ralphjohns.co.uk/

Historical Document

These pages have sat here since 2008 with no update. In that time the AIM servers have been closed down (2017) and iChat has been superseded by Messages. That effectively make this a sort of Historical Document of how it worked.

I will make attempts to renew and refresh Links to either the most current site or use the Way Back Machine Archive so that people can at least look at what was used. I will make Edit Notes on this and on those where I can find no link to replace the older one as I go through the document.

iChat Adding Buddies

iChat In Pictures >> You are in Folder 5_iChat Adding Buddies >> Page: Mac Type

4[6]

4 Adding Buddies Mac Type

02-10-2006

Next you have to choose the "Type" of Buddy.

This picture shows the @mac.com (.Mac) type selected. The drop down highlighted in blue should have at least AIM as an option. Actually from June 2008 Apple have moved their .Mac service to the MobileMe service and you can also choose @Me.com type of accounts as well as shown below (iChat 4 pic with Jabber options as it comes from the Start Up Screens).

NOTES: In my testing with iChat 1 this option does not seem to be applied to Jaguar (10.2.x) as an MobileMe update - which is run by going to System Preferences > .Mac and it then runs automatically updating any reference to linking to @mac.com adding the extra MobileMe (@me.com) bits to any option panel)

Anyhow the top picture will always show the Account Type of the last Buddy you added. I can not remember precisely but I would guess the default on first time is the Apple option that applies to how you have updated.

If you have chosen to Add a Buddy during a Chat from the Buddies menu the account type is pre-selected and the Screen Name will be filled in.

If choosing an Apple Screen Name account type please note that the Suffix (@mac.com in the top pic) is added by the software (and shown at the end of the line) and does not need to be typed. In iChat 4 this is highlighted by it being pre-filled but grey so you can not alter it. See pic to the right with @me.com pre-filled.

Adding "Real Name" details and then using the Add Button will create an Address Book Entry.

Plain Screen names only:- if you don't know your Buddy's Name and don't have any other info to make an entry here, they do not get added to the address Book in iChat 3 and 4.

(Notes: Your Buddy List is actually stored at the AIM servers and not anywhere on your Computer unless you add them to the Address Book. AIM for Mac does have an Export and Import feature which can be used to create a Backup).

Next:- Adding an AIM Named Buddy

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Created with JAlbum 4.0.6

© 2005 Ralph Johns: Edited 24/9/2005, 5/5/2006
Updated September 2006
Updated October 2008. Reviewed and Updated to HTML 5 October 2024

Information Block

This site is about iChat from Version 1 through to iChat 5.x.x
Mostly this is kept as an Historical Document. Some small tense changes have been made but the content is by and large untouched.

It has a mixture of basic info and problem solving help.

The sections below will change for Specifics about info on the page on view

Options to This Page

To the right you can resize or colour the page as well as choose one of three Fonts.

About This Page

The choosing of the Account type is the main point of this page. The main picture shows the @mac.com option.

Since June 2008 Apple have been running MoblieMe instead of .Mac and screen names can now end with @me.com as well and the drop down to chose the Account type may well display this option. (Later MobileMe was dropped for iCloud and a mixture or @me.com and @iCloud.com were the focus of Apple IDs).

Adding details to the First Name and Last Name text fields create an Address Book entry.

Adding a Buddy with Screen Name only adds that Screen name to your Buddy List stored at the AIM servers only. Your Buddy List fills in when you Log On to AIM or your Jabber Server

Compatibility

Much of this page has been altered to be as HTML 5 compatible as possible. This may cause issues with any of the Browser below.

I have tested in Safari 18.1, Firefox 130.x and 131.0, Vivaldi 6.9.3447.48 and iCab 6.2.3 (All Mac Browsers) I don't have access to a PC let alone multiple browsers to test on.

Previously confirmed to work with Win/IE 5.5 and later (should work in 5.0, but not confirmed), Firefox 2, Safari 3, Opera 9, iCab 3.02 and later, Mac/IE 5, Netscape 6 and later

Old browsers (IE version 4 or earlier, Netscape 4 or earlier) may only see a text-based page which, while not the prettiest option, is still entirely usable.