Miranda Instant Messenger - Free IM Client
Discovering Miranda Instant Messenger: A Lightweight and Customizable Solution
Are you in search of a versatile instant messaging application that doesn't strain your system resources and offers extensive customization options? Miranda Instant Messenger provides a robust messaging experience within a compact package. It’s worth noting that three addons are highly recommended to enhance your experience with Miranda Instant Messenger – links to these are provided at the article’s conclusion.
Installation Process
The installation of Miranda Instant Messenger involves a sequence of five distinct windows. The fourth window, crucial for configuration, is illustrated in two screenshots to ensure all available options are visible.
Within this window, you can review the available Messenger Protocols and the Import Plugin. It’s important to note that all options are selected by default. You can also define your preferred shortcut types and specify whether to store your profile data within your home directory.
First-Time Startup and Profile Creation
Upon initial launch, Miranda Instant Messenger may initiate the Import Wizard, depending on your installation settings. For our demonstration, the application started immediately after installation, delaying the Import Wizard’s appearance until a subsequent restart.
The first step involves assigning a name to your User Profile. It’s important to remember that blank spaces are not permitted when choosing a profile name. After selecting a name, click “Create” to proceed.
Setting Up Your Initial IM Account
Following profile creation, you'll be prompted to configure an initial IM account for use with Miranda Instant Messenger. You have the flexibility to add multiple accounts at this stage if desired. Initiate the process by clicking the “Plus Sign” located in the lower left corner of the window.
Clicking the “Plus Sign” will reveal a window requesting an Account Name and an optional Internal Account Name.
A dropdown menu presents the available Messenger Protocol types, determined by your initial installation choices. Once you’ve completed the necessary fields, click “OK”.
Account Login and Initial Appearance
For this example, we opted to utilize a Yahoo account. After selecting your desired protocol, you’ll be directed to a login section on the right side of the window.
Enter your login credentials to finalize the account setup. With your login information provided, Miranda Instant Messenger is ready for use. The initial interface appears relatively simple, but this is its default state before installing the recommended addons. Customization of the appearance is readily achievable through themes available on the Miranda Instant Messenger website and within the Options Window.
Adding New Contacts
To add new contacts, navigate to the Miranda Instant Messenger icon in the upper left corner and click it. This action will reveal a menu providing access to Status Settings, Contact Management, the Import Wizard, Details Management, File Transfers, Options, Accounts, the Help Menu, and the Exit Command. Select “Find/Add Contacts…”.
Upon clicking “Find/Add Contacts…”, a new window will appear. The messenger account you are currently logged into will be displayed in the upper left corner. Within this window, you can enter the name(s) of the contact(s) you wish to add. The available Protocol options, in our example, included Yahoo! Messenger, Lotus Sametime, LCS, and Windows Live (MSN).
After entering the contact’s name, click “Search” to view the results. Contacts matching your search criteria will be displayed on the right side of the window. To add a contact to your list, select them and click “Add to list” in the lower right corner.
Clicking “Add to list” in the Contact Management Window will open another window. Here, you can assign a custom name to the contact, choose the appropriate group for their inclusion, and send a default or custom message with your add request. Click “Add” when you’ve finished configuring the settings.
Exploring the Options Window
The Options Window for Miranda Instant Messenger offers a wide range of customization settings to tailor the application to your specific needs. This is the appearance of the Options Window prior to installing the recommended addons.
Utilizing the Contact Import Wizard
Following the initial post-installation run, the Import Wizard window will appear alongside the main Miranda Instant Messenger Window. If you choose to import a contact database using the Import Wizard, this is the first window you will encounter. This feature can be disabled if desired.
The second window presents the option to import contacts either as a group or individually.
After completing the contact import process, you will see a window allowing you to import another database or exit the Import Wizard. You can also select the option “Do not load the import plugin at startup again”.
The Enhanced Appearance with Recommended Addons
Here’s a glimpse of how Miranda Instant Messenger looks after installing the three recommended addons – a significant improvement from the initial appearance. The possibilities for customization are vast, allowing you to create a truly personalized messaging experience!
And here’s how the Options Window appears after the addons are installed. Notice the additional tabs that become available! Enjoy exploring Miranda Instant Messenger!
Useful Links
- Main Links
Download Miranda Instant Messenger (version 0.8.1)
Miranda Instant Messenger Homepage
Miranda Instant Messenger Addons Page
- Recommended Addons
Modern Contact List (Unicode) 0.8.1.1
Scriver (Unicode) 2.8.1.0
TabSRMM Unicode 2.2.1.17 (Messaging Interface)