Windows XP [Electronic resources] : Visual Quickstart Guide, Second Edition نسخه متنی

Chatting Online

After you've created a contact list, you're ready to chat with anyone who's running Messenger in the background. All parties to the conversation must be connected to the internet.

Tip

Before starting your first chat, you may want to change your Messenger display name. Choose Tools > Options > Personal tab; in the text box, type your name as you want other users to see it (Figure 15.10 ). (Unlike AIM, Windows Messenger doesn't demand that your screen name be unique.)

To send an instant message:

1. In your contact list, double-click the name of someone who's online (refer to Figure 15.7).

The conversation window opens.

2. Type your message in the box at the bottom of the window; then click Send (or press Enter) (Figure 15.11 ).

Your message appears in the top section of the window.

3. The other person receives an onscreen invitation to chat (Figure 15.12 ) and (presumably) replies.

4. Type your reply in the bottom box; then click Send (or press Enter).

Now you're chatting. You can use Cut, Copy, Paste, and all the standard editing techniques. The conversation's transcript rolls down the top box, identifying each message's speaker (Figure 15.13 ).

5. Close the conversation window when you're done chatting or leave it open to continue the conversation later.

You remain signed in to Messenger when you close a conversation window.