Meetings. Businesses and organizations thrive on meetings. It seems that no combination of communications via e-mail, fax, or memo can replace the immediacy and the real-time interaction with other people that is the hallmark of a live meeting.
When you can't attend a meeting in person, teleconferencing can be the next best thing to being there. Unfortunately, full-scale teleconferencing requires expensive, specialized facilities. Now, however, NetMeeting (Microsoft's new real-time voice and
data communications program) can provide small-scale conferencing facilities using your own computer and a network or modem connection.
NetMeeting, an add-on for Internet Explorer, is a set of programs that make it possible to conduct meetings on a network. NetMeeting provides real-time voice and data communications between conference participants. With NetMeeting, you can not only
carry on a telephone-like voice conversation, you can share applications and exchange files.
NOTE
NetMeeting is yet another of the rapidly evolving new Internet products from Microsoft. Like Internet Explorer, NetMeeting is being released to the public free of charge, first in an open beta program and then as a finished product. This chapter is based on the second major beta release. We expect to see significant changes to the software throughout the development cycle. The changes are likely to continue even after the "final" versions begin shipping. As a result of this continual evolution, NetMeeting will undoubtedly include some significant new features by the time you read this book. See the "Coming Attractions" section near the end of this chapter for a look ahead at some of the features that might be in future versions of NetMeeting but were not available at the time this was written.
NetMeeting provides a variety of real-time conferencing features. The core program handles making the connection between conference participants. A conference can include multiple participants and can take place over a network (a local area network or
the Internet) or a direct modem connection. After the participants are connected, NetMeeting makes the other conferencing features available.
| Feature | Function |
| Voice Communications* | Real-time talk with another person; like a phone conversation |
| Whiteboard | A multipage, multiuser drawing program |
| Text Chat | Text-based communication for all conference participants |
| Sharing | Shares a program running on one computer with all conference participants for training or collaborative editing |
| Transfers | Sends files to all conference participants at once |
| *This feature is available only for two parties and only on a TCP/IP network such as an Internet connection. | |
NetMeeting is standards-based, so it should be compatible with other current and future third-party conferencing programs. It differs from many of the competing products (such as Netscape LiveMedia) in that most of its features are
available to multiple participants.
Before you can install NetMeeting, you need to make sure your computer is up to the task of real-time conferencing. Obviously, NetMeeting is something more than a typical stand-alone computer program. It's not surprising that the program has some
special requirements. To use NetMeeting, you need the following:
For voice conferencing, you also need the following:
NetMeeting is one of the add-on products designed to enhance and expand the capabilities of Internet Explorer 3.0. As such, it might be available through many of the same distribution channels as Internet Explorer itself. However, all the distribution
details weren't available at the time this book went to press. On the other hand, you can be confident that NetMeeting will be available for download from Microsoft's Web site (http://www.microsoft.com/). To find
it,
follow the links to the Internet Explorer page and, from there, to the page of Internet Explorer add-ons.
After you download the program, simply double-click on the file you downloaded. This will launch the installation routine, which will install NetMeeting on your system. (This might happen automatically if your browser is configured to launch downloaded
files.) During the installation process you can specify where the NetMeeting application folder is placed on your hard drive. The default location is in the Program Files directory, but you can enter a different location if you want.
After the installation routine copies files onto your system, you'll need to reboot your computer for the changes to take effect. The first time you launch NetMeeting, a setup wizard will run automatically to configure NetMeeting for use. In addition
to
answering some questions about how you want to be listed on the User Location Server (see "The Role of the User Location Server," later in this chapter) and a few details about your network connection and sound card, you'll need to read into
your
microphone. This will enable NetMeeting to configure itself to use your microphone for voice communications.
If you plan to use NetMeeting on a network, you should establish the network connection before you start NetMeeting. That's easy if you have a full-time network connection on a LAN. However, if you connect to the Internet via Dial-Up Networking, you'll
need to dial into your Internet service provider and get your Net connection established before starting NetMeeting. Although it's possible to start NetMeeting without a network connection established, if you do, the program won't be able to log on to the
User Location Service to get a directory of people you can call for conferences.
As NetMeeting starts, it might momentarily freeze your system while it plugs itself into your network connections and other resources. For example, you might be unable to switch to another program or resize the NetMeeting window. Just be patient; everything should return to normal in a minute or two. (If you aren't connected to a network when you start NetMeeting, the delay is somewhat longer.)
