How to Configure and Customize Microsoft NetMeeting

MORE INFORMATION

Running NetMeeting for the First Time

The first time you run NetMeeting, you are prompted to enter information about yourself and the directory server that you want to connect to. Then, the Audio Tuning Wizard runs automatically and configures your sound card. To run NetMeeting for the first time:

NetMeeting Version 2.11 Clients

1. Click Start, point to Programs, click NetMeeting, and then click Next.
2. Click to select the Log on to a directory when NetMeeting starts check box (this is optional), and then type the name of the directory under the What directory server would you like to use? dialog box.
3. Click Next, type the appropriate information in the First Name, Last Name, E-Mail Address, City/State, Country, and Comments dialog boxes, and then click Next.
   
   NOTE: The City/State, Country, and Comments information is optional.
4. Click Next, and then chose the category.
5. Click Next, and then chose the connection speed.
6. Click Next, follow the instructions in the Audio Tuning Wizard, and then click Finish.

NetMeeting Version 3.1 Clients

1. Click Start, point to Programs, and then click NetMeeting.
2. Click Next, type the appropriate information in the First Name, Last Name, E-Mail Address, Location, and Comments dialog boxes, and then click Next.
   
   NOTE: The Location and Comments information is optional.
3. Click Next, click to select the Log into a directory server when NetMeeting starts check box (this is optional), and then type the name of the directory server in the Server Name dialog box. If you do not want your name to be visible in the directory, click to select the Do not list my name in this directory check box.
4. Click Next, and then select the appropriate location for the shortcuts.
5. Click Next, follow the instructions in the Audio Tuning Wizard, and then click Finish.

After you run NetMeeting for the first time, you can modify the information you entered about yourself or the directory server name that you want to connect to. To do so, click Options on the Tools menu, click the General tab, and then enter the appropriate information. Also, you can run the Audio Tuning Wizard again, and to do so, click Audio Tuning Wizard on the Tools menu.

Modifying Audio Settings

All audio settings are configured automatically when you run NetMeeting for the first time, or when you run the Audio Tuning Wizard after running NetMeeting for the first time. The following audio settings are configured automatically:

• Audio compression settings are configured automatically based on the connection speed that you specify.
• Microphone sensitivity settings are configured automatically based on the reading sample that you record.

NOTE: The Audio Tuning Wizard is able to determine if a sound card is capable of full-duplex audio, but it may not enable full-duplex audio by default. To enable full-duplex audio if the Audio Tuning Wizard determines that your sound card supports it, click Options on the Tools menu, click the Audio tab, and then click to select the Enable Full Duplex Audio check box. To enable automatic gain in addition to full-duplex audio, click to select the Enable Auto-Gain Control check box. If NetMeeting determines that the sound card does not support the full-duplex or Auto-gain features, the selections are unavailable.

NetMeeting version 3.1 clients may also enable DirectSound for improved audio performance. For additional information about full-duplex sound card support in NetMeeting, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: To manually adjust microphone settings, click to clear the Automatically adjust microphone settings while in a call check box. To manually set the silence detection settings in NetMeeting version 3.1 clients, click to select the Let Me adjust silence detection myself check check box.

To manually configure audio compression instead of permitting NetMeeting to configure it automatically, click Advanced.

Modifying Video Settings

The video capture devices installed on your computer should be automatically detected. If they are not, re-run NetMeeting Setup so that they can be detected.

To modify video settings click Options on the Tools menu, and then click the Video tab. Note that features not supported by the specific video capture device drivers installed on your computer are unavailable.

To automatically send and receive video at the start of a call, click to select the Automatically send video at the start of each call and the Automatically receive video at the start of each call check boxes. Adjust the camera for your preferred settings between faster video or better quality. You may also adjust the size of the video you send to the other participant in the meeting by selecting small, medium, or large.

If you have more than one video capture device installed on your computer, you can select which device you want NetMeeting to use. Once you have chosen the video capture device you would like to use, you can adjust brightness, hue, and saturation through the Source and Format dialog boxes provided by the manufacturer of the device. If both of these options are unavailable, contact the manufacturer of the device on how to customize these settings. You may also chose to "Show mirror image in the video preview window".

Modifying Other Settings

NetMeeting can be customized further by using additional settings displayed in the NetMeeting Options dialog box or in the Call menu. The following settings are available:

NetMeeting Version 2.11 Clients

Show NetMeeting icon on the taskbar:

• Restore the NetMeeting window after accepting a call.
• Show Help messages next to cursor.
• Run when Windows starts and notify me of incoming calls.
• Automatically accept calls when I'm not in a conference.
• Automatically accept calls when I'm participating in a conference.
• Scroll entire screen (when a shared window is too big to fit on my screen).
• Scroll shared windows only (when a shared window is too big to fit on my screen).
• Don't scroll (when a shared window is too big to fit on my screen).
• Receive files sent to me in a conference and change default file transfer folder.

NetMeeting Version 3.1 Clients

• Show NetMeeting icon on the taskbar.
• Run NetMeeting in the background when Windows starts.
• Change Bandwidth Settings.
• Set Advanced Calling options to use a GateKeeper or Gateway.
• Set incoming and outgoing calls to only be secure.
• Select the type of security certificate you prefer to use.
• Set do not disturb.
• Automatically accept incoming calls.
• Log off and log on to your default Directory or ILS server.

You may also change the view of the NetMeeting Window in version 3.1 clients by selecting the following options under the View menu:

• Show status bar.
• Display Dial pad instead of video window.
• Show a preview window of the video you are sending.
• Shot a picture in picture of the video you are sending.
• Show the Window in compact view.
• Show the data only components of NetMeeting.
• Select to always have the main NetMeeting Window on top.