cocoaforge

Is there a way I can create a SINGLE "alias" for a person who has MSN, Yahoo, AND AIM and that single alias will show up online if they are online for any or all of the messengers?

SxyMiatch wrote:Is there a way I can create a SINGLE "alias" for a person who has MSN, Yahoo, AND AIM and that single alias will show up online if they are online for any or all of the messengers?

Search the forums for META-CONTACTS. there you will find the answer to your inquiry. Remember to always Search for a topic before you post a question.

Edit:

twistmac wrote:click option and drang one of the names onto the other

Catfish_Man wrote:The other way is to add people's screennames to the address book. If they have more than one, and importing from the address book is on (it is by default) it will make a metacontact.

Metacontacts are always confusing, and searches don't always turn up results because everyone explains it differently!

How are they [metacontacts] confusing? Be specific and do not reference threads as these use assumptions such as how others expected it to work or wanted it to look or correct/incorrect attempts at providing help. Instead of hyperbole list supporting facts to address the issue in hopes of future resolution.

bgannin wrote:How are they [metacontacts] confusing? Be specific and do not reference threads as these use assumptions such as how others expected it to work or wanted it to look or correct/incorrect attempts at providing help. Instead of hyperbole list supporting facts to address the issue in hopes of future resolution.

check
the edit should help better

They're confusing because it's not documented in the help menu…

Well the lack of documentation is a known, and being worked on, issue. If there is no functional issue then they are not confusing, they are simply undocumented.

i didnt mean for my post to be.... insulting, or not nice.. just wanted to spread the message of 'search before you post'.. but, after thinking about it, it is understandable that one would know what a meta-contact is without knowing its name

True... however, combine and contact would likely turn up a thread or three

Well, we were talking about this on IRC, and I felt that the current situation (option-drag) is less than ideal. It's an interface mode that's completely hidden unless you know what it is. As a possible alternative, I was looking at the Finder's handling of folders in the sidebar. Without any modes, you can drop something in the folder, or in between folders. Opinions on this?

Catfish_Man wrote:Well, we were talking about this on IRC, and I felt that the current situation (option-drag) is less than ideal. It's an interface mode that's completely hidden unless you know what it is. As a possible alternative, I was looking at the Finder's handling of folders in the sidebar. Without any modes, you can drop something in the folder, or in between folders. Opinions on this?

do you think the documentation that will be made available next update, will solve this problem?

and are you suggesting a drag and drop system, with perhaps a confirmation window that pops up?

SuperJeremy3000 wrote:

Catfish_Man wrote:Well, we were talking about this on IRC, and I felt that the current situation (option-drag) is less than ideal. It's an interface mode that's completely hidden unless you know what it is. As a possible alternative, I was looking at the Finder's handling of folders in the sidebar. Without any modes, you can drop something in the folder, or in between folders. Opinions on this?

do you think the documentation that will be made available next update, will solve this problem?

and are you suggesting a drag and drop system, with perhaps a confirmation window that pops up?

There already is a drag and drop system It's accessed by holding down option. I'm suggesting a possible improvement to it. Documentation is nice, but it's a workaround; intuitive design is better (not saying my design is better, just good design in general).

I can't say I agree with the Finder metaphor... the reason a modifier is there to put it in this mode is to avoid accidental metacontact creation and the Finder solution wouldn't be best - if a user is slow, has a broken arm or carpal tunnel, pauses, or misses in their drop they could create a MC when they only meant to re-order their list. The Option key allows us to know explicitly that the user intended to make a MC.

A confirm dialogue would work though. How often do people really make meta contacts?

The_Tick wrote:A confirm dialogue would work though. How often do people really make meta contacts?

i agree, but without the option button being used, do you think alot of people might accidentally drag and drop without meaning to? i mean, personally, i dont see that as being a problem, but im cant speak for everybody

SuperJeremy3000 wrote:

The_Tick wrote:A confirm dialogue would work though. How often do people really make meta contacts?

i agree, but without the option button being used, do you think alot of people might accidentally drag and drop without meaning to? i mean, personally, i dont see that as being a problem, but im cant speak for everybody

That's why you use the dialogue..

The_Tick wrote:

SuperJeremy3000 wrote:

The_Tick wrote:A confirm dialogue would work though. How often do people really make meta contacts?

i agree, but without the option button being used, do you think alot of people might accidentally drag and drop without meaning to? i mean, personally, i dont see that as being a problem, but im cant speak for everybody

That's why you use the dialogue..

right right right

but, i dont know how other people operate they're computers! some people might have sloppy mouse manuvers or something.. i think ive heard the argument im trying to make before.. but if it is not applicable then whateva is whateva

i like the confermation window idea

Dragging to reorder is really annoying if you have to be careful about not creating a metacontact, though...

evands wrote:Dragging to reorder is really annoying if you have to be careful about not creating a metacontact, though...

Ya, this whole thing sucks regarding meta contacts.

Maybe if we had some way to manage meta's externally, like the old contact list editor?

What about making it so when you get info on a contact, you can then drag another contact name into the account list? Logical, and unlikely to be done by accident.

i agree dragging in the contact list to merge contacts is asking for trouble, esp. since there is no undo.