Q: we want to delete or remove one of our account

Not entirely certain what you're looking to delete, but maybe it's the Messages-enabled accounts that are listed here:

 > System Preferences > Internet Accounts

Hi,

On the Mac in Messages > Preferences > Accounts there are two accounts there by Default.

One is for iMessages  and cannot be deleted (Although the Account can be Signed Out)

The Other is for Bonjour and also can not be deleted but can be turned Off by Unticking the "Enable this Account" box.

For the iMessages account you will see the old Apple ID which can be typed over.

Technically any other account (AIM, Jabber, yahoo) can be deleted by Highlighting then using the  minus icon under the list.

Occasionally this does not work.

If that happens we will need to know the account type.

As Mr Hoffman says some can be deleted in Internet Accounts

9:06 pm      Sunday; March 13, 2016

RALPH for the life of me cannot delete an aim account by using the minus button in el captain driving me crazy.  Throughway presence files in library etc.

Also i have like 5 accounts google aol aim jabber ymail etc . all with some form of say john smith associated with them.  Since they are ll similar very confusing to know which is which any way to display the account type next the name?

Also how do you talk to someone from with in those accounts?  Want to use my aol id message for one client my mac id etc for another google id etc but i never even know what account i am initiating a conversation from or replying from.  Are all my out going from my mac account and even from that i have 5 aliases phone numbers etc associated with one mac id.

sorry for typos or spell check ...through away preference files etc..

Just in case you do reply might as well go all out the buddy list drives ma crazy and the authorized user dialog for some contacts is confusing.  Want to add a buddy its grayed out want to contact some one and apple says not authorized user etc.   Thought i was fairly competent with mac apps  but messages is throwing me a curve for almost every pitch.

Most of all since up grading to el capitain now my screen sharing does not work through aim accounts so lost control of my office mac screen sharing even though i can log on manipulate file sharing  i.e. copying files to my desktop etc and they can instantly screen share my computer and voice convo etc, i keep getting an authentication error when trying to screen share through messages or through vnc .  mac lion at office mac elcapitain on my computer,

Thats in advance for you or anyone else that can untangle some or all of this.

Ok

Lets start here.

I had a similar problem with my Google account.

It would not login properly and I could not delete in Messages using the minus button or in System Preferences > Internet accounts (it was even difficult to try and turn it Off for Messages as I also wanted to keep the Mail bit working).

In the end I deleted this item from the Keychain

com.apple.account.Google.oauth-token

I left this alone

Jabber: Username@gmail.com  "Username" is obviously fictitious.

I have these (well I do have 5 AOL valid accounts)

com.apple.account.aim.password

In addition to the Application password  showing as "AIM: Username"

I have some things in my Keychain that are ages old as this Mac User account was started in OS X 10.2 on a G4 tower and migrated after OS X 10.5 to this iMac.

Some items are duplicated as the Keychain seems to keep older versions of things rather than updating them.

Some, as pointed out, seem to show in two forms but it is not really clear if that is a new OS X thing as a standalone of if they are used in combo.

However doing the Google Oauth-Token delete I was able to delete the Account in Messages using the Minus button.

I am posting whilst looking at my EL Capitan Keychain but I did this back in Yosemite.

Next bit.

In Messages  > Preferences > Accounts mine look like this:-

My "Main AIM" account is the one I use the most and have had the longest.

Internet Accounts seems to think it is an AOL account although it was gained via AIM and is linked to the AIM mail server rather than the AOL one.

As you can see there is a "Description" box where you can add the name you want.  The default is the Screen Name (for AIM) or the ID for Jabber and Yahoo.

If you add a Google account it gets the Google icon, Yahoo the same.

Some Apple IDs that are used as Valid AIM Screen Names like the "2@mac.com" and "Me.com" ones are added via the "Other" option and choosing AIM but show the messages icon instead.

In the General Section of the Preferences there is an option to unlink the Buddy Lists (or not gather them in one list).

