1. Getting Started with Vyew: Introduction
2. Learning The Interface
3. The VyewBook: Where your meetings take place
4. Importing and Creating Content
5. Communicating in Vyew: Video, Voice, Chat
6. Inviting and Managing Meeting Participants
7. User Roles and Permissions
8. Managing Your Meetings: My Home / My VyewBooks
9. Desktop Sharing

Vyew is a browser-based collaboration and conferencing platform that enables web users to share and create together in real-time and over time. Within seconds, Vyew users can access a shared instant workspace where they can upload and annotate
files (.ppt, .doc, .xls, .pdf, .jpg, .mp3, .flv, etc.), take screen captures, white-board and use a library of plug-ins to create content for sharing and collaboration. Content in Vyew can be saved, accessed on demand, left always on for reference or modifications, printed and published anywhere on the Web. During live conferencing sessions users can also communicate via Vyew’s free teleconferencing service, instant text chat, webcam, Voice over IP (VoIP) and by sharing their desktop.
 
A VyewBook is a collection of pages containing multimedia content. Participants upload or create content in VyewBooks and invite others to collaborate on the content in real time (synchronously) or any time (asynchronously). During real-time collaboration, participants can view pages within VyewBooks together on the same page in sync mode or navigate pages separately in unsync mode.

Main Menu

The Main Menu provides account and color theme management, high-level navigation within Vyew such as ending your session, joining another meeting and going to your lobby, a list of keyboard shortcuts (hotkeys), a description of Vyew and the current version, and bug reporting. Below is a description of the commands in the Main Menu.
 

 

• Account Settings: The Account Settings menu allows you to edit your account settings.
  • Edit: Allows you to edit your email address, screen name, password, first name, last name, address, city, state, postal code, country, phone number, custom ID and custom skin.
  • Uninvite Notification: Provides a checkbox for notification when users uninvite themselves from your VyewBooks.
  • Upgrade Add-Ons: Provides options to upgrade your Vyew account (get a custom URL, more VyewBooks, more file uploads, ad-free participants, customize the Vyew interface, add a custom advertisement to Vyew).
  • Downgrade: Provides options to downgrade add-ons or cancel your account.
  • Billing Summary: Displays your billing summary.
• End Session: Ends the current session and provides options to logout, set access control, disconnect all participants and clear all data (chat, slides, drawings, etc.).
• Join Another Meeting: Displays a window to enter another meeting ID and join it.
• Go to my Vyew Lobby: Takes you to the My Home tab next to which is your lobby tab. Click on your lobby tab for a list of VyewBooks that you have made public for anyone to access.
• Edit Color Theme: Allows you to edit the colors of your Vyew Room.
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Displays a list of keyboard shortcuts.
• About Vyew: Provides information about Vyew and lists the current version that you are running.
• Report a bug: Allows you to email a bug report

The VyewBook tab appears next to the My Home tab when you have an open VyewBook. The title of this tab is the currently opened VyewBook. Selecting the VyewBook tab brings you to the open VyewBook.
 

The VyewBook tab includes:

• Your currently opened VyewBook
• Book and Edit menus
• Command icons: Import file into this page, Take screenshot of your desktop, Load a plugin into this page, Paste Object, Object Selector, Print VyewBook, Add a new Page, Remove Page and Magnifier
• Page Navigator
• Draw Tools: Selection Tool, Pen Tool, Highlighter Tool, Text Writing Tool, TextPad Tool, StickyNote Tool, Line Tool, Oval Tool, Rectangle Tool, Rubber Stamp Tool, Delete Tool and Start/Stop showing your cursor to all users

Items in the VyewBook tab: 

Book Menu

The Book Menu includes commands for managing your open VyewBook, opening another VyewBook and creating a new VyewBook. Below is a description of each command.
 

