how do I install ichat instead of messages

Hi,

iChat has never been "portable between OS versions.

iChat (nominally 1) does not work outside of Jaguar.

iChat 2 beta work in Jaguar.

iChat 2 and it's numbered updates only work in Tiger (OS X 10.3)

And so on until iChat 6 in Lion.

Messages continues the numbering as 7 in Mountain Lion.

It has one update at OS X 10.8.2 to version 7.0.1 At this point the Serial Number of the Mac must be readable on the Logic Board (repairs to the logic/Mother board that don't have it put back need to revisit the Store or repair place and have it put back).

AS with iChat versions the Messages 7.0.1 will not work with being at OS X 10.8.2.

I.e. not only will it not work in Lion (OS X 10.7.x) but will not work in pre OS X 10.8.2

As you have found out this means iChat 5.x.x from OS X 10.6.x will not work in the newer OS of El Capitan.

By OS X 10.11 and Messages 9 (there were two versions 8s between vers 7.0.1 and Messages 9 there is very poor numbering about updates) we have lost:-

Formatting Menu and it's Messages Preferences Pane that allowed different Balloon colours and Font Colours and Styles

see http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/versions/ichatvers4/ichatvers4pics/Prefs/slides/iCha t4MessagesPrefs.html

And http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/versions/ichatvers4/ichatvers4pics/menus/slides/iCha t4FormatMenu.html

The Video and Audio Only chats form AIM and Jabber/Google Buddy list that worked Mac to Mac has gone.

What formatting there is in now in the General Pane of the Preferences

Sounds (what is left, again) is also in this section.

These are the Ringtone and Alert sounds that have come from iOS

The section below the red line only appears if you have AIM, Jabber (including Google account) or enable the Bonjour account.

Start with Enabling the Bonjour Account first.

This add "Buddies" to the Window format and will then display the Buddies List.

Technically at this point it is a combine list of all the Buddy List accounts.

If you have set up multiple account the list can get busy (Menu and Buddies List together)

You will notice I have untick the "Show all accounts in one list" (It may say "gather" on older versions)

The Window Menu will now list all accounts (AIM, Jabber etc) in separate Buddy Lists.

Lots of Accounts in Messages and the Main chat window can take up lots of Screen Space though

more to follow.

8:33 pm Wednesday; July 26, 2017

Hi again,

So the Main chat window (and interface is next).

This is so different from one list, one conversation one Chat window per person that it is a culture shock to use.

However double clicking A Buddy in the Buddy List will add then to the Side Bar in the Main window and their Name to the "To" Spot.

The text field at the bottom tells you which Account you are using.

Bottom left is also all the Accounts (except iMessages as it does not have a Buddy List ) are shown.

The above pic is from an earlier version that still had Formatting.

You can create group chats by selecting more Buddies like before.

All incoming message items are grey balloons.

You can't tell AIM from Jabber/Google or even iMessages

Outgoing balloons for AIM, Jabber/Google, Bonjour and SMS if linked to iMessages are green.

Outgoing iMessages are blue like the iOS versions.

If you are using Messages 9 in OS X 10.11.x then you also appear to get a Yahoo account.

However Yahoo changed their App and this no longer works and was removed in OS X 10.12.x

Summary.

Yes you can have the Buddy Lists on Show.

Yes you can separate them.

Clicking a buddy puts them in the Chat window.

The Main Chat window is also the Main interface for the app and item top left can be used to find Buddies or Contact (blue + iCon) or connect to the Contact via FaceTime

Video in App along with Screen Sharing in App has gone.

This means the Detail option in a chat allow only iMessages ones to invoke FaceTime or the Screen Sharing App

You can of course add an Apple ID to the iMessages account and activate it.

This does not have to "the" iCloud account but it does have to be iCloud valid.

I.e. it can be different to your iTunes account and different from the one in System Preferences > iCloud.

8:54 pm Wednesday; July 26, 2017

Hi,

Some answers in graphic form

Groups chats tend to show Names and pictures (if you have a pic)

You do lose the ability to list Shortnames instead of Full names

Note you also lose the 3D Available and Away indicators.

Actually they are still in the app and renaming the pictures would get around this.

As you can see here Handle V Name does not work.

This view of the Contacts App at a Card for this AIM Name shows that it does not have a pic where as Messages is getting the one from the AIM Servers.

The Name on the Address Card is based on the Display Name at AIM hence the blurring out of both.

However the File in /Library/Caches/Messages/Pictures does get smaller and small the more time that you don't contact an AIM name or see them On line.

At one time there was a Saturday Chat for Posters here that were at Level 4 (then - now they would be Level 6) and I had more active Buddies.

Highlighting a Buddy in a List and then using the Buddies Menu gives you access to the Info and Profile.

Info and Profile both show the same "Card"

It will default to the Last tab view you used.

This AIM ID used to be used on a PC hence the Separate card and the strange "First" Name.

The Pic is pulled from the Address Card.

The Profile View is from the AIM servers so the pics may be different and there may be posted Profile info also from the AIM Servers.

In the case of using Multiple accounts like I do they tend to show all the active options being used in Messages including your iMessage/Apple ID

Your Pic can be changed from the Messages Menu itself.

It applies across all Accounts including iMessages and it is not possible to show different outgoing pics for different accounts which is why mine all then show the Signature Pic I use here. (miss that feature too)

The Status item in the Messages Menu only applies to the "Front" Buddy list

It DOES NOT show the status fro the iMessages account (There is no way to see if you are logged in properly to the iMessages account and links to iPhone tends to mean you are "always On" anyway.

Here ends today's lesson.

10:03 pm Friday; July 28, 2017

for the Points

10:03 pm Friday; July 28, 2017