How Away and Idle Messages Work
| If you need to step away from your computer but do not want to sign off, you can let AOL Instant Messenger (SM) use the Away message and the Idle message to let other users know you are temporarily not available. For planned absences, you can turn on your Away message to let others know when you will be back. AOL Instant Messenger (SM) 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. For unplanned absences, AOL Instant Messenger (SM) turns on your Idle message after 10 minutes of inactivity. The service displays this message when anyone requests information about you and automatically replies with your Idle message to anyone who sends you a message while you are away. |
Defining a New Away Message
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To define (or create) a new Away message: 1 Select the My AIM menu on the Buddy List window. 2 Click Edit Options, and click Edit Preferences. 3 Click the Away tab. 4 Select the Auto respond and insert in personal profile option. If you do not want AIM to reply automatically to messages you receive when you are away, select the Insert in personal profile only option. 5 Click Add Message. The New Away Message dialog box appears on your screen. 6 Enter a label for the new Away message in the Enter label field. 7 Type the message in the new Away message field. 8 Click Save. 9 Click OK to save your change and close the dialog box. AIM adds your new message to your list of Away messages. For example, if you select the My AIM menu and click Away Message, your new message appears in the list of Away messages. When you want to use the message, select it from the list
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Turning an Away Message On and Off
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To turn an Away message on or off: 1 On the My AIM menu, point to Away Message, and then click the Away message you want to use. The Away message appears on your screen. If you don稚
want messages that your buddies send you to display while you are away,
click Hide IM windows while I知 away. To turn off instant message
sounds while you are away, click Disable sounds while I知 Away.
2 To turn off your Away message, click I知 Back.
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Defining an Idle Message
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To define (or created) an Idle message: 1 On the My AIM menu, point to Edit Options, and then click Edit Preferences. 2 Click the Away tab. 3 Select the Auto respond with message option. 3 In the text area next to this checkbox, type the message you want to send to anyone who sends you a message while your computer is idle. 4 Click OK to save your change and close the dialog box. If you do not use your computer for 10 minutes, AOL Instant Messenger (SM) automatically sends your Idle message to anyone who sends you a message. To resume your service, press any key or click a mouse button
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Turning an Away Message On and Off
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To turn an Away message on or off: 1 On the My AIM menu, point to Away Message, and then click the Away message you want to use. The Away message appears on your screen. If you don稚
want messages that your buddies send you to display while you are away,
click Hide IM windows while I知 away. To turn off instant message
sounds while you are away, click Disable sounds while I知 Away.
2 To turn off your Away message, click I知 Back.
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Deleting an Away Message
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To delete an Away message: 1 On the My AIM menu, point to Edit Options, and then click Edit Preferences. 2 Click the Away tab. 3 Select the Away message you want to delete. 4 Click Remove. 5 Click OK to save your change and close the dialog box.
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Defining an Idle Message
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To define (or created) an Idle message: 1 On the My AIM menu, point to Edit Options, and then click Edit Preferences. 2 Click the Away tab. 3 Select the Auto respond with message option. 3 In the text area next to this checkbox, type the message you want to send to anyone who sends you a message while your computer is idle. 4 Click OK to save your change and close the dialog box. If you do not use your computer for 10 minutes, AOL Instant Messenger (SM) automatically sends your Idle message to anyone who sends you a message. To resume your service, press any key or click a mouse button
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