The FirstClass Applications

FirstClass is a collection of applications that let you organize your work and collaborate with others.

Your work is stored on the FirstClass server. You use your web browser to connect to that server.

Uniform Resource Locator. This is an address for a web page or a FirstClass object.

Step 2 Fill in your user ID and password for this server on the FirstClass Login form.

Once you have connected to your server, your Desktop opens. Your Desktop gives you access to the FirstClass applications and other standard FirstClass objects.

This section tells you the container name, summarizes the container contents, and indicates the server, your user name, and how much free space you have left on the server.

A conference, folder, calendar, or any other FirstClass object that contains items.

On your Desktop, the FirstClass applications and any other containers are provided in a list with two links for each object. Selecting the first link opens the object. Selecting the second link opens the object's options. This allows you to do things such as moving the object, changing its properties, its permissions, or its mail rules.

A set of values that determine the default behavior of a container such as a conference. Permissions also give users access to the container, and control what they can do within the container.

Objects such as documents that you put on your Desktop are presented in a separate list under the list of applications. This list includes columns with details about the objects, such as their size and when they were last modified. These columns are followed by two links for each object, which work just like the links in the list of applications.

At the bottom of each page are dropdown fields that let you choose an action. After choosing the action, you select the Go button to make FirstClass perform that action.

This field lets you do things such as move to another FirstClass container, search the current container, list deleted objects, or update your FirstClass preferences.

This field lets you do things such as creating objects, deleting them, or checking whether, in the case of messages, they have been read.

You use this application for private email. You, and all FirstClass users, have a personal Mailbox.

You use this application for online scheduling of events and tasks. You have a personal calendar, and you may also have access to public calendars.

A time commitment, such as a meeting, that is recorded on a calendar.

Something that you need to do, such as submitting a report, that is recorded on a calendar.

You use this application to store information about your personal contacts. You have a personal Contacts folder, and you may also have access to public contact databases.

You use this application to work with online forums that are primarily intended for discussions on related topics.

You use this application to take part in real-time, online chats with others who are also online.

You use this application to work with online forums that are designed for workgroup collaboration.

You use this application to store information that you want to keep on a long-term basis.

You use this application to store uploaded files of various media, such as pictures and sounds.

You use this application to store links to FirstClass objects and to web pages.

If you decide you want to use another form, choose Delete at the Options field while this form is still open.

The upper pane of an object such as a message, document, or calendar item, that contains information such as object name, subject, and keywords. In the case of messages, it also contains addressing information and details about when the message was sent.

All users and conferences known to the server (including users you added as personal addresses and mail lists) are stored in the Directory.

A storage area on the server that contains addresses for user accounts, conferences, public calendars, and other objects known to the server.

A list created by you that contains selected users. This list acts as an address so that you can create just one message and it will be sent to all users in the list.

To address a message to any user or conference in the Directory, you can type a partial name, then select the To button. The whole name is filled in if what you typed is unique in the Directory. Otherwise, the Directory opens with a list of all names that match. Select the name you want.

If you are in a conference, your new message is automatically addressed to that conference.

In a sent message, you can select the Create Mail To link beside a name to create a preaddressed message. You can also create a preaddressed message by selecting the Create Mail To link after selecting a recipient from the Directory or Who's Online list, or after opening a contact or mail list form.

Select the Browse button at the Attachments field and select the file, then select the Attach button. To attach a FirstClass object, select the On Server button, then select the object.

Messages work the same way whether you are in your Mailbox or a conference. An unread message is identified in the Flag column as Unread. To open a message, select its Go To link.

To download a file attached to a message, use your web browser's standard download feature.

Save a copy of a file stored on the server or a FirstClass object to your own computer.

To preview an attached file before you download it, select it. To return to the message, select your web browser's Back button.

To check the history of a sent message that is open, including who has read it, choose History at the Options field.

If the message is not open, select its Options link, then choose History at the Operation field.

You can use a personal calendar (which can record both calendar events, such as meetings, and tasks, such as submitting a report), and access other users' calendars and public calendars.

To open your personal calendar, select the Calendar link on your Desktop, or use the Navigation field.

To open another user's calendar, open the Directory from the Navigation field on your Desktop, select the user, then select the Open User Calendar link.

You can access calendar information by month, week, or day, as well as listing calendar events and tasks in the same way as objects are listed in other FirstClass containers. To use the special calendar views, choose Month View, Week View, or Day View at the Navigation field.

To scroll from one month, week, or day to the next (or previous), select the Previous or Next link.

To go to a specific date, specify the date using the dropdown fields for Year, Month, and Day, then select the Go button.

Events and tasks have two links, just like other FirstClass objects. To access details of an event or task, select the first link.

Step 3 Update the basic information on the New Calendar Event form.

To invite participants and/or book resources that are in the Directory, check for conflicts, or reschedule, update the Scheduling section.

To make the event show up repeatedly on the calendar, update the Repeat section.

To generate reminders, update the Reminders section. Participants can change the reminders on their own copies of the event.

Step 5 Attach files or add content just as you would for a message, if desired.

Step 3 Update the basic information on the New Calendar Task form.

Step 4 Update the Reminders section, if you want to generate reminders for a task with a due date.

Step 5 Attach files or add content just as you would for a message, if desired.

You can open a task to change its details. To change the task status, choose the appropriate value at the State field. You can also change the status of an unopened task to Completed by selecting the task's Options link, then choosing Toggle Completed Status at the Operation field.

You can view items from several calendars combined. For example, you can see items from a group calendar in addition to the items in your personal calendar.

The list of subcalendars shows all the calendars that are available for combining.

Step 2 Select the Show Calendar link beside the calendars you want to add to the view.

