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Basic Tips

In addition to Navigating and Communicating, here are some other common actions within Second Life.

Visit the Help and Resources section of the TELRport Second Life project wiki to learn more about how to use Second Life.

Using the Pie Command

Right clicking your mouse displays the Pie Command.Within Second Life, you interact by right clicking with your mouse (Apple Key + click on a Mac) on people, objects, and land—including yourself.

Right clicking your mouse displays the Pie Command listing. Depending upon your privileges, different options appear. Some common uses of the Pie Command include sitting on an object, viewing an object’s properties, learning more about another avatar, and changing your own appearance, group membership, or profile.

More advanced users may also use the Pie Command to build or edit objects.

Checking Your Inventory

Your inventory includes items such as clothing, body parts, objects, gestures, note cards, and the library of things you’ve acquired or created.

To access your inventory, click on Inventory in the lower right corner of the program window. A pop-up will display with a basic directory and subdirectory structure for your items.

Camera Controls

Use your camera controls to view an object from other angles and distances.

To do this, place your mouse on the lower back of your avatar and then move your mouse while pressing the left mouse button to move your camera around from the vantage point of your avatar.

For a first-person perspective, press the M key (be sure your chat box isn't open) and move your mouse around. Press Escape to return to your normal vantage point.

For more advanced camera controls, such as zooming and orbiting your view, download keyboard shortcuts (pdf).

Making Friends

Making friends in Second Life is an easy way to keep in touch with another avatar.

To make a friend, right click on the avatar and choose Add Friend. In order to be friends, though, the other avatar has to accept the friendship request. If accepted, the avatar’s name will appear in your friend list. If declined, the name will not appear.

Don’t take declines personally, the other person may not recognize your avatar name, may just be new to SL, or may not want a long friend list—whatever the reason, don’t be discouraged .

You can also add friends who are not currently online. This is helpful for professors who want to add their classlist as friends.

To do this:

  1. Click on the Communicate tab in the lower left of the program screen.
  2. Click the Add button, type in each avatar's name, and click Select.
  3. Then, confirm your selections.

The next time these avatars appear in Second Life, they can confirm whether to accept the friendship offer.

Teleporting a friend to your location is easy to do and is especially helpful in bringing an entire class to one location. In your friends list, select the avatars you wish to teleport (press Control to select multiple avatars) and then click Teleport. Avatars who accept your invitation will suddenly appear near you.

Joining Groups

Because SL is a social medium, joining groups is an important aspect in finding others who share similar interests.

To locate groups to join:

  1. Click the search tab at the bottom of the program screen, then click the Groups tab.
  2. Type in key words to target your area of interest and click Search. Although many groups are free to join (costing 0 Linden Dollars), some do have a membership fee.