Understanding the eMail inChorus Whiteboard

The eMail inChorus Whiteboard is the canvas where you compose your multimedia messages. Think of the Whiteboard as your drawing board.

To help you to familiarize yourself with the Whiteboard, this section provides a description of the Whiteboard menus, commands, and features. Details on how to perform specific actions, such as how to compose an audio message or creating a simple animation, are described in Creating Basic eMail inChorus Messages or Advanced eMail inChorus Features.

Using the Whiteboard Features

eMail inChorus' Whiteboard features a set of contols and tools to help you compose your message. The location of these features are shown in the illustration below.

Recording Controls

eMail inChorus uses a time-based technology to record all the activities you perform on the Whiteboard in chronological order. Every time an object on the Whiteboard changes, it is time-stamped. This feature enables your messages to play back exactly as recorded.

In the lower left portion of the Whiteboard screen are the recording controls.

The table below provides you with a description of each component of the recording controls.

Component Description

Current time Displays the current point of time in the recorded
message.

Total time Displays the total time of the recorded message.

Record Click to begin recording.

Beginning Click to rewind the recording to the beginning.

Reverse Click to reverse the message.

Play Click to play the message.

End Click to forward to the end of the message.

Stop Click to stop playing or recording.

Decrement time Click to move the current time backward by a tenth of a second.

Time scroll Click and drag to the left or right to access a specific time point in the message.

Increment time Click to move the current time forward by a tenth of a second.

Component	Description
Current time	Displays the current point of time in the recorded message.
Total time	Displays the total time of the recorded message.
Record	Click to begin recording.
Beginning	Click to rewind the recording to the beginning.
Reverse	Click to reverse the message.
Play	Click to play the message.
End	Click to forward to the end of the message.
Stop	Click to stop playing or recording.
Decrement time	Click to move the current time backward by a tenth of a second.
Time scroll	Click and drag to the left or right to access a specific time point in the message.
Increment time	Click to move the current time forward by a tenth of a second.

Drawing Toolbar

The Drawing Toolbar on the right side of the Whiteboard contains toggle switches to activate the tools for drawing objects on the Whiteboard, as well as a couple special function buttons.

The table below provides you with a description of each component of the Drawing Toolbar. Clicking the button toggles activation of the tool on or off or opens a menu of options.

Component Description

Select Use to select an object on the Whiteboard.

Pen Use to draw freehand pen lines.

Line Use to draw straight lines.

Rectangle Use to draw a rectangle.

Polygon Use to draw a polygon.

Arc Use to draw an arc.

Chord Use to draw a chord.

Notes Use to attach notes on the Whiteboard.

Annotation Use to add annotations to the Whiteboard.

Highlighter Use to draw highlighter pen lines.

Text Use to enter text on the Whiteboard.

Oval Use to draw an oval.

Polyline Use to draw polylines.

Pie Use to draw pie shape.

Attachment Use to add file attachments to the Whiteboard.

URL Use to add a hot link to an URL to the Whiteboard.

Pre-defined Object Click to display a menu of pre-defined objects, such as arrows and other graphics that can be placed on the Whiteboard.

Brush/Fill Style Click to choose a fill color and pattern for the selected Whiteboard object or the active drawing tool. Use to create solid filled shapes.

Pen Width/Style Click to choose a pen width/style for a selected Whiteboard object or the active drawing tool.

Pen/Text color Click to select a new pen/text color of a selected object or active drawing tool.

Component	Description
Select	Use to select an object on the Whiteboard.
Pen	Use to draw freehand pen lines.
Line	Use to draw straight lines.
Rectangle	Use to draw a rectangle.
Polygon	Use to draw a polygon.
Arc	Use to draw an arc.
Chord	Use to draw a chord.
Notes	Use to attach notes on the Whiteboard.
Annotation	Use to add annotations to the Whiteboard.
Highlighter	Use to draw highlighter pen lines.
Text	Use to enter text on the Whiteboard.
Oval	Use to draw an oval.
Polyline	Use to draw polylines.
Pie	Use to draw pie shape.
Attachment	Use to add file attachments to the Whiteboard.
URL	Use to add a hot link to an URL to the Whiteboard.
Pre-defined Object	Click to display a menu of pre-defined objects, such as arrows and other graphics that can be placed on the Whiteboard.
Brush/Fill Style	Click to choose a fill color and pattern for the selected Whiteboard object or the active drawing tool. Use to create solid filled shapes.
Pen Width/Style	Click to choose a pen width/style for a selected Whiteboard object or the active drawing tool.
Pen/Text color	Click to select a new pen/text color of a selected object or active drawing tool.

eMail inChorus' Whiteboard is object-based. This means that each graphical object (such as ovals, squares, and lines) have properties such as location, color, or style. You can view and change the properties of any of the Drawing Tool objects by selecting the object and then clicking the right mouse button. This displays a dialog box containing the properties of the object.

