Help: Instant Messenger
Instant Messenger
Redhead World members can chat privately with other online users using the instant messenger. Audio/video conferencing is also supported, as well as the sharing of small files. This help file covers all functions of the instant messenger, but the video tutorial located near the bottom of this page shows these functions in action as well.
Requirements
- Compatible Web Browser
- Adobe Flash Plugin Installed and Enabled (download)
- Whitelist / enable pop-ups in your browser for Redhead World so you can receive instant messages from other users.
The instant messenger has been tested with Internet Explorer and Firefox. Safari and Google Chrome users may experience issues for the time being.
How to Receive an Instant Message Invitation
While browsing the Redhead World site or using the chat application, you might see a small menu-like window shift down from the upper-left corner of the browser. This is an instant message invitation from another user. The username and message are displayed. Choose "Accept" to chat with the user in a new instant messenger window or "decline" to dismiss the window.
Be sure to whitelist Redhead World for pop-ups or you may miss instant messages from other users.
If you receive an invitation when first logging in from a user who is offline, this means someone tried to get in touch with you last time you were online but were in the process of logging off. You can "accept" the message to read any saved messages they may have left for you.
How to Send an Instant Message Invitation
- Visit the Members|Online page to see who is online.
- Below each user in the list is a blue bubble icon with the phrase "IM [user] now!" Click on this link to pop-up a new instance of the instant messenger.
- Enter your introductory message in the text entry box and send it. You will be notified that the other user is currently not in the instant messenger, but has been notified. The other user will see your username and message pop-up on the Redhead World website.
- Wait a few minutes while the other user "accepts" your request. You can do other browsing while you wait, just leave the instant messenger window open. A sound will notify you of their response.
- When the other user messages you, you can have a conversation. Audio/video streaming and the ability to send a file are also now possible.
Note: if the user is in the process of logging off, they will still get your saved message the next time they log on, if they have pop-ups enabled for the site.
Instant Messenger Application Sections
Chat Display
The large white window in the center left is where all messages with the current user are displayed.
Instant Messenger Settings Bar
The instant messenger settings bar changes preferences for the chat session. From left to right are buttons for:
- Bold
- Italic
- Underline
- Font Color: your text will appear in this color to you and others.
- Smileys / Emoticons: click the button and click on a emoticon to place it in the text entry. Choose "change smileset" to choose a different set of smileys.
- Clear chat: clears the chat display window.
- Instant messenger help: basic chat help
- Chat settings (see section below)
- Status: choose between online, busy, or away. The status of the user you're chatting with appears to the left of their name at the top of the instant messenger.
Text Entry Box
Type your message here below the Chat Settings Bar and either press the enter key or click the large triangle button to send your message.
Other User Box
In the top-right, the users you are chatting with is displayed. Their status icon, name, age, sex, and online/offline status are in the top bar. Their profile photo or video stream is shown with controls to receive their audio of video streams. Below this are buttons for viewing their profile (in a new browser window) and if the other user is online and in instant messenger, there is a button to send a file. Below the buttons is the description from the user's profile.
If the other user tells you they are sending audio or video, you can view it by pressing the buttons to the left of their image. The top button plays the video, the second button stops the video. The third button plays audio and the slider bar conrols the volume. If their video does not show at first, try pressing the magnifying glass button in the lower right corner of their profile image. You can also use this to increase the size of their video window. Once the video is enlarged, it can be minimized again to continue viewing in the smaller window.
My Video
This box controls streaming your own audio or video. The main picture shows your profile photo normally. When streaming video, your video stream is shown in full quality. The quality of transmitted video may be lower resolution. There are 5 buttons on the left. From top to bottom:
- Play/streaming your video
- Pause streaming your video
- Stop streaming your video
- Toggle on/off streaming your audio
- Streaming Settings
Chat Settings
The chat settings box has 6 tabs, one of which contains an additional menu. These settings are part of your Flash plug-in and are used with the chat application.
- General: change the language, toggle date/time stamps, icons, and other messages.
- Sound: adjust sound volume of beeps in chat, or mute chat.
- Fonts: change the font and font size that you type in. Other members will see the new font and size. To see all messages as black, bold font, uncheck "personalized styles."
- Skins: change the skin of the chat application.
- Smilesets: select the smileset. Also available from the smiley/emoticon button.
- Advanced: advanced settings menu for streaming audio/video and more.
Advanced Settings
This shows the Adobe Flash Player settings. There are five tabs.
- Display: leave the hardware acceleration enabled unless you experience video quality problems.
- Privacy: before streaming audio or video you will be prompted by this menu to "allow" access to your microphone and web camera for use with audio/video chat.
- Local Storage: we recommend setting this at 10MB.
- Microphone: select the sound source you want to use and adjust the recording volume. We recommend using "reduce echo." If other there is feedback with other members streaming audio, try using headphones, moving your microphone away from your speakers, or lowering their volume.
- Camera: select which video source to use for streaming video.
Video Tutorial
The video tutorial demonstrates how to use all instant messenger functions including streaming audio and video. Also see the chat video tutorial for more information on streaming audio and video.
Instant Messenger Tips
- You can copy/paste hyperlinks into the instant messenger, but there are some known issues with this. We reccommend putting two spaces before the hyperlink followed immediately by a question mark and two spaces, "? ". If the hyperlink still doesn't display properly, try inserting spaces in the hyperlink. Other users will have to copy/paste the link and remove the spaces.
- If you have trouble reading the other fonts or colors, you can make all text black and bold by going into settings (grey gear button), selecting the Fonts tab, and uncheck the "Personalized styles" checkbox.
- If a user's video feed isn't showing in their box, try magnifying their window (magnifying glass button in lower right of video window). You can then minimize their window and continue viewing them.
- Be sure to whitelist or allow pop-ups for redhead-world.net in your browser. This ensures you will see other user's greetings when they try to instant message you.
- You can't use streaming audio and video in both Redhead World's chat and instant messenger at the same time. You must stop streaming in one application before using it in the other. You also might have to close all browser windows and relogin to switch from using audio/video in the instant messenger and then in chat.
