GROUPWISE MESSENGER

If you have a Smith GroupWise email account, you also have access to GroupWise Messenger, an instant messaging (IM) program similar to AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). However, unlike AIM, GroupWise Messenger is specifically designed for secure instant messaging between GroupWise users at Smith. In addition, GroupWise Messenger provides chat-room services for group communications.

Why would I use GroupWise Messenger? | Unlike regular GroupWise email, you can always tell who is logged on to GroupWise Messenger, and rapidly exchange instant messages (IMs) with other logged-on users. It's ideal for asking and answering quick questions, or figuring out the best time and place to meet, or any short communication that might otherwise require a flurry of email or phone messages.

And because GroupWise Messenger is a secure Smith-only program, it's safe to use for office communication. Instant messages can be exchanged only between members of the Smith community, and each user isidentified by their Smith username. Messenger chats are also encrypted and transfered securely over SSL.

What are GroupWise chat rooms? | GroupWise Messenger also supports chat rooms, online "spaces" that can be used by multiple users to hold a conversation. Unlike regular group conversations in Messenger, which are initiated by one person who then invites others to join, a chat room provides an on-going group chat area where users can join and leave at will.

For instance, a chat room could be created for a regular weekly meeting where attendees gather at a specific time. Members would not have to rely on one person creating the group conversation and inviting the rest of the attendees. Instead, the chat room would already be setup and all attendess could join at their own convenience.

Will GroupWise Messenger run on my computer? | GroupWise Messenger is available for Macintosh, Windows, and Linux computers. You can use it anywhere you have an Internet connection. 

Where do I start? | For installation and usage instructions, follow the links below:

Download and install GroupWise Messenger
Log in to GroupWise Messenger
Adding Contacts & Getting Started
Using GroupWise Messenger with the GroupWise Desktop Client
Start a Conversation with Multiple Users

GroupWise Chat Rooms
Create a Chat Room
Restrict Access to a Chat Room

GroupWise Messenger Privacy
Troubleshooting GroupWise Messenger
Using GroupWise with a Different IM Client

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Download and Install GroupWise Messenger

GroupWise Messenger is available for download from the Smith Software Download page.

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Login to GroupWise Messenger

1. Open GroupWise Messenger.
   
   
   
   
2. Enter your GroupWise username and password.
   
   
3. Click OK.
   
   
4. Once you are logged into GroupWise Messenger, the contact list will open.
   
   

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Adding Contacts & Getting Started

Before you can message with a co-worker, you need to add them to your contact list.

1. To add a new contact, click on the Actions menu and choose Add Contact.
   
   
2. Type your contact's name in the Name field and click Next.
   
   
   
   
3. Select your contact from the Search Results list and click Add.
   
   
   
   
4. Your new contact will appear in your Contact List with an icon indicating their status.
   
   
   
   
5. If your contact is online, you can send them an IM by double-clicking on their name. Type your message and hit Enter to send.

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Using GroupWise Messenger with GroupWise Desktop

When you are logged into Messenger and regular GroupWise email at the same time, all email messages you receive from Smith addresses will show an icon indicating the sender's Messenger status. If your contact is online, an "Online" icon will appear next to their name.

In the example above, the contact "Bob Andrews" is online. Click on the messenger icon to immediately initiate a chat.

Using IMs for short, conversational communication, such as "Where are we meeting for lunch?", reduce the number of trivial emails in your GroupWise inbox, and are much faster besides.

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Start a Conversation with Multiple Users

GroupWise Messenger allows you to hold a conversation with more than one other user. This is a good way to get a few people together for a quick conversation. It's also easier than a conference call, because all you need is an internet connection.

Group Conversations are different from chat rooms, because all participants must be invited into the conversation. (For more information on chat rooms, read the GroupWise Chat Rooms section.)

1. Login to GroupWise Messenger.
   
   
2. Double-click on one of the name of one of your contacts to begin an IM conversation.
   
   
3. Within the Conversation window, click on the Actions menu and choose Invite Others to Join the Conversation. You can invite more users into the conversation at any point.
   
