This page references "Sametime Plus", a project I created at IBM in 2001-2003. Designed to provide a more user friendly experience for corporate Sametime users, Sametime Plus used an early version of the Sametime SDK to provide a features still not available on Sametime clients. Read on for more information on the capabilities of Sametime plus.
Sametime Plus - Documentation
BETA 1 release - August, 2002
Contents:
1.) About Sametime Plus
a.) What is Sametime Plus?
b.) What is Sametime Plus designed to do?
Spell Checker
Status Change Notifications
Customized Options With Each Message Received
Email Paging
Auto-Responders
Auto Chat Logging
c.) How do I use Sametime Plus?
2.) Structure of the Sametime Plus application
Main Window
Buddy List
System Messages
Quick Status Selection
Menu Options
3.) Options Selection Screen
Main Settings
My Status
Chat
Notifications
E-mail Paging
Auto-Responder
Logging
4.) Notification Popup
5.) Frequently Asked Questions And Answers ( FAQ )
6.) Known limitations ( bugs )
7.) Contact Information
1.) About Sametime Plus
a.) What is Sametime Plus?
Sametime Plus is Sametime, with extended features.
b.) What is Sametime Plus designed to do?
ST Plus gives you the following advantages over plain ol' Sametime, plus many more!
Spell Checker with User-Customizable Dictionary
Correct any spelling mistakes in each instant message you send. Replace words listed from the suggestion box,
or type a correction. Skip misspelled words, or add them to your dictionary.
Spell Check Example:
Customizable Audible, Visual, and Speech Synthesis notifications when your Buddies' change status.
Visual notifications appear in the right corner of the screen, notifying you when any of your Buddies' change status.
Play customizable sound notifications when Buddies' change status, or use Speech synthesis to hear when status
changes occur without looking at your computer. Click on the Buddies' Name to start a chat with them. No more
checking back and forth with the Buddy List to see when your Buddies' Log in, ST Plus shows you who logs in when,
without disrupting your work.
Visual Alert Examples:
Customizable Options with each message a Buddy sends.
Each message a buddy sends can be displayed with the time it arrived. Play a specific sound when messages
arrive from a certain buddy. Use speech Synthesis to speak the contents of a message out loud. Show when the
status of your Chat Partner changes, or when they Log In / Out of Sametime. Know when the other user closes their
window. Show who started, and who ended the chat. Remember the contents of the chat when you begin a new
one with the same Buddy.
Chat Window Example: After Buddy Closes Their Window:
Customizable Email Paging when Buddies' send you messages.
Send messages to your email enabled phone when you are away from your desk. Never miss another important
message.
Customizable Auto-Responders for Buddies' Messages.
Let people know where you are when away from your desk, or give out your phone number whenever someone sends
you a message.
Customizable Chat Logging.
Auto-save all of the chats you participate in, and show the history whenever you begin a chat with that same Buddy.
Quick selection of frequently used Status Messages.
Single click change of status and extended record of Status Descriptions.
c.) How do I use Sametime Plus?
The same way you use Sametime connect, only happier. :)
Sametime Plus is Sametime, with extended features.
b.) What is Sametime Plus designed to do?
ST Plus gives you the following advantages over plain ol' Sametime, plus many more!
Spell Checker with User-Customizable Dictionary
Correct any spelling mistakes in each instant message you send. Replace words listed from the suggestion box,
or type a correction. Skip misspelled words, or add them to your dictionary.
Spell Check Example:
Customizable Audible, Visual, and Speech Synthesis notifications when your Buddies' change status.
Visual notifications appear in the right corner of the screen, notifying you when any of your Buddies' change status.
Play customizable sound notifications when Buddies' change status, or use Speech synthesis to hear when status
changes occur without looking at your computer. Click on the Buddies' Name to start a chat with them. No more
checking back and forth with the Buddy List to see when your Buddies' Log in, ST Plus shows you who logs in when,
without disrupting your work.
Visual Alert Examples:
Customizable Options with each message a Buddy sends.
Each message a buddy sends can be displayed with the time it arrived. Play a specific sound when messages
arrive from a certain buddy. Use speech Synthesis to speak the contents of a message out loud. Show when the
status of your Chat Partner changes, or when they Log In / Out of Sametime. Know when the other user closes their
window. Show who started, and who ended the chat. Remember the contents of the chat when you begin a new
one with the same Buddy.
Chat Window Example: After Buddy Closes Their Window:
Customizable Email Paging when Buddies' send you messages.
Send messages to your email enabled phone when you are away from your desk. Never miss another important
message.
Customizable Auto-Responders for Buddies' Messages.
Let people know where you are when away from your desk, or give out your phone number whenever someone sends
you a message.
Customizable Chat Logging.
Auto-save all of the chats you participate in, and show the history whenever you begin a chat with that same Buddy.
Quick selection of frequently used Status Messages.
Single click change of status and extended record of Status Descriptions.
c.) How do I use Sametime Plus?
