------------------------------------------------------------ README for Microsoft(R) NetMeeting(TM) 1.0 Beta 2 July l996 ------------------------------------------------------------ (c) Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1996 This document provides complementary or late-breaking information to supplement any existing documentation. ------------------------ HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT ------------------------ To view Netmeet.txt on screen in Notepad, maximize the Notepad window. To print Netmeet.txt, open it in Notepad or another word processor, then use the Print command on the File menu. CONTENTS ======== OVERVIEW To Run Microsoft NetMeeting To Uninstall Microsoft NetMeeting USING MICROSOFT NETMEETING PLACING A CALL Using Advanced Calling Calling a Conferencing Service Provider Warnings and Known Bugs RECEIVING A CALL SHARING A PROGRAM Warnings and Known Bugs WHITEBOARD CHAT FILE TRANSFER Warnings and Known Bugs AUDIO COMMUNICATION Warnings and Known Bugs HANGING UP KNOWN ISSUES OVERVIEW ======== Microsoft NetMeeting is a set of program and network components that enable real-time audio and data communication over the Internet. Our vision is of a device that combines the capabilities of a telephone with a rich set of data features, such as program sharing, file transfer, conference Whiteboard, and conference Chat. In order to use Microsoft NetMeeting, you must have the following configuration: - 486/66 with 8MB of RAM (Pentium with 16MB of RAM recommended) - Microsoft Windows 95 NetMeeting does not run on Windows NT(R) or Windows 3.1(R). This version of NetMeeting runs only on English (United States) versions of Microsoft Windows 95. - Microsoft NetMeeting works best with a fast Internet connection (28.8-baud modem or local area network) - Sound card, speakers, and microphone are required for use of Audio For this beta release, do not run NetMeeting on a computer running PictureTel Live50, Live100, Live200, LiveLAN, or LiveShare Plus. The final version of NetMeeting will work with these products. This product replaces the PDC alpha release of Microsoft Conferencing and the Beta 1 release of Microsoft NetMeeting. To Run Microsoft NetMeeting --------------------------- 1. After the installation is finished, if a dialog box appears asking if you want to restart your computer, click Yes. 2. Start Microsoft NetMeeting as follows: - Click the Start button, and then point to Programs. - Click Microsoft NetMeeting. 3. When you open Microsoft NetMeeting for the first time, a wizard appears that helps you get ready to use NetMeeting. If you cancel this wizard, NetMeeting will work, but you might get poor audio quality. To Uninstall Microsoft NetMeeting --------------------------------- 1. In Control Panel, double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon. 2. Click the Install/Uninstall tab. 3. Click Microsoft NetMeeting, and then click Add/Remove. 4. If a dialog box appears asking if you want to restart your computer, click Yes. USING MICROSOFT NETMEETING ========================== - When you first run Microsoft NetMeeting, a setup wizard prompts you for the name of the User Location Server (ULS) you want to use. Microsoft maintains a User Location Server on the Internet at uls.microsoft.com. - Whenever you run Microsoft NetMeeting after you have completed the setup wizard, you are automatically logged on to the ULS you specified. This server maintains a list of the people currently running Microsoft NetMeeting and their IP addresses. You can use this service to locate people to conference with by clicking the directory button, or you can type the person's computer name, IP address, e-mail address, or modem phone number in the Place A Call field. - To use the User Location Server to find people running Microsoft NetMeeting on the Internet: 1. On the Tools menu, click Options. 2. Click the Calling tab. 3. Select the User Location Service Name check box, and then type uls.microsoft.com. NOTE: You will not be able to use uls.microsoft.com to locate people on the Internet if you connect to the Internet through a proxy server. For information about setting up your own User Location Server, see the Microsoft NetMeeting SDK. - Audio works only over TCP/IP between two people. Data conferences can include multiple people and work over TCP/IP, modems, and IPX. - For this release, the maximum recommended conference size is six people. - If you try to make a TCP/IP call and MSN displays a connection dialog box, double-click the Internet icon in Control Panel and make sure that AutoDial is not selected. - Sharing of DirectX, MS-DOS, and graphic-intensive games and AVIs does not work well and is not supported. - If different computers have different screen resolutions during a conference, the shared windows can be as large as the highest resolution desktop allows. Users with lower resolution desktops will have to scroll to view windows that don't fit their screens. - When you share a program, remote users can use the File Open and File Save dialog boxes in your program to access files on your computer or network. - Some software installation programs will not function properly while Microsoft NetMeeting is running. - You must have a 32-bit TCP/IP stack and Windows Sockets interface to run Microsoft NetMeeting. Microsoft NetMeeting has been tested with the 32-bit TCP/IP and Windows sockets built into Windows 95. - If you want to use an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to place NetMeeting calls, you must be connected to the ISP before starting Microsoft NetMeeting. - Both Microsoft FrontPage and Microsoft NetMeeting currently use the same file type (.cnf). - If you want to call someone by using a modem, and you must dial a 9 to get an outside line, make sure you type a "-" in front of the 9 at the beginning of the phone number. If you do not, NetMeeting assumes the phone number is the IP address for the remote computer, and tries to connect over the local area network by using the TCP/IP protocol. For example, you might specify the following number: -9,7034501 - Application sharing, Whiteboard, and Chat may not work properly between computers with different language settings and keyboard layouts. PLACING A CALL ============== You can place Microsoft NetMeeting