Communicator Help: Using Instant Messenger<sup><font size=-1>TM</font></sup> for AOL<sup><font size=-2>®</font></sup> Communicator

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Using Instant Messenger for AOL Communicator

Sending Instant Messages

Sending an Instant Message
Adding Formatting, Smileys, and Links
Using Time Stamps
Ending a Conversation and Signing Off
Sending and Receiving Files or Folders

Settings & Preferences:
Send File or Folder
Receive File or Folder
File Transfer Preferences

Related topic:

Using the Buddy List Window

Sending an Instant Message

Follow these steps to create and send an instant message:

1. If you're not viewing your Buddy List window, open the Window menu of any other AOL Communicator application and choose Instant Messenger.
   If you're not already signed on, you may need to provide your screen name and password.
2. You can send an instant message in two ways:
   To send an instant message to a person in your Buddy List window who is currently online, double-click the person's name.
   A window opens where you can type your message. The To field is filled in automatically.
   To send an instant message to a person who's not in your Buddy List window, click the IM button (or open the Actions menu and choose Send Instant Message) and type the person's screen name.
3. Type your message in the composition area of the Instant Message window.
4. Click the Send button or press Enter to send the message.
   You see your message in the top pane of the message window. Your buddy's response will appear below it. You can continue typing and sending messages as long as you and your buddy want to converse.

You can also right-click a name and choose to send an instant message or a chat invitation.

Related topics:

Adding Formatting, Smileys, and Links
Using Time Stamps
Sending and Receiving Files or Folders

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Adding Formatting, Smileys, and Links

You can format both instant messages and chat room messages as described here.

To change the font, size, or style of selected text:

1. Select the text you want to change.
2. Click in the formatting bar at the top of the message composition area to format the selected text:
3. Choose the font and size you want to use from the drop-down lists.
4. Click the icons to apply styles to the text.

To add a hyperlink to a message:

1. Copy the hyperlink (also known as URL, for example: http://www.aol.com).
   For example, select the URL in the browser's location bar while you are viewing the web page you want to link, open the Edit menu, and choose Copy.
2. Make sure your cursor is positioned at the point in the instant message composition area where you want the link to appear.
3. Paste the link you copied directly into the composition area. When you send the message, the recipient can click the link to view the web page.
   Alternatively, click the globe icon in the formatting bar at the top of the message composition area, type the URL into the field provided, and click OK to insert the link at the cursor's location.

To add a smiley to a message:

1. Make sure your cursor is positioned at the point in the instant message composition area where you want the smiley to appear.
2. Open the Actions menu and choose Insert Smiley (or click the Smiley icon near the top of the instant message window.
3. Click the smiley that you want to insert.

To view the HTML source for any instant message or chat message: Select the message, hold down the Ctrl and Shift keys, and press the U key at the same time.

Related topics:

To change smiley themes (different ways to display smileys), see Outgoing Expressions Preferences.

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Using Time Stamps

While you're sending and receiving instant messages, you can choose to display the exact time that each message is sent.

By default, time stamps are turned off.

To turn timestamps on or off for all instant message windows:

1. From any instant message window, open the View menu
2. Locate the Timestamps menu item. If it has a checkmark beside it, time stamping is on.
3. If necessary, select Timestamps to change the setting.

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Ending a Conversation and Signing Off

A conversation ends when both parties stop sending instant messages. To close the message window, click the close box.

If the other person continues to send messages after you have closed the message window, you will continue to receive message notifications, unless you block that person from sending you messages.

To sign off the Instant Messenger service, open the MyIM menu and choose one of the following:

- Sign Off and Exit closes the Buddy List window and signs you off. You will no longer show up as "online" in other people's Buddy List window.
- Sign On As a Different User signs you off and opens the Sign On window, from which you can sign back on as a different user.

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Sending and Receiving Files or Folders

To send a file or folder to one of your buddies:

1. Right-click the person's name in the Buddy List window and choose Send File or Folder.
2. Click the File or Folder to select the item you want to send.
3. Type the message, if any, that you want your buddy to see when the file or folder arrives.
4. Click Send.

Alternatively, you can drag and drop the file you want to send:

1. Locate the file that you want to send on your computer's desktop.
2. Place the pointer over the file icon, drag the icon over your Buddy List window, and drop it (release the mouse button) when the pointer's over the name of the person to whom you want to send the file.
   Alternatively, if an instant message window for that buddy is already open, you can drag the file icon directly into the instant message window.
3. Type the message, if any, that you want your buddy to see when the file or folder arrives.
4. Click Send.

To receive a file or folder: When a buddy sends you a file or folder, you'll see a window asking whether you want to accept it. Verify that the file is coming from someone you know before you accept the transfer.

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Send File or Folder

There are three ways to send a file or folder to one of your buddies:

- Right-click the person's name in the Buddy List window and choose Send File or Folder.
- Drag the file or folder you want to send over your Buddy List window and drop it (release the mouse button) when the pointer's over the name of the person to whom you want to send the file.
- Drag the file or folder into an instant message window for the buddy you want to send it to.

All three of these actions open the Send File or Folder window:

File: Click to select the file you want to send (if it's not already selected).

Folder: Click to select a folder that you want to send (if it's not already selected).

Accompanying message: Type the message, if any, that you want your buddy to see when the file or folder arrives.

Send: Click Send to send the item.

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Receive File or Folder

The Receive File or Receive Folder window appears when someone uses Instant Messenger software to send you a file or folder.

Be cautious about accepting a file or folder transfer from someone you don't know. It may contain a computer virus.

Incoming file (or folder) transfer from: The screen name of the person sending you the file. Make sure you recognize the person before you accept the transfer.

Name, Size, Type: This information describes the file or folder:

- If it's a file, check to make sure it corresponds to a file you would expect this buddy to transfer.
- If you have a slow Internet connection, a large file may take a long time to download.

Accompanying Message: This area displays a note from the buddy who is sending you the file. An accompanying message is not required, so this may be blank.

Accept: Click to accept the file and save it to your hard disk.

Reject: Click to reject the file. It will not be saved to your hard disk.

Warn: Click to increase the sender's warning level and reject the file.

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File Transfer Preferences

If you're not already viewing your File Transfer preferences, start from the Buddy List window, open the MyIM menu, choose Preferences, and click File Transfer.

Incoming file transfer requests: This setting controls how Instant Messenger for AOL Communicator treats incoming file transfers. Select one of the options available.

Files sent to me: This field specifies where files sent to you are stored. Click Folder to change the location.

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Last Updated September 16, 2003