TwinFeats Conference

Technology Test

Thanks for participating in the TwinFeats Conference (TFC) technology test! This brief guide will explain the TFC installaion and get you connected to the TFC server.

First, you'll need either a Java Developer's Kit (JDK) or a Java Runtime Environment (JRE). Installation of either of these is required since TFC is a stand alone Java application not an applet. Follow the JDK or JRE installation instructions including in those downloads. You can find both the latest JDK and JRE at:

Sun's Java Download  Main entry point for downloading Java products, primarily for Windows and Solaris
Sun's list of 3rd party Java ports  For JDK or JRE for other platforms

And you can get the TFC client code here (just use your browser Save Link function to save this jar file into a clean directory):
Technology Test Client jar file (not currently available) TFC client code

TFC has been packaged into the JAR file tfctt.jar which you will need to unjar to install. Be sure to put tfctt.jar into an empty directory before you unjar. To unjar from the command shell (DOS prompt, unix shell, etc):

jar xvf tfctt.jar

This will create several files and directories, but the most important file will appear in the same directory as tfctt.jar and is called tfc.jar. This jar file, tfc.jar, needs to be added to your CLASSPATH environment variable in order to successfully execute the TFC client. Once that has been performed according to your platform's specifications, you can execute the TFC client with (for JDK users):

java TFC

Or for JRE users:

jre TFC

NOTE that on some Windows platforms it may be necessary to invoke the TFC client this way:

java -classpath %CLASSPATH% TFC

or

jre -classpath %CLASSPATH% TFC

The first thing the TFC client will do is check for and create if necessary the client.ini file. This file is used to hold the addresses of all TFC servers (only 1 for the technology test) and eventually user information such as your TFC business card and window configurations.
 

Logging on the first time

After you execute the TFC client you will see a simple logon window:

At the top is the server choice box, just leave that set to the default for TwinFeats Conference Center. Below that is a text field for the name you'd like to use. I strongly recommend you use for full name as the TFC server will not allow duplicate names. Below the name field is the password field, but since this is your first logon you'll need to check the box at the bottom of the window labeled New User. Checking this box will change the password field to the Email address field. Enter your email address so that the TFC server can email you a randomly generated password. When you have entered both your name and email address press Send and a connection will be made with the TFC server. If all goes well, you will see success indicated in the status bar at the bottom of the window and your TFC password will be sent to your email address. Close the logon window and then retrieve your password.

Now you're all set to get on the TFC server. Execute the TFC client again but this time leave the New user box unchecked. Enter your name and password and hit Send, you should then be connected to the TFC server. The logon window will close and the TFC Client window will appear:

This window shows all the defined conferences for the TFC server you are connected to. The colored spheres indicate the status of a conference:

    You are not authorized to attend and not currently in progress
    You are not authorized to attend but is currently in progress
    You are authorized to attend but not currently in progress
    You are authorized to attend and is currently in progress
    You are authorized to attend and you have joined the conference

To see a list of your current options for a conference just right click on the conference and you will see a popup menu of choices. To join the Technology Test public conference, just right click on it and select Join:

This sample display shows the user Kent L. Smotherman currently participating in the Technology Test conference. The icon appearing before the name in this case indicates that Kent L. Smotherman is the conference leader or moderator. Other icons will appear in the space before user names to indicate variable states:

    User has his/her hand up, requesting control of the conference bean windows like Text WhiteBoard, Drawing WhiteBoard, etc.
    User has been granted control of the conference bean windows.
    User has been silenced for being a general nuisance.
 
 

Using the VCR

If you'd like to see a brief demo of TFC, just connect to the server and from the main Client window right click on the node "Technology Test" just like you would to Join the conference. Since this conference is not currently in progress you will see a menu item on the popup menu labelled "View transcript". Select this option and the VCR should popup up with the list of all available transcripts for this conference. Select "Technology Test.log" and the VCR will begin replaying the conference from the server in real time. You can use the VCR button "Pause" to suspend the playback and "Resume" to resume a paused playback. Use "Speed up" to go through the replay faster, "Slow down" to slow down. When the replay is finished use "Stop" to exit the VCR.