Converting Files with Sametime Print Capture

If Sametime cannot automatically convert a file for whiteboard display, use Print Capture to convert your file to a Sametime file (FST, or "file for Sametime"). See the list of file types to determine if Sametime can automatically convert your file. Print Capture is a "virtual printer" that allows you to convert files for display on the whiteboard. Before using Print Capture, you must download and install it on your computer.

Note Some servers require you to use Print Capture to convert a file before you attach it to the whiteboard. For more information about whether you must convert your file, contact your system administrator.

Downloading and Installing Sametime Print Capture

To download and install Print Capture, begin on the Sametime Welcome page. To get to the page, enter the following address in a Web browser: http://servername, where "servername" is the name of the server.

Tip You must enter the fully qualified Domain Name System (DNS) name of the server. For example, if your server is http://www.sametime.com, you must enter the full name; you cannot enter "sametime" or "sametime.com." (See your administrator if you do not know the fully qualified DNS name of the server.)

On the Sametime Welcome page, click Download.
On the Download page, click the Print Capture link.
Do one of the following:
- If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer, select "Save this program to disk" in the File Download dialog box and click OK. In the Save As dialog box, choose a location to save the print capture file and click Save.
- If you are using Netscape Communicator, click Save File in the Unknown File Type dialog box. In the Save As dialog box, choose a location to save the print capture file and click Save.
Open the print capture file from its location on your computer. Print Capture is installed. You must restart your computer to use Print Capture.

Note You can also download Print Capture from the Files tab of the New Meeting page. Click "Attach a File" and then click the Print Capture link to go to the Download page. Follow steps 2 - 4 above.

Using Sametime Print Capture

You can open a file in any Windows program and use Print Capture to convert the file to FST (or "File for Sametime") format for whiteboard display. Print Capture allows you to configure the color, size, orientation, and resolution of the file to meet your specific needs. You can also generate files that are much larger than your screen can display, so that you can use full-page documents or drawings at full resolution during your meeting. This larger-than-screen capability allows you to use large drawings without sacrificing detail.

To create a file for whiteboard display:

Open the Windows program and the document that you want to display on the whiteboard.

Choose File - Print.

In the Print dialog box, select Print Capture as the printer.

Note To modify paper size, resolution, orientation, or color, click Properties or Preferences in the Print dialog box, and then click OK.

Select the page(s) you want to print, and then click OK or Print.

Note Each page of your document that is denoted by a page break becomes a separate page in the whiteboard file.

When the Print Capture dialog box appears, enter the file name for the file that you want to display on the whiteboard. Use the Folders section of the dialog box to choose a drive and directory for the file. Click OK. (If you are using Windows XP and you select "Print to File," the Print Capture dialog box does not appear. See step 3 for more information.)

When the conversion is complete, you can create a new meeting in the Online Meeting Center and attach the file. The Moderator can also attach the file during your meeting.

Note If you are using Sametime Print Capture on Windows XP, ensure that you do NOT select the "Print to file" option. If you use the "Print to file" option, your file will not display correctly on the whiteboard.

More Help on Sametime Print Capture

The Print Capture help includes more information about print capture features. The method to access the print capture help depends on your computer's operating system.