You can add a calendar to the list of subcalendars. In this example, you are adding a calendar called Subcalendar to your personal calendar.

Step 2 Select your personal calendar, called Calendar, at the Destination field.

You can add addresses and other personal information for your friends and business contacts to your Contacts folder. You can also create mail lists there, if you routinely send messages to the same group of people, and they don't have access to a FirstClass conference that is shared by the group.

You can also create public contact databases that let you share contact information with other users.

If you want to add the address to a public contact database, open the contact database, then choose New Contact at the Options field.

You can also add an address in a message to your Contacts folder by selecting the Add to Contacts link beside it.

If you want to add the mail list to a public contact database, open the contact database, then choose New Mail List at the Options field.

Add members just as you would address a message. To open the Directory, click the Members button.

FirstClass conferences are places for you and the others in your organization to exchange information about related topics. You can send messages to conferences just as you do to other users.

When a conference contains mail that you haven't read, it is identified as Unread, just like your Mailbox. You can open the conference and access the messages posted there by others.

The advantage of conferences over private mail is that all messages concerning the same topic are stored in the same place. And you don't have to address a private message to multiple users or to a mail list that you have to keep up to date. You can simply address it to the conference.

Conferences can be created by your administrator, by yourself, or by other users. Your administrator determines which conferences are open to everyone in the organization, and you can access these conferences through the Conferences link on your Desktop.

If you are invited to an instant messaging session, an Instant Messaging Invitation link will be added to your Desktop. Select the link to open the invitation form. The invitation form tells you the name of the user who invited you.

To decline the invitation, select the Decline button. To decline without notifying the sender, select the Ignore button. To join, select the Accept button. The Instant Message page opens and your name is added to the "Participants" list.

To contribute to an instant message, type your input at the Message field. You can embed files in your input by selecting the Browse button in this section, selecting the file, then selecting the Embed Object button. To add your input to the transcript, select the Send button. To leave the instant message, select the Leave button.

Attach files to the instant message by selecting the Browse button at the Attachments field, selecting the file, then selecting the Attach button.

Tell people you are temporarily unavailable by selecting the Pause button.

Use the Setup section to name an instant message that you started, moderate it, or save the transcript.

Change how frequently FirstClass looks for new input from participants by updating the Check for updates every field, or force an immediate check by selecting the Check Now button.

You may find public chat rooms inside containers. When a chat room has active participants, it is identified as Unread.

If you are in the Directory or Who's Online list, select the user, then select the Invite User to Chat link. If you use this method, skip steps 2 and 3.

Step 2 Select the Invite button to invite someone to your instant message.

Step 4 Contribute to the instant message as you would to any other instant message.

A workspace is a shared area where users in a workgroup have access to FirstClass applications and resources that are of use to the group.

a contact database for storing information about contacts who are important to the group

Workspaces can be created by your administrator, by yourself, or by other users.

A starting point when you are creating an object such as a document or conference. Templates can provide default backgrounds, layouts, formatting, placeholder text, and so on.

Pick the template that is closest to what you want. You can change any defaults that don't suit you, or start over by deleting the object and picking a different template.

To name your workspace, select the workspace's options link. Choose Rename at the Operation field, then type the new name.

You can now open your new workspace and customize it for your purposes.

You can delete default applications that your group won't need. To delete an application, open the application's options link, then choose Delete at the Operation field.

You can also add applications. To add an application, choose Add Application at the Options field, then select the application.

To share your workspace with other members of the group, open the workspace's options link, choose Workspace Members at the Operation field, then select the members.

Unlike messages, documents don't expire by default, and can be updated after they are created. This makes them useful for posting information that you want to keep for a long time.

But you can do the same things with documents that you do with messages: add background pictures, format content, and check whether they have been read.

Your Documents folder is a place for you to store documents for your own use.

Your Web Publishing folder stores material that you want to publish on the web. This material can be

You can structure your website by organizing your material into folders.

The first object in your Web Publishing folder that isn't a folder or a link is automatically your home page.

Step 3 Select the template for the type of object you want to create.

If you are creating a blog, you first create the blog, then create dated entries for your blog. To create a blog entry, open the blog, then choose New Blog Entry at the Options field. Supply a title and change the date if necessary. Type the blog entry at the Content field.

If you are creating a podcast, you first create the podcast, then add episodes to your podcast. To add an episode, open the podcast, then choose New Episode at the Options field.

To provide a list of uploaded files, create a listing folder, then upload the files to it.

To provide a list of links, create the links in your Bookmarks folder, then create a web folder in Web Publishing. Copy or move the links to your web folder.

You can upload a file to a container on the server. Uploaded files can be previewed and downloaded just like files attached to messages.

The File Storage folder on your Desktop is designed for storing uploaded files of various media types. The file type is indicated in the list of uploaded files.

As is the case for other containers, you can create subcontainers to organize your files.

Bookmarks are links that provide quick access to FirstClass objects and web pages. You select them to open the objects to which they link.

Step 1 Open the options for the object to which you want to link.

You must accept the FirstClass License Agreement before you can use this product. If you do not accept the terms of the License Agreement, do not install the software and return the entire package within 30 days to the place from which you obtained it for a full refund. No refunds will be given for returned products that have missing components.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Certain features and products described in this document may not be currently available in all geographic regions. Distribution or reproduction of this document in whole or in part must be in accordance with the terms of the License Agreement.

All rights reserved. FirstClass, OpenText and other trademarks and the associated logos used herein are trademarks of OpenText Corporation and/or its subsidiary used under license. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

This version of the help applies to FirstClass Version 9.1 and all subsequent versions and modifications until otherwise indicated.