GaimUsage

What is Gaim?

Gaim is a free, open source instant messenging software. It supports many protocols, such as Yahoo, MSN, AIM, Jabber, IRC, ICQ, etc.

Using Jabber in Gaim

I will be targeting using Jabber with my server. See JabberUsage for more information.

Quick-Start (Taken from E-Mail)

Readable Quick-Start (For Dummies; hopefully.)

1. Download Gaim: http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/gaim/gaim-2.0.0beta3.exe?use_mirror=umn
2. Run the downloaded file, selecting English; hit OK.
3. Click Next 3 times, and then click Install.
4. Check Run Gaim 2.0.0beta3
5. Click Install.
6. Go to Start->All Programs->Gaim, and drag the icon to your desktop.

7. At the Accounts window in Gaim, click Add.

   NOTE: If you do not see the Accounts window, but you have a Buddy List window, go to the Accounts menu, and select Add/Edit.

8. At the Add Account window (in the Basic tab), select Jabber from the Protocol box.
9. Type in the other fields as you wish. Example:

                             Protocol:     Jabber
                             Screen Name:  your_initials_or_something_else_here
                             Server:       mdmsolutions.org
                             Resource:     Family
                             Password:     something_hard_to_guess
                             Alias:        Your Full Name

NOTE: You must be authorized before you can see users in the Family resource. Mail me with your user name, and I will add you.

1. Check "Remember Password"
2. Click "Register" NOTE: If you get an error here, try again by clicking Modify in the Accounts window.
3. In the Register New Jabber Account window, make sure the fields have the same contents as the Add Account window (as in #9).
4. Type an E-Mail address, and click "Register", you should get a "Registration Successful" pop-up. If there is an error, please call me. Otherwise, click Close.
5. In the Accounts window, check Enabled next to your new Jabber account.
6. Enter your password, and check "Save Password"; click OK. NOTE: This may not appear.
7. Close the Accounts window.
8. Send an email to mikmorg@mdmsolutions.org notifying that you would like to be added to the Family group. Once you are added, your buddy list will be activated, and you can start messaging.

Registering (Create Jabber Account)

To create a user name for use in Jabber, follow the below steps for adding a resource, and include the steps under To Register A New Jabber Account.

Setting up the Account (Adding A Resource)

• The first step for using Jabber with Gaim is setting up the account. With the Buddy List open, go to the Tools menu.From there, select Accounts (You can also open this same window using Ctrl+A).
• Click the Add button on the Accounts window.
• In the Add Account window, select "Jabber" form the Protocol list.
• In the Screen Name box, type your Jabber user name given to you.
• In the Server box, type "mdmsolutions.org"
• In the Resource box, type the name of Resource you wish to use for this account.

NOTE: You may use as many resources as you wish. Just add a new account for each resource. See JabberUsage for a list of resources usable.

• In the Password box, type your Jabber account password.
• In the Alias box, type your full name.
• Check Remember password, and Auto-login.

• To Register A New Jabber Account: (Do this only if you do not have a Jabber user name yet)

  • Click the "Register" button at the bottom of the Modify Account window.
  • In the Register New Jabber Account window, fill out the boxes with your account information. The information must be the same as what you typed in the previous window (the Add Account window).
  • Click "Register"
  • A window should come up saying Registration Successful. Click "Close"
• If you have registered already, Click Save.

You should now be logged into the Jabber Resource that you have selected. You should also see something like 'username@mdmsolutions.org/ResourceName?' added in the Accounts window. Click Close now.

You are joined!

Adding A Conference Room to the Buddy List

Lets add the 'family' conference room.

• At the Buddy List window, go to Tools -> Room List. Click the "Get List" button at the bottom.
• By default, Gaim should select "conference.mdmserver.mdmsolutions.org" as the conference server to query. If this is not the case, please type it in by hand.
• Click "Find Rooms"
• Select "family" from the list of rooms.
• Click "Join"
• You are now joined to the conference room "family". Now we will add this room to your buddy list so you don't have to do all of that work again.
• In the family@conference.mdmserver.mdmsolutions.org window, click the "Add" button at the bottom.
• Type "Family Chat Room" in the Alias field.
• Click "Add"

You should see "Family Chat Room" under the group "family" in your Buddy List window now. Next time you want to join the family chat room, just double click on this item.

More on Jabber

Please see JabberUsage for more information.