I recently found out that there is now a possibility to format your chat messages, or parts of them. You can now do that using few facebook codes. You can make some text you write get bold, or you can underline it. Or both, of course. You may think it's as easy as a pie. ٩(̃-̮̮̃-)۶ Or as peeing. But it really is a bit more complicated when it comes to not-so-smooth situatons. So here's a bite of how facebook chat works now.

You write
*What* the _freek_ is *_THIS_*?
And get
What the freek is THIS ?

I'll try to explain you as much as I know in rules and examples. So here's what you have to know and consider, when writing messages with text highlighting.

Bold text

• Put * asterisk (little star) at the start of the text piece you want to put in bold.
• Put * at the end of that text.

Sample

I *really* mean it.
Turns to
I really mean it.

Underline in facebook chat

• Put _ underscore symbol at the start of text piece you want to underline.
• Put _ where that piece ends.

Sample

I really _mean_ it.
Turns to
I really mean it.

Bold + underline

• Put *_ symbol at the start of text piece you want to underline.
• Put _* where that piece ends.

Note: you have to put "*_" first and then "_*". Not vice-versa.

Sample

You *_mean_* it?
Turns to
You mean it?
*_x_* => x

But!
You _*mean*_ it?
or
You *_mean*_ it?
Will not.

Notes and warnings

This are important if you're going to use this codes a lot. If you are putting tags in the middle of the word – like "I_like_you" or "I*like*you" you'll stick with what you wrote. Text style won't change and those codes will stay. So here are the exclusions to keep in mind:

Exclusions

Won't_underline_

Won't get*bold*
_Neither will_this one_
*__*

Stays the same after you send.

You may think that you have to have white spaces (" " what spacebar inputs) or message ends on sides. But no, not exactly. There are some ex. if you are trying to style the text that has some special characters on it's sides, instead of

*facebook*&_chat_ =>
*facebook*&chat

_underline_&*bold* =>
underline&*bold*

Double? No trouble

You may include any amount of sentences. It'll get you something like this:

_no good_sentence_ *in chat* and _good one_
Will become
_no good_sentence_ in chat and good one

Italic text

As far as I know, Facebook Inc. haven't implemented any ability to make your text italic in facebook chat. And I don't think they will, cause most fonts look bad in italic. But anyway, if you'll find a way to input italic, please e-mail me the details.

So have a good time out there in large nets of the Inter and Outernet. Sincerely yours, Ihor. Σ=).



Reminder:  Its for old Facebook chat...!