Section 72. Set a Custom Status Message


72. Set a Custom Status Message

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

67 Set Up Your AIM or .Mac Account


SEE ALSO

68 Set Up Your Picture

70 Start a Text, Audio, or Video Chat Session


By default, you can select from only two status messages that iChat displays to other users under your name : Available and Away . Your status changes to Idle if you have been idle (that is, if you have not touched your keyboard or mouse) for 10 minutes. You can set your status to Away to let others know that you're not at your computer to answer instant messages, but if you want others to see a more detailed message to explain what you're doing, it's easy to set one.

1.
Select a Custom Status Message

Launch iChat using the icon in the Dock or in the Applications folder. Make sure the Buddy List, Bonjour , or Jabber List window is open ; select one of these from the Window menu if none of the windows is present.

In one of the windows, click the down arrow next to your status message to open the menu of selectable status messages. Select the Custom option under either Available or Away ; the status message in the window's title bar turns into a text input box.

2.
Type a Temporary Custom Message

Type a new message of your choice in the text box and press Return . The new message appears under your name in others' Buddy Lists, until you change it or go offline.

TIP

To cancel entering a new message, leave the text entry field blank and press Return .

72. Set a Custom Status Message


3.
Add a Permanent Custom Message

From the status message menu, select Edit Status Menu to bring up the custom message definition sheet. Click the + icon under either the Available or Away column; a new blank message becomes selected in the appropriate column. Type a message that you want to keep so that you can select it at opportune times. This message, along with any others that you define, appears under either Available or Away in the status message menu under your name, or in the iChat System Menu; click the message you want to set it as your new status message.

You can define as many custom messages as you want, to match the myriad different ways you can be "available" or "away."

4.
Delete a Permanent Custom Message

To remove a custom status message from the list, open the custom message definition sheet (select Edit Status Menu from the status message menu). Select the message you want to delete and click the (minus sign) button under the column in which the message is listed.

TIP

You can delete multiple messages at the same time: Holding down Shift or while clicking the messages you want to delete. Then click the (minus sign) button to delete all the selected messages. Be carefulthere is no "undo" function, and if you delete any custom messages, they're gone for good.

5.
Display Your Currently Playing Song

From the status message menu (either under your name in an iChat user list window or in the iChat System Menu), choose Current iTunes Track . This sets your status message to the title of the song currently playing in iTunes. This way, other iChat users can always see what music you're listening to. This is bound to be a good way to start conversations!



MAC OS X Tiger in a Snap
Mac OS X Tiger in a Snap
ISBN: 0672327066
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2001
Pages: 212
Authors: Brian Tiemann

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