This then shows them listed as different windows in the Window Menu.

Each gets it's own Keystrokes to bring it to the front and it is possible to run out as it only uses single digits.

Next Bit.

Once you have Buddies in your Buddy List(s) then you can chat AIM to AIM or Jabber to Jabber or Yahoo to Yahoo but not across services.

The fact the default is to display one combined Buddy List makes this confusing.

Of course you can use the Main/Chat window to make connections to Contacts for iMessages conversations

For any connection the Main window text entry point will state which you are using:

Or

AS the pic shows you can swap the Account type you are using if the Contacts Address card has the different info.

You change it in the "To" spot where their name becomes a drop down.

In this case I can swap to calling my Apple ID in iMessages or my iPhone (it's not sure about my landline as it has no blue bubble) or use various other AIM Accounts to connect to the one I am Calling (it is talking to Main AIM).

As for the iMessages account you can select in the Preferences > Accounts > iMessages  the "Start Conversation From " ID

However then App will default to the ID or iPhone number that the other person used to call you if they started the call.

So new calls from me use the Apple ID.

However if someone calls my iPhone number it will sync to my Mac and it show any reply as using the iPhone Number.

I will read the last post in more detail and post separately.

9:30 pm      Wednesday; March 23, 2016

Hi,

More info.

The app was built on it's forerunner, iChat.

Many Menu items reflect this.

Using one separated Buddy List and the Buddies Menu you get this:-

The Highlighted Buddy ("Me at Home (PC) Johns")  activates some of the items in the Buddies Menu.

AS this Buddy is already Added then I can Remove him.

The FaceTime options are sometimes active if the Address Card has an Apple ID or potential iPhone number  listed.

My EL Capitan version implies at this point that this is the only option although Video from within the App is possible with AIM to AIM and Jabber to Jabber chats if the person is also using a Mac and iChat or Messages.

I only know this chap via AIM.

iMessages conversations are with Contacts (not Buddies) and you have to use the Main window and a started conversation to move to Video (using FaceTime or Audio (Using FaceTime) or Screen Sharing (via the Screen Sharing app)

An option is to use the Details item to the top right of the chat/Main Window

Apple makes the distinction that iMessages uses Contacts  and Buddies have Chats.

The Buddy Lists were already there in iChat  but something like a buddy list was not use to chose the Contact to connect to.

Whilst a Contact  may also be a Buddy with multiple account type IDs and Screen Names on their Address card the distinction remains for chatting purposes.

As AIM allows the Username@serverOrEmail.com names as in "username@iCloud.com" then issues about adding a Buddy name or ID to a Buddy List can ensue.

All Jabber names are Username@jabberServername.com whether they offer email services as well or not.

Yahoo ID are Username@yahoo.com (Buddies in this list can also have other Valid Yahoo IDs)

Therefore it is possible to add and email style name to any Buddy List that will accept it.

The "buddy" will always appear Off line though.

GoogleTalk is a Jabber service.

This means you can add Jabber Buddies to any Google Buddy list you have or add Google Buddies to any Jabber Buddy list you have.

You have to set up Yahoo using only a Yahoo ID.

However the service does allow several other ID types as valid names.  (I don't use it much so I am not sure but I think MSN were/are one type).

Video and Audio Chats.

iChat could do Video and Audio Only chats plus Screen Sharing for AIM and Jabber accounts when both ends are on a Mac.

The Screen Sharing was essentially an audio Chat with  a VNC connection alongside and making use of the Apple Remote Desktop (ARD) engine.

This was all in App and opened up separate windows to do so.

You could not Video at the same time as Screen Sharing. (You could "Convert" from video to Screen Sharing but not the reverse)

The Messages could have used the same method for the iMessages account and made it compatible with FaceTime (or iPhones and iPads for instance).

