Filed under: Software, Mac 101
Mac 101: Tabbed windows in iChat
New to the Mac? Welcome back to our Mac 101 series, which explores the basics of Mac OS X, provides tips and tricks, and dives into key features of Apple's bundled tools.
As a Mac user, you've got several options for chat clients -- Adium, Fire and IRC are all worthy -- but in this post we're going to focus on Apple's iChat.
Create an account
When launched for the first time, iChat will prompt you to create an account. You've got five options, namely
- MobileMe
- AIM
- Jabber
- Google's GTalk
- Jabber
Make your selection and enter your information. If you're new to instant messaging, simply click the "Get an iChat account." Now your account is ready to go.
Among my favorite features of some of the non-Apple chat clients: tabbed windows. This allows you to collapse all of your open chats into a single window. That way, there's no need to have two or more windows open. Here's how to enable this in iChat.
From the Preferences window, check the "Messages" tab. Next, select "Collect chats into a single window." That's it! Now, iChat will list all of your open chats in a drawer along side your chat window. To move from one to the other, just click your chat partner's name.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sam said 7:34PM on 11-18-2008
If only we could tab each of the contact lists into one. Or a consolidated list like Palringo, Adium, etc. iChat is an amazing communication tool but the lists and account management side of it needs some work.
Reply
Gary said 8:08PM on 11-18-2008
Oh please yes... I'm fed up with having 3 buddy lists open just for iChat.
Matthew.Hillyer said 9:15PM on 11-18-2008
@Gary - then get chax, it puts all buddies into one window
http://ksuther.com/chax/
Matt Kern said 8:01PM on 11-18-2008
You forgot to mention that if people don't have Leopard, they can add tabs to iChat by installing the plug-in Chax.
Here is the link:
http://ksuther.com/chax/
Reply
Victor Agreda Jr said 8:30PM on 11-18-2008
Good point, but our aim with the 101 series is mostly new users. While many of us "old salts" are comfortable with plug-ins (and the requisite "update breaks plug-in, wait for fix, apply, lathter, rinse repeat" cycle they create), the average new Mac user needs just the basics to get going.
Perhaps we should start a Mac 201 series?
Michael Jones said 10:42PM on 11-18-2008
@vagredajr: Personally, I think that would be a great idea. Don't call it 201 though... call it something like Mac Plus :P Essentially, posts that offer slightly more advanced tips that power users might like, or ones that help you get a little more out of your Mac.
Ebika said 8:24PM on 11-18-2008
I would love it if Apple bought Adium and combined iChat and Adium into the perfect messaging/video/audio application.
Reply
Chris said 8:40PM on 11-18-2008
"When launched for the first time, iChat will prompt you to create an account. You've got five options, namely
* MobileMe
* AIM
* Jabber
* Google's GTalk
* Jabber"
Does anyone else realize that that's only four options?
Unless Jabber is now a different service than... Jabber.
Reply
Michael Jones said 10:36PM on 11-18-2008
I think he was going for ICQ. You could also use Jabber transports to connect to other services (i.e. MSN or Yahoo), but that would probably require a separate post to explain.
Justin C said 11:19PM on 11-18-2008
I've been using a mac for over 6 years, and I never even knew this was possible, lol. Anyone know how to toggle when chats are in the same window?
On that, does anyone know how to toggle between tabs in safari?
Reply
Matt Kern said 11:45PM on 11-18-2008
Command + Shift + left or right direction arrow.
Matt Kern said 11:55PM on 11-18-2008
Also, if this is easier for you, which I can't see it being, btw.
Command + Shift + Brackets keys ( [=left and ]=right)
Matt Kern said 11:34PM on 11-18-2008
Sign me on to the TUAW team, and I'll host this "Mac 201" series.
Blatant attempt to plug myself = Success.
Attempt to join the TUAW team = Fail.
Reply
Michael Jones said 12:55AM on 11-19-2008
LOL.
Ondra Soukup said 8:01AM on 11-19-2008
Whoa, that's three times jabber there! Jabber, GTalk and Jabber all over again - wooow :)
Reply
sketchguy said 12:52PM on 11-19-2008
How come this doesn't work for me? I've got 6 different chat windows currently open. I go to Prefs, toggle the appropriate box, and nothing happens. I see no drawer. My chats are still in separate windows. Any ideas?
Reply
Nicole said 10:58AM on 12-13-2008
I am having the same problem. Went to preferences, made the above recommended change, and I still see the same thing as before. I even closed and restarted the program, and all of my separate chats are still in different windows :(