IM Reference
with Trillian
3/20/06
What is IM?
Instant Messaging is similar to e-mail, except conversations happen in
real time. If a person is not online they will get your message the next
time they open their program.
IM has presence awareness - (Buddy List)
IM can do file transfers, group chat, voice over IP
IM requires signing up with a network, and choosing a screen name.
Most common networks:
AIM, MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, IRC, and Googletalk.
Who is IMing?
Among undergrads, almost everybody
July 2005 Pew Report (“Internet and American Life Project”)
42% of adults use IM
75% of teens aged 12-17
IM preferred to e-mail
<http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Teens_Tech_July2005web.pdf>
November 2005 cnet poll
66% of 13- to 21-year-olds say they send more IMs than emails
<http://news.com.com/Study+Teenagers+favor+IM+over+e-mail/2100-1032_3-5944265.html>
Networks must match
AIM accounts can only talk to other AIM accounts.
MSN accounts can only talk to other MSN accounts.
AIM ---------to---------- AIM
Yahoo --------to-------- Yahoo
MSN ----------to---------- MSN
ICQ ----------to----------- ICQ
GoogleTalk----to----GoogleTalk
But my friend is on MSN….
Q: I have an AIM screen name.
How can I talk to someone on MSN?
A: You have to sign up at MSN, get a screen name.
Download their free MSN client (optional) OR log in
through their web interface. OR use the Meebo
all-in one web interface.
Since you now use more than one
network…..
Manage multiple networks
through one program;
a multi-network client
like Trillian, Gaim, or Miranda
You still need to sign up
at each network’s web site
if you want a presence on that network
Clients
Clients are programs IMers use to communicate.
All the networks, (AIM, MSN, ICQ, etc.) offer a
free client that works only with THEIR network.
Many patrons may have these single network clients.
What they see is entirely dependent on which
client they’re using and how they have it set.
They may be overriding our text styles.
Libraries Reach Out
Most libraries have several network accounts
(screen names) and use a multi-network client
Why? Greater REACH
Most patrons already use IM
No popup blockers, no waiting for clunky interfaces to
load. They have their familiar IM and just send a
message to umdlibaskus, or create a umdlibaskus buddy
(optional).
Think of Trillian as a five-in-one program.
AIM ---------to---------- AIM
Yahoo --------to-------- Yahoo
MSN ----------to---------- MSN
ICQ ----------to----------- ICQ
GoogleTalk----to----GoogleTalk
Start
Quit
System tray icon
Left click once to bring
up Trillian window
Right click / Exit
Make it start automatically:
Trillian /
Trillian Preferences /
Installation and Startup
Doreen
umdlead9
Set up buddies
1. with the lead PC
2. with your partner
Rover Doreen or Aaron
Gail
vyleta3
Tom Z
patron1111
Kathryn
Pam
patron222
vyleta4
Rover Sunshine
Rover Aaron
Tom A
vyleta2
vyleta7
Martha
vyleta8
Jim
vyleta6
Kay
Rover Jim
Add Contact (buddy)
Add Contact (buddy)
NEXT
Highlight a group
(neater looking if all in one group,
unless you plan to have LOTS
of contacts)
Groups can be used for
group-chat purposes.
Medium is AIM (if the
person you’re adding is
signed up with AIM)
NEXT
Type their screen
name here and
click Add.
Then click Done.
We won’t be adding
patrons as buddies.
They may choose to
add umdlibaskus however.
Trillian’s Buddy List
Buddy names can be
renamed to suit you
(only in your list)
Color coded networks
“brb” means “Be Right
Back” – they have not
touched their keyboard
or mouse in 15 minutes.
Color Coded Networks
GoogleTalk
/
Jabber
|
Trillian Pro only
AIM
ICQ
MSN Yahoo
IRC
|
we
aren’t
using
Contact a Buddy
Take turns contacting the lead machine
Then, contact your partner
Notice “typing notification”
To stop talking, just “X” out
There are two Trillian Windows:
“My contacts”, and the chat window
Minimize
Maximize
Move
Resize panes and windows
Switch panels around
File / options / always on top (in chat window)
View / Docking (in contacts window)
Multiple Sessions
As new people
IM you, tabs will
start accumulating
across the top.
