How to use Fotolog Messenger

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

To use Fotolog Messenger you need to have the Flash Player 6.0 (or later) plugin installed in your browser. The Macromedia Flash Player allows you to view Flash content on the web and already comes installed in most web browsers.

If you receive a notice while you're trying to connect to Fotolog Messenger that the Flash Player is not installed, download it free here:

http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash

Also, please make sure to configure your pop-up blocker to allow pop-ups from Fotolog otherwise you may not be able to receive messages from other users.

WHO'S ON AND WHO CAN I MESSAGE?

If you see a Fotolog Messenger Icon next to somebody's membername on Fotolog, it will show you if they are currently logged on, and if they are, you can send them an instant message. (You must be logged in to do this.) The Fotolog Messenger icon looks like this:

Whether or not you are allowed to see if somebody is on and send them a message depends on how they have set THEIR privacy preferences.

And of course, you have full control over who will see the icon next to YOUR name and be able message YOU.

In your member preferences, you have the following privacy choices:

• "Only my Friends/Favorites"
• "Any Fotolog member"
• "No one (Turn off my Fotolog Messenger)"

And, in addition to these broad settings, you will be able to block individuals as necessary (see more on BLOCKING below).

Remember:

• Regardless of privacy preferences, if you have blocked someone or they have blocked you, you will not be able to send them messages
• If you've set your own privacy preference to "No one," then you will not be able to send messages to anyone

BLOCKING

If you don't want to use the Fotolog Messenger at all, go to "My Account", followed by "Preferences", and select "No One (Turn off my Fotolog Messenger)" to disable this service. If you choose this options, you will not be able to send OR receive messages. You can change this option at any time.

To Block A User:

• Click the button marked "BLOCK" during a conversation.
• The other member will be notified that you've blocked them and will receive the following message should they attempt to message you:
  ***You have been blocked by User_Name

To Unblock a User:

• If the Fotolog Messenger window is still open after you've blocked a user, you can click the "BLOCK" button again to unblock that user.
• If it's not open, you can see the list of all the users you've blocked by going to "My Account", followed by "Preferences" and unblock them there.

Why can't I send a message to my friend?

You might see an icon that looks like this: That's a sign that the person you're seeing is not online right now, but that you have permission to send him or her messages when they're back.

There are a few other reasons you might not be able to send someone a message:

• You are not logged into your Fotolog account
• You have set your preferences to "No one (Turn off my Fotolog Messenger)"
• No one who has allowed you to send them a message is online right now

MESSAGING

To send a message, click on the Fotolog Messenger icon next to any user and a messenger window will open. Then, just type your message in the box above the 'send' button. You may either send your message by hitting the 'enter' or 'return' key, or by clicking the 'send' button.

To bold, italicize, or underline text in your message, select the part of your message you would like to format. Click one or more of the formatting buttons to apply that style to the text.

bold italic underlined

To set your status as "away", make sure that the light on your Fotolog Messenger window is RED, as shown:

When you set yourself as "away", if someone sends you a message, they will automatically receive a message back saying that you are away. Additionally, the messenger icon next to your name on the site will show you as logged off (this may take a few minutes).

NOTE: if you send a message to another user while you are set as "away", you will become immediately available again.

To return from "away", slide the button until the light on your Fotolog Messenger window is GREEN, as shown:

Has my friend received my message? Messages are transferred as soon as you send them. If you are making a new connection to a user, you will receive the notice "*** User's Fotolog Messenger window is open" to indicate that a window is now open on your friend's desktop and they have received the message. This does not guarantee that they have read the message, only that their computer has received it.

To log out of Fotolog Messenger, all you have to do is to log out of from your Fotolog account. You will also become logged out after a period of inactivity. If you don't want to be logged into Fotolog Messenger for a short period of time while still using the site, change your privacy preferences setting to "No one," then change it back when you want to be available to use Fotolog Messenger again.