How to edit the names on the sign on windowby Tau
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Edit the main.idx file with a hex editor to change the screen names
that appear on the sign on list. This allows for screen names from
different accounts to appear on the same list and it also enables you
to make screen names and set parental controls that are not usually available
using the Guest feature.
Steps
Download and install UltraEdit32
hex editor which will be used to modify the AOL file that
contains the screen names.
Back up the main.idx AOL/tool folder. Copy it and paste it in a different folder incase you something
goes wrong while editing the real one.
Close AOL if it is open. If this web page will be closed
with AOL then you will need to print out this page.
Open UltraEdit via Start | Programs | UltraEdit | UltraEdit-32
Text Editor.
In UltraEdit, click File | Open. Navigate
to the America Online 5.0/idb directory and open main.idx.
Note that this will work for any version of AOL so just
modify the file path accordingly. An example of the path
you might use is C:/America Online 5.0/idb/main.idx
After it has opened click Search | Find. In the
box where it says "Find What" type one of your current
screen names. Check the box that says "Find ASCII" then
click "Find". UltraEdit will now go through the file and
search for that screen name. Once it finds something make
sure that the rest of the screen names on your computer
are next to or near that name (on the right column). If
your other screen names are not near what it found then
hit Search | Find Next. Now it will find the
next occurence of your screen name. Repeat this until you
find the section where you see the group of screen names
in your sign on list. Now that you have found the group
of screen names you can edit any of them. Just type over
whatever screen name you want to replace on your sign on
list with the new name. Note that AOL4.0 can only have 10
letter screen names and 5 total screen names. AOL 5.0 can
have 16 letter screen names and up to 7 screen names. Only
type over the screen names there and do not type beyond
the period following each screen name (see below).
Click Here for a screen shot
of this step.
Click File | Save.
Reload AOL
Warnings
If AOL does not load correctly delete the current main.idx and replace it with the backup you made.
Do not put more than the maximum names allowed for the AOL version you are using.
Do not type more than the maximum length of characters allowed in a screen name for the AOL verison you are using.
Tips
Note: To restore all your original screen names all you need
to do is go to Keyword: Names and it will restore all the
screen names on the account that your on. But beware, if your
on a guest account and you goto keyword: Names all the other
names in your sign on list will be changed to the screen names
on that persons account.