Same is true if you
initiate contact with
more than one person.
(Six tabs maximum).
Multiple Sessions
“Detach window” will
give that tab its own
new window.
Useful for when you
want all your sessions
visible side-by-side.
The “x” closes the
tab (or window).
See your own connections
See your own connections
YOU
Your networks
See your own connections
Change your avatar (graphic)
See your own connections
Many settings here.
Each network has it’s own BLOCK list.
Disallow “direct connect”
Turn off Mail notification
Global Reconnect
Periodically
check:
Are all
networks
lit?
The
white
ball is
IRC, just
ignore.
If not,
What’s all that noise?
Ding-dong means a buddy signed on or off.
___ means a buddy changed status.
Bee-doop means you sent text.
Doo-beep means you received text.
Click Trillian /
Trillian Preferences
and Notifications.
Uncheck things that you
don’t want to hear.
Explore Preferences
Explore Preferences
SOME Preferences:
Load trillian on bootup (under “installation & startup”)
Sounds (under “notifications”)
Flash the taskbar x times (under “message windows”)
Display timestamps (under “text conversations”)
Disable emoticons (under “text conversations”)
Fonts (you can’t force them to see your styles, if they override yours)
File transfer folder (under “file transfers”)
Virus scanner (under “file transfers”)
What to log, where to save logs (under “activity history”)
Plugins (turn on after installing them) (under “plugins”)
Shared profiles in one Trillian (under “advanced preferences”)
Toggle WIKIPEDIA hover (under “message windows”)
Text formatting on the fly
Background
Foreground
Decrease Normal Increase
Insert URL
Text formatting in Preferences / Text Conversations
Emoticons
Click
in the font
toolbar and hover over
an emoticon to see
its keyboard shortcut.
Emoticons
Two ways to add them:
1. Pick emoticons from the emoticon panel (just above where u type)
2. Type (pl)
you get a plate
Type (book) you get a book
Type (c)
you get coffee
Type (brb) you get a “Be Right Back” sign
Type :)
you get a smiley
Type :(
you get a frown
Unwanted emoticons can appear in pasted text (substitution)
Emoticons
Turn off emoticons:
Click Trillian / Trillian Preferences / Text conversations.
Scroll down to emoticons, uncheck all 3 boxes.
Insert URLs
AIM lets you insert CURRENT
URL. Your topmost browser’s current
URL will get pasted in your typing
window in a link format:
UMD Library - Indexes and Databases
Page.
To just send the
ACTUAL http:// ADDRESS,
copy and paste it into
your message.
Insert URLs
“Insert URL” lets you type or paste in
ANY URL and give it a link-name.
It too will be underlined link, and not a
bare naked URL. For transcript
purposes, patrons may prefer the
bare URLs (just do CTRL-C / CTRL-V)
Forwarding Messages
Copy and paste to another IM?
Copy and paste to email?
Highlight text, copy with CTRL-C
Place cursor, paste with CTRL-V
Often right-click/copy and right-click/paste work.
Send / Receive Files
Files can be gif, jpg, pdf,
doc, txt, html, etc.
Avoid sending large files
like tif, psd, mp3, mov,
avi.
Browse for the file,
double click it, and click
SEND.
Send / Receive Files
You might have to wait for large files. Networks differ in
their ability to send files. Our tests showed that all of
them could do it, but on some days it took longer or
never worked.
Routers and firewalls can sometimes impede file
transfers.
You’ll be prompted to save the file once received.
A good security practice is not to accept files from nonstaff. (similar to opening attachments).
Status Messages
“Set all away” shows all your
network connections as “brb”
(be right back)
“Set all back” brings back the round
dots (in Trillian). Other clients may
have different methods to show you’re back.
“Set all invisible” makes you appear
to be offline, even though you can see
everyone else. You can’t converse in
this mode.
“New Away Message” lets you create
your own custom messages. When
someone contacts you while you’re away,
They will be answered by your custom
message.
