To view a user's profile using the Windows version of Messenger, click the Profile toolbar button and choose "View profile..." or click the Messenger menu and choose "View Profiles..." To view a profile using the Java version, click the More button and then select View a Profile.

As an example of how aliases work, you might have a Yahoo! ID of janedoe. As a part of this main ID, you might also create the alias blueslover and another one called janiac. You could use blueslover to talk with your friends, and janiac to talk with your co-workers. If you use the Windows version, you can even set the Pager so that blueslover appears online and janiac appears offline, or vice versa, or so that both appear online at the same time.

To create a new alias using the Windows version, click the Edit menu in the Messenger window and choose Edit My Profiles... Then click the Create/Edit My Profiles button. With the Java version, click the Edit button and choose My Profiles. This will take your browser to a web page where you can create new aliases (each with its own profile). When creating an alias:

• You'll only be able to choose a name which has not already been taken.
• You can create up to five aliases as part of a single Yahoo! ID.
• Once you have created these aliases, you will automatically have the option to select among them when adding a friend or sending an instant message.

Turning aliases "off" and "on"

To control which of your profiles appears as on or offline at any time, click the Edit menu and choose My Profiles (Windows version only). Removing the X from the box next to any profile will cause that alias to appear as offline.

Adding a friend with an alias

To control which alias you use to add a friend, click the Add button. You'll see your Yahoo! ID listed next to step 3. Click the down arrow to the right of your ID to select any of your aliases from the list.

Sending an instant message with an alias

To control which alias you use to send a message, double-click a friend's name to launch a message window. You'll see your ID displayed in a box in the upper right corner. Click the down arrow to the right of this, and select any of your aliases from the list.