h1. Text Area

!textarea.png!

The Text Area is where the messages are shown.

_See also [[Messages Options]], [[Inline Images Options]]._

h2. Copying Text

Selecting text then releasing the mouse will automatically copy the text to the clipboard.

This behavior can be changed in the [[Messages_Options#Automatically-copy-selected-text-to-Clipboard|Messages Options]].

_Note: for technical reasons, it's not possible to select text while scrolling._

h2. Clickable Links

Various things are clickable as links such as nicks, channel names and regular links.

Double-clicking a nick opens a private window with that nick, this behavior can be changed in [[Options DIalog|Options]] -> [[Mouse Options|Mouse]].

Right-clicking a nick opens the scripted *[[Nicklist_Control|Nicklist]]* [[Scripting Menus|menu]] for this nick.

Double-clicking a channel name joins that channel.

Right-clicking a channel name opens the scripted *ChannelLink* [[Scripting Menus|menu]] for this channel name.

Double-clicking a link opens the link in your default browser or your custom browser set in [[Options DIalog|Options]] -> [[Links Options|Links]], it can also be set to open by single clicking.

Right-clicking a channel name opens the scripted *Link* [[Scripting Menus|menu]] for this link.

Double-clicking in any other area opens the [[Channeledit Dialog|Channel Editor]], this behavior can be changed in [[Options DIalog|Options]] -> [[Mouse Options|Mouse]].

Right-clicking in any other area opens the scripted *Channel* [[Scripting Menus|menu]] for the current channel.

The links colors and font weights can be changed in [[Options DIalog|Options]] -> [[Fonts Options|Fonts]]/[[Colors_Options|Colors]].

All the menus can be customized in the [[Menus Dialog|Menu Editor]].

h2. Inline Images

It is possible for the Text Area to show inline images, see [[Inline Images Options]] for more information.

_Note: the Text Area is not a webbrower, it cannot show videos or html previews. it's like a notepad with colors._

h2. Colors

The background color and all message colors can be changed in [[Options DIalog|Options]] -> [[Colors_Options|Colors]].

h2. Font

The font can be changed in [[Options DIalog|Options]] -> [[Fonts_Options|Fonts & Sizes]] or by using the [[/font]] command.

It can also be changed per window by right-clicking the window in the [[Switchbar_Control|Switchbar]] or [[Treebar_Control|Treebar]] then clicking *Change Font*.

h2. Background image

A background image for the Text Area can be set in [[Options DIalog|Options]] -> [[Backgrounds_Options|Backgrounds]] or by using the [[/background]] command.