Status Messages
Making a custom “away” message
Status Messages
Making a custom
“busy” message using
the advanced option.
Note that each network
should be set to the busy
state (if available)
Send Message to All
Right-click a GROUP, and
Choose “Send a message to all.”
Everyone in that group should
receive your message.
You can make new groups and
carefully drag people into groups.
Right-click any group name and
“Add Contacts or Groups”
Explore right-clicks.
In just about ANY program,
This Is VERY useful
Invite to a chat room
If in conversation, you can
invite others. Click Invite
button and type the screen names
(actual screen names they
signed up with, not names
that you renamed them with)!
e.g., dh2222, not Doreen
Invite to a chat room
Separate names with commas.
The CHAT ROOM gets named
By the system - just leave it.
Each network seems to have a
different naming convention.
Block or Warn someone
If you are currently
in conversation…
Actions / Block
In Yahoo, this is
called “ignore.”
The ignored party
can still keep harrassing
you, but you won’t see
them.
Only AIM has Warn.
it’s been out of service,
so could not test it.
Block or Warn someone
If the offending party
Is on your buddy list…
Right-click the
buddy then Block
Why Pro?
- Allows sending more than 5970 characters at a time (sends chunks of text quickly
- Has a history viewer (don’t have to open plain text files)
- Has a spell checker (but unwanted capitalization is a problem)
- Keyboard lights flash one time upon receving a message
- Emoticons categorized by network (smileys aren’t compatible between networks)
- More stable file transfer
- Pro has GoogleTalk /Jabber protocols
- Has plugins for RSS feeds, weather, and much more
Privacy
When signing up for an IM account, don’t give
unnecessary personal information
Like email, IM is as secure as sending a postcard
through the mail, so exercise common sense and
don’t send anything highly personal or
confidential via IM
Transcripts are stored on both your local computers
(if configured to do so) and, presumably on the IM
network’s servers
Chat Logs
The history folder can be
changed under Trillian/ Trillian
Preferences / Activity History.
Leave it at c:\chatlogs at the
desk.
Trillian Pro allows you to view
these logs with a fancy
interface – Click the
HISTORY button.
Trillian Basic gives you the
plain .txt file view.
Viruses and SPIM
As with email, viruses and junk mail can come through IM.
As with email, antivirus software that is standard on all library
PCs protects against most threats.
To get infected through IM, you typically need to either click on
a link or accept a file transfer. Avoid accepting those from
patrons.
SPIM means “IM spam.” Occasionally a commercial message
may pop up. IGNORE these, and don’t click any links.
Also, do not accept “Direct Connections” (?)
Other Libraries have said…
No need to fear that IM-speak will be
indecipherable
Abbreviations and slang are minimal
All-lowercase is typical for speediness
Most common abbreviations
afaik (as far as i know)
b4 (before)
brb (be right back)
btw (by the way)
fwiw (for what it's worth)
gl (good luck)
hth (hope this helps)
ic (i see)
imho (in my humble opinion)
imnsho (in my not-so-humble opinion)
k (okay)
l8r (later)
lol (laughing out loud or lots of luck)
otoh (on the other hand)
ru (are you)
tia (thanks in advance)
ttyl (talk to you later)
tx, thx or tnx (thanks)
u (you)
y (yes)
yw (you’re welcome)
n (no)
2 (to)
4 (for)
404 (i don’t know)
Don’t sweat the lingo
Paraphrased from Librarian Bernie Sloan, U of Illinois, Champaign ILL: (2002)
I searched 444 transcripts for abbreviations, and found just
two! Both were "LOL" and appeared to stand for "lots of
luck", rather than the more commonly used "laugh out
loud".
I searched 877 transcripts three types of emoticons smiling, winking, and frowning. Combined, they occurred
in just 43 of 877 transcripts.
So, less than one half of 1% of 444 transcripts contained
chat abbreviations. Less than 5% of 877 transcripts
contained emoticons.
HELP
http://www.trillian.cc/help/
http://www.trillian.cc/support/
http://www.d.umn.edu/~dhansen/im.html