However Apple decided that an iMessages Account would invoke FaceTime for Video And Audio chats to Contacts.

it does mean you are sure to connect to an iOS device as well as other Macs but you lose the 4 way Video chat or 10 way Audio chat ability that the iChat method has.

The Original (ver 7) of Messages could not Invoke FaceTime.

Audio was added later.

In Yosemite the ability to Invoke the Screen Sharing app was added.

This needs the System Preferences > Screen Sharing to be On and allowing anyone. (the listed name are normally Mac Users  Accounts on your Mac)

iMessages Screen Sharing (to keep the idea simple rather than listing the invocation all the time) is Mac to Mac only.

The Screen Sharing app is actually part of the Apple Remote Desktop.

If your Work Computer has your Home Computer's Mac User Account on it (in name only if you like) then you could allow just that Mac User account to Share Screens.  (the Authentication would be the password for the Mac User account on the work mac (And vice versa).

In most cases you are not sharing with someone who has a Mac User Account on your Mac hence the setting in the Sharing Preferences being set to Anyone.

Of course there are potential security issues although you can end the session pretty quickly if people stray away from what you agree.

The Screen Sharing App method (iMessages Screen Sharing) also has an Audio component.

Lion only has iChat 6 so it cannot do iMessages Screen Sharing.

It will only do it with an AIM or Jabber ID to an AIM or Jabber ID on your home computer (that's AIM to AIM or Jabber to Jabber).

iChat 2 Pictures http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/versions/ichat2/ichat2pics/index.html

iChat 3 adds Jabber http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/versions/ichat3/ichat3pics/index.html

iChat 4 adds multiple Video and Audio chats http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/versions/ichatvers4/ichatvers4pics/BuddyList/BuddyLi stIndex.html

Not a lot changes until Messages which is called Version 7 and keeps the same Numbering.

Mavericks and Yosemite have different version but both are called Messages 8

Messages 9 appears in El Capitan (and sub set numbers at OS X updates reappear)

Messages is at ver 9.2 at OS X 10.11.4

Hopefully I have untangled it for your somewhat.

iChat builds form a AIM only app to include Jabber and later Yahoo at iChat 6

Along the way it adds Jabber, then 4 way Video and 10 Way Audio Only chats and Screen Sharing (although not for Yahoo) (plus the Video effects)

Messages 7 adds the iMessages account which uses Contacts and not the Buddy Lists (the Buddy Lists remain).

Messages in Mavericks tidies things a bit.

Messages in Yosemite offers better integration with syncing with an iPhone and Allow SMS forwarding.

Basically more and more functions are added.

Some are lost like iChat theatre.

I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

10:22 pm      Wednesday; March 23, 2016

Ralph Thank you so much for your time and consideration really appreciate it.  If you ever figure out how to get screen sharing up between el capitan and lion please let me know.  Lion hooks up to el capitan no problem el capitan cannot access screen sharing even though i can access files keep  getting authentication denied message even through aim screen sharing etc.  used to be flawless upgraded to capitan now does not work at all.

thank you again

Hi,

Bonjour is a way the LAN Macs can connect.

In a Finder window if you show a Share then an option to Screen Share is available via a button.

This too invokes the Screen Sharing app.

If in EL Capitan you use the Details option top right in a Chat it will default to the iMessages invocation of the Screen Sharing app  using your Apple ID or iPhone number (depending which one is used for outgoing calls).

In this Pic the chosen chat is between two AIM Accounts I have in Messages.

However the Screen Names are linked to Address cards in the Contacts app so further up I have been using iMessages to an iPhone and to and Apple ID  before changing to the AIM chat.

The Purple bit refers to the Details option and the Screen Sharing icon will start up the Screen Sharing App even if this is an AIM chat as the one in the pic is.

You would then be calling the Lion computer for Screen Sharing using the Screen Sharing app and the Lion computer is probably not set to allow this (or not the Apple ID or the iPhone number that might be being used)

The Users that are allowed would have Mac User account on that computer

The Computer settings button may also have a password set.

