Chapter 1
Getting Started
Introducing Communique!
This chapter presents Communique! and its various groupware tools called OpenDVE Plugins. You will learn how to start Communique! and see the tools available for conferencing.
More detailed information covering each of these tools and features can be found later in the manual.
Before You Begin
Before using Communique!, you should already have:
- a workstation operating on an active TCP-IP network
- installed Communique! software according to the instructions in the Communique! Administrator’s Guide that came with the software
- licensed Communique! according to the instructions in the Communique! Administrator’s Guide
- become familiar with the normal use of your workstation and its mouse
- worked with the Motif or OpenLook window manager
If you are new to Xwindows, please refer to Chapter 16, "Working with Your Window Manager," for a brief introduction.
Entering the Conference Room
What You Need
In order to run Communique! you must have:
- the Communique! software installed and licensed
- necessary Communique! environment variables set for your workstation
- any optional hardware you plan on using should be installed
All of the environment variables that Communique! uses should be set automatically by the script that runs Communique!; however, if they are not, you can set them manually. Details on setting required environment variables can be found in the Communique! Administrator’s Guide.
Once configured, you can start Communique! from the command line or, if your system is appropriately configured, from the Motif or OpenLook System Menu.
Starting Communique! from the Command Line
If you do not have access to Communique! from the System Menu, you can still launch the application from the command line.
At a shell’s command line prompt, type the following command to launch Communique!.
% $COMM_HOME/communique
The -pcolor and -nobanner command-line options can be used to start Communique! in a private colormap. The -nobanner flag will start Communique! without displaying the title screen. To start the Plugin Configuration Tool instead of Conference Manager, use the -config option. You can also start conferences from the command line using the -invite flag, which is described in detail in Chapter 2.
Again, without an existing Plugin configuration, you are presented with the Plugin Configuration Tool, allowing you the choice of which Plugins to load and have available. The Plugin Configuration Tool is discussed further in Chapter 2, "The Conference Manager."
Next, the Communique! Conference Manager appears.
If you are unable to properly start Communique! from either the system menu or the command line, contact your local system administrator for assistance with your workstation.
Creating a Business Card
Communique! Business Card
Much as a traditional paper business card does, the Communique! Business Card conveys vital professional contact information such as your name, address, and phone number.
Adding a Personal Touch
The Business Card shows a small graphic ideally suited for either a company or division logo. Alternatively, if your workstation is equipped with a video capture card and a video camera, you can personalize your business card with a self-portrait.
Creating a Communique! Business Card is a Conference Manager feature and further information may be found in Chapter 2 of this guide.
Calling for a Conference
Communique! provides users with a number of collaborative tools that enable them to not only send audio and video to to other conference members, but also share images, text and other files. Some of the Plugins listed below are not included with the base Communique! package, but can be purchased from MDL.
The Conference Manager
One person creates the conference and extends invitations to others on the network. Once in session, anyone in the conference can invite more participants or leave the conference.
More information on the Conference Manager and its features can be found in Chapter 2 of this guide.
Making Yourself Heard with Audio Tool
Audio conferencing allows everyone participating in the conference to talk to each other, much like a conference call. When a conference is initiated, audio is started automatically.
Chapter 3 contains information on the Audio Tool.
The Speaker Phone is an audio Plugin that combines advance echo cancellation and networking technology with a straightforward interface to provide users with a robust, easy to use tool for voice communication. Additionally, The Speaker Phone has advanced audio compression algorithms that enable users to experience high sound quality even in low bandwidth situations.
Chapter 4 describes the usage of the Speaker Phone.
Distribute notes and Memoranda with the Text Tool
The Text Tool provides a means for distributing conference notes and office memoranda in your Communique! conference. The tool allows you to distribute notes, messages and other important textual information to other conference members. The received notes can be saved to disk or discarded.
You can read more about the Text Tool in Chapter 5.
Post Your Bulletins on the Chat Tool
The Chat Tool provides conference members with a forum for interacting by typing messages to one another. Messages sent using the Chat Tool can be attributed to the writer, or they can be sent anonymously.
Chapter 6 explores the use of the Chat Tool in depth.
Overhead Projections aren’t Blurry with Graphics Tool
The Graphics Tool allows you to capture and send static graphic images to other conference participants. Individuals can either save the incoming graphic or dismiss it. The tool is useful for distributing and displaying charts, graphs, and images.
Chapter 6 covers the Graphics Tool in detail.
Overhead Projections Aren’t Blurry with Graphics Tool
The Graphics Tool allows you to capture and send static graphic images to other conference participants. Individuals can either save the incoming image or dismiss it. This tool is well suited to distributing and displaying charts, graphs, and images.
Chapter 7 covers the Graphics Tool in detail.
Markers Never Go Dry on Communique!’s White Board
The White Board is a virtual drawing board shared by all members of the conference. This tool allows you to draw, erase, and mark up images in real-time while all members of the conference look on. You can load a graphics file such as a CAD drawing, chart, or video image into the White Board for modifications or annotation.
Features of the White Board are covered in Chapter 8.
Freeze-Frame with the Video Tool
The Video Tool can be used to capture graphic images from a video source. These images can be individual frames captured from live video or photographs of an object or chart you wish to share with the group. There are several different Video Tools, each of which is customized to work with a specific video capture card. You can choose the Video Tool designed to work with your hardware using the Plugin Configuration Tool.
Chapter 11 explains the features and use of the Video Tool.
Transmit Video Data with the TV Tool
The TV Tool is used to control your video in a conference. You can send a video of yourself, prerecorded video, or any other video feed to other conference members.
Details on adjusting and monitoring your video can be found in Chapter 12.
Share Data Using the Information Exchange Tool
The Information Exchange Tool can be used to distribute data files across the network to other conference members. The tool provides an easy way to "carbon copy" other conference members with materials they may need. Members will receive the file or files in their own Information Exchange Tool where they can save or delete them.
More information on the Information Exchange Tool and its features can be found in Chapter 13 of this guide.
SHARE Applications among a Workgroup
MDL’s SHARE (Shared Application Resource Environment) is a powerful workgroup collaboration tool that allows users to concurrently work with an application during a conference. It is an optional Plugin that can be used with Communique!
More information on SHARE is found in Chapter 14.
The Shared Imager
The Shared Imager is a collaborative imaging tool that provides users with advanced slide show presentation capabilities and support for 24-bit True Color displays. The Imager also contains advanced graphics processing functions in addition to a robust suite of drawing tools, making it a powerful tool for graphics display and editing for use in conferences. The Shared Imager is an optional Plugin that can be used with Communique!.
Usage of the Imager is fully detailed in Chapter 9.
The Presentation Tool
The Presentation Tool is a whiteboard with additional slide show presentation capabilities. It provides OpenLook users with the ability to create, edit and present slide shows during conferences, and supports 24-bit True Color images.
Details on the features and functions of the Presentation Tool are in Chapter 10.
Exiting Communique!
To exit Communique!, select Exit from the Conference menu.
You should not exit Communique! before all of the Plugins have loaded. Wait of the Plugins are initialized before exiting. If Communique! is exited while in the startup state all of its processes may not be shut down properly.