Anonymous 2.0

Q: How to show nicknames on Messages on Mac

How do I show nicknames on Messages on Mac?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Oct 2, 2016 1:32 PM

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Q: How to show nicknames on Messages on Mac

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  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Oct 4, 2016 12:07 PM in response to Anonymous 2.0
    Level 9 (73,336 points)
    Applications
    Oct 4, 2016 12:07 PM in response to Anonymous 2.0

    Hi,

     

    First of all right click a Buddy in a Buddy List and select Show Profile.

    Change it to the Address Card tab.

    Add Nickname.

     

    The Adds the Nickname as step one but in Contacts it adds the Nickname field.

    (You can see it in Edit mode)

    Edit Mode show Nickname field.png

    (the name shown is no longer valid. At one time Apple ran some test accounts for iChat)

     

    The Buddy List will now show the Nickname as the "Handle"

    Buddy as Nickname.png

     

    I used to know how to turn this On and Off but I have not done it since iChat 5 at least and have forgotten.

    It does not appear to be in any current menu.

    There is a tick box in Contacts > Preferences > General to Prefer Nicknames but mine is Unticked and  that might only refer to the Contacts apps use of Nicknames.

     

    In the Pick above I added Nicknames to two Account where I was only using the Screen Name before (there is no real Name or at least they are not linked to an Address Card.)

    If I Add a Names to the Info tab in Messages then that gets added to the Contacts App

     

    I am sure there used to be an additional option in Messages to Show the Nickname/Short name (which is First name only if no Nickname) but It does not seem to be there in Sierra which I am am using to Post.

     

    In fact on checking iChat 5 has View Menu > Buddy Names > and then three options

    Show Full Names

    Show Short Names

    Show Handles (Screen Name in an AIM list).


    See this iChat 4 pic http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/versions/ichatvers4/ichatvers4pics/menus/slides/iCha t4ViewMenu.html

     

     

     

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    8:07 pm      Tuesday; October 4, 2016

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (El Capitan)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     iPhone and an iPad (2)