• New VyewBook: Creates a new VyewBook.
• Open VyewBook: Opens a previously saved VyewBook.
• Rename VyewBook: Renames the current VyewBook.
• Save VyewBook As: Saves the current VyewBook as another name.
• Print: Prints the opened VyewBook.
• Publish: Publishes your VyewBook to the web as a Vyewlet.
• Preload All Pages: Preloads all the pages so that you do not have to wait for objects to load on a page when first navigating to a page.
• VyewBook Details: Provides a list of activity details such as login times and lengths
• VyewBook Settings: Displays a page with the following settings.
  • VyewBook Access Control Settings: Determines whether only the owner, invites and owner, or anyone can come into the room.
  • List this VyewBook in my Public Lobby: Places the VyewBook in your public lobby for anyone to access.
  • When everyone leaves: Select one of the below three options from the dropdown menu to define the state of the VyewBook when everyone leaves it.
    • Leave as is: Leaves the VyewBook in its current state, either in sync or unsync mode.
    • Change to Sync Mode: Changes the VyewBook to sync mode if it was in unsync mode when everyone left it.
    • Change to Unsync Mode: Changes the VyewBook to unsync mode if it was in sync mode when everyone left it.
  • Conference Call #: Lists the conference call number, which can be changed by clicking the Edit button.
  • Activity Details: Provides a list of activity details such as login times and lengths
  • Apply: Click to apply your settings to the currently opened VyewBook.
  • Cancel: Click to cancel any changes you made to the currently opened VyewBook settings.

Edit Menu

The Edit Menu includes commands for editing your currently opened VyewBook. Below is a description of each command.
 

• Insert File, Images, etc.: Uploads files into the current VyewBook
• Insert Screen Capture: Uploads a screen capture of your screen into the current VyewBook.
• Insert Plugin: Displays a list of plugins you can insert; toggle between Standard Plug-ins and Alpha Plug-ins; click on the name of each plug-in for its description.
• Undo: Undo last action
• Cut: Cuts the selected object from the page
• Copy: Copies the selected object
• Paste: Pastes the copied or cut object to the current page
• Paste in Place: Pastes the copied or cut object in the same place on the current page as it was on the page it was copied or cut from
• Clear Drawings: Clears all drawings on the current page
• Clear Text: Clears all text on the current page
• Clear Images/Media: Clears all images and media on current page
• Delete Page from Book: Deletes the current page from your VyewBook
• Unlock all Objects: Unlocks all objects on current page
• Select Specific Object: Provides a list of objects on the page to select from by name

Command Icons

Command icons appear next to the Edit Menu and across the top of the Vyew screen. The titles and purposes of the icons display when you mouse over the icons. Below is a description of each command icon.
 

• Import file into this page: Imports a file from your computer. Click “Advanced” to import a file from the Web, from another VyewBook, or from files not inside any book.
• Take screenshot of your desktop: Imports a screenshot of your desktop or any other window that is open, then crops the image and imports it onto the white board.
• Load plugin: Displays a list of plugins you can insert; toggle between Standard Plug-ins and Alpha Plug-ins; click on the name of each plug-in for its description.
• Paste Object: Pastes a copied or cut object on to the current page
• Object Selector: Provides a list of objects on page to select from by name
• Print VyewBook: Prints your VyewBook.
• Add a new Page: Adds a new page to the VyewBook
• Remove Page: Deletes the current page from the VyewBook
• Magnifier Menu: Click on the magnifier icon to display a menu with the following options:
• Magnifier Tool: Click on this icon to enable the Magnifier Tool. Click on the current page to zoom in and shift click on the page to zoom out.
  • Plus sign: Click to zoom in on the current page.
  • Minus sign: Click to zoom out on the current page.
  • Zoom Reset: Click to reset page to normal size after zooming.
  • Auto-zoom to fit on page: Adjusts the page content size to fit on a single screen.

Page Navigator

The Page Navigator allows participants to navigate through the opened VyewBook. Moderators can select Sync Mode or Unsync Mode to synchronize or unsynchronized participants’ navigation. Below is a description of the items in the Page Navigator.
 

Sync Mode/Unsync Mode

A VyewBook can be in either of the two modes. In Sync Mode, all page changes are synchronized so that all users in a VyewBook Meeting are always on the same page. This is useful during a presentation. In Unsync Mode, users can roam to whatever pages they please without affecting other users. This is useful for many people collaborating within a VyewBook on different pages at the same time.