call to multiple users. Any person in a conference can place Microsoft NetMeeting calls to other people. In addition, other people can join a Microsoft NetMeeting call in progress by calling one of the participants. When you run Microsoft NetMeeting, you are automatically logged on to a User Location Server. This server maintains a list of the people currently running Microsoft NetMeeting and their IP addresses. You can use this service to locate people to conference with by choosing Call, then Directory; or you can use the main NetMeeting window to type either their computer name or modem phone number. Using Advanced Calling ---------------------- If Microsoft NetMeeting cannot determine what type of address you entered, the Advanced Calling dialog box is displayed. You can then specify additional information to help NetMeeting place the call. You can open the Advanced Calling dialog box by clicking the Call menu, and then clicking Place Advanced Call. Calling a Conferencing Service Provider --------------------------------------- A conferencing service provider supplies a conferencing bridge that everyone in a conference can connect to for a data-only conference. To use a conferencing service provider, carry out the following steps: 1. On the Call menu, click Place Advanced Call. 2. In the Call Using box, click Modem. 3. Type the phone number of the Conferencing Service Provider. 4. Select the Call A Conferencing Service check box. 5. Type the name of the conference you want to join. If you leave this field blank, Microsoft NetMeeting will display a list of public conferences on the conferencing service provider. Warnings and Known Bugs ----------------------- - Audio calls can be made only over TCP/IP and can include only two people. - If you cannot connect to someone by using their computer name, try using their IP address. - IPX conferences can be run if both nodes in the conference do the following: - Have Microsoft IPX/SPX-Compatible Protocol installed. - Call using the Advanced Calling dialog box, choosing the IPX transport and entering into the Address field the full 8:12 net number and Ethernet address of the intended recipient of the call--for example, 00002702:112233445566. - NetMeeting does not work over a direct cable connection between computers. - NetMeeting Dialing Shortcuts record only the name and address of the person to call. - Microsoft NetMeeting currently does not work with the Motorola Bitsurfer Pro ISDN modem. - It is not possible to join an audio-only call in progress. - Microsoft NetMeeting cannot place calls using a modem on a computer that has two modems installed. RECEIVING A CALL ================ You are ready to receive an incoming call if you are currently running Microsoft NetMeeting. SHARING A PROGRAM ================= Any person in a conference can share a program with the other conference participants. When you share a program, other people can see and use the program. Warnings and Known Bugs ----------------------- - You cannot share the entire desktop. - Sharing one Windows Explorer window shares all of them. If you run a program while the Windows Explorer is shared, it will also be shared. - When you share a program and collaborate, remote users can use the File Open and File Save dialog boxes in your program to access or delete files on your computer or network. To stop someone from using your shared program while you do not have control of the cursor, press ESC. To stop someone from using your shared program while you do have control of the cursor, click the Work Alone button. WHITEBOARD ========== The Whiteboard enables you to draw simultaneously with other users. Everyone in the conference can see what is drawn on the Whiteboard. When one person in a conference runs Whiteboard, it appears on everyone's screen. CHAT ==== Chat enables you to type messages for other users to see. When one person in a conference runs Chat, it appears on everyone's screen. FILE TRANSFER ============= Files dragged onto the listing of people in the conference will be sent to all the people in the conference. To send a file to a particular user, drag the file onto their icon in the list of people in the conference. To send a file to everyone in the conference, click the Tools menu, and then click Send File. Warnings and Known Bugs ----------------------- - Received files show up in the Windows Explorer before they are successfully received. - If you try to send a shortcut to a file, the shortcut will be resolved and the file will be sent instead. - If you hang up while file transfer is in progress, file transfer will not complete successfully. AUDIO COMMUNICATION =================== By default, audio communication is enabled for TCP/IP calls. To place an audio-only or data-only call, you must open the Advanced Calling dialog box, select TCP/IP as your transport, and choose the appropriate option. Audio is supported only over TCP/IP and between no more than two people. Sound quality can vary significantly depending on your sound card and microphone. Use the Audio Tuning Wizard to automatically adjust your settings. Warnings and Known Bugs ----------------------- - Pressing CTRL+ALT+DELETE might disconnect the audio connection. - If you join a conference, or call a person who has selected Conference Host in the Call menu, you will not be able to use the audio features in your conference. - The Audio Tuning Wizard works only when you are not on a call. - If you are experiencing choppy full-duplex sound quality, try switching Microsoft NetMeeting to half-duplex sound quality. To do this, carry out the following steps: 1. Make sure that you are not on a NetMeeting call. 2. Click the Tools menu, and then click Options. 3. Click the Audio tab. 4. Clear the Enable Full Duplex Audio check box. HANGING UP ========== When you hang up, you will disconnect anyone you have called or anyone who called you. If the disconnected users have invited or accepted other users into the conference, they will also be disconnected. KNOWN ISSUES ============ - You cannot run ReachOut 5.0 on computers where Microsoft NetMeeting is installed. - To find the name of your NetBIOS, carry out the following steps: 1. In Control Panel, double-click the Network icon. 2. Click the Identification tab. The Computer Name is displayed.