You can send an instant message to anyone else in the community who is also on line.

Sending an Instant Message (IM)

1. Open the Instant Message - Send dialog box by doing one of the following:

• Select a name in the People List and press the IM button.
• Select Tools, Send Instant Message...
• Select Send IM from the shortcut menu on another presence.
• Use Tools, Locate... to find someone; select the person from the list; and press Send IM in the Locate dialog box.
• Select View Identity from the shortcut menu on another presence and press Send IM in the Identity dialog box.
• Drag and drop your avatar onto someone else's avatar to form a group.

3. Type your message in the dialog box text area.

4. Optionally press a gesture button on the Gestures Palette.

5. Optionally press Available? to see if the selected person is available to receive the message.

6. Press the Send button in the dialog box or the Enter key on the keyboard to send the message.

Responding to an Instant Message

When someone sends you an Instant Message, an Instant Message dialog box is displayed on your screen. 

1. Press the Respond button.

2. Type your message on the text line.

3. Optionally press a gesture button on the Gestures Palette.

4. Press the Send button or press Enter on the keyboard to send the message.

Closing an Instant Message Dialog

1. Close the Instant Message dialog by one of the following:

• select Close IM from the shortcut menu on the instant message tab in the Chat Mode Manager
• if the instant message is in the Chat Manager, select File, Close Instant Message
• press Cancel in the Instant Message window
• if you are in an instant message group, drag and drop your avatar to another area of the browser window