The iChat File Menu

To see a previous chat, choose "Open Recent" from the File menu. If there are any saved chats, they're listed in the submenu, as shown below. See page 503 to learn how to automatically save chat transcripts.

Choose "Open Recent" to open a submenu of previously recorded iChat transcripts. You can set iChat to automatically save transcripts (see page 495).

You can also start a chat from the File menu.

From the File menu, choose New Chat to open a Chat window such as the one shown below. The chat becomes an Instant Message, a Direct Message, or a Group Chat, depending on which "Chat Option" is set for that particular window, as explained below.

To set Chat Options for a New Chat

1.	From the File menu, choose "New Chat."
2.	Before you start a message to anyone, go to the View menu and choose "Chat Options…" (shown on the left).
3.	From the "Mode" pop-up menu, choose "Instant Message" for a one-on-one message session. Choose "Direct IM" to start a Direct Message session. Choose "Chat" to start a Group Chat.
4.	Click OK. See more details on page 500.

Or, from the File menu, choose "New Chat with Person…" to open a new Instant Message window with a drop-down sheet, as shown below. Type the Buddy name of the person with whom you want to chat, then click OK.

Or, from the File menu, choose "Go To Chat…" to open a Group Chat window in which you can invite more than one buddy. Learn more about Groups on pages 498501.

1.	Type a chat name in the "Chat Name" field of the "Go To Chat…" window (right-top), then click "Go."
2.	In the chat drawer that opens, click the Plus button to add participants. When you add a participant, an invitation message sheet slides down (right-middle).
3.	Type an invitation message in the text field, then click "Invite." As you add participants, the same sheet opens. Click the "Invite" button for each buddy, or you can customize the invitation for some buddies if necessary.
4.	To leave a Group Chat, click the red Close button in the top-left corner of the window.