   
4. Select the other users from the new Contact List window and click OK. Your invitees will be asked to Join the Conversation.
   
   
   

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GroupWise Chat Rooms

Chat Rooms are online "spaces" that can be used by multiple users to hold a conversation. Unlike group conversations, which are initiated by one person who then invites other users, a chat room provides a persistent group chat area where users can join and leave at will.

For instance, a chat room could be created for a regular weekly meeting where attendees gather at a specific time. Members would not have to rely on one person creating the group conversation and inviting the rest of the attendees. Instead, the chat room would already be setup and all attendess could join at their own convenience.

All chat rooms are listed in the GroupWise Messenger Chat Rooms window. Each chat room is identified by its name and managed by the chat room's owner. Chat rooms can be public or protected by a password.

1. To view GroupWise chat rooms, login to GroupWise messenger.

2. Click on the Tools menu and choose Chat Rooms. Available chat rooms are listed by name with the number of current participants.

   

3. To join a chat room, select it from the list and click Join.
   
   
   
   
4. Once you are in a chat room, you can invite others to join. Click on the "Invite others to join this chat" link in the Actions section of the chat window.
   
   
   
   
5. Select the contacts that you want to invite (or click on Find User if they are not in your buddy list) and click Next.
   
   
   
   
6. Customize the invitation text then click Finish. You will return to the chat window. Active participants appear in bold in the Participants section of the chat window. (Contacts who have been invited but have not yet joined will not be lighter.)
   
   

If a chat room is password-protected, you need the password to enter the chat room unless you have been invited into the chat room. (To invite someone to a chat room, click on the "Invite others to join this chat" link from within the chat room.)

Chat rooms do not expire, but they can be deleted by the owner when they are no longer being used. To delete a chat room that you have created, click on the Tools menu and choose Chat Rooms. Select the chat room and click on the Delete button.

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Create a New Chat Room

1. To create a new chat room, click on the Tools menu and choose Chat Rooms.
   
   
2. Click on the Create button.
   
   
3. A Chat Room Properties window will open. Name your chat room and give it a description and welcome message if desired.
   
   
   
   
4. Click OK to finish creating your chat room.

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Restrict Access to a Chat Room

You can restrict access to a chat room that you have created by making it password-protected. It is optional to password-protect your chat room. In most cases, this is not necessary.

1. Select your chat room from the Chat Room list.
   
   
2. Click on the Properties button.
   
   
3. Click on the Access tab then click on the Set Password button.
   
   
   
   
4. Type the chat room password in the Change Password window and click OK.
   
   
   
   
5. Click OK again to make the change to your chat room.
   

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GroupWise Messenger Privacy

GroupWise Messenger chat sessions are encrypted and records of conversations are not stored on the server.

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Using GroupWise with a Different IM Client

Although GroupWise Messenger is a closed cleint (you can only login using your GroupWise username and you can only IM with other GroupWise users), you can login to your GroupWise IM account using other chat clients.

If you use AIM, Google Talk, Yahoo!, MSN, or another chat network, you can login to all of your chat accounts using one client. ITS recommends Pidgin for Windows and Linux users and Adium for Mac OS X users. (If you have an FCAP machine, you may already have a chat client installed on your computer.)

To setup your GroupWise account on a different chat client, use the settings below:

Protocol/Account type: Novell GroupWise
Server address: gwmess.smith.edu
Port: 8300
Username: your GroupWise username
Password: your GroupWise password

Please note that 3rd-party IM clients may not support all of the features of GroupWise Messenger.

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Troubleshooting GroupWise Messenger

If you cannot login and get either of these error messages:

• "The client is unable to connect to the server. The specified host name does not appear to have a valid IP address."
• "The client is unable to connect to the server. Verify that the remote address and port are defined correctly."

You need to re-enter the server and port information.

1. At the error message window, click OK.
   
   
2. At the login window, click on the Advanced button and enter gwmess.smith.edu in the Server field and 8300 in the Port field.
   
   
   
   
3. Click OK to login.

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