Screenshare is a Maestroconference product that lets you bring your teleconference to life by:  

1. Allowing hosts to share their screen with participants
2. Allowing hosts to have an assistant take over and share their screen

 We have recently enhanced  this feature  to allow it run on any computer without having to update any software such as java. 

 

 

 

 

Getting Started

Starting the Screenshare is relatively simple. All standard and premium users will have the option enabled by default and will be able to configure it when they create their conference.

The only thing the host has to do is give the participants the link to the screenshare page. This can be done in one of two ways:

1. Automatically if you select the Screenshare radio button under Participant Web Experience. This will automatically include the Screenshare link to the participants conference confirmation email.

 

 

2. Manually by sending the link directly to the participant in your direct mailing or by including it in the conference description. You can find the Participant Link under the Screenshare option at the bottom of the page.  The tab looks like this when opened: 

 

Starting Screenshare

To start the Screenshare, the host goes to the conference View and Edit page, then the Screenshare section at bottom of the page, and clicks on “Launch Presenter.” The downloading process should automatically begin. You will also have another page with the instructions on how to download if it doesn't automatically start. 

 Instructions for Windows

 This will initiate the Screenshare and open the MC Screen app and automatically log you in.  Please do not interrupt the log in process.

 

 

 Instructions for Mac

 

Click on Save File. Once it's finished saving the file, go to the Downloads folder and look for "MCScreenStarter". Click on it to open the application. You will then see the message below: 

 

*** You may be asked to download and then unzip a file.  An application that has an unzip tool is Stuffit - you can download that for free here.

 

 

Once the Screenshare has begun, other callers can click on the link they received, and will be able to view the host's screen in their browser.

Please note: We recommend using the Maestroconference.com "Launch Presenter" link to initiate the Screenshare each time. Starting the app from the icon on your desktop will not automatically open the Screenshare for your conference. 

 

 MCScreen App Presentation

 

 Screenshot from a PC

 

 Screenshot from a Mac

 

 

Screenshare Preferences

You may customize the Screenshare settings by clicking on Tools on the options menu and selecting Preferences. This will open the Preferences window where you can change the General Settings, color and size of the Annotation pen, Conference Call Information, Image Quality and Language. Please remember to save any changes made to this window by clicking on the Save button. 

 

 

How to start / stop / pause conference

The Screenshare starts automatically. To pause it, simply click on the Pause button in the Control Panel. The indicator above the button will change to Paused. This will keep whatever you had on the screen active for viewers, while you do something else on your computer.  To re-start the Screenshare, click the Play button.

 

How to record a Screenshare session

To the top right side of the app you will see the Record button. Clicking on this will initiate the screen and voice recording.  Keep in mind the voice recording just records what is said through your computer microphone, so it won’t include what others are saying through the phone on your MaestroConference event.  

To stop recording, click on the Stop button. This will open a pop-up allowing you to name and select a location where to download the recording. The recording is saved in .exe format and is packaged with the MCPlayer, allowing you to play it on any computer.  If you'd like to convert the recording from .exe format into an AVI, WMV, or FLV (Flash) file, here is a link you can use to a program that will let you convert the format:

Screenshare Recording Converter

 

 

 

 

How to convert a recording to .avi, .flv or .wmv format

The recording is usually found on this location: Contents\Resources\xxx.rec.

Open the Turbomeeting Converter. To select the recording file you wish to convert, look for the .rec file and please make sure that .rec is selected for the file type. Select the .rec file and click Open. Select your preferred format and screen resolution and click on "Convert". The converted file is automatically saved on the same folder as the .rec file.

 

How to convert a Mac Recording

To convert a Mac Recording, you will need to transfer the recording file to Windows OS.

We understand that looking for a Windows OS to transfer the file to isn't optimal but rest assured that this is only a temporary workaround. We are currently working on a Mac converter that will convert the recording directly while on a Mac.

Here's how to transfer the file to Windows:

1. Zip your recording and uncompress it on Windows
2. Load the file with ".rec" extension under "Contents" and "Resources" to the converter and then run it.

Once the file is transferred to Windows, please follow the instructions above on converting a recording.

 

How to change what program or monitor to display

This feature is for PC users only; on a Mac, the Screenshare feature will show whatever is on the host's desktop.

On the top side, under the start/stop Screenshare button there is a drop-down menu called Show My Desktop.  The host can choose to display:

1. The entire desktop (this means it will display all the monitors the user has connected), 

2. One of the enabled monitors

3. A certain application opened on your computer. 

 

Manage Polling Result

You can now post polling questions and easily save the results via Screenshare. You can access this option by clicking on Tools and select Poll. To post a question, simply click on New Question. This will give you another window where you can type your question and the answers that your participants can choose from. After your participants answer the question, click on Close Poll on the Manage Poll window.  Click on Save Results to save it on your computer. 

