Getting Started

In this section:

What Is Instant Messenger?

Setting Up

What Is Instant Messenger?

Netscape Instant Messenger is an easy way to communicate instantly with your friends who are online. You can:

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Setting Up

To get started quickly, use the New User wizard.

  1. If the Netscape Instant Messenger Buddy List isn't already visible in your My Sidebar, open the Tasks menu and choose Instant Messenger or select the Buddy List tab in My Sidebar.
  2. Click Setup.
  3. Follow the steps in the wizard.


[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Starting Instant Messenger

You can start Instant Messenger in one of the following ways:


[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Signing On to Netscape Instant Messenger

To sign on to Netscape Instant Messenger:

  1. Display the Netscape Instant Messenger Sign On screen.
  2. Enter your screen name in the Screen Name field.
  3. Type your password in the Password field. If you want to save an encrypted version of your password for your next session, choose Save password.
  4. Click Sign On, or press Enter. If you want Netscape Instant Messenger to start when you start Netscape 6, choose Sign on at launch.


[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 



Using the Buddy List

When you sign on to Instant Messenger, your Buddy List appears. Three groups are automatically created for you in your Buddy List window the first time you run Instant Messenger: Buddies, Family, and Co-Workers. You can add or delete your buddies to any of these groups or create additional groups.

This section explains how to customize and use the buddy list.
 
In this section:

Using the Buddy List

Adding Buddies

Creating Buddy Groups

Deleting Buddies and Buddy Groups

Using the My Sidebar Buddy List

Checking the Status of Buddies

Importing and Exporting Buddy Lists

Using the Buddy List

There are two tabs in your Buddy List: List Setup and Online.

Adding Buddies

If you know a friend's screen name, you can add him or her to your Buddy List immediately.

  1. Sign on to Netscape Instant Messenger.
  2. In the Buddy List panel of My Sidebar, click the List Setup tab.
  3. Click the Add Buddy icon.
  4. Type the screen name of the buddy you want to add. Remember to enter just the buddy's screen name, not the full e-mail address. For example, johndoe, rather than johndoe@aol.com.
  5. Choose the group to which you want to add the screen name.

If you don't know a friend's screen name, Instant Messenger can help you locate your friend using his or her email address or name and mailing address. Instant Messenger can also help you search a directory of registered Instant Messenger users for new buddies who share your interests.

  1. >From the people menu in the Netscape Instant Messenger window, select Find Buddy.
  2. Type your buddy's email address in the Friend's email address field. Netscape Instant Messenger displays all screen names for the email address you specified. If multiple screen names appear, select the one you want and click Next.
  3. Select the screen name you want to add to your list and click add buddy.
  4. Click Send IM to send your buddy and instant message.
  5. Click Finish when you are done.


[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Creating Buddy Groups

You can group your buddies to organize your buddy list. Your buddy list comes with three pre-set groups: Buddies, Family, and Co-Workers.

To create a new group:

  1. Sign on to Netscape Instant Messenger.
  2. In the Buddy List tab in My Sidebar, click the List Setup tab.
  3. Click Add Group.
  4. Type a new name for the new group and press Enter.

To add a new buddy, follow the steps under Adding Buddies.

To open or close a group's folder, double-click it.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Deleting Buddies and Buddy Groups

Sign on to Netscape Instant Messenger. From your Buddy List, click the List Setup tab. To remove a buddy or a group, click to highlight it, and then click Delete.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Using the My Sidebar Buddy List

If you use the Sidebar feature of Netscape 6, then you may find it convenient to include your buddy list in a Sidebar tab.

If it is not already open, open the Sidebar by clicking on its tab.
 


The Sidebar Buddy List may be closed, so that only its header is showing To open it, double-click its header.
 


The Sidebar Buddy List lets you know when one of your buddies is online and available for a chat, even if Netscape Instant Messenger is not open. If your buddy is online, his or her name appears in your buddy list. If your buddy is idle, his or her name is dimmed and a small clock icon appears next to the name.

To send an instant message:

  1. Double-click a buddy's name in the My Sidebar Buddy List.
  2. Type your message and click Send.

If you want to add or remove buddies, Click Edit Buddy List. A standalone Buddy List appears, where you can add buddies or create buddy groups.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Checking the Status of Buddies

To find out which of your buddies is online, click the Online tab in the Buddy List. If you also keep your Buddy List displayed in the Sidebar, you can check there to see who's online.

You cannot see which of your buddies is online when you have the List Setup tab displayed. Click the Online tab to see the online status of your buddies.

In the Online tab:

You can also find out which of your buddies is online from within Netscape Mail. If you are logged on to Netscape Instant Messenger and a buddy is online, a presence icon appears next to his or her name. This icon also appears next the the names of non-buddies.

The presence icon next to a buddy's name changes when he or she logs on or off. The presence icon does not change next to a non-buddy's name.


[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Importing and Exporting Buddy Lists

If you have used a previous version of AOL Instant Messenger, you can transfer you Buddy List.

