The AOL Buddy List window

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The AOL Buddy List window

Note: AIM 7.0 and higher versions of the AIM software do not support animated SuperBuddies.

Your Buddy List window displays the screen names of your friends and family members who are online. This facilitates easy, real-time communication using instant messages or private chat rooms. You can add, remove, or rearrange buddies in your Buddy List whenever you wish.

FAQs

What are the basic symbols on my Buddy List?
How can I use my Buddy List?
What are the functions of Buddy Quick View?
What are Buddy List groups?
What are Recent Buddies group?
How can I add a screen name?
How can I delete a screen name?
How can I block a screen name?
How can I Unblock a screen name?
Can I control who can see me on their Buddy List?
How can I set up an Auto Response to incoming IMs?
What are Buddy Expressions?
What are Buddy List colors?
What are SuperBuddy Icons?
What are AOL Personalities?

What are the basic symbols on my Buddy List?

Throughout the day, you may notice different symbols in your Buddy List. Below is a list of those symbols and what they signify.

  • *: An asterisk next to the screen name of the person means that he/she has just signed in.
  • ( ): Parentheses will be placed around the screen name of the person signed out of the AOL service or AOL Instant Messenger service.
  • (2/5): The group count number tells you how many people are online, out of the total number of screen names in the group. For example, (3/5) means that three of the five people in a group are currently online.
  • Yellow notepad: This icon appears next to the screen name of any person who currently has an Away Message turned on.
  • Phone: The little icon indicates that your buddy is on a mobile device such as a cell phone or a PDA.
  • Buddy Icon: A small image will appear next to the screen name of a buddy who has chosen a buddy icon.
  • Web camera: This icon that appears to the right of a screen name, indicates that your buddy has a video camera and is capable of having a Video IM session with you.
  • USB Phone: This icon that appears to the right of a screen name, indicates that your buddy has an AOL Talk phone and is capable of having an AOL Talk IM session with you. Click the USB Phone icon to generate an AOL Talk IM invitation with the corresponding screen name.
  • USB Phone and Web Camera: This icon that appears to the right of a screen name indicates that your buddy is capable of having an AOL Talk IM or a Video IM session with you. Click the icon to display a drop-down menu allowing you to initiate an AOL Talk IM session or a Video Messenger session.

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How can I use my Buddy List?

The Buddy List feature facilitates easy and spontaneous communication using either the Instant Message (IM) feature. To send an IM to a buddy, just double-click the buddy's screen name in your Buddy List window, type your message in the box, and then click Send.

What are the functions of Buddy Quick View?

When you hover your mouse over a screen name in your Buddy List, the Buddy Quick View screen displays your buddy's buddy icon, indicates if your buddy is online, displays a link to your AOL Address Book, and lists your buddy's Buddy List capabilities. If your buddy is tuned to AOL Radio, it will also display the name of the station currently being listened to.

What are Buddy List groups?

Your Buddy List is divided into groups indicated by the bold print in the window. You can add or delete groups to personalize your Buddy List.

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What are Recent Buddies group?

The Recent Buddies group provides a quick and easy reference of recent contacts you have had with other members on AOL or on the AOL Instant Messenger service.

Each time you either send or receive an email or and IM from someone who isn't already included in your Buddy List, they'll be added to your Recent Buddies group. You may, at your discretion, delete people from this group the same way you would delete any other contact from your Buddy List. If you prefer to turn this option off, you may do so in your Buddy List Preferences.

How can I add a screen name?

To add a screen name in AOL 9.0 and higher
1. Sign in to the AOL service as you normally would.
2. On your Buddy List window, click Setup. If the Buddy List window is not visible, on the AOL toolbar, click the Community menu, and then click AIM.
3. Choose a group to which you wish to add a screen name, and then click Add Buddy.
4. In the Add New Buddy window, type a screen name you wish to add, and then click Save.
5. Close the Buddy List Setup window.

To add a screen name in AOL 8.0 and lower
1. Sign in to the AOL service as you normally would.
2. On your Buddy List window, click Setup. If the Buddy List window is not visible, on the AOL toolbar click the People menu, and then click Buddy List.
3. Choose a group to which you wish to add a screen name by clicking it, and then click Add Buddy.
4. In the Add New Buddy window, type a screen name, and then click Save.
5. Close the Buddy List Setup window.

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How can I delete a screen name?

To delete a screen name
1. Sign in to the AOL service as you normally would.
2. On the Buddy List window, click Setup.
3. In the Buddy List Setup window, choose the name you wish to delete by clicking it, and then click Delete.
4. Click Yes to confirm.
5. Close the Buddy List Setup window.

How can I block a screen name?

To block a screen name in AOL 9.0 and higher
1. Sign in to the AOL service as you normally would.
2. Go to AOL Keyword: Privacy Settings.

Note: This keyword can be accessed only within the AOL software. However, the Keyword feature is not available in AOL Desktop v10.1.

3. In the IM Settings window, select the Block only these users option, and then click the only these users link.
4. In the Custom Block List window, type the screen name you wish to block, and then click Add. In this way, you can add as many screen names as you wish to block.
5. Click Save to close the Custom Block List window.
6. Click Save to close the IM Settings window.

To block a screen name in AOL 8.0 and below versions:
1. Go to AOL Keyword: Privacy Settings.

Note: This keyword can be accessed only within the AOL software. However, the Keyword feature is not available in AOL Desktop v10.1.