After NetMeeting is successfully installed and your network connection established, you can launch the program by clicking on its icon in the Start menu under Programs. The first time you run NetMeeting, another wizard will appear requesting your
personal information and connection type and offering to calibrate your microphone. You can decline the offer, but you probably won't get optimal audio performance until you run the microphone tuning wizard.
After a minute or two, the NetMeeting window will appear as shown in Figure 14.1. This is the control center from which you'll conduct your meeting and launch the conferencing applications.
Figure 14.1. The main NetMeeting window.
Convening a meeting with NetMeeting is about as easy as placing a telephone call. You simply call another NetMeeting user to begin a conference. Then, to add another participant to the conference, have NetMeeting call them. Other participants can also
call you to be added to the conference. Of course, all participants must be connected to the network (or linked by modem) and running NetMeeting in order to make or receive calls and participate in a conference.
NetMeeting provides several ways to place calls to other conference participants. You can configure the software to make a direct modem-to-modem connection with another computer, or you can manually enter the network address of the computer you are
calling. But the easiest way to make a call is to select the person you want to call from a directory of NetMeeting users.
In order for NetMeeting to establish a connection with another computer and set up a conference, the program needs to know the other computer's network address. If you're calling another computer on a local area network, you can probably find out the
correct address to use. However, computer addresses aren't always easy to locate. For example, many Internet Service Providers automatically assign a new IP to each machine when it logs on. The user probably doesn't know what that IP address is.
Furthermore, the IP address will be different the next time the user logs on.
As a result, discovering the correct computer address for a conference participant you want to call can be problematic. The solution to the problem is to set up a server to be a central registry of NetMeeting users currently connected to the network
and
available for conferencing. Microsoft has created just such a server, called a User Location Service or ULS.
Unless you disable the feature, NetMeeting automatically searches for a ULS when you start the program. It will connect to the server and log in. Then, you will have access to the list of NetMeeting users logged into the ULS server. To call someone,
you
have only to select them from the directory list. The ULS will supply NetMeeting with the user's current computer address.
NOTE
You don't have to rely exclusively on the Microsoft ULS to locate other NetMeeting users. The software for creating a ULS is available for download so that local system administrators can set up their own ULS for a local network or intranet.
By default, NetMeeting is configured to use the Microsoft ULS at uls.microsoft.com. However, if you have access to another ULS, you can elect to use it instead. To choose a different ULS server, choose Options from the Tools menu and then click on the
Calling tab. In the Use Location Server area of the dialog box, you can choose to enable or disable the option and enter the name of the ULS server in the text box.
To change the way your entry appears in the user directory on the ULS, click on the My Information tab in the Options dialog box and type your name in the text box as you want it to appear on the ULS. The Make This Information Available To Others On
The
User Location Server check box enables you to instruct NetMeeting whether or not to publish your name in the ULS directory.
To begin a conference, you need to establish a connection with another computer running NetMeeting. To call the other computer, click on the Computer button (in the toolbar under Place A Call) and type the computer's address in the adjacent text box.
The computer address can be in the form of an IP address, IPX address, or the name of a computer on a local Windows network. After you enter the name, click on the Call button to place the call.
NetMeeting will attempt to locate the computer at that address and establish a connection. The process can take a minute or two. The program will display messages apprising you of the success of the connection and letting you know whether your call was
accepted.
If NetMeeting needs more information to complete the call, the program opens the Advanced Calling dialog box shown in Figure 14.2. (You can also open this dialog box by choosing Place Advanced Call from the Call menu.) Here you can specify what network
you want to use, the name (or address) of the party you're calling, and whether you want to connect for audio conferencing, data exchange, or both. You can specify a conferencing service to call and even choose to add this address to your Favorites
folder.
Figure 14.2. When necessary, you can specify advanced options to control a call.
TIP
To repeat a call, click on the down arrow at the right end of the Place A Call box and select a name or address from the drop-down list box.
In addition to the ability to establish a connection with another computer on a network, NetMeeting enables you to call a computer using a direct modem-to-modem connection over the public phone system. To conduct a NetMeeting conference via modem, one
NetMeeting system must be configured to act as the host and accept an incoming call. The other NetMeeting user acts as the client and places the call to the host. When the connection is made, the NetMeeting conference can proceed. You can use all the
basic
conference features except voice communications.
Before you can conduct a NetMeeting conference over a modem connection, you'll need to configure the program to use the modem instead of (or in addition to) a network connection. Begin by activating the modem protocol. Choose Tools | Options to open
the
NetMeeting Preferences dialog box and click on the Protocols tab (see Figure 14.3). Make sure the Modem option is checked.
