Using Away Messages

When you set an away message, you will automatically respond to anyone that instant messages you with the  message you chose.  To set a new away message,  click the "Away Messages" icon in the Buddy List toolbar and then select "New Message..."

or click on the "My AIM" button in the top left of your buddy list and then select "Away Message", then "New Message..."

The "Edit Away Message" window will pop up, this is where you will create a new away message to use.

The label you enter will be the label listed in your preset away messages if you decide to save it.  If you don't plan on saving it, then you can leave the label field blank.  Now you can type the away message you want to use in the "Enter new Away Message" field.  If you decide that you want to save this away message so you can use it again in the future without typing it out again, click the "Save for later use" check box.  Here is an example of a new away message.

To use this new away message, click the "I'm Away" button.  A new box will pop up, showing the message that will be sent to anyone that instant messages you while you are away.

When you return to your computer, click the "I'm Back" button to end the away message you set, and to see any messages that were left for you while you were gone.

If you saved the away message for later use, you can select it next time you go to set an away message.