2. In the Buddy List Preferences window, choose the Block only option by clicking it, and then click the People I list on the right box to place a check mark in it.
3. In the Enter screen name or IM Address box, type the screen name you wish to block, and then click Add. In this way, you can add as many screen names as you wish to block.
4. Click Save to close the Buddy List Preferences window.

 

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How can I unblock a screen name?

To unblock a screen name in AOL 9.0 and higher
1. Sign in to the AOL service as you normally would.
2. Go to AOL Keyword: Privacy Settings.

Note: This keyword can be accessed only within the AOL software. However, the Keyword feature is not available in AOL Desktop v10.1.

3. In the IM Settings window, click the Privacy and Security tab.
4. Click the Block only these users link.
5. In the Custom Block List window, choose the screen name you wish to unblock, and then click Remove.
6. Click Save to close the Custom Block List window.
7. Click Save to close the IM Settings window.

To un-block a screen name in AOL 8.0 and below
1. Sign in to the AOL service as you normally would.
2. Go to AOL Keyword: Privacy Settings.

Note: This keyword can be accessed only within the AOL software. However, the Keyword feature is not available in AOL Desktop v10.1.

3. Choose the screen name you wish to unblock, and then click Remove.
4. Click Save to close the Buddy List Preferences window.

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Can I control who can see me on their Buddy List?

To control who can see you on their buddy list
1. Sign in to the AOL service as you normally would.
2. Go to AOL Keyword: Privacy Settings.

Note: This keyword can be accessed only within the AOL software. However, the Keyword feature is not available in AOL Desktop v10.1.

3. Choose your privacy setting by clicking the desired option, to allow or block users, and then click Save.

Note: People you have blocked cannot view you on their Buddy List window.

How do I set up an Auto Response to incoming IMs?

Note: If using AOL 8.0, the Away Messages cannot be customized. To set Away Message, on the Buddy List window, click Away Message, and then click OK.

To use the Away Message feature
1. Sign in to the AOL service as you normally would.
2. On the Buddy List window, click Away Message.
3. Choose one of the options listed by clicking it. The default options are: I am Away, On the Phone, At Lunch, and Be Right Back.

Note: When your Away Message is active, the words Your away message is on will appear at the top of the Buddy List window, and any instant messages that are sent to you will be automatically responded to with your personal Away Message. A running tally of the number of IM's you receive while your Away Message is on will also be displayed at the top of your Buddy List window. Your name will appear on your friend's Buddy List window with a yellow notepad icon next to it so they know you are away from your computer.

To create a new Away Message
1. Sign in to the AOL service as you normally would.
2. On the Buddy List window, click Away Message, and then click Set up Away Messages.
3. On the Set Up Away Messages window, click New.
4. In the Enter Title box, type a name for your message.
5. In the Enter New Message box, type the content of the message, and then click Save.
6. Click X.

To modify an existing Away Message
1. Sign in to the AOL service as you normally would.
2. On the Buddy List window, click Away Message, and then click Set up Away Messages.
3. In the Set Up Away Messages window, click the Away Message you'd like to modify, and then click Edit.
4. Make the desired changes to the Title and/or Message, and then click Save.
5. Click X.

Note: To turn off or deactivate your Away Message, just click Away Message on your Buddy List window. An Away Message Off window will display how long you have been away, how many messages you've received while you were away, and the screen name of the person who sent the last IM to you. Click OK to close this window. Any messages you received while you were away will be displayed on your screen.

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What are Buddy Expressions?

Personalities allow you to easily switch your online persona to better express your current moods or interests. A Personality is made up of the four outgoing IM Expression types: Buddy Icon, IM Wallpaper, Buddy and IM Sounds, and Emoticons.

To set up and modify your Personalities, go to AOL Keyword: My Expressions or http://expressions.aim.com.

What are Buddy List colors?

You may notice that some of the names on your Buddy List are displayed in different colors. This is due to the Format Your Screen Name feature. To access this feature, go to AOL Keyword: Format Screen Name. You can choose from a variety of fonts, colors and themes.

Note:
  • This feature is only available in AOL 9.0 and higher versions.
  • This keyword can be accessed only within the AOL software. However, the Keyword feature is not available in AOL Desktop v10.1.

What are SuperBuddy Icons?

SuperBuddy icons bring instant messaging to life with 3D characters that animate in response to the text and emoticons buddies send each other. Each SuperBuddy includes 21 animations that respond to over 50 text and Emoticons triggers and even animate when idle. For example, select a SuperBuddy, type LOL in your instant message and he will laugh; send a wink Emoticons and he winks; type ZZZ and he falls asleep. You can even customize the way your SuperBuddy icons behave.

Note: AIM 7.0 and higher versions of the AIM software do not support animated SuperBuddies.

What are AOL Personalities?

Personalities allow you to easily switch your online persona to better express your current moods or interests. You can create multiple Personalities and select which to use either at the beginning or during an Instant Message (IM) session. A personality is made up of the four outgoing IM Expression types are Buddy Icon/Mini-Icon, Buddy Sound, Buddy Wallpaper, and Emoticons.

To setup and modify your Personalities, go to AOL Keyword: My Expressions or http://expressions.aim.com. You can have up to 30 personalities, allowing you to take advantage of the huge array of expressions available on the AOL service.

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Related Articles:


Manage my Buddy List groups
How do I manage my Buddy List settings in AOL 8.0?
How do I add, rename or delete a Buddy List group in AOL Desktop v10.1?

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Last updated: 08-11-2011
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