Audio Controls

eMail inChorus' audio controls, located on the lower portion of the Whiteboard screen, allow you to control the volume of audio messages during recording or playback.

Page Navigator

eMail inChorus' page controls are located on the lower right portion of the Whiteboard screen. These controls allow you to navigate through the pages of a message, as well as add or remove pages.

The table below provides you with a descriptions of each component of the Page Navigator.

Component Description

Current page Displays the current page number.

Total pages Displays the total number of pages in the Whiteboard.

First page Click to jump to the first page.

Previous page Click to turn to the previous page.

Next page Click to turn to the next page.

Last page Click to jump to the last page.

Insert page after Click to insert a new page after the current page.

Insert page before Click to insert a new page before the current page.

Delete page Click to delete the current page.

Clear page Click to erase the content of the current page leaving it blank.

Component	Description
Current page	Displays the current page number.
Total pages	Displays the total number of pages in the Whiteboard.
First page	Click to jump to the first page.
Previous page	Click to turn to the previous page.
Next page	Click to turn to the next page.
Last page	Click to jump to the last page.
Insert page after	Click to insert a new page after the current page.
Insert page before	Click to insert a new page before the current page.
Delete page	Click to delete the current page.
Clear page	Click to erase the content of the current page leaving it blank.

Whiteboard Menu Commands

The tables below provide you with a description of the menu commands available from the Whiteboard screen.

File Menu Commands

Command Description

New Message Click to start a new message.

Open Message Click to open an existing message.

Close Click to close the Whiteboard window.

Save Click to save the current message.

Save As Click to save the current message under a different name.

Open Whiteboard Click to open a saved Whiteboard file.

Save Whiteboard Click to save the graphical contents of the current Whiteboard to a file.

Import/Picture Click to import an image to the Whiteboard.

Import/Page File Click to import a saved Whiteboard page to the current Whiteboard.

Import/Whiteboard File Click to import a saved Whiteboard content file (multiple pages) to the current Whiteboard.

Import/Text File Click to import a text file to the Whiteboard.

Export/As Picture Click to save the current graphical page as an image file.

Export/As Page File Click to save the current graphical page as a page file.

Send Message Click to send the composed message to the specified destination.

Page Setup Click to change the printer and print options.

Print Click to print the active Whiteboard contents.

Quit Click to exit eMail inChorus.

Command	Description
New Message	Click to start a new message.
Open Message	Click to open an existing message.
Close	Click to close the Whiteboard window.
Save	Click to save the current message.
Save As	Click to save the current message under a different name.
Open Whiteboard	Click to open a saved Whiteboard file.
Save Whiteboard	Click to save the graphical contents of the current Whiteboard to a file.
Import/Picture	Click to import an image to the Whiteboard.
Import/Page File	Click to import a saved Whiteboard page to the current Whiteboard.
Import/Whiteboard File	Click to import a saved Whiteboard content file (multiple pages) to the current Whiteboard.
Import/Text File	Click to import a text file to the Whiteboard.
Export/As Picture	Click to save the current graphical page as an image file.
Export/As Page File	Click to save the current graphical page as a page file.
Send Message	Click to send the composed message to the specified destination.
Page Setup	Click to change the printer and print options.
Print	Click to print the active Whiteboard contents.
Quit	Click to exit eMail inChorus.

Edit Menu Commands

Command Description

Undo Click to undo the last action.

Cut Click to cut the selected object and move it to the Clipboard.

Copy/Object Click to copy the selected object(s) to the Clipboard.

Copy/Page Click to copy the current graphical page contents to the Clipboard.

Paste Click to insert the Clipboard contents to the selected location.

Clear Click to delete the selected object(s).

Object Properties Click to edit the attributes of the selected object, including colors and styles.

Page Properties Click to edit the attributes of the current page, including width, height, and background color.