Figure 14.3. The Protocols tab of the NetMeeting Properties dialog box.
Next, select the modem protocol by clicking on it and click the Properties button. Here you can select which modem to use and configure NetMeeting and your modem to answer incoming calls on the modem line so you can serve as the host. Click OK on both
windows to record your settings. You'll need to close and then restart NetMeeting for the new settings to take effect.
If you will be serving as the host for the call, you're all set. NetMeeting will answer the phone when it rings and establish a connection with the calling system. You just accept the call when it arrives.
If you're the party placing the call, you must go through one extra step. Choose Call | Place Advanced Call and then choose Modem from the Call Using drop-down list in the Advanced Calling dialog box. Enter the phone number of the system you want to
call and adjust the other settings as needed. (The Properties button gives you access to the standard Windows 95 telephony settings if needed.) Click the Call button to initiate the call. NetMeeting will use your modem to dial the other system and
establish the connection. Then the conference can proceed as if it were taking place on a network or Internet connection.
By far the easiest way to make a call is to select someone from the list of NetMeeting users logged into the ULS server. To use the directory, choose Directory from the Call menu or click on the Directory button to open the Directory dialog box as
shown
in Figure 14.4. You can scroll down the list to find the name of the party you want to call. Or, you can begin typing the name in the text box at the top of the list to jump directly to that name. When you find the name you want, select it and then click
on the Call button to place the call.
Figure 14.4. The Directory shows you who is logged into the User Location Service and available for conferences.
You can use the ULS directory service without opening the Directory dialog box. Just click on the Person button and type a name into the Place A Call box. When you click on the Call button, NetMeeting searches for a match for the person's name in the
directory on the ULS. If the program finds a match, it places the call.
You don't always have to place calls in order to hold a conference. You can choose the Host Conference command from the Call menu to create a sort of chat room like those on the online services. Conference participants call you to enter the room. Any
number of callers can come and go without disturbing other participants' connections.
When you receive a call from someone wanting to join you in a conference, NetMeeting will alert you with a tone and display a small window near the taskbar showing the caller's name. You can click Accept to accept the call or click Ignore to reject it.
You can also configure NetMeeting to accept callers automatically in some circumstances. To do so, open the NetMeeting Preferences dialog box (choose Tools | Options). See Figure 14.5. On the General tab in the Incoming calls area, you'll find options
to Notify me even if the Microsoft NetMeeting window is closed, Automatically accept calls when I'm not in a conference, and Automatically accept calls when I'm participating in a conference. You can enable one or all of these options.
Figure 14.5. You can set up NetMeeting to automatically accept calls for you.
Even if you elect to accept calls automatically, NetMeeting will still alert you to incoming calls and people joining your conference. You just won't have to click on a button to allow them in.
If both you and the party you are calling meet all the requirements for voice conferencing with NetMeeting, it's very easy to use the voice conferencing features. You just place the call. After the connection is established, you simply speak into the
microphone; the other party should hear you on his or her speakers and be able to reply in kind. That's all there is to it.
However, you must be aware that there are several limitations on audio communication. Voice conferences are confined to only two participants. If a conference includes more than two people, the first two participants can use audio, but those who join
the conference later cannot. Furthermore, voice conferencing is available only on TCP/IP connections (such as the Internet), not on IPX networks or modem connections.
The sound quality of NetMeeting's audio varies significantly with different sound cards, microphones, and speakers. The speed of your computer and network connection can also have an impact on sound quality. Another factor to consider is that many
sound
cards support only half-duplex audio, meaning that the sound card cannot handle incoming and outgoing sounds simultaneously. As a result, when you speak, it disables the speakers and you can't hear the other party. You must speak and then pause for a
moment to give the other party time to respond. If you start speaking again too soon, you'll cut them off. Using a half-duplex sound card for voice conferencing is like talking on a two-way radio instead of a telephone. A sound card that supports
full-duplex operations shouldn't have this problem.
While you're in a voice conference, you can adjust the volume of your microphone and speakers from within NetMeeting. To adjust the microphone volume, move the microphone slider in the NetMeeting toolbar. You can mute the microphone temporarily by
clearing the microphone check box. To re-enable the microphone, click on the microphone check box again. You can adjust the speakers in the same way.
NetMeeting attempts to automatically screen out background noise from the microphone to help eliminate interference with your voice. The program also compresses your speech for faster transmission and to allow better response in other conferencing
features by reducing the bandwidth consumed by audio.
