Google Talk invisible mode in Pidgin
Setting the status invisible for a GTalk account has been a problem for a while now. Although there are third party plugins available, (like the one here) most of them do not seem to work. The basic reason of this is, although Google Talk is basically based on XMPP , it handles invisibility, away etc in a different way. And according to this ticket on the pidgin bug track, they don’t quite like it 
. After going through a bit of documentation mentioned here, I came up with the following xmpp console commands to make invisibilty work without a problem in pidgin for google talk.
1) This requires the XMPP console so start that plugin. It comes by default in Pidgin and can be enabled via Tools->Plugins.
2) Start the XMPP console. Tools -> XMPP Console.
For more information on the upcoming steps, check the documentation linked above.
3) Send the following XML in the XMPP console.
<iq type='get' to='gmail.com'> <query xmlns='http://jabber.org/protocol/disco#info'/> </iq>
4) Now get your current status list. Change username to your gmail username before sending
<iq type='get' to='username@gmail.com' id='ss-1' > <query xmlns='google:shared-status' version='2'/> </iq>
This list can be pretty big if you have many saved messages. The output should be something like.
<iq to='username@gmail.com/89089080' from='username@gmail.com' id='ss-1' type='result'> <query xmlns='google:shared-status' status-min-ver='2' status-max='512' status-list-max='3' status-list-contents-max='5'> <status/> <show>dnd</show> <invisible value='false'/> </query> </iq>
Observe the invisible value there. That is what we will be manipulating to the our status to invisible.
5) Now, to set your status to invisible, send the following in the xmpp console.
<iq type='set' to='username@gmail.com' id='ss-2'>
<query xmlns='google:shared-status' version='2'>
<invisible value='true'/>
</query>
</iq>
Although, the pidgin status does not change, you are infact invisible. You can check in gmail or ask someone on your chat list 
6) To get out of invisibility, send the following.
<iq type='set' to='username@gmail.com' id='ss-2'>
<query xmlns='google:shared-status' version='2'>
<status/>
<show>dnd</show>
<invisible value='false'/>
</query>
</iq>
Here the invisible line is important. Other lines are a copy paste of the result of your status list with some minor changes.
This can be a bit tedious, but if anyone is ready to make a plugin out of it, the currently non working one linked above would be a good start.
Enjoy the power of invisibility.
Special thanks to Amod for helping me to test this.
Works likes a charm
The only time it doesnt work is when you are already invisible from gmail. Be sure to be _not_ invisible from gmail.
@Amod:: Thanks.
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About the invisible part — you will know if you are already invisible through gmail when invisible is true after first entry. In that case … use last snippet to go visible and then go invisible again
The patch on this ticket enables gtalk shared-status (invisible) for pidgin:
http://developer.pidgin.im/attachment/ticket/4509/gtalk-sharedstatus.patch
It’s currently listed as “Patches Needing Review”, but I can confirm that it works for at least pidgin-2.6.3.
Thanks Brad. Looked through the patch, will try it out.
This does not work always. I did try and manage to get it work following the steps, but there is not any consistency as to when it would fail you. Like when you restart pidgin, it would say that you are Invisble but you would be glaringly visible to the outside world.
The best mode I have for invisible gtalk is use the browser one in the gmail or this one: http://talkgadget.google.com/talkgadget/client
I use ratpoison window manager so I could split the window and use in a small area of my screen with the browser based gtalk, which gave a client like experience. I think, I am settled for that instead of tweaking pidgin again.
BTW, a text based Jabber client called mcabber support invisble mode (it terms as offline), but it had promblems too with frequent disconnects ( well, I might try it again to see if the disconnect problem can be fixed).
This is a hack
. Try the patch that Brad has mentioned. It works for invisibility but the ability to set the status as away manually, goes for a toss.
Hi Brad. can you tell me what should i do with that patch? i downloaded it. the file extension is ‘patch’. should i copy that to any pidgin lib folder or should i create seperate ‘c’ and ‘h’ files?
check this post for more info on how to use a patch file
Chandra the instruction for applying different versions of the patch can be found at:
http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/4509
Btw, actually the same ticket has a patch that can be added by PPA for Pidgin 3.6.6, which involves less use of the terminal. And it works perfectly for me, I can change gtalk’s status from my pidgin, e.g. changing my status as invisible in my pidgin will change the status of the gtalk account in gmail.
instructions to install the patch through ppa:
1.click on the green link saying “technical details of this ppa” at:
https://launchpad.net/~lenski/+archive/pidgin-gss
2. if you are using ubuntu 9.10, go to system > administration > software sources
3. click on the “other software” tab of the software sources windows
4. click the “add” button add the PPA
5. refresh your ppa when you close your software source windows
6. open your “update manager” and install the patch
7. restart your pidgin to enjoy the patch
Thanks! Worked like a charm!