HTML Chat vs. Java Chat

The HTML Chat is an alternative to the Java Chat in case you
- have no Java installed on your computer and cannot or must not intsall it.
- are sitting behind a firewall you cannot modify.
It offers all basic functionality which is needed to chat. Nonetheless some functions offering more convenience and fun are not available:

In a room window the room designs cannot be displayed (e.g. in "Quiz").
There are no chat buttons (e.g. for "/me opens a bottle of beer.").
In a chatroom one cannot assign colours to other users.
Multiple concurrent private talks cannot be displayed in one window.
There is no automatic reconnect, in case the connection to the chat server gets lost; one has to log in anew.
Most of the games cannot be played.

Questions and Answers

Why Java, why not HTML only?
Java offers us way more technical posibilities than HTML.

Even with the option "HTML Chat" enabled no chatroom window will open up.
Probably you have got a popup blocker on your computer which prevents the corresponding window to open up. Please disable all popup blockers and try again. Please note that apart from your browser popup blockers often also are integrated in toolbars like Google Toolbar or Yahoo! Toolbar as well as in so-called "personal firewalls" like e.g. Norton Internet Security. You have to disable absolutely all popup blockers to make the whole think work again.
Moreover you have to enable JavaScript in your browser preferences.

Why must the little status window stay open while using the HTML Chat?
This window contains the connection to the chat server and must not be closed.

While using the HTML Chat I have closed the little status window by accident. And now?
Just log in anew.

In my preferences I have chosen the Java Chat, but nonetheless I always just get the HTML Chat!
Probably you do not have Java on your computer, and the nickname you are using is not registered (yet). In this case the system will choose the HTML Chat for you automatically.

When using the HTML Chat sometimes in the user list a vertical black line will blink. Why is that?
In case you are using Firefox version 1.5 and higher there is an option available which allows you to select text in the browser with the help of the arrow keys. By clicking in the text a blinking cursor will appear, and that is exactly what happens in the user list of the HTML Chat when you are clicking on a nickname. So that is no bug in the chat.
In case the blinking annoys you, you have to disable this option:

Open the preferences of Firefox - normally this will do via the menu "Tools".
Go to "Advanced" -> "General".
There uncheck setting "Accessibility"->"Allow text to be selected with the keyboard".
Save the changes of your preferences and log in here anew. Now the should be no more blinking.

Will the option to display multiple concurrent private talks in one window be available someday for the HTML Chat as well?
No, the HTML Chat is just an "emergency solution" for those who cannot use the Java Chat because of the reasons stated before. So our tip for all the others is: use the Java Chat :-)