Preferences Click to display the dialog box for user setup options.

Command	Description
Undo	Click to undo the last action.
Cut	Click to cut the selected object and move it to the Clipboard.
Copy/Object	Click to copy the selected object(s) to the Clipboard.
Copy/Page	Click to copy the current graphical page contents to the Clipboard.
Paste	Click to insert the Clipboard contents to the selected location.
Clear	Click to delete the selected object(s).
Object Properties	Click to edit the attributes of the selected object, including colors and styles.
Page Properties	Click to edit the attributes of the current page, including width, height, and background color.
Preferences	Click to display the dialog box for user setup options.

Page Menu Commands

Command Description

Go to Page Click to display a list of the current Whiteboard pages and then click a page to jump to.

Next Page Click to go to the next page.

Previous Page Click to go to the previous page.

First Page Click to go to the first page.

Last Page Click to go to the last page.

Insert Page After Click to insert a new page after the current page.

Insert Page Before Click to insert a new page before the current page.

Delete Page Click to delete the current page.

Clear Page Click to erase the contents of the current page leaving it blank.

Command	Description
Go to Page	Click to display a list of the current Whiteboard pages and then click a page to jump to.
Next Page	Click to go to the next page.
Previous Page	Click to go to the previous page.
First Page	Click to go to the first page.
Last Page	Click to go to the last page.
Insert Page After	Click to insert a new page after the current page.
Insert Page Before	Click to insert a new page before the current page.
Delete Page	Click to delete the current page.
Clear Page	Click to erase the contents of the current page leaving it blank.

Object Menu Commands

Command Description

Group Click to group several selected objects to form a grouped object.

Ungroup Click to ungroup a selected grouped object.

Bring To Front Click to move the selected object(s) to the front of the Whiteboard.

Up One Level Click to move the selected object(s) up one level on the Whiteboard.

Down One Level Click to move the selected object(s) down one level on the Whiteboard.

Send To Back Click to move the selected object(s) to the back of the Whiteboard.

Command	Description
Group	Click to group several selected objects to form a grouped object.
Ungroup	Click to ungroup a selected grouped object.
Bring To Front	Click to move the selected object(s) to the front of the Whiteboard.
Up One Level	Click to move the selected object(s) up one level on the Whiteboard.
Down One Level	Click to move the selected object(s) down one level on the Whiteboard.
Send To Back	Click to move the selected object(s) to the back of the Whiteboard.

Font Menu

The Font menu lists all of the available font names. This menu becomes active when you are entering text on the Whiteboard.

Style Menu

The Style menu contains commands used to manipulate text, such as bolding the text, aligning the text, or setting the font size.

Tools Menu Commands

Command Description

Screen Capture
Click to graphically capture an area of the screen.

Create Bitmap
Place-holder Tool Click to enable the bitmap-holder tool. This tool allows you to draw a bitmap box on the whiteboard when you are creating a template.

Create
Text Place-holder Tool Click to enable the text-holder tool. This tool allows you to draw a text box on the whiteboard when you are creating a template.

Command	Description
Screen Capture	Click to graphically capture an area of the screen.
Create Bitmap Place-holder Tool	Click to enable the bitmap-holder tool. This tool allows you to draw a bitmap box on the whiteboard when you are creating a template.
Create Text Place-holder Tool	Click to enable the text-holder tool. This tool allows you to draw a text box on the whiteboard when you are creating a template.

Help Menu Commands

Command Description

About Balloon Help Click to display a description of Balloon Help.

Show/Hide Balloon Help Click to toggle Balloon Help on or off.

inChorus Help Clic to display online help.

Register Click to display the registration form. Once you fill in the text boxes, click OK to email the form to Softlink.

Technical Support Click to connect directly to the support web page.

Purchase Online Click to connect directly to the Softlink product web page where you can purchase products online.

Home Click to connect directly to the Softlink web site home page.

Command	Description
About Balloon Help	Click to display a description of Balloon Help.
Show/Hide Balloon Help	Click to toggle Balloon Help on or off.
inChorus Help	Clic to display online help.
Register	Click to display the registration form. Once you fill in the text boxes, click OK to email the form to Softlink.
Technical Support	Click to connect directly to the support web page.
Purchase Online	Click to connect directly to the Softlink product web page where you can purchase products online.
Home	Click to connect directly to the Softlink web site home page.