Changes between Version 26 and Version 27 of Using Pidgin

Timestamp:

Jun 3, 2007, 8:29:54 PM (17 years ago)

Author:

John Bailey

Comment:

--

Using Pidgin

@@ -90 +90 @@
 
 === How do I make Escape close conversation windows? ===
-Locate `.purple` directory, and open the `accels` file within it. Uncomment or add the following line:
-`(gtk_accel_path "<main>/Conversation/Close" "Escape")`
+Locate your `.purple` directory, and open the `accels` file within it. Uncomment or add the following line:
+{{{
+(gtk_accel_path "<main>/Conversation/Close" "Escape")
+}}}
 This must be done while Pidgin is not running.
+
+=== How do I change the language for the Highlight Misspelled words option? ===
+Pidgin currently only supports spell checking in your locale language.  This is because gtkspell 2 does not offer a good way for us to know which dictionaries are available or to switch between them.  This functionality has long been promised for gtkspell version 3, which has been delayed somewhat indefinitely.  See [http://gtkspell.sf.net gtkspell.sf.net].
+
+There is, however a simple plugin called [http://plugins.guifications.org/trac/wiki/switchspell switchspell] that can change the spell check language on a per-buddy basis.
 
 === How do I register for a new account? ===
@@ -135 +142 @@
 No, you can't.  We get requests for this often, but Pidgin is indeed a messaging client.  Aside from the capabilities each protocol may support, the Pidgin developers have no intention to turn Pidgin into a multi-feature Internet client capable of doing everything under the sun.  We also won't be helping to develop plugins to turn it into that.  There are many Internet applications available for Linux, Windows, or whatever operating system you use that would undoubtedly do a better job.
 
-Note that LiveJournal provides an XMPP messaging service which makes it possible to make entries to your blog via IM, no matter what XMPP-supporting IM client you use.
+Note that [http://www.livejournal.com LiveJournal] provides an XMPP messaging service which makes it possible to make entries to your blog via IM, no matter what XMPP-supporting IM client you use.
+
+=== Can I "skin" Pidgin? ===
+The UI can be customized using GTK themes.  Application-specific skins will never be supported in Pidgin.  This seems to confuse a lot of users, so here's an attempt at an explanation.
+
+Themes allow you to change font size, font face, the color of different elements of the UI, and sometimes their shape. All of this is perfectly reasonable, and encompasses the range of configuration that ''most'' users are requesting. Skins go beyond this. Skins allow you to move and possibly supress different elements of the UI that the programmers have added for specific reasons.
+
+In so doing, skins create a support nightmare. The developer, talking to the user, cannot be sure that the user sees the same interface. Is it a bug that the user cannot see how to change font size, or is the user's skin suppressing that widget? This is an unacceptable situation.
+
+Conversely, while themes allow some sillyness, for instance setting the background to the same color as the font, the results are relatively easily foreseen and avoided by theme authors. Further, by using the existing GTK theme mechanism, we gain two advantages:
+  1. We don't have to write it ourselves.  Were we to write our own mechanism, we would be adding overhead in both the run time and the time necessary to debug.
+  1. We have a built in way of debugging theme problems, by checking if the same bug exists with other GTK programs.
+
+Lastly, since GTK themes only allow acceptable modifications, we do not have to worry that a user isn't seeing part of the UI because it is either showing or not showing ''because of our code''.
+
+=== Can I turn the tray icon off? ===
+ Sorry, no.  The tray icon will load if you have a Notification Area or if you are using Windows.
+
+=== Can I import or export my buddy list? ===
+Not with Pidgin alone, but the [http://plugins.guifications.org/trac/wiki/PluginPack Purple Plugin Pack] provides the [http://plugins.guifications.org/trac/wiki/listhandler List Handler] plugin, which adds some importing and exporting capabilities.
+
+=== Can I group buddies by their owner, like Trillian's Metacontacts? ===
+Sure! Right click a buddy on your list and at the bottom of the menu click "Expand".  Then just drag other screen names to the same person below it.  When you're done, click on the arrow to collapse them.  When the contact is collapsed, Pidgin will select a buddy to display based on the status of the buddies in the contact, and their order.
+
+=== What do those colors in the conversation tab mean? ===
+ * '''Red''' - A message is waiting for you
+ * '''Blue''' - Someone sent a message containing your name
+ * '''Green''' - The buddy is typing
+ * '''Yellow''' - The buddy began typing, and then stopped
+ * '''Gray''' - There has been a join or a part in that chat, or the buddy has signed off
 
 == Windows Specific ==
@@ -215 +251 @@
 You are done! Running `U:\Programs\Pidgin\pidgin-portable.exe` will cause pidgin to run off the USB Drive, saving the settings, logs and etc. to `U:\Programs\.purple`.
 
+=== Can I make Pidgin transparent/translucent? ===
+You can make Pidgin translucent in most versions of Windows using the "Transparency" plugin that ships with Pidgin for Windows.
+
 == Linux and Unix-like platforms ==
 
@@ -230 +269 @@
 
 GTK+ sets these `WM_CLASS` values for us so that they are unique for Pidgin instances, and the documentation for the `gtk_window_set_wmclass` function says explicitly not to use it for anything else.  Pidgin uses the `WM_WINDOW_ROLE` hint to differentiate windows.  If your window manager is having problems differentiating between Pidgin windows, please ensure it uses the `WM_WINDOW_ROLE` hint per the ICCCM.
+
+=== Can I make Pidgin transparent/translucent? ===
+It is not possible to make Pidgin translucent in Linux and other platforms that use X11.
+
+The X.org X11R6 server provides a COMPOSITE extension that allows applications to have true translucency, but it is X.org-specific and it requires support at the GTK+ level (if it is to be per-widget).  We do not wish to support this form of translucency until it is supported by GTK+.  We also do not wish to implement the psuedo-translucency offered by other programs (by copying a section of your background image, tinting it, and plastering it onto a Pidgin window).