• Sync Mode: Synchronizes the participants’ views with the moderator’s view. Click to display a menu with the following commands:
  • Turn OFF Sync Mode: Enables all participants to navigate independently through the VyewBook
  • Un-Sync Myself Only: Allows you to navigate pages independently from other participants who will still be synchronized.
• Unsync Mode: Unsynchronizes the participants’ views with the moderator’s view. Click to display a menu with the following commands:
  • Turn ON Sync Mode: Synchronizes the participants’ views with the moderator’s view.
• When everyone exits this VyewBook: Select one of the below three options from the menu to define the state of the VyewBook when everyone leaves it.
  • Change it to Sync Mode: Changes the VyewBook to sync mode if it was in unsync mode when everyone left it.
  • Change it to Un-Sync Mode: Changes the VyewBook to unsync mode if it was in sync mode when everyone left it.
  • Leave as is: Leaves the VyewBook in its current state, either in sync or unsync mode.

Page Navigator Dropdown

• Page navigation: Click on the arrow to open the list, and then click the page name in the list to go to that page.
• Page naming: Type over the currently displayed page name to rename it.
• Page reordering: Click on the arrow to open the list, then drag a page names to its new location in the list.
• Arrows:
  • Click the left arrow to go back one page.
  • Click the right arrow to advance one page.

Drawing Tools

Drawing Tools appear on the left of your screen. Use them for selection and annotation of content. The titles and purposes of the tools display when you mouse over the icons. Below is a description of each drawing tool.
 

• Selection Tool: The Selection Tool is the default tool in Vyew. Use it to select and move objects on a page. Selecting an object displays an object control menu with options to:
  • Cut: Cuts the selected object from the page.
  • Copy: Copies the selected object.
  • Duplicate: Copies and pastes an object on the same page.
  • Bring to Front: Brings selected object in front of other objects.
  • Send to Back: Moves selected object behind other objects.
  • Rotate Clockwise: Rotates the object clockwise.
  • Rotate Counter Clockwise: Rotates the object counterclockwise.
  • Create a VyewScript: A VyewScript enables actions such as jumping to a page, opening another VyewBook, opening a URL, displaying a message or sending an email when the selected object is clicked. Selecting Create a Vyewscript displays a window with the following options:
    • Go to Page: Make the selected object go to the first, last, previous or next page when clicked
    • Go to Page Number: Make the selected object go to a page number in your VyewBook when clicked.
    • Open Book Number: Make the selected object open a specific VyewBook when clicked.
    • Load URL: Make the selected object open a specific URL when clicked.
    • Pop up a message: Make the selected object pop up a specific message when clicked.
    • Send an email: Make the selected object send an email when clicked.             
  • Lock/Unlock this object from being moved: Locks the selected object in place or unlocks the object if it is locked.
  • Download this file: Click the disk icon at the bottom right of a selected object to download the original file. This function applies to all pictures and .pdf, .doc and .ppt file formats.
• Pen Tool: Allows you to annotate and draw with a pen. When you select the Pen Tool a color screen and a thickness meter appear on the left side of your screen below the tools. Click the color screen to select a different color. Move the box on the thickness meter or click the arrows above and below it to adjust the thickness.
• Highlighter Tool: Allows you to highlight text and objects. When you select the Highlighter Tool a color screen and a thickness meter appear on the left side of your screen below the tools. Click the color screen to select a different color. Move the box on the thickness meter or click the arrows above and below it to adjust the thickness.
• Text Writing Tool: Allows you to annotate with simple text. When you select the Text Writing Tool a color screen and a thickness meter appear on the left side of your screen below the tools. Click the color screen to select a different color. Move the box on the thickness meter or click the arrows above and below it to adjust the thickness. Click the area on the current page where you want to insert text and type in the box.
• TextPad Tool: Allows you to create rich text annotation. Click the area on the current page where you want to insert rich text and type in the editor. Formatting options at the top of the editor include, from left to right, font, font size, bold, italics, underline, bullets, pen color, text alignment and deletion.
• Comment Tool: Creates a sticky note on the white board. Click the area on the current page where you want to insert a sticky note and type in the box.
• Line Tool: Draws lines on the current page. When you select the Line Tool a color screen and a thickness meter appear on the left side of your screen below the tools. Click the color screen to select a different color. Move the box on the thickness meter or click the arrows above and below it to adjust the thickness. Click the Arrow box to end the line with an arrow. Click the point on the current page where you want the line to begin then drag to the point where you want it to end.
• Oval Tool: Creates ovals on the current page. Line and fill color screens, a Use fill checkbox and a thickness meter appear on the left side of your screen below the tools when you select the Oval Tool. Click the color screens to select line and fill colors. Check the Use fill checkbox if you want to fill the oval with the selected fill color. Uncheck the Use fill checkbox if you do not want to fill the oval with the selected fill color. Move the box on the thickness meter or click the arrows above and below it to adjust the line thickness. Click the point on the current page where you want the oval to begin then drag until you reach the desired size and shape.
• Rectangle Tool: Creates rectangles on the current page. Line and fill color screens, a Use fill checkbox and a thickness meter appear on the left side of your screen below the tools when you select the Rectangle Tool. Click the color screens to select line and fill colors. Check the Use fill checkbox if you want to fill the rectangle with the selected fill color. Uncheck the Use fill checkbox if you do not want to fill the rectangle with the selected fill color. Move the box on the thickness meter or click the arrows above and below it to adjust the line thickness. Click the point on the current page where you want the rectangle to begin then drag until you reach the desired size and shape.
• Rubber Stamp Tool: Stamps images and symbols on the current page. When you select the Rubber Stamp Tool a window that provides a choice between the following two options appears:
  • The Stamp Tool: Select from the Stamp Library drop down menu Greek, Chemistry or Math symbol libraries or VyewBooks that you own. Select a symbol or object from the chosen library or VyewBook to stamp on the current page. Click the Dock Window checkbox to display the library at the bottom of the current page for easy symbol or object selection.
  • The Pointer Tool: Allows you to stamp a red pointer at a fixed location on the current page.
• Delete Tool: Select this tool to delete objects on the current page. Move your cursor to the object you want to delete, which will be highlighted. Click on the object to delete it.
• Show/Hide Cursor: This toggle switch lets you show or hide your cursor to other participants

