Instant Messaging functions

Change status
Send messages
Receive messages
Manage group list contacts
Join a group chat
Problems
Software requirements

Overview: Instant Messaging (IM) allows the exchange of messages with persons in real time - the so-called "chat". Information on the availability of potential chat partners is important. You get this information by means of the so-called "group list". The following image shows a group list with 3 persons in different states. The first contact with the name "Guido" is in the state Do not disturb, the contact with the name "Learner" is Not available or not online. The contact with the name "author" is Available . To begin chatting with one of the available contacts, click on that contact and the chat can be started in a second browser window.

Image of a group list with contacts of different states

Change status :

You can change your state by clicking on the star symbol before selecting one of the available states. (3/6) tells you how many of your colleagues are logged on and are available at the moment. By clicking on the summary the entire group list will be visible including the names and state of your colleagues.

Send messages: In order to send messages to someone you can either click on the relevant name on the group list or select a partner from the list of all online users. By selecting a name a new browser window will be opened (Attention: accept the opening of new browser windows in OLAT) with Flash (Flash Player 7.X needed).

Receive messages: Messages can be received in two ways: If the chat window is not open, the messages will appear in the form of little blinking letters on the left of the star symbol in the menu. By clicking on this symbol your message will appear. You can respond to this message immediately (a new window will be opened) or delete this message. If the chat window is already open, new messages will be immediately displayed in this window.

Manage group list contacts: Contacts can be added or removed via the Project group of OLAT. Provided that you are the owner of a Project group you can invite or disinvite joint owners or participants to your group. These persons will then appear on your group list of the OLAT chat.

Join a group chat: Links to chat rooms are found at different places in OLAT (e.g. Project group, Learning group). Click on the link Start chat. A new window will be opened and you can enter the group chat. Messages to a chat room are sent to all persons in that room. The list of all participants will be displayed next to the message window. If you want to exit the chat room, just close the window.

Problems:

Connection problems: If you can neither receive nor read any messages, nor see a group list in the menu on top, the flash client is not able to connect to the server. Check your firewall settings and allow outgoing connections on port: 5222.

Software requirements: The Instant Messaging Client requires a Flashplayer of version 7.x.x or a newer one. (Flash Player)

Close window