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I may never come back, and I just want someone to know. This article contains text from a former Shadow Academy course. It is no longer in use, and is preserved here for historical purposes only and should not be used/referenced.
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Course Notes
Introduction
AIM or AOL Instant Messenger is a fun and easy to use communications tool allowing you to keep in touch with your fellow members of the Brotherhood. This course will endeavor to teach you the basics of the AIM client so that you can start to use it right away to communicate with your fellow DB members.
The newest version of AIM can always be downloaded at http://www.aim.com Simply click the download link and save it to your hard drive.
Installation and Starting
AIM is very easy to install, once you've downloaded the executable simply double click on it to begin the installation process. The installation is pretty standard, so I'm not going to cover it in this course, surely everyone knows how to install a program onto their system. If you can't figure out how to get AIM installed email the Eclectic Pedagog for this course for assistance.
Once AIM is installed, you're going to need a screen name. A screen name is your handle, it has to be unique, AIM does not allow multiple users to use the same handle. Registering for a screen name is also easy, simply start the AIM client and you'll already have <New User> selected by default.
Simply click "Sign On" to move to the next box. If you're a user of AOL as your ISP you have it easy, just put your screen name into the field and click "OK". If you're like most of us and not an AOL member you need to continue to register.
Click the "Get a Screen Name" button at the bottom of the dialog box and you'll be redirected to the AIM registration webpage. Just fill everything in and you're ready to go.
Now that you have a screen name, it's time to sign on. At the AIM sign in screen input your screen name and password, you can also put a check in "Save Password" if you're lazy like I am and don't want to type it in each time.
Once you've got those fields filled in, click "Sign On" and you'll enter the AIM network.
Creating a Profile
Profiles are optional, they allow AIM users to find each other based on having similar interests, locations, or any number of other factors. As a rule I never put any personal information into profiles,
but you can if you feel comfortable with it.
This can be done by clicking "My AIM" then "Edit Profile". The first page is a directory listing, this information can be used by other users to search for you by name, location, etc. As I said, I leave this blank as a rule. Once you fill in as much or as little as you want here, click "Next" and you go to the "Chat Interests" section of the profile. This is a section where you can fill in things you like to chat about, other users can search for you if they want to chat on a topic. I generally leave this blank too, just not a big fan of random people sending me messages.
The final page is the "Profile" settings. This is where you can type in anything you want in free-form. Typically this is the only section of the profile I'll fill out. You can put anything you wish, you could put who you are, what you like, or put in some fictional stuff just for fun.
Adding/Finding Buddies
Next, you'll want to add some people to your contact list. If you know someone's AOL email address, you've got their AIM username already. From the main screen simply click on the "Setup" button at the bottom. This takes you to the list manager. From there you can add contacts to your list, as well as adding new contact groups.
To add a buddy, right click then select '"Add Buddy". This will give you a new icon with a blank area for the name. Type in the screen name of your buddy, and they are added. To add a new group, right click then select "New Group". This will make a folder icon that will contain your buddies to organize your list better. If you wish to move buddies from group to group, just highlight and drag them. So, let's say someone messages you and you want to add them. That's even easier, just click "Add Buddy'" or hit CTRL-A in the IM dialog box, select a group, and they are added.
You can also find buddies using AIM's wizard. Click on "People", then "Find a Buddy Wizard" and enter some info and AIM will search its database to find potential matches that meet your query. Once you find a buddy, you can just click the add button to put them on your list. This, unfortunately, uses the same Directory that spammers apparently use, so it's rarely very helpful since most people refrain from giving their full names to anyone who cares to look.
Blocking/Warning Users
Unfortunately, there are some people who use AIM for disruptive purposes, but thankfully AIM allows us the option to simply block them from contacting us. To ignore a some who's bothering you, just click "Block" in the IM dialog box, it'll ask you if you're sure you want to block them, if you select yes, they are now ignored. You can also block users who you aren't currently talking to, it just takes a bit more effort. Click on "My AIM", then "Edit Options", then "Edit Preferences". Click the "Privacy" tab. From there you can add them to your block list, this is also where you'd go if you wanted to remove someone you've previously blocked from the list.
Warning users is less severe than blocking, it allows them to keep talking to you, but lets them know they are being annoying. In theory users are supposed to be suspended from using AIM for a short period if their warning level reaches 100%, but it doesn't seem to actually work. To warn someone click on "Warn" button. You'll be asked if you want to go through with it or cancel. There's also a box to warn anonymously, this prevents the user being warned from seeing who warned them. An anonymous warning is less severe than a full warning, adding only 5% to a user's cumulative warning total. A non-anonymous warning gives 15 to 20% depending on AIM's mood at the time.
