What is Skype for? Skype for is the secure collaboration tool that enables you to send instant messages to colleagues using NHSmail both inside and outside of your organisation The tool also provides you with information on the availability of your contacts Using Skype for you will be able to communicate with colleagues across health and social care more easily and in real-time. For example, if you needed to ask a colleague a question and need a quick response Page 1 of 1
Signing in and signing out of Skype for Signing in to Skype for Signing in to Skype for will mean that other users of the Service will be able to see your presence and send you an instant message Your local IT Team may have installed Skype for in a number of different ways on your desktop: To start up once you log on to your desktop To appear as a shortcut on your desktop to launch the application, or To appear in your programmes from the Start button You should refer to your local IT Team for guidance on accessing the Skype for application If you already have Skype for set up on your computer, to sign in: 1 Enter your email address in the Sign-in address box Your email address is your Skype for username, for example, ariel.lescott@nhs.net Click Sign In at the bottom left of the window Page of 1
Signing in and signing out of Skype for The first time you sign in to Skype for, you will be asked to enter your password 3 Enter your password in the Password box that appears on screen and click Sign In again You will then be taken to the Skype for contacts page Signing out of Skype for Signing out of Skype for means that your status will appear as offline and other users of the Service will not be able to send you an instant message To sign out of Skype for : 1 Click the downward arrow at the top right of the screen, next to the settings icon, select File from the drop down list and then click Sign Out When you are signing out of or closing Skype for, there are a number of different ways to do this: If you select Exit from the drop down list, then you will be logged off and the Skype for application will be closed. This will change your status to Offline If you select Close from the drop down list or click the cross at the top right of the window, the application will continue running in the background, meaning people can still message you If you have any conversations open, a window will appear on screen notifying you that all conversations will be ended. You will not be able to go back to a conversation unless you have saved it. For more information on saving conversations, refer to the Skype for preferences section of this module Once you have signed out, you will then be taken to the Skype for sign in screen Page 3 of 1
Overview of Skype for From the Skype for home screen you can access application features such as Contacts, Conversations and Meetings Viewing and searching contacts In the Contacts page, you can see contacts that you have added to your contacts list and you can choose how to view these. You can also search names that you have not added to your list of contacts To view and search contacts: 1 Click the contacts icon at the top left of the screen Type a name or email address of someone in the Directory in the Find someone search bar at the top of the window and the list of names will become refined For more information on searching and adding contacts, refer to the Contact management module in the Skype for Learning Series Page 4 of 1
Overview of Skype for Skype for features Using Skype for you can: Set your presence to provide other users with information on your availability View your conversations by history in the Conversations tab. Any stored conversations will be stored here Provide information on your whereabouts, for example, if you are in the office or working from home View your contacts by Groups, for example, a group could be created for your team View any upcoming meetings or appointments you have in your calendar in the Meetings tab View your contacts by Status, for example, all of your contacts that are available View your contacts by New, which will display contacts that have recently added you to their Skype for contacts View your contacts by Relationship, for example, by colleagues or external contacts Further detail on the above can be found throughout the Skype for Learning Series Page 85 of 81
Skype for preferences You can change your personal settings in Skype for, in order to view and use the application in a way that is preferable to you To edit your settings: 1 Click the settings icon at the top right of the window In the window that appears you can change your preferences, for example, to change your contact viewing settings General settings To change general settings: 1 Click General at the left of the settings window Select the Reopen my conversations when I sign in box if you would like conversation window to be saved when you sign out of the application Your conversations will still be lost when you sign out, but the conversation window will re-open 3 Select the Show call controls when Skype for is in the background box if you would like call options to appear on screen when the it is running in the background This is only applicable if you have video conferencing enabled Page 6 of 1
Skype for preferences Personal settings To change personal settings: 1 Click Personal at the left of the settings window 3 4 5 Select the Automatically start the app when I log on to Windows box if you would like the application to automatically start when you start up your computer Select the Start the app in the foreground box if you would like Skype for to appear on screen when you start up your computer Under Personal information manager, you can select and deselect various boxes to choose what information you would like contacts to see Select the Save IM conversations in my email Conversation History folder box if you would like to save conversations after you have signed out of the application This means your conversation will not be lost You can also choose to save call logs if you have video conferencing enabled 6 7 Under Location, you can choose to share your location information with other programmes you are using Under Show pictures, you can choose whether or not you would like to see your contacts display pictures Page 7 of 1
Skype for preferences Contacts list settings To change contacts list settings: 1 Click Contacts List at the left of the settings window Select and deselect various boxes to set your personal contact preferences For more information, refer to the Viewing and sorting contacts section of the Skype for Learning Series Page 8 of 1
Skype for preferences Status settings To change status settings: 1 Click Status at the left of the settings window Type a number in the text box to the right of the window if you would like to change your status timings settings 3 Select and deselect boxes to choose who you would like to be able to view your presence 4 Select and deselect boxes to set your Do Not Disturb status preferences Page 9 of 1
Skype for preferences Picture settings To change your picture settings: 1 Click My Picture at the left of the settings window Choose to either show or hide your picture by selecting the appropriate option Page 10 of 1
Skype for preferences Alerts settings To change alert settings: 1 Click Alerts at the left of the settings window 3 4 Select the Tell me when someone adds me to his or her contact list box if you would like to receive these notifications and choose where you would like alerts to appear on screen Select an option under When my status is Do Not Disturb to decide how you would like to be alerted when your status is set as Do Not Disturb Select an option under Contacts not using Skype for to decide how you would like those not using the application to be able to contact you Page 11 of 1
Skype for preferences Instant message settings To change instant message settings: 1 Click IM at the left of the settings window Select and deselect boxes to set your preferences for spell checking, pictures, copying messages, emoticons and tabbed conversations Please note: Ringtones and Sounds, Audio Device, Video Device, File Saving, Recording and Skype Meetings will not be settings that require your attention if your organisation only subscribes to Instant Messaging and Presence. These are settings for Audio and Video Conferencing only. Page 1 of 1