How to Share Your Screen

You can share your screen in three ways:

• The entire screen: Use this method when you want to easily switch between multiple programs. Other participants can see everything on your screen, including icons, programs, and the desktop, so you must carefully consider your need to preserve private information. This method might be slower than the other two methods.

  Note When you share your entire screen, a message informing you that you are sharing your screen appears. By default, you begin by sharing the Meeting Room. To share something else, minimize the Meeting Room by clicking the minimize button. (Do not click the X button.)

• A resizable rectangular frame: Use this method when you want the most control over what other participants can see. When you share part of your screen, other participants see only what is enclosed within the borders of the resizable frame.
• A currently running application: Use this method when you want to share a specific program on your computer. This method is a good choice if you are concerned about preserving private information, because the windows of other programs are hidden from meeting participants. For example, you can share a Lotus 1-2-3 file in a meeting, and other participants see only the Lotus 1-2-3 window from your screen.

Remember that security risks increase when you allow other participants to control your screen, no matter which sharing method you choose.

Sharing Your Screen

Before sharing your screen and allowing others to control it, read "Ensuring Security."

You must have permission to present and be a current presenter to share your screen. To make sure that you have permission to present, you should be able to see the Click to Present and Add Slides buttons. "You have all permissions" should also appear at the bottom of the participants list. You might need to ask the chair to give you permission to present. Once you have permission to present, click Click to Present to become a current presenter.

1. Click the Sharing tab.
2. Make sure that any programs that you want to share are open.
3. Click Start Sharing.
4. Choose a screen-sharing method:
   • The entire screen
   • A resizable rectangular frame
   • A currently running application
   • If you chose "A currently running application" in step 4, select a program and click Start Sharing. The program automatically appears on your screen. If you chose another screen-sharing method, skip to step 6.

     Tip If you want to share a program that doesn't appear in the list, start the program and click Refresh List to update the list of programs that are open on your computer.

   Then click OK.

A message appears telling you that you are sharing and when you share a frame or application, an orange boundary also appears. In addition, the floating Sharing palette appears.

Note To switch sharing methods or to switch between individual applications, click Switch to on the Sharing Palette and then choose another one of the methods listed in step 4.

Tip Stop sharing your screen before you leave a meeting. If you leave a meeting while sharing your screen, other participants cannot see the shared screen.

Stop Sharing

You can stop sharing information at any time, even when another participant is controlling your screen. To stop sharing, click Stop Sharing on the screen-sharing toolbar or choose Tools - Sharing - Stop Sharing.

See also:

• Allowing Others to Control the Shared Screen
• Taking Control of the Shared Screen
• Presenting Information with Screen Sharing
• Tips for Improving Screen-Sharing Performance
• Tips for Using Screen Sharing for Collaboration