Sending Files
If you'd like to send a file to someone you're chatting with, click "People" on the IM dialog box, then "Send file". Just choose your file and send it. If they accept a dialog of progress will appear. You can also embed images and sound into your IMs. Click "People", then "Direct IM Connection". Once connected, click the little painting above the text entry area and select your image or sound. This will upload it and it will be sent as an IM to the other user. Keep in mind that AIM users can't send files to AOL users or to some other AIM users who are using an older version of the client. Also, sometimes firewalls can cause file sends to fail.
Adding Links
AIM also allows you to send hyperlinks to your buddies while chatting. Most people just type the link normally with the http:// prefix added and allow their buddy to click it. But, if you want to make a proper link with a name, just click the blue "Link" above the input field and fill in the blanks and you'll make a clickable link with whatever name you've given it.
Away Status
One of the most handy features is the Away Status feature. This allows you show that you're away from your computer and it will catch and log any messages sent to you. To play with it go to the "Away Message" section of the Preferences menu. From here you can create custom away messages that will display when you are away as well as change some of the functions of the away system in general.
To set yourself as "Away", right-click the AIM tray icon and select "Away Message". This will float out another menu where you select the saved message you want to use. Once you select it you're away.
While you're away a box will be available when you have the AIM client open that will show your currently displayed message as well as show any IMs you have received while away. When you're ready to come back, simply click the "I'm Back" button and you're good to go.
Alternately, you can also go to away status by clicking "My AIM" and selecting "Away Message" then one of your saved messages. Same end result, you get the Away Status box just as if you'd went away using the tray icon.
Other Features
Neat Features
While in Preferences you can change a great many things. The most useful are 'General', 'Buddy Icon', and 'Away'. Click the 'General' tab, and you can set your chat font, it's color, size, and formatting. Also, you can choose options to save your password or not. If you are the only one who uses the PC, save password is nice. But, if you have others, you might want to leave that box empty so they can't log into your account.
Buddy Icons and Expressions
Buddy icons are a cool way to personalise AIM to your own tastes. You can select your own icon that will be shown in the IM windows of all the people you chat with. You can set your buddy icon in the "Expressions" tab of the Preferences menu. AIM comes with a few icons that you might like, or you can find millions on the internet that you can use if you want something a little more creative. AIM also supports animated icons, so you can even find a great deal of animations that you can use.
Expressions are a bit like skins for your IM window. They add backgrounds, pictures next to your chat window, and other various eye-candy. I frown on the use of expressions since it's annoying to chat with someone who's got an Expression turned on that changes the background, icons, or adds new panels since the Expression you choose it loaded into the IM window of the user you're chatting with as long as the chat is open. If you choose to use one, you can also find them on the same tab as Buddy Icons.
Sounds
If you go into the preferences menu and select the "Sounds" tab, you can change the sounds you hear when buddies come online, go offline, and send/recieve message sounds. These can be changed to almost any WAV compatible file.
Multi-user Chats
To start a Multi-User Buddy chat is really pretty easy. The buddy chat is sorta like an IRC room, only it's more of an invitation only sorta deal. First thing you'll want to do is click on "People". From there click the option for "Send Buddy Chat Invitation". From there just add the buddies screen names and the room name and send it. If your buddies are free to chat they'll join your room and interact. There are no real channel operators and such in this buddy chat room, so you can't really moderate it like an IRC room
Voice Chat
Another great feature of AIM is the ability to talk to other AIM users.. Note, this doesn't work for AOL users, only AIM users. To voice chat, just click '"Talk" on the IM dialog box, make sure you have a microphone and speakers on, and you're set.
Video Chat
Video chat allows users with webcams to actually view each other, use this with caution. To open a video chat click "People" in the IM box, then "Open Video". Just follow the prompts and if your buddy accepts your video invitation you'll be rolling.
Linking Screen Names
If you're like me you're gonna end up with more than one AIM screen name eventually. Until recent builds there was no way for a user to keep more than one screen name online at a time. That all changed with the addition of screen name linking. Linking allows you to have more than one screen name signed on and active in your AIM client.
To link a screen name click on "My AIM" then "Manage Linked Screen Names". Click the "Link/Unlink" screen names button to redirect to a sign in screen. Once you've signed in you can add other names you use to your main name.
Once names are linked you'll need to sign out of AIM and sign back in for it to take effect. You'll notice you now have tabs on your buddy list that are named after your linked names. Each tab contains the buddy list of that screen name. You'll also see a little eyeball icon next to each tab, that icon allows you to turn each linked name invisible or visible while you're online. Great if someone is bothering you and you want them to think you've went offline.
Summary
AIM is an easy to use and flexible Instant Message client. Hopefully you'll come away from this course with enough knowledge to make use of the program. This course isn't intended to teach you everything there is to know about AIM, simply to give you enough knowledge to use the program without feeling lost or overwhelmed. There are many advanced features I've left out, explore them and see what else you can do with your new AIM client.