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Using Jabber Chat with Windows

Using the chat feature, you can instant message with an individual colleague or a group of colleagues.

Chat basics

CHAT WINDOW

Chat windows contain:
  • the search or call field,
  • tabs for multiple chats,
  • contact and their availability state, 
  • chat controls and collaboration controls.

CHAT CONTROLS

Use chat controls to (L–R):

  • send a file,
  • send a screen capture,
  • edit the font,
  • insert an emoticon,
  • add a mention.

COLLABORATION CONTROLS

Chat windows can also include controls to (L–R):

  • call the contact,
  • create a new contact,
  • start a video meeting,
  • share screen,
  • open roster.

Start an individual chat

To start a chat:

  1. Click  in the hub window.
  2. Using the mouse, hover over the name of the contact with whom you want to chat.
  3. Click . 

You can also search by name, click the contact name, and then click .

Create and use an ad hoc group chat

An ad hoc group chat lets multiple people simultaneously share chat messages. All participants receive messages sent from any participant in the ad hoc group chat. The group chat ends when all participants are offline.

When in an individual chat, you can create an ad hoc group chat by adding other online participants. Participants must be online to be added to an ad hoc group chat. You cannot create an ad hoc group chat with offline participants.

To create an ad hoc group chat:

  1. Open an individual chat with another online participant.
  2. In the Collaboration Controls toolbar (upper right-hand corner of the chat window), click .
  3. Click Add People.

    The Start Group Conversation window opens.
  4. In the People: field, type the name of an additional person you’d like to add to the group chat and select them by clicking on their name when it appears in the search results. Repeat this step until all participants appear in the People: field. Alternatively, you may select among your more recent contacts listed below the People: field.
  5. Click Start Group Chat.
    You can start chatting with the group in the same way you do with an individual chat.

Create and use a persistent group chat

A persistent chat group is enduring, unlike an ad hoc group. They are always available, whether on not all participants are online. They can be private (i.e., limited to just the people invited by the owner) or public (i.e., accessible to anyone who wants to join).

See How to Request a Persistent Chat Room for more details.

  1. Once your persistent chat room is created, you can click  in the Jabber hub.
  2. Double click on the room you want to use.
    You can start chatting with the chat room members in the same way you do with an individual chat.

Chatting with people from other Stanford affiliations

You can use Jabber to chat with colleagues regardless of whether they are part of the university, Stanford Health Care (SHC) or Stanford Children’s Health (SCH). The procedures are a little different depending on your primary affiliation and the affiliation of the colleague.

See Chatting with People from Other Stanford Affiliations for more details and instructions.

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