Whilst in El Capitan the Screen Sharing icon in the Buddy List is greyed out for AIM Buddies the item also no longer appears in the Video Menu or the Buddies Menu for Starting a Screen Share.

In some cases though a linked Apple ID may cause it so show it can Screen Share but this will change to an iMessages invocation of the Screen Sharing app.

However it is not consistent even with obvious Apple IDs

AIM (or Jabber) Screen Sharing is unlikely to return to the Messages app.

9:07 pm      Wednesday; March 30, 2016

UNfortunately i have tried screensharing and it does not work eventhough i have office computer in my shared list and same mac id on both computers. Weirdest thing is lion at the office connects to my home mac effortlessly. Just like it is supposed to.  But cannot get screen sharing from home to office  even though file sharing works and am able to manipulate everything on hard drive. playing around i am even able to connect via vnc with ip etc but again only for file sharing.

THank you again for your time and insights.

sincerely

Patrick

Hi,

The AIM method as I tend to call it allowed you to either Start to Share your Own Screen or Ask to Share the other end's

i.e. one person could start the process for either Share as it were from one computer.

Can the Home Mac do this ? (and eliminate the El Capitan trying to ask to do this)

The fact the Lion computer can start a Share suggests the issue is not with the Server but with the fact that the El Capitan version cannot Ask Outbound to share.

As there is no setting to Allow Screen Sharing in the El Capitan version it might not be possible.

(Allowing your Screen to be shared when you have not set the option has always worked on the iChat versions)

9:45 pm      Wednesday; March 30, 2016

YEs all ways worked before i upgraded to el capitain.  and the home mac has the option to share the screen when we aim / jabber but the office does not get the request. However after waiting i still get an authentication failed message. 

just to be clear i get full access to files and harddrives on office/ lion so the home and office  are communicating and my office does not even need to request sharing it can take over the home/ el capitain computer on its own which is how it used to work from home to ofice. We really need it to function without requesting because we update and clean up office computer at night when no one is there.

i Just feel like there is one preference  or pass word etc that is confusing the os lion computer from granting the home computer screen sharing. That is assuming that the authentication failed message is actually emanating from lion. Ie i am actually sending the message to share screen and its not just looping in the elcapitain computer.

thank you again if you have any further insights please let me know. I hate to have to purchase software to do this and it still might not work.  normally i would just upgrade the office computer to el capitain which would solve the issue but we have software that does not work in el capitain.

Patrick

hi,

I had presumed the computers were the other way round in physical locations and in the one that was not accepting the invite so to speak.

But even allowing for that I still can't see why it is different and the Lion computer is not playing ball.

In El Capitan the .plists that holds the info about the Video Menu on and Off states of the Audio or Video Chats via AIM and Jabber is held in com.apple.imagent.plist

This as a grab of the Quick Look view.

Some items do not show up until set.

A migrated .plist may even show an item for Screen Sharing as this sort of thing does not get deleted.

It might also be possible to Write to the .plist using Terminal or manually edit it in Xcode which can open the file.  (TextEdit can also do it but it can baulk at the Save bit).

This .plist reads True for set and False if not and is complicated by the "Not Blocked" phraseology. (So the camera is Not Blocked in the first item).

The other settings are from the General Pane in the Preferences  and the iMessages Send Receipts setting in the Accounts Pane.

This Snow Leopard Quick Look view show at that point in iChat 5 shows the iChatAgent.plist was looking after this.

Although imagent is there in the ~/Library/Preferences it only handles the Logins at that point.

The top line of BlockARDAvail is the Screen Sharing bit (ARD being Apple Remote Desktop which is the engine used for this side of Screen Sharing).

you will also notice this far back the items become integers of 1 (= On) and 0 (=Off)

I have not got a copy of Lion to check when it changes to not using the com.apple.iChatAgent.plist completely (that said it will be the Modified date that will be the clue).

8:02 pm      Thursday; March 31, 2016