The same way you use Sametime connect, only happier. :)
2.) Structure of the Sametime Plus Application
a.) Main Window
This is a screen shot of an example Sametime Plus main window:
b.) Buddylist
On the left most side of the window is the buddy list. Double click a buddy to start a chat with them.
NOTE: At this time, Sametime Plus does not allow you to alter your buddy list in any way. It also does not support
showing online users only.
c.) System Messages
Shows when chats were started and closed, when you logged in and out of Sametime, and what time users changed their
status.
d.) Status Options
Select the status message from a pull down box, or type in a new message, then click the Command button to change
your status.
e.) Menu Options
Click "Options" then choose a menu selection to alter options for that part of Sametime Plus. Please see the next section
for more information.
The following is a description of all of the options that you can set, and what they will do.
a.) Main Settings
Sametime Server Name:
Set this to your Sametime server name ( e.g. messaging.ibm.com )
Username:
Your username for the Sametime server ( e.g. bluepages@us.ibm.com )
Password:
Your password for the Sametime server
Remember Password:
Check this box if you want to Sametime Plus to remember your password
Automatically Logon When Sametime Plus starts:
Check this box to login automatically every time your start Sametime Plus
Automatically Retry Login When connection is lost or becoms inactive.
Try to restablish the connection if it is lost, or becomes inactive
b.) My Status Settings
Status Messages:
Type your desired status messages here, to set your current status message, or just type them in the main window
Set my Status from active to away after xx minutes:
Check this box to set your status to away when you don't use the mouse or keyboard for the specified number of
minutes
Set my status to active when I return
Check this box to set your status back to active when you return
c.) Chat Window Settings
Chat window settings for:
Select which buddy you want to set chat window settings for here. If you select "All Buddies", the setting will apply for all buddies
unless you override the settings on a per-buddy basis. Select a specific buddy, and check "Override Defaults" to select settings
for that buddy specifically.
Override Defaults:
This box will only appear if a buddy other than "All Buddies" is selected in the pull down box. Check this option is you want to
change a behaviour for this buddy specificaly.
Display Time Stamp with Each Message:
Check this option if you want to show the time that each message was received in the chat log window.
Show Login/ Logout messages:
Check this option if you want to show when you logged in/ out of Sametime in the chat log window
Show Chat start / Closed messages:
Check this option if you want to show who started/ closed the chat in the chat log window.
Show Status changed messages:
Check this option if you want to show when you and your chat partner changed status in the chat log window
Play Sound File:
Check this option and choose a sound file from the drop down box to play a specific sound when a new message arrives.
Choose any sound you like for a particular buddy. To add it to the drop down list, copy the sound file into the Sametime Plus
installation directory.
Speak Message:
Check this option if you would like Sametime Plus to read the contents of received messages throught voice synthesis.
d.) Notification Window Settings
Show Notifications:
Check this option to turn all notifications for all users on. Uncheck it to stop all notifications. ( Useful for meetings when your
computer is hooked up to the projector ) (( On the other hand, you could leave it on so people see the notifications, and notice
what a neat Sametime application you have... :-) ))
Show notification for x Seconds.
Enter an integer here ( 1, 2,3 ... 100) to set how long the boxes should show in the lower right hand corner
Notification Settings for:
Select which buddy you want to set notification settings for here. If you select "All Buddies", the setting will apply for all buddies
unless you override the settings on a per-buddy basis. Select a specific buddy, and check "Override Defaults" to select settings
for that buddy specifically.
Override Defaults:
This box will only appear if a buddy other than "All Buddies" is selected in the pull down box. Check this option is you want to
change a behaviour for this buddy specificaly.
Active; Away; DND; Offlne:
Select from the pull down box one of the following choices:
Speak Only: Just use voice synthesis to say the buddy's status change.
Visual Only: Just show the box in the lower right hand corner
Speak and Visual: Show the box, say the status.
Nothing: Don't speak or show the box.
Play sound file:
Check this box and select a sound file from the pull down box to play a specific sound when a user changes status.
Choose any sound you like for a particular buddy. To add it to the drop down list, copy the sound file into the Sametime Plus
installation directory. This will play the sound file regardless of what is set in the pulldown box; visual only, speak only.. etc.
e.) Email Paging settings
Send Email Pages:
Check this option to turn on all email pages. Uncheck it to stop all email pages.
SMTP email server:
Do not put your Lotus Notes Server name here. Put your SMTP server name here. If you are an IBM Employee in the US,
relay.us.ibm.com will work. If you don't know what to put here, ask your local computer geek. :)
To the following email address:
Put the desired email address here which you wish to recieve Sametimes instant messages from. I put my cellphone number here,
so I can recieve messages that people send whenever I am away from my computer. Any valid email address will work.
NOTE!! NOTE!!! Do not send messages that should be kept private using email paging. They will be sent enencrypted over the
public internet to your specifiied email address.
Send only this many characters of the message:
Enter the maximum number of characters that should be sent of each message emailed out.
Email Paging Settings for:
Select which buddy you want to set email paging settings for here. If you select "All Buddies", the setting will apply for all buddies
unless you override the settings on a per-buddy basis. Select a specific buddy, and check "Override Defaults" to select settings
for that buddy specifically.
