Section 71. Send a File

71. Send a File

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

67 Set Up Your AIM or .Mac Account

69 Add a Buddy

70 Start a Text, Audio, or Video Chat Session

SEE ALSO

72 Set a Custom Status Message

35 Share Another Mac's Files

You can use iChat to transfer files instantly between users. You can send a file directly to anybody in your Buddy List or Bonjour or Jabber lists simply by dragging the file to that person's entry in the list; similarly, anybody can send you a file, which appears as a document or picture embedded in one of their text messages during an iChat.

1.	Find the File to Send Use the Finder to locate the file you want to send to the other person. 71. Send a File
2.	Drag the File to the Recipient Make sure that the Buddy List, Bonjour, or Jabber window containing the person' name is open and that the person is online (a green dot appears next to the user's name if he is online). Drag the file to the user 's name in the list and drop the file on the recipient's name. A dialog box opens, prompting you to confirm that you want to send the file; click Send to send it. TIP If you're already in a chat with a user, a common mistake is to drag the file into the chat window. The result of this action can be surprising, especially if the file you're trying to send is a picturethis is the procedure you'd use to set the background picture for the chat window! Make sure that you drag the file to the user's name in the Buddy List, Bonjour, or Jabber window, not into the chat window. (You can, however, drag a file into the text input area to send it as part of a text message.)
3.	Turn Off Confirmation Message If you don't want iChat to confirm whether you want to send a file before you send it, click the Don't ask again check box in the confirmation dialog box. Alternatively, open the iChat Preferences dialog box and click the Messages icon to display the Messages pane. Deselect the Confirm before sending files check box.

NOTE

When a chat partner sends a file to you, you are prompted to download it with a dialog box, orif the file is presented within a text chatan icon that you must click to begin the download. Beware of files that others send you, as always; make sure you trust the file and the person sending it before you open or install the downloaded file. Always be aware of potential viruses and Trojans!