TIP
The Audio Tuning Wizard will calibrate your microphone sensitivity and detect whether your sound card can handle full-duplex audio or is restricted to half-duplex operation. You can run the wizard by choosing Tools | Audio Tuning Wizard or by clicking on the Audio Tuning Wizard button on the Audio tab of the NetMeeting Properties dialog box.
Normally, you won't need to adjust any of NetMeeting's audio settings, but if you do, you'll find them on the Audio tab of the NetMeeting Properties dialog box shown in Figure 14.6 (choose Tools | Options). You can set the compression level (you must
have a Pentium computer to use the maximum compression setting) and microphone sensitivity, and enable full-duplex operation.
Figure 14.6. Let the Audio Tuning Wizard do its thing to set these options appropriately.
Chat enables conference participants to exchange text messages in real time. It's similar to the chat function found in the online services and the Internet's IRC chat. Chat supports any number of participants working on any kind of network or modem
connection.
You might use Chat as the primary communication format for your conference participants—especially if audio isn't available. Or, you might simply use it to jot down shared meeting notes.
To start NetMeeting's Chat program, choose Tools | Chat or click on the Chat button in the toolbar. When one conference participant opens a Chat window, the Chat window opens automatically on other participants' screens as well. Figure 14.7 shows a
chat
in progress.
Figure 14.7. Chat allows real-time exchange of text messages.
To use the Chat program, you type into the bottom panel and then click the Send button (or press Enter). When you do, your message appears in the upper panel labeled with your name. The same text will appear simultaneously in the other participants'
Chat windows. Other participants' entries appear in the upper panel as well as they are entered. You can scroll back through the messages to review anything you missed.
Chat is a simple program, and there aren't many options or settings you can adjust. Of course, you can move and resize the Chat window, and the commands on the File menu enable you to save the contents of the Chat window to a file, print it, or open a
previously saved file. The standard editing commands let you cut, copy, and paste text to and from other windows. You can choose Font from the Options menu to open a Font dialog box and select a different font for message display in the Chat window.
Choosing Message Format from the Options menu opens the Chat Format dialog box shown in Figure 14.8, in which you can choose what identifying information will be displayed along with each message, how messages will wrap in the Chat window, and whether
Chat
should alert you to incoming messages with a tone.
Figure 14.8. These settings control the appearance of the Chat window.
CAUTION
Chat works only in NetMeeting conferences. It doesn't work in Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels.
If you like NetMeeting's Chat utility, you're gonna love Whiteboard! It offers the same kind of real-time interaction for multiple users that you find in Chat but instead of simple text messages, Whiteboard lets you draw. You can enter text and
draw lines, circles, and boxes. You can create multiple pages and move back and forth among them to review and edit the drawing on any page. You can grab images of windows on your desktop, paste them into Whiteboard, and then draw comments on them. And
all
the conference participants can get into the act, collaborating on the drawing that evolves on the Whiteboard page.
Whiteboard is fun to use, but it's also practical. You can use it to create organization charts and diagrams, type lists of action items, and much more. Once you try it, you'll think of hundreds of uses.
To use Whiteboard, choose Tools | Whiteboard or click on the Whiteboard button on the toolbar. NetMeeting opens the Whiteboard window on your computer and on the other conference participants' screens. As you draw in the Whiteboard window (see Figure
14.9), other participants will see your drawing and be able to add their own contributions.
Figure 14.9. Conference participants can collaborate on drawings in Whiteboard.
To draw on the Whiteboard page, select what kind of object you want to draw by clicking on an object button (Draw, Highlighter, Line, Rectangle, Filled Rectangle, Circle, or Filled Cirlce). Move the pointer into the drawing area and then drag to draw
the object. The Highlighter tool works just like the Draw tool except that the objects you draw with it are transparent, enabling the objects underneath to show through.
If you want to draw with a different color, just click on a color swatch in the color palette in the status bar and begin drawing with the new color. You can also change line widths by clicking on a different thickness in the line width selector.
To add text to a drawing, click on the Text tool, move the pointer into the drawing area, and click to place the text cursor where you want the text to be on the page and begin typing. When you click on the Text tool, a font sample appears in the
status
bar at the bottom of the Whiteboard window. This is the font that will be used for the text you enter. To change the font, double-click on the font sample to open the Font dialog box shown in Figure 14.10. Select the font, style, size, and other
attributes
and click OK to use that font.
Figure 14.10. Change text attributes in the Font dialog box.