  1. Launch and sign on to AOL Instant Messenger.
  2. >From the My AIM menu, choose Save Buddy List. The file is saved with the extension .blt.
  3. Sign off and quit AOL Instant Messenger.
  4. Launch and sign on to Instant Messenger in Netscape 6.
  5. >From the file menu, choose Import Buddy List.
  6. Select the file you saved. Your Buddy List is imported.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 



Sending an Instant Message

In this section:

Sending an Instant Message

Conducting Multiple Conversations

Ending a Conversation

Sending an Instant Message

  1. To send an instant message to someone in your Buddy List, sign on and double-click a name in the Online list. A window opens where you can type your message.
  2. To send an instant message to someone who's not in your Buddy List, open the People menu and choose Send Instant Message. A window opens where you can type your message.
  3. When you are done composing your message, click the Send icon (the flying envelope in the lower right corner of the window), or press Enter. The message is sent.

You see your message in the top frame of the message window. Your buddy's response will also appear in the top pane. You can continue typing and sending messages as long as you and your buddy want to chat.

Using Instant Messenger from Netscape Mail

You can also use Instant Messenger from within Netscape Mail. If an Instant Messenger user sends you a message and he or she is online, a presence icon appears next to his or her email address in the header of the message. To send him or her an instant message, click on the presence icon and choose Send Instant Message.

Adding Styles and Formats

Netscape Instant Messenger lets you customize your instant messages with special fonts, colors, and styles:

  1. Type some text, and then select any words you want to style.
  2. Open one of the pull down menus and choose the effect you want to use:

To style text as bold, italic, or underlined click the B, I or U buttons.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Adding Hyperlinks

To create a hyperlink in an instant message:

  1. In an Instant Message window, type and select the text you want to turn into a hyperlink.
  2. Click link on the toolbar. The Edit Hyperlink window opens.
  3. Specify the URL (Internet location) of the site you want the link to point to. You can also specify an e-mail address as the URL. For example, mailto:johndoe@aol.com.
  4. Click OK to save the setting and close the dialog box.

You can also click link with no text selected. If you do this, you need to enter the link text into the dialog box. The link appears at the insertion point location.

If you enter an URL as text (for example, http://www.aol.com or mailto:johndoe@aol.com), the text automatically converts to a hyperlink when you send the message.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Adding Smilies

To decorate a message with "smilies" (emoticons):
 
    
If you cannot see the smiley, make sure the Disable graphical smiles preference is not selected.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Conducting Multiple Conversations

You can carry on as many separate conversations as you wish. A separate message window appears for each conversation.
 

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Ending a Conversation

A conversation ends when both parties stop sending instant messages. To close the message window, click the close box or open the File menu and choose Close.

To sign off from Instant Messenger, open the File menu and choose "Sign Off" (signs off from Instant Messenger, but leaves a sign on window open) or "Sign Off and Close" (signs off and closes the window).

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 



Using Chat Rooms

The Netscape Instant Messenger Chat feature lets you exchange messages with several of your buddies in your own private chat rooms.
 
In this section:

Inviting Buddies to Chat

Sending a Chat Message

Inviting Buddies to Chat

To invite a buddy to chat, perform the following steps:

  1. In the Buddy List window, click the Online tab.
  2. Select the screen names of the buddies you want to invite to the chat room. To select multiple screen names, hold down the Ctrl key as you select each name. You can also select an entire group of buddies.
  3. Click the Buddy Chat icon:

    The Buddy Chat Invitation window opens. If you want to send the invitation to additional buddies, type their screen names in the Screen names to invite field.

  4. Click Send to send the invitation.

    After your buddy accepts your invitation, Netscape Instant Messenger displays the message, "" has entered the room," in your Chat Room window. You can start typing your chat messages in the text area after you receive the notification.

You can invite a buddy to join a chat in progress. In the Chat Room window, select People on the menu bar and click Invite a Buddy to send an invitation.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Sending a Chat Message

To send a chat message, perform the following steps:

  1. Type the message that you want to send in the text area box of the Chat Room window. You can send chat messages with hyperlinks and emoticons or format them using different styles such as bold, italic, or underlining. Using color or a different font can also help emphasize messages you send.
  2. Click Send.

When you are finished with your chat conversation, you can save it to a file.

To stop receiving messages from someone in the chat room, select the person’s screen name in the field that lists everyone in the chat room and click Ignore. An X appears next to the selected screen name. Click Ignore again to toggle the ignore feature off.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Adding Styles and Formats

Netscape Instant Messenger lets you customize your chat messages with special fonts, colors, and styles:

  1. Type some text, and then select any words you want to style.
  2. Open one of the pull down menus and choose the effect you want to use:

To style text as bold, italic, or underlined click the B, I or U buttons.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Adding Hyperlinks

To create a hyperlink in an instant message:

  1. In an Instant Message window, type and select the text you want to turn into a hyperlink.
  2. Click link on the toolbar. The Edit Hyperlink window opens.
  3. Specify the URL (Internet location) of the site you want the link to point to. You can also specify an e-mail address as the URL. For example, mailto:johndoe@aol.com.
  4. Click OK to save the setting and close the dialog box.

