Q: Set a fixed size of Messages buddy list window?

Hi,

The App should remember the position and size of any Buddy List.

The info is stored in com.apple.iChat.plist in ~/Library/Preferences

Open a Finder window.

Use the Go Menu whilst also holding down the ALT key.

The Menu list will now include the Library.

Select this and then navigate to Preferences.

Find the com.apple.ichat.plist and right click it.

Select Get Info

In the bottom of the panel that appears in Ownership and Permissions

Your shortname (Same as the Little House icon has in Users) should be listed.

You should have Read and Write permissions.

highlight the Line and then Un-padlock the file.

Next use the Little Cogwheel type icon under the list.

This should read "Make yourshortname (me) the Owner"  - if it is greyed out you Own it already.

If you have to change it then Save the file.

Back out of the Preferences folder and then repeat the Get Info Permissions Check on the folder itself.

(To Write to any .plist you also have to Own and have Read and Write permissions on the containing folders).

AS I said this is where the info is stored.

If the Above has not worked it could be that there is an issue in the Read and Write route  that is via ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Preferences.

This folder is full of Aliases that point to the ~/Library/Preferences folders held items.

It may pay, at this point to use the Helpful marked post in this thread Reset Home Folder permissions and ACLs Error

Linc Davis has a Test set of Instructions to use in Terminal which tells you how many files/Folders you do not Own.

The Solved answer  gives the Instructions  to restore your ownership to all the Files you should Own in the ~/Library and Home folders.

8:23 pm      Thursday; September 8, 2016

Hi,

Can I just check ?

~/ is short for Hard Drive Name/Users/YourShortName  i.e. your Home Folder.

In this case the Library (which is normally Hidden) that is within that home folder.

Hard Drive Name/Library or even Hard Drive Name/System/Library are not the places to look.

(yes it can seem like you are overwhelmed with "Libraries".)

In this pic I have the Path Bar showing across the bottom.

This can be switched On in a Finder Window > View Menu  (it says Hide when it is On)

In The Home Folder you could use the View Menu to Show View Options (CMD + J) and choose to show the Library  (Last Item)

The Buddy List can be split in the Messages Menu > Preferences > General Section and the Line about "Show all accounts in one List" to be unticked (turned Off).

The Font for the Listing cannot be changed.

However in the View Menu of Messages you can turn Off the Buddy pictures and the groups to save real estate.

Not much can be done for the main Conversation window as the Side Bar pictures cannot be altered.

7:17 pm      Sunday; September 11, 2016