IRC Guides · Clients

mIRC scripting basics (mSL)

Intermediate · about 18 min read

mIRC includes mSL (mIRC Scripting Language). You can automate joins, react to text, build small tools, or load full script packs. This is a practical starter — not a full language reference (see the built-in help: Help → Contents → Scripting).

Addons and packs: mIRC downloads.

1. Open the script editor

Press Alt+R (or Tools → Script Editor). Tabs include Aliases, Remote, Popups, and Users. Most bots and channel tools live under Remote.

2. Aliases

An alias is a custom command. Example — type /hi in a channel:

alias hi {
  describe $chan waves hello
}

Or with parameters:

alias greet {
  ; /greet Nick
  msg $1 Hello $1 $+ !
}

3. Events

Remote scripts use on events. Example: answer !ping in a channel:

on *:TEXT:!ping:#:{
  msg $chan Pong, $nick $+ !
}

Other useful events: on JOIN, on PART, on NICK, on NOTICE, ctcp. Prefixes like * mean “any” matching level; you can restrict to ops or specific channels.

on *:JOIN:#mychan:{
  ; do not flood — simple example only
  notice $nick Welcome to $chan $+ , $nick
}

4. Variables and identifiers

• $me — your nick
• $chan — active channel
• $nick — user who triggered the event
• $1, $2… — parameters
• %var — global script variable; set %var value
• $rand(1,6) — random number

on *:TEXT:!roll:#:{
  msg $chan $nick rolled $rand(1,6)
}

5. Load a .mrc file or script pack

1. Download from Addons or Script packs.
2. Alt+R → File → Load → select the .mrc (or follow the pack’s readme; some use installers).
3. Ensure Remote is enabled (the checkmark in the script editor).

Trivia and channel bots such as snIRC are separate programs (see mIRC Bots), not plain .mrc snippets.