Can't See Me OnLine

Question

Hi to all m8s,
i have a prob with iChat. I log normal in iChat with out any problems i see my friends in friend list but they can't see me on-line all time they see me off-line. I test my account from the same place (my home) with other Mac (iMac 21.5") and its ok my friends CAN see me. Where is the problem ? Need to delete something somewhere ?
Thanx a lot.

Answer 1

Hi,
I can tell you that jillo85's issue was that her Buddy was Blocking here and did not remember setting it.
A full list.
If you Block a Buddy they will appear off line
The reverse is also true if they Block you.
At the same time you have to consider the Allow Lists.
If a Buddy does not have you in their Buddy list and sets "Allow Buddy List Only" then you will see them as On-line.
If they use Allow Specific People then no matter if you are in their Buddy List or Not, if you are not in that list then you are Blocked and will not see them as On-line.
Being Not Allowed is effectively the same as being Blocked.
Of the above some of the reverse settings are also true. (depending who is in your Buddy list)
The Buddy could be set to Invisible and have forgotten - their Buddy List looks OK but only the people they call can talk to them.
Of course there can also be sync issues at AIM.
Extras
If you set up a Test Mac User Account (or use another Mac User account) that is not an Admin account and set up iChat there with the same iChat Detail AND then try Parental Controls then it can effect iChat in your Regular Mac User account.
Setting the Parental Controls blocks all Buddies until you list them in the Allowed List.
This sets all your Buddies on the AIM server as Blocked.
If you then leave that Mac User Account and login on your normal Account without first taking Off Parental Controls then your Buddies Stay blocked.
You will find in your regular iChat > Preferences > Accounts > Security everyone has been added to the Blocked List.
There is more...
If you do not set iChat to Set the Status to Off Line on Quit (See iChat > Preferences > General Section) in the second (test) Mac User Account then that login can stay active as you don't fully log out.
A similar effect can be caused by a second login (Another Mac, AIM Express, IM Forwarding/Phone etc.) where one login overrides the second.
This can cause issues with deleting Buddies as well as the other Login list a Buddy List with the said Buddy in and keeps telling the AIM server they are a Buddy.
So, if on a Work Mac you set allow Specific People Only to only allow Work colleagues then you will have Blocked all others.
(obviously I have listed on one scenario and there are others to consider)
Summary.
The settings in iChat > Preferences > Accounts > Security set at either end can have a bearing.
Using Parental Controls in a Managed Mac User Account with the same iChat info/Screen Name/Buddy List can effect how the User Account you use works.
A computer or device that creates a second Login should be set to exclude being Logged in on Quit
If you feel you have excluded all other options and think the AIM Server are out of sync then delete com.apple.ichat.AIM.plist to re-establish your Connection afresh.
This .plist is found in your Home Folder/Library/Preferences
Restart iChat if Open.
8:56 PM Tuesday; May 11, 2010
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