Whiteboard enables you to select and edit objects, even after you've drawn them on the page. To modify an object, click on the Selector tool, and then click on the object (line, box, text, and so on) you want to modify. A dashed rectangle will appear
around the selected object. You can drag to move the selected object, click on a color in the color palette to change its color, or press the Delete key to remove the object from the drawing. You can also change the line width of lines and the font of
text.
One of the cool features of Whiteboard is that it enables you to grab an image of a window or portion of your desktop and copy it into the Whiteboard drawing page. Then, you and the other conference participants can draw on top of the grabbed image. To
copy a window into Whiteboard, start by clicking on the Select Window button. The Whiteboard disappears temporarily to give you access to the rest of your desktop. When you click on the window you want to copy, Whiteboard reappears with an image of that
window pasted into the drawing area. The Select Area button works similarly except that, instead of clicking on a window, you click and drag to define a rectangular area of the desktop that you want to copy.
The Remote Pointer is another cool feature. Just click on the Remote Pointer tool to create a pointer that all conference participants can see. Then you can drag the remote pointer to point to something on the drawing page. Several conference
participants can have remote pointers active in Whiteboard. (Each pointer will appear in a different color.) To turn off your remote pointer, simply click on the Remote Pointer button again.
Normally, anything you do on the Whiteboard drawing page will show up immediately in everyone's Whiteboard window. However, you can break this link to the other conference participants if, for example, you don't want everyone watching as you prepare a
series of changes to a drawing. Choose the Synchronize command from the Tools menu to change the status of your link to other participants' Whiteboard windows. It's a toggle command that is enabled by default. Choosing Synchronize will break Whiteboard's
link to other participants and choosing the command again will resynchronize your copy of Whiteboard with the others. You can also choose the Lock Contents command (or click on the Lock Contents button) to take control of the Whiteboard window and prevent
others from making any changes.
NetMeeting enables conference participants to share more than voice conversations, Chat text, and Whiteboard drawings. The program also enables you to share any application running on your system with the other conference participants. Not only will
they be able to see the application you share and watch as you work with that application, other conference participants can take control of the shared application and work with it remotely.
For example, you could open a document in Microsoft Word for Windows and share Word with the conference. Then other participants could collaborate on editing the document by taking turns entering their suggested changes.
At least, that's the way it's supposed to work. However, sharing applications that weren't originally designed to be shared creates some problems and NetMeeting has limited success in overcoming those problems.
Performance is a big issue! I found trying to use a big, complex program such as Word over a dial-up internet connection was an exercise in frustration—especially for a remote user trying to control the application. Performance would be much
better
on a fast local area network and Microsoft is working to improve application sharing performance overall. Still, it's too much to expect a shared application to run at the speed you've come to expect from applications on your local machine. As a result,
real-time collaborative editing will be slow and cumbersome at best. On the other hand, sharing an application might be a reasonable way to demonstrate something if the person who shared the application retains control as the other conference participants
watch and comment via voice communications or Chat.
Performance issues aside, there's another troubling aspect of sharing applications. That is that Windows 95 can accept input from only one source at a time. So, when a remote participant takes control of a shared application, the person who shared it
loses control—not just control of the shared application, but also control of all normal mouse and keyboard input. If you share an application and allow another conference participant to take control, you become a spectator, unable to do
anything in the shared application or any of the other applications running on your system, until the remote user relinquishes control. (There is a way to wrest control from the remote user if necessary.) There isn't a huge security risk, because the
remote user can't affect anything on your screen except the shared application—but then neither can you. Microsoft is working on some more elegant ways to handle the situation in future versions of NetMeeting, but the underlying program will remain.
Now, with these caveats in mind, let's look at the mechanics of sharing applications in NetMeeting.
Note
When you are sharing applications keep in mind that NetMeeting does not scale the application window. This means that if you are conferencing with someone on a machine with lower video resolution than you, the application window can cover more of their screen than is accessible.
Before you can share an application, you must be actively participating in a conference. Next, the application you want to share must be running on your system. You can start the application before joining the conference or you can start it just before
sharing.
To share an application, pull down the Tools menu, point to Share Program, and choose the application from the cascading menu that appears. NetMeeting begins sharing the application immediately. The application window will appear on the other
conference
participant's screens with a small tab attached to the upper-right corner of the window indicating who is sharing the application. Initially, the person who shares the application will be in control of it. You can work in a program you have shared and the
other conference participants will see the changes in the shared application's window on their screens. Later, other conference participants will be able to take control of the shared application—if you let them.