The My Home tab is the dashboard for managing your VyewBooks and their associated files, for creating VyewBooks, uploading content, scheduling meetings and inviting participants. It includes two tabs: My VyewBooks and My Files.
 

My VyewBooks tab

The My VyewBooks tab lists VyewBooks you own and those you have been invited to attend. It also lists active and scheduled meetings. It includes buttons for creating and deleting VyewBooks, uploading content, scheduling meetings and inviting participants. It provides details about each VyewBook such as its number of pages and activity.
   
There are two lists of VyewBooks displayed in the My VyewBooks tab: My VyewBooks and VyewBooks I have been invited to / scheduled to attend. Below is a description of the lists and the actions you can perform on each VyewBook in the lists.
 

My VyewBooks list

The My VyewBooks list displays the VyewBooks you own and their number of pages and activity.

• To select a VyewBook, click on the checkbox next to its title.
• To manage a VyewBook, click on the file cabinet icon next to its title. This displays a menu with options to open the book, invite people to the book, view files in the book, view the book activity log, delete the book, rename the book and edit its settings.
• To open a VyewBook, click on its title.
• To invite people to view or collaborate on a VyewBook, click on Invite People. This displays a menu with options to Invite to Live Meeting (a meeting happening at the current time), Invite for Review (allows participants to review the book at any time) and Schedule a Meeting (to schedule a future meeting).
• For a list of book activity, click on Details. This displays a list of participants, the times they logged in and how long they were logged in.

 

VyewBooks I have been invited to/scheduled to attend:

This is a list of VyewBooks that others own and to which you have been invited.

