running norc

norc                    # the default account (account in conf), or the only configured one
norc -a work            # account "work" (file name, local part of the jid, or the jid)
norc -a work --no-input # without input line, e.g. in the background
norc -j me@example.org  # without config file (asks for the password)

Option	Description
-a, --account <name>	account to use: the file name in accounts/, or the local part (me) or jid of a configured account if it is unique
-j, --jid <jid>	use this jid instead of a configured account
-c, --config <dir>	config directory
--host <host>, --port <port>	server host and port
--resource <res>	resource of the jid, overrides resource of the config and a resource given with the jid
-i, --interactive	read commands from stdin, also if it is no terminal (e.g. piped commands); the default on a terminal, when norc runs in its foreground
--no-input	don't read commands from the terminal: only show messages and events (e.g. norc in a terminal multiplexer, with hooks or the socket interface)
--api	enable the socket interface
--stdin	the API over stdin and stdout instead of a socket (JSON lines, no token); other output goes to stderr; needs password_cmd
--xmpp-debug	print the XMPP stream (passwords are hidden)
--no-color	disable colored output
--silent	print nothing: no messages, notices or errors (only errors that stop norc, e.g. an invalid config); for norc running in the background with hooks or the socket interface; no input line, not with -i, needs password_cmd
-v, --version	show the version
-h, --help	show the help

On a terminal norc reads commands (interactive mode). Started in the background (norc &), with --no-input, --stdin, --silent, or with stdin no terminal (e.g. a systemd service), it doesn't, and only prints incoming messages and presence changes; use hooks or the socket interface to act on them. norc reconnects automatically after the connection was lost.

Each account can only be used by one norc process at a time; a second one stops with already running (pid …). For several accounts, run several norc processes.

The interactive prompt

On a terminal, norc shows a prompt (> ) and prints incoming messages above it. The prompt shows calls, rooms and file transfers while there are any, e.g. ☎1/0 #2 ⇅0/1 > : one call connected and none ringing, two rooms, a file offered to you (see prompt in the configuration).

When a contact's client received your message (delivery receipt), a ✓ is added at the end of the message, if it is still on the screen; else a line ✓ alice: the start of the message is printed.

/chat <contact> starts the chat mode: the prompt shows the contact, and lines without / are sent to it. The last messages with the contact are shown first, from the archive of the server (chat_history, if the server keeps one). /room join <room> starts the group chat mode in the room, the same with the room's prompt (#room> ); /chat <room> returns to a joined room. The prompts of the three modes are set with prompt, chat_prompt and room_prompt (see Configuration). Commands keep working; /chat or Ctrl-C on an empty line leaves it.

In chat mode, commands taking a jid use the contact when it is left out: /file send ~/photo.jpg, /attention, /ping, /vcard. A jid or contact name given still works as usual (/file send bob ~/photo.jpg). The first word is taken as the jid if it contains @ or is the name of a contact; a command with an optional jid uses the contact when it gets no arguments at all (/disco info example.org still queries the server).

Chat states are sent automatically (unless chat_states = 0): the contact sees that you are in the chat, typing, paused (5 seconds without typing) or gone (you left the chat). The prompt shows the state of the contact: alice (typing)> , alice (paused)> , alice (gone)> .

> /chat alice
alice> hi!
alice> /presence away
alice> /chat
>

Key	Action
Tab	complete commands, subcommands, contacts, files and other arguments; lists the candidates if there are several
↑ / ↓	previous / next line of the history starting with the text typed, all lines on an empty input (kept between runs, see persistent_command_history)
← / →, Home / End, Ctrl-A / Ctrl-E	move the cursor
Backspace / Delete	delete before / under the cursor
Ctrl-U / Ctrl-K / Ctrl-W	delete to the start / to the end / the word before the cursor
Ctrl-L	clear the screen
Ctrl-X Ctrl-E	edit the line in your text editor ($VISUAL, $EDITOR, else vi), see /edit
Ctrl-C	clear the line, on an empty line: leave the chat mode, else quit
Ctrl-D	quit on an empty line