Sharing applications is anything but an instantaneous process. When you share an application, it might take a few minutes before the shared application window appears on other participant's screens. Likewise, screen updates following any changes in the application are delayed. The length of the delay is affected by the speed of your network connection, but there will be some delay, even on the fastest networks.
Sharing a Windows Explorer or Network Neighborhood window can be dangerous. If a remote user takes control, they will have access to all open Explorer windows and therefore access to all the files and folders they contain.
When you want to stop sharing a program, choose Tools | Stop Sharing Program, and choose the program you want to stop sharing from the menu of shared programs or use the Share Application drop-down list button on the client window.
If you want to work with an application that is being shared by another conference participant, you can take control of the cursor and keyboard input to that application. Simply choose Tools | Take Control, click on the Take Control button on the
toolbar, or double-click on the shared application window. After a brief delay, your initials will appear beside the pointer to indicate that you have control. (The status list in the main NetMeeting window will also change to display your In Control
status.) You'll be able to enter text, click on buttons, scroll documents, and otherwise work in the application just as if it were running on your system—except for the delay between action and response imposed by remote operation. You will not,
however, be able to directly manipulate the other participant's system outside of the shared application. You are taking control of the shared application, not the entire computer.
The beta version of NetMeeting doesn't provide any way to arbitrate who takes control of a shared application. Consequently, several conference participants might try to take control of one shared application at the same time. The result can be a bit
like a bunch of kids squabbling over a toy or piece of candy. Add the time delay between action and reaction, and it can be hard to tell who has control. As a result of discussions between users and developers in the NetMeeting newsgroup, you can expect
to
see some attempts to address this issue in future versions of NetMeeting.
Sometimes you want other conference participants to be able to view a shared application but you don't want them to be able to take control of it. NetMeeting's Working Alone mode is designed to allow just such an arrangement.
To share an application but prevent others from taking control, first share the application. Then, choose Tools | Work Alone or click the Work Alone button on the toolbar. (You might find that you also need to click the mouse button or press a key to
regain control of your computer if someone else was in control.) The status list in the main NetMeeting window will show your status as Working Alone. Just remember, you're not really alone. The other conference participants can still see the shared
application; they just can't control it.
If necessary, you can grab control of an application you've shared by pressing the Esc key. This will put the application in "Work Alone" mode immediately.
NetMeeting enables you to quickly and easily send a file to all the participants in a conference. The file transfer happens in the background while you continue to use NetMeeting's other conferencing features such as Audio, Chat, and Whiteboard.
To transfer a file, choose Send File from the Tools menu. This will open a dialog box in which you can select the file you want to send. Click Open to send the selected file on its way. An even more convenient technique for sending files is to drag a
file from an Explorer window and drop it on the NetMeeting window. NetMeeting will transfer the file immediately.
When you transfer files, they go to everyone in the conference. You can't pick and choose who will receive the file. (Although this might change in future versions of the program.) The recipient will receive a warning message about viruses on
transferred files and will have the option to Close, Open, or Delete the file. The transferred file will appear on the recipient's desktop if they choose Close and will launch the appropriate application if Open is chosen.
The default location for incoming file transfers is your desktop. But you can change that location if you want. Just open the NetMeeting Preferences dialog box (choose Tools | Options) and click on the General tab. In the File Transfer section, type
the
drive and folder name in the text box or click on the Browse button and select a folder from the Browse dialog box. After you close the NetMeeting Preferences dialog box by clicking OK, NetMeeting will place incoming files in the folder you specified.
When it comes time to end your meeting, you can choose Hangup from the Call menu or click on the Hangup button. This is like hanging up the phone—it disconnects you from the other parties in the conference.
However, you need to be careful about hanging up too soon. You might disconnect others as well as yourself. Hanging up breaks the connections with all the parties you called or accepted calls from. Those parties won't remain connected to each other
after you leave the conference because their connection to each other was through you. If you called in to join a conference, you can leave without disconnecting others who are connected to the same host.
Like other applications in Microsoft's Internet Add-On package, NetMeeting is a rapidly evolving new product. It's very likely that the developers will continue to add and enhance features as the product goes from public beta to released product and
beyond. The following list presents a few of the enhancements that seem to have a good chance of being implemented soon. Some of them might have been incorporated into NetMeeting by the time you read this.
This chapter has provided a look at Microsoft's real-time conferencing software—NetMeeting. The chapter concludes this section covering the principal Internet Explorer add-ons for communicating with others on the Internet. The next section delves
into the exciting realm of interactive Web sites.
