Messages - Facebook ID numbers instead of Names

Hi Steve,

Someone Posted a link to a Discussion at Pidgin about this and in amongst that was some code about the issue.

I would agree that it appears to be linked to the way Facebook handles an "Alias".

I have Psi, a Mac Jabber app that i got to add MSN contacts to a Jabber Buddy list (my link to ther instructions does not work at the moment)

Anyhow this allows you to publish a vCard if you wish.

This includes your "Real Name" and an Nickname as well if you wish.

What I have never done is use this or tested what is actually shown in iChat (or Messages)

From the way I read the Pidgin stuff, I was under the impression that Facebook is already committed to using the Facebook Email (ID) as one "Alias" let alone link though to the Facebook Display name that shows on your web pages.

A second issue might be the use of a Facebook Address Book compared to a Mac only one.

This would probably call on the vCard at Facebook and "Sync" the current display name - be that the Jabber ID itself, the Alias or the Facebook ID or as people are seeing a Number associated with the account.

8:45 PM Wednesday; August 28, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.4)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Hi Roy,

Not having a Facebook Account I don't actually have this issue.

My Address Book (Contacts App) is or rather was created over time on several older computers and then Migrated to the iMac as part of a Mac User I transferred.

It syncs with my iPad and iPhone via iCloud.

I take it the UserName is the "name" by which you can look the person up on Facebook or the name you know them by.

I would expect the bit with the Number in it to display the Jabber ID rather then their Number.

I suspect that no-one is supposed to see the number at all.

9:02 PM Wednesday; August 28, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.4)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

HI,

That is an issue we have not considered.

That the issue is with the Address Book (Contacts app) and the Facebook Syncing.

9:28 PM Wednesday; August 28, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.4)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Humm,

History. (Mostly because I still think in an AIM sort of way about this)

You can have AIM Name or a Jabber iD (we'll forget about Yahoo for now).

You can add Buddies as plaid Screen Names or Jabber IDs.

In all cases these are held at the Server you are using.

From iChat/Messages you can highlight a name/ID in the Buddy List and then do a Get Info (CMD + i keys together)

This brings up the Info Card and will tend to show the Address Card info.

If you Add a Real (First Name, Last Name) then this will be added to the Contacts App/Address Book.

(or you can open up the Address Book/Contacts App, create a Card and Add the Jabber or AIM Info on to the card).

AIM have a way of describing this.

Buddies are "Food"

"Food" is kept in "Feedbags"

The Buddy List is one Feedbag and the Address Book/Contacts app is another.

So the Buddy List could have "cereal" and the Address Book has "Bran & Oat Flakes" if you like.

Once the Address card has a AIM name or Jabber ID linked to the Real Name then the Buddy List will display the Real Name. (You see Bran & Oat Flakes)

Now the Contacts app in Mountain Lion has various ways you can Sync the info.

The most basic is to use iCloud and it will reflect changes made on the Mac or the iPhone across the devices linked/Synced with that iCloud ID.

My Contacts app shows an iCloud option (enabled)

An On My Mac option (Not enabled but offering to Sync with Google)

and a greyed out Inactive Yahoo option (I have used the Yahoo for Mac app to test before).

I would guess you either have a Facebook option of the ON my Mac version has an option to sync with Facebook.

At a point you are showing All Names you could turn the Sync option Off and rely on what is stored on the Mac.

You may have to consider what any iOS device is doing regarding Address Book Syncing.

This will only be a work around though.

10:00 PM Wednesday; August 28, 2013

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.4)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

I'm not 100% sure, but I don't believe I've installed the AirPort 6.3.1 update on my Mac at home, I can verify after work, but I'm pretty sure I haven't. It's also still on 10.8.2. This issue is happening on both of my Macs and has been happening, I believe, since Monday, July 22.

Another thread has been posted that I'll link to in case it gives any additional details (one user says this is also happening in Adium, pointing to Facebook as the culprit).

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5190553?answerId=22564494022#22564494022

Please read this whole message before doing anything.

This procedure is a test, not a solution. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.

Step 1

The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account.

Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”

While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your personal files or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.

Test while logged in as Guest. Same problem?

After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.

*Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac” is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.

Step 2

The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, or by corruption of certain system caches.

Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.

Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain iMacs. The next normal boot may also be somewhat slow.

The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.

Test while in safe mode. Same problem?

After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of steps 1 and 2.

Also having this problem. Only started very recently. It's happening on both my Macbook Pro and my work computer iMac. Tried the steps outlined, no change, except when selecting a different region and then switching back... the issue will clear for about 2 minutes and then go back.

I too am getting this since yesterday, though don't see a direct corrolation between the issue and Airport update, as I updated that on Monday and it was all fine that day and Tuesdays.

It's very frustating, and as other have said it bounces back to normal for a few seconds now and then and then goes back to the ID's. If you disconnect and reconnect the account it starts fine again, but soon enough will go back to the bare ID's.

Hope this gets fixed as otherwise the whole app is pretty useless (Facebook wise at least!).

Matt

Linc, thanks for taking the time to write that all out, step-by-step. Using my MacBook Air, 10.8.3, I ran through these steps exactly as described above. Both my Guest Account and Safe Boot had identical results, both had the issue. Also, after rebooting again and logging in as myself, the issue still remained (as expected).

Let me know if there are any other tests you would like me to run.

I've been experiencing the same issue myself. Seems to have started recently. I do have Airport 6.3.1 installed but I'd be surprised if it was related. It seems to work fine for a while, but when someone on my Facebook Friends list either logs in or logs out it seems to switch from displaying names and pics properly to displaying the Facebook ID # with no pic. Definitely pretty annoying.

Since my last post, I've seen a couple of other reports like yours, so I believe it's a problem on Facebook's network. Nothing you can do but complain. They seem to have done something that breaks compatibility with Messages (but perhaps not other IM clients.)