 

This is the window that your participants will see on their end:

 

How to remove participants from the Screenshare

In the Attendees window of the MC Screen app, right click on the name of the participant you want to remove. This will display the remove option that you have to click on.  

 

How to invite an attendee during the meeting

You have the option to do so from the MC Screen app. Simply click on Invite Attendees at the bottom of the control panel. It will open a window with the instructions on how to invite attendees. You have the option to call the attendees, invite them via email and to copy the instructions and send it via direct mailing. 

 

Webcam option

To initiate a webcam session you have to click on the Start Webcam button . You will first get an option to select the webcam device to use for this conference.

However, because we at MaestroConference prioritize voice and Screenshare over webcam stream, you may encounter syncing problems on the webcam image while using this service.

If you want to talk into your webcam during a live event, one solution we suggest is to make sure participants are viewing the Screenshare, and then ask participants to set the phone down temporarily.  Since the webcam also transmits sound, you can speak into the webcam and be heard with no syncing issues.  When you're ready to resume using the MaestroConference features, like taking live Q&A, or breakout groups, invite people to pick their phone back up, and continue leading the call through the telephone.

*Video Tutorial on the webcam is on the Screenshare Overview.

 

Chat option

There is an option to enable/disable Chat for a Screenshare session. You'll find this option on the conference page. Make sure to save the changes before the conference starts.

The Presenter can always view all attendees and chat with any of them. Presenters are always shown among the top of attendee list. 

We have recently enhanced the chat option and added a private chat function between the host, presenter and the panelists. 

Presenter's view and the Participant's View of the Chat option when using Interactive Screenshare

 

 Participant's view of the Chat Option when Interactive screenshare is not enabled

 

A pop-out, fully resizable chat dialogue box is also available when you click on the small pop-out icon.

 

 

Push URL Function

The host or presenter can force each attendee to visit a web page locally at the same time. To do so, click on the drop-down arrow on the chat section of the application and select "Push URL". 

 

 

Interactive Screenshare

You will find the Interactive Screenshare option on the View/Edit page of the conference. When enabled, the participants will be able to start webcam or (after Presenter hand-off) to share their screens.

Please note that if this option is set to No, Screenshare chat will be disabled as well. 

 

 

The Interactive Screenshare can have up to 15 webcams on the conference, including the Large HD View for the Presenter. Presenters can use a HD webcam to show large video image as big as the entire desktop with the photo-level image quality or even true-color quality with 100% image accuracy. It can be used to project large white board content to attendees or share video with the highest image 

To view the Large HD, click on Tools and select Large HD View via webcam.

 

 To enable multiple webcams, instruct the participants to click on the button "Switch to Interactive Meeting". 

 

This will start downloading the MCScreenStarter. Once downloaded, open the MCStarter and this is what the participants will see on their end. This is the window where they can send chat messages to the Presenter, share their screens, share their webcam and files. 

 

 

***Screenshare should work with any version of Internet Explorer back to IE 6 if not earlier.

 

 A screenshot of 8 webcams in a conference. 

 

Stop the Participant's webcam 

The Presenter may stop the participant's webcam by doing a right-click on the participant's name on the panel and clicking on "Stop Webcam".

 

 

 

Whiteboard

Clicking on the Whiteboard button will automatically open your default image editor and share that window with your participants. For PC users, Paint is the program that opens; for Mac users, it is Sketch.

 

How to access the screenshare as a viewer

After participants sign up for a conference where Screenshare is set as the Participant web experience option, they will receive a confirmation e-mail that contains a link to view the Screenshare.

After they access the Screenshare link, they will be directed to a page where they will enter their name and click “Join.”  If Screenshare is enabled, they will see the presenter’s screen. If the Screenshare has not been started yet, they will see a standard welcome screen. As soon as the Screenshare is initiated by the host, participants will see the host’s screen.

 

How to enlarge the screen as a viewer

On the top of your browser window, right under the toolbar, you will see the Screenshare controller bar (gray). On the top left, you will notice the Actual Size button. Pressing it will zoom into the active window.

 

Notes on screenshare speed

If you are the host sharing your screen, we recommend that you plug directly into the internet instead of using wireless.  Wireless can be flaky and can disconnect or be intermittent during an event.  Your upload speed is important since you'll need bandwidth to upload your screen. Of the “high speed” internet choices, DSL has notoriously slow upload speeds.

Also, when you are sharing your webcam as you lead a call, keep in mind that the video and audio channels will not sync.   This is not a bug; the phone and video channels are very different.  Since phone is so much simpler and faster, participants will hear your voice first and then see you on the webcam shortly after.  Often the delay is less than a second, depending on your internet upload speed, but just know that there will be a slight delay before participants see you talking to them.

 

 

Rescheduling a Call from Archive

The old Screenshare links which can be found on the Archive will not work. The Host and Participants need to use the Screenshare links that are on active conference, under the Scheduled tab.