You can also click link with no text selected. If you do this, you need to enter the link text into the dialog box. The link appears at the insertion point location.

If you enter an URL as text (for example, http://www.aol.com or mailto:johndoe@aol.com), the text automatically converts to a hyperlink when you send the message.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Adding Smilies

To decorate your chat message with "smilies" (emoticons):
 
    
If you cannot see the smiley, make sure the Disable graphical smiles preference is not selected.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Conducting Multiple Chat Sessions

You can carry on as many separate chat sessions as you wish. A separate chat window appears for each conversation.
 

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Ending a Conversation

A conversation ends when both parties stop sending instant messages. To close the message window, click the close box or open the File menu and choose Close.

To sign off from Instant Messenger, open the File menu and choose "Sign Off" (signs off from Instant Messenger, but leaves a sign on window open) or "Sign Off and Close" (signs off and closes the window).

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 



Using Away Messages

If you need to step away from your computer but do not want to sign off, you can use an Away message to let others know that you are temporarily unavailable.

For planned absences, you can turn on your Away message to let others know when you will be back. Netscape Instant Messenger displays this message when anyone requests information about you and automatically replies with your Away message to anyone who sends you a message while you are away.
 
In this section:

Creating a New Away Message

Turning an Away Message On and Off

Deleting an Away Message

Creating a New Away Message

To create a new Away message:

  1. Select the Preferences from the Edit Menu.
  2. Select Away under Instant Messenger.
  3. Click the Away tab.
  4. Click Add Message. The New Away Message dialog box appears on your screen.
  5. Enter a label for the new Away message in the label field.
  6. Type the message in the new Away message field.
  7. Click OK to save your change and close the dialog box.

Netscape Instant Messenger adds your new message to your list of Away messages.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Turning an Away Message On and Off

To turn an Away Message on or off:

  1. Click the Away button at the top of the Netscape Instant Messenger window and select the message you want to use. To turn off instant message sounds while you are away, click Disable sounds from the Instant Messenger preference panel. Other users that have you in their buddy lists see an away icon next to your screen name until you return.
  2. To turn off your Away message, click I'm Back.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Deleting an Away Message

To delete and Away message:

  1. From the Edit menu, choose Preferences and then Away under Instant Messenger.
  2. Select the Away message you want to delete.
  3. Click Remove.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 



Maintaining Privacy

If someone else using Instant Messenger sends you annoying or offensive messages, you can permanently block the person from sending messages to you.

You can also set privacy preferences to control which users can send you messages, and how much information about you other Instant Messenger users can have.
 
In this section:

Blocking a User

Setting Privacy Preferences

Blocking a User

You can block one or more users so they can't send you messages. This feature is useful if you want to block users who send offensive messages or if you simply do not want to receive messages for a while.

  1. >From the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
  2. Open the Instant Messaging category, then click Privacy.
  3. Choose which users should be allowed or blocked.
  4. If you choose "Allow only the users below" or "Block the users below," then click Add Name and type the screen name of the person you want to allow or block.

To remove someone from the "allow" or "block" list, click his or her screen name, then click Remove.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Setting Privacy Preferences

Instant Messenger lets you control who can send you messages, and how much information about you other users can have.

  1. >From the Edit menu, choose Preferences.
  2. Open the Instant Messenger category, then click Privacy.
  3. Choose which users should be allowed or blocked.
  4. If you choose "Allow only the users below" or "Block the users below," then click Add Name and type the screen name of the person you want to allow or block. To remove someone from the "allow" or "block" list, click his or her screen name, then click Remove.
  5. Choose an option for how much information users who know your email address should be able to see.
  6. Click OK.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 


 
 
 



Using Warnings

If someone else using the Netscape Instant Messenger service sends you annoying or offensive messages, you have two ways to respond. You can issue a warning to the person or you can block the person.
 
In this section:

Warning a User

Viewing Someone's Warning Level

Warning a User

To warn a user who has sent you an offensive message, click Warn in the Instant Message window in which you received the message.

Warn imposes a warning on the sender, hampering that person's ability to send and receive messages. With frequent warnings, the user will not be able to exchange any messages with anyone. Only after a “cooling off” period can that user send and receive messages again.

You can choose to impose the warning anonymously. Anonymous warnings are less severe and the user you are warning may not know who issued the warning. Notes:

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 

Viewing Someone's Warning Level

You can see someone’s warning level next to the person's screen name in your Buddy List window.

Alternatively, you can permanently block one or more people from sending you messages. See Blocking Specific Users from Sending You Messages for more information.

[ Return to beginning of section ]
 
 
 


Last Updated July 21, 2000


Copyright 1994-2000 Netscape Communications Corporation.