Introduction to the Skype for Business Meeting window

Being familiar with the Skype for Business Meeting features helps you find the option you want quickly and continue with your meeting smoothly, even if you need to use multiple menus.

Keep in mind that most menus open when you pause on an icon, and then you can click an option you want.

Let's have a look.

Audio controls

The first thing you want to check is the audio controls, which you can find by pausing on the phone/mic icon. Here you can mute your audio, put the audio on hold, change devices, or transfer to another number.

For more information, see Use audio in a Lync Meeting.

Video controls

Adding video to your meeting can enhance your experience and help the participants be more interactive, just like a regular face-to-face meeting.

First make sure your camera is connected and set up. Then, pause on the camera icon to see a preview and start your video.

For more information, see Use video in a Lync Meeting.

Presentation controls

If you're presenting in the meeting, pause on the presentation (monitor icon), and select any of the following:

• Desktop (For details, see Share your desktop or a program in Lync.)

• Program (For details, see Share your desktop or a program in Lync.)

• PowerPoint (For details, see Present PowerPoint slides in a Lync Meeting.)

• Whiteboard (For details, see Use a Whiteboard in a Lync Meeting.)

• Poll (For details, see Using Poll in a Lync Meeting.)

• Q & A (For details, see Lync Q&A Manager.)

• The OneNote tab (For details, see Use shared and private notes in a Lync Meeting.)

  Note:  Note sharing is not available with Lync Basic 2013.

• The Attachments tab (For details, see Transfer a file in a Lync Meeting.)

Participant controls

On the people menu, you see a list of the participants and can access a contact card with a right-click on the names. If you're a presenter, you'll have access to other controls, such as muting the audience or inviting more people.

Pause on the people icon to manage participants individually or as a group:

• To add additional participants, clickInvite More People, and then click the person or people you want to add.

• To mute, unmute, make presenter/attendee, or remove from the meeting, on the Participants tab, right-click a person's name and use the options.

• For other options, click the Actions tab, and then select an option:

  • Mute Audience to eliminate background noise.

  • No Meeting IM to disable instant messaging (IM) during the meeting.

  • No Attendees Video to block attendees from starting video.

  • Hide Names to hide the names on the pictures.

  • Everyone an Attendee if you have too many presenters.

  • Invite by email to send email invitations to additional people.

Layout options

Depending on your meeting type, you can select a specific view of content, presenter, or participants.

Click Pick a layout on the lower right side of the meeting:

• Gallery View shows all the participants' pictures, or videos, plus meeting content.

Note:  Gallery view is not available with Lync Basic 2013.

• Speaker View shows the presenter's picture or video at the lower-right corner of the meeting window, plus meeting content.

• Content View shows only the meeting content.

• Compact view shows the tiles of the participants' pictures in a compact window.

More Options (…)

Under the More Options menu, you'll find a link to Skype for Business Help and, if you're a presenter using Skype for Business, you'll also see Start Recording, Manage Recording, Skype for Business Meeting Options and End Meeting. Presenters using Lync Basic see Skype for Business Meeting Options and End Meeting.

Note:  Recording is not available with Lync Basic 2013.

For more information about recording, see Recording and playback a Lync Meeting.

Instant messaging (IM)

A nice feature of Skype for Business Meetings is the ability to send instant messages to everyone in the meeting, assuming this option hasn't been disabled. (See Turn off IM in a Lync Meeting (Enable IM Mute) for details.). You can pause on the IM icon to access the window or click the icon to dock the window in the meeting.

When you dock the window, you'll see more options such as choosing fonts or adding smiley faces. You can also right-click in the IM window to access more options.

Keep in mind that everyone in the meeting can see all the instant messages. If you want to send someone a private message, click the people icon, right-click a name, and select the IM option.

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