HexPaste is a Python 3 plugin for HexChat that pastes files line by line on IRC, with a specific delay between lines. I wrote it for a channel where it's customary to paste poetry. It's similar to the mIRC /play command.

To install, just put the script in the HexChat addons folder. You'll need HexChat 2.9.6+ with the Python 3 plugin. After installing you should see the following messages on startup:

Python interface loaded
HexPaste 2016.02.02 loaded

The usage is simple:

• /hexpaste file path/to/file [speed] will paste the lines of that file in the current active channel/query. The default speed is 2500 milliseconds.

• /hexpaste stop will stop pasting to the current active channel/query. After stopping, you can resume pasting with /hexpaste resume.

• /hexpaste help will show all the available parameters and a description.

That's it. Commands always refer to the current active window. HexPaste supports concurrent pastes to different channels/queries (even at different speeds). You can pause one and keep others pasting, etc... Information messages will be displayed on each operation, such as:

HexPaste: resumed pasting (N pending lines) to: channel - network.

When the original window that started the paste is no longer reachable, HexPaste will auto-stop pasting lines. This makes it possible to continue pasting after a network problem by joining the channel again and typing the command: /hexpaste resume.

All input/output is done using UTF-8. HexPaste accepts input files with a BOM signature (e.g. those created with the Windows notepad).

When pasting to multiple channels at once or using a small delay between lines the timer may not be exact. This is due to network latency and to the net_throttle setting in HexChat being active. Trying to paste faster would cause a disconnection with an "Excess Flood" quit message.

Information and error messages are written to the current active window, regardless of the paste channel. Rationale: notice which pastes complete, even when talking in another channel/query.

Files are read entirely before pasting. Rationale: make sure pasting won't be interrupted with decoding or IO errors.

HexPaste is tested on Windows 7 and 8 and on Debian (both x86 and x86-64) using Python 3.3+ and HexChat 2.9.6+. Python 2.x is not supported.

This program is finished!

HexPaste is feature-complete and has no known bugs. Unless issues are reported I plan no further development on it other than maintenance.

Like all my hobby projects, this is Free Software. See the Documentation folder for more information. No warranty though.