• To remove a VyewBook, click on the red “X” next to its title.
• To manage a VyewBook, click on the file cabinet icon next to its title. This displays a menu with options to open the VyewBook, uninvite yourself from the VyewBook, invite people to the book or copy the book to your My VyewBooks list.
• To open a VyewBook, click on its title.
• To invite people to view or collaborate on a VyewBook, click on Invite People. This displays a menu with options to Invite to Live Meeting (a meeting happening at the current time), Invite for Review (allows participants to review the book at any time) and Schedule a Meeting (to schedule a future meeting).

 

Commands in the My VyewBooks tab.

   

• Upload Content: Provides options for uploading content into Vyew and displays a list of existing VyewBooks.
  • Upload Into a New VyewBook: Creates a new VyewBook and uploads content to it.
  • Upload Into Current VyewBook: Uploads content into the VyewBook you currently have open.
  • Upload Into an Existing Book: Select a book from the list to receive the uploaded content
• Create a New VyewBook/Start a Meeting Now: Creates a new VyewBook
• Schedule a Meeting: Schedules a meeting at a certain time for a specific length. The VyewBook will only be open to participants during the scheduled time window. Specify whether you want the meeting to occur in an existing or new VyewBook. Enter the email addresses of meeting participants or open the VyewBook to anyone who accesses the VyewBook URL. Select whether or not meeting participants can navigate the VyewBook on their own and whether to include conferencing information.
• Invite People: Invites people to VyewBooks selected by checking the check box next to the VyewBook listed under My VyewBooks
• Delete: Deletes selected VyewBooks.
• Details: Provides login details about a VyewBook such as who logged on and for how long
• Show: This dropdown list includes the following three options for displaying VyewBooks:
  • All: Displays all VyewBooks.
  • Active 1 Week: Displays shows VyewBooks active within one week.
  • Active 2 Weeks: Displays VyewBooks active within two weeks.

 

My Files tab

The My Files tab displays all VyewBooks that you own, the individual page files that the VyewBooks contain and individual page files that are not inside any VyewBooks. The VyewBooks are listed by title next to a file-cabinet icon. The files not inside any VyewBooks are listed under a file folder icon.
 

• To display the list of page files contained in a VyewBook, click on the plus sign next to the file cabinet.
• To collapse the list of page files contained in a VyewBook, click on the minus sign next to the file cabinet.
• To display the list of page files not inside any book, click on the plus sign next to the file folder.
• To collapse the list of page files not inside any book, click on the minus sign next to the file folder.

 

Commands in the My Files tab:

• Expand/Collapse All: Expands and collapses the file page trees to show or hide all file pages
• Filter: Filters the display of files by checking the box next to these file types:  images, .doc, .ppt, .xls
• Reload icon (green arrows): Refreshes the file list
• Delete icon (red “X”): Deletes a selected page file.
• Insert in Current VyewBook: Inserts selected page file into the current open VyewBook.
• Upload Interactive Object: Enables interaction with the selected page file.

The Userlist Pod lists the meeting participants, their access and collaboration permissions and includes user, VyewBook and annotation management capabilities. There are three items in the Userlist Pod described below: the VyewBook Access and Default User Type dropdown menu, the Filter Drawings by User button and the Click for more options button.
 

VyewBook Access and Default User Type

This menu allows you to set participant access and collaboration permissions. It is divided into two sections:

• VyewBook Access: Select from the below options.
  • Open to Anyone: Anyone can access the VyewBook at its URL
  • Invites Only: Only those invited can access the VyewBook.
  • Owner Only: The owner is the only person who can access the VyewBook
• Default User Type: Select from the below options.
  • Viewer: Can only view the content in a VyewBook
  • Reviewer: Can view, annotate and add but not erase content
  • Collaborator: Can view, annotate, add and erase content and operate synchronization controls
  • Moderator: Can view, annotate, add and erase content, operate synchronization controls and set permissions of other users

Filter Drawings by User

Allows participants to see who made annotations. Participants can be individually selected from a list to show individual annotations; sequentially selected by holding down the shift key and clicking on the first and last in a series of participants to show their annotations; or non-sequentially selected by holding down the control key and clicking on participants to show their selected annotations
 

More Options Menu

• Change my screen name: Displays a text box for changing your screen name.
• Filter Drawings: (see description above)
• Disconnect ALL Users: Disconnects all participants from the VyewBook
• Demote ALL to Viewers: Demotes all participants to viewers.
• Promote ALL to Collaborators: Promotes all participants to collaborators.
• Invite People: This displays a menu with options to Invite to Live Meeting (a meeting happening at the current time), Invite for Review (allows participants to review the book at any time) and Schedule a Meeting (to schedule a future meeting).

