Flower Power: Our Top ICQ Tips

Streamline ICQ's Interface

ICQ's interface is a bit bewildering--partly because of the program's many features and commands, but also (let's be honest) because of some pretty poor design. Things have gotten better in ICQ 2000, but many new users are still blown away by all the buttons, tabs, and widgets. Here's how to trim the ICQ interface down to a manageable state.

Show Only 'Live' Contacts

A long Contact List can be unmanageable. Keep yours under control by clicking the button with a green-and-red flower (labeled "All" in ICQ 99a), located at the left of the Contact List window just beneath the title bar. Now you'll see only users who are online. That button is a toggle, so you can click it again to see everyone--online or not--on your Contact List.

Dethrone the Contact List

Usually, the Contact List hovers over all your other windows. Get it out of the way by clicking ICQ, Contact List Options, Always On Top in ICQ 2000 ( ICQ, Windows/Alerts, Always On Top in both 99 editions).

Make ICQ Hide Itself

If you're not doing something with it, ICQ can automatically get out of your way. ICQ 2000 users, click ICQ, Preferences, select Contact List, and check the Auto Hide Delay box. In ICQ 99a, click ICQ, Preferences; in 99b, click ICQ, Preferences & Security, Preferences. Then turn on the Auto Hide Delay function on the Contact List tab. Now ICQ will automatically minimize itself to the system tray when it's not in use. When you need to send or respond to a message, bring ICQ back to life by double-clicking the flower icon in the tray.

Remove the Contact List Buttons

The Contact List window is cluttered with buttons you don't need, such as Instructions, To Simple Mode, and Find Random Chat Partner. Get rid of them! In ICQ 2000, click ICQ, Preferences, select Contact List, click the Design tab, and then clear the check box labeled "Show Contact List Buttons." In ICQ 99a, click ICQ, Preferences; in 99b, click ICQ, Preferences & Security, Preferences. In the Contact List section of the Preferences dialog box, check the box labeled "Remove Contact List Buttons."

Choose Your Favorite Button

When you send a message to another user, you first click that user's entry in the Contact List, causing a context menu to appear. By default, left-clicking makes the magic happen, but if you'd rather have ICQ behave like every other Windows app on the planet, giving you context menus with a right-click, then simply right-click a user's name. The User Menu Selection dialog box appears, asking whether you want the right or left button to summon your context menus. After you've made a choice, check the box next to "Don't Show This Message Again" to keep ICQ from bugging you about this in the future.