Override Defaults:
This box will only appear if a buddy other than "All Buddies" is selected in the pull down box. Check this option is you want to
change a behaviour for this buddy specificaly.
Send pages when my status is Active; Away:
Check the active box to send messages to the email address specified when your status is active.
Check the away box to send messages to the email address specified when your status is away.
f.) Auto-Responder settings
Use Auto-Reponders:
Check this option to turn on all auto responders. Uncheck it to stop all auto-responders.
Auto Responder Settings for:
Select which buddy you want to set auto-responder settings for here. If you select "All Buddies", the setting will apply for all buddies
unless you override the settings on a per-buddy basis. Select a specific buddy, and check "Override Defaults" to select settings
for that buddy specifically.
Override Defaults:
This box will only appear if a buddy other than "All Buddies" is selected in the pull down box. Check this option is you want to
change a behaviour for this buddy specificaly.
Use this Auto-Responder:
Check this option to turn on this particular auto-responder, Uncheck it to turn off this specific auto-responder.
When my status is Away, respond with:
Enter your message here to send back to All buddies or a specific buddy that sends you a message when your status is away.
It may be wise to indicate that the message is from Sametime Plus' Auto-Responder feature, so the chat partner knows they are
communicating with a artificial entity.
g.) Logging Options
Do Chat Logging:
Check this option to turn on all Chat logs. Uncheck it to stop all chat logging.
Chat Transcripts Location:
Enter the location where the chat transcripts are stored and loaded from. By default, this is the Sametime Plus installation directory.
Chat Logging Settings For:
Select which buddy you want to set chat logging settings for here. If you select "All Buddies", the setting will apply for all buddies
unless you override the settings on a per-buddy basis. Select a specific buddy, and check "Override Defaults" to select settings
for that buddy specifically.
Override Defaults:
This box will only appear if a buddy other than "All Buddies" is selected in the pull down box. Check this option is you want to
change a behaviour for this buddy specificaly.
Log Chat / Do Not Log Chat
Select one of these two option buttons to log, or to not log the chat for all buddies, or on a per-buddy basis.
4.) Notification Popup
The nofication popup allows you to start a chat by click on the user name, "Nate" in the example below. You can also see the entire status message
by click the text of the status message that is shown in the popup. See below for an example:
Sample Popup After Click of status message:
5.) Frequently Asked Questions and Answers ( FAQ )
Q: How do I select a sound to play that's not in the list displayed?
A: Copy the sound file into ST Plus' directory, and it will appear in the list.
Q: How does Email Paging work?
A: Email paging works by connecting to IBM's SMTP email server, and sending an email to any address you specify.
Q: Does ST plus use my Sametime buddy list?
A: Yes, but at this time, you cannot alter the buddy list from ST Plus.
Q: Why does my buddy list not appear the same as in Sametime?
A: Sametime Plus does not support Showing online buddies only, or listing buddies alphabetically. ( Working on that! )
Q: Who Developed ST Plus?
A: Nathan Harrington, with generous support from Jeanette Harrington. You can reach him at haringtn@us.ibm.com
Q: Why doesn't ST Plus do <insert desired feature here> ?
A: Good question... Email me with your suggestions and i'll be happy to read it.
Q: What are the system requirements for ST Plus?
A: At this time, ST plus has only been tested on Microsoft Windows2000. It should work on Windows NT and 98,
but some features ( such as voice synthesis ) may not be available.
Q: Sametime Plus has a bug! What do I do now!
A: Sametime Plus is BETA software. There will be bugs. Problems will occur. I would greatly appreciate it if you could
send me as much information as possible about hte problem you have so I can try and make Sametime Plus better. Thanks!
Q: Where do I get Sametime Plus?
A: Right now, you need to email haringtn@us.ibm.com, and he will tell you how to get it.
Q: Why can't I do multiple person chats, Application sharing, etc. etc.
A: Sametime plus does not support the features listed above. It's not designed to be a replacemnt for Sametime connect, just something
added on top to give you extended features.
6.) Known Limitations ( Bugs )
NOTE: This is by no means a comprehensive list of all of the things wrong with Sametime Plus. I'm sure you'll be able to find more problems if you look.
this list is mostly about incompatibilities with, or inequities when compared to Sametime Connect v1.0.
Sametime Plus cannot do:
Application sharing
Multiple Person chats
AOL IM chats
Add/ Remove/ Edit buddies ( in order to change the buddy list, you need to shutdown Sametime plus,
edit the buddy list in Sametime, then reopen Sametime plus )
Add / Remove / Edit Groups ( in order to change the buddy list, you need to shutdown Sametime plus,
edit the buddy list in Sametime, then reopen Sametime plus )
Do anything with meetings
Show online people online
show automatic nicknames
Show buddy list alphabetically
7.) Contact Information
Sametime Plus was written by Nathan Harrington, with generous support from Jeanette Harrington.
Email: haringtn@us.ibm.com