the reason.
If you get tired of seeing other people’s away messages each time you send them a message, you can load the newaway script (/LOAD newaway) and you will see each person’s away message only once.
To mark yourself away:
/away I'm not here right now, I'll be back soon
To mark yourself away on all servers:
/away -all I'm in the shower, back in 10 minutes
To remove your away status on one server:
/away
To remove your away status on all servers:
/away -all
The away command first appeared in ircII.
# $EPIC: away.txt,v 1.2 2006/08/01 03:10:13 sthalik Exp $