You can assign participants in your meeting User Roles which will determine what they are permitted to do in a meeting.

The most common roles are:

• Viewer — In a Synchronized VyewBook, a Viewer can do nothing but watch a presentation.
  In an Un-Synchronized VyewBook, a Viewer can only navigate pages.
  This user can also chat.
• Collaborator — A collaborator is a user who can:
  • Navigate pages within the VyewBook Meeting
  • Draw and Annotate on any page
  • Upload new content (Images, Documents or Screenshots)
  • Share his/her desktop
  • Set the VyewBook Meeting to Sync / Un-Sync Modes

Additional roles

• Reviewer — This user can draw and annotate, but not delete pages or upload content.
• Moderator — This user can do everything an Owner can, except change other users permissions.

The "Owner" role — You are the Owner

There is only one Owner of a VyewBook, and this person (you) has all access to every feature and setting.

Voice/Video Webcam pod

The Voice/Webcam Pod includes the following controls for webcam and Voice over IP (VoIP) use:
 

• Menu: Select low or regular presentation quality. This is a global setting, affecting all users in the VyewBook Meeting. Select low if there are users who are on a slow connection such as dial-up.
• Webcam button: Click on it to start or stop presenting video with a webcam.
• Push to Talk button: Click to start and stop talking using VoIP with a computer microphone. If your user type is “collaborator” or “moderator” you can interrupt by clicking the Push to Talk button.

 

Chat pod

The Chat pod provides options for free conference calling and text chat. Below is a description of its features.
 

• Chat Menu:
  • Save Chat: Saves the chat displayed in the Chat Pod.
  • Hide Conference Call button: Click to hide the Free Conference Call button.
  • Clear chat history: You can clear the chat history record for either the current VyewBook Meeting, or the Public Lobby.
• Free Conference Call button: Provides a call-in number to all users in this VyewBook Meeting. (Long-distance charges may apply.)
• All tab: Public chat with all participants. Type in the text box and press enter on your keyboard or on the screen to display your text.
• Lobby tab: Chat with participants in your lobby. Type in the text box and press enter on your keyboard or on the screen to display your text.
• Start Private Chat button: Clicking this button displays a list of participants to select for private chat. Type in the text box and press enter on your keyboard or on the screen to display your text.
• Turn on/off the beep when a chat occurs toggle button: Click the speaker icon to enable or disable a beep when a participant enters chat text.
• Get attention of all users with audio tone: Click the bell icon to get the attention of all users with an audio tone.

 

Java 1.6 is required for all users who want to share their desktop. Check my Java Version
For users who have "Collaborator" user permissions and above, the Desktop Share tab allows you to start sharing your desktop.

Users who are "Reviewers" and "Viewers" (more about user permissions) will not see those buttons, and can only view other desktops being shared.

Sharing your desktop with others

Sharing your desktop means that any users logged in to your VyewBook Meeting will be able to see what is on your screen. They cannot control your computer, but just view it. To share your desktop:

• When logged into Vyew, click the "Desktop Sharing" tab in the top right are of the interface
• Press "Start Sharing My Desktop" button
• The Java Desktop Sharing panel will be loaded.
  You may have to approve a security warning:
  
• Your desktop will automatically start sharing.
• Users can now see your desktop. (There is about a 3-4 second delay)
• Click "Stop Sharing" when you are done.

Crop Mode

If you only want a certain portion of your screen to be shared, you can use Crop Mode. In the Desktop Sharing Control Panel, which will pop-up in the lower right corner of your screen, click on the dropdown to switch between "Fullscreen Mode" and "Crop Mode"