ITD – ICT Service Desk
Updated March 2010
Background
Bridgit is a data conferencing application, which can be used to remotely share a PC desktop over the DET network. Bridgit is primarily used in Interactive Classrooms to share workspaces between PCs. ITD has approved use of Bridgit as a remote desktop support tool for the ICT Service Desk to use in providing support and diagnosing clients issues on their desktop PCs, in a manner similar to the way we can currently shadow users in Oasis using Thin Client.
Bridgit operates via a central server that allows a data connection between your PC and a clients PC remotely over the DET network. To use Bridgit, you will need to establish a conference session and invite the client to join this session to commence sharing their desktop.
For instructions on appropriate usage of Bridgit, see Appropriate usage of Bridgit as a desktop support tool1. Provided here is a WINDOWS guide to installing the Bridgit Client and establishing a data conference using Bridgit.
1Online Communication Services – Acceptable Usage for:
School Students: TAFE NSW DET Staff Use Also see:
DET Code of Conduct Policy Guide to using Bridgit – WINDOWS VERSION
Step 1 – Accessing Bridgit via the Portal(s)
Bridgit is accessed via a web browser and the DET Portal
provided below.
School and Corporate Staff:
1. Login: [DET Staff Portal] 2. Go to: [My applications] 3. Click: [Bridgit] or [BridgitAV]:March 2010
Secondary School Students:
1. Login: [DET Secondary Student Portal] 2. Look under [Other Sites] and click: [Bridgit]:
DET Secondary Student Portal
Note: School students do not have access to BridgitAV at this time. See Step 9 - Preferences and Service Differences
Primary School Students:
1. Login: [DET Kidspace Student Portal] 2. Under [Other Sites] and click: [Bridgit]
DET Kidspace Student Portal
Note: School students do not have access to BridgitAV at this time. See Step 9 - Preferences and Service Differences
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TAFE Staff:
1. Login: [MyTAFE Portal] 2. Go to: [Applications] 3. Click: [Bridgit] or [BridgitAV]
TAFE Students:
1. Login: [DET TAFE Student Portal] 2. Go to: [My Applications]
3. Click: [Bridgit] or [BridgitAV]
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Step 2 – The Bridgit Launch Page
Once you have clicked this link you should see the following Bridgit Launch web page:
Step 3 – Run Bridgit (WINDOWS)
You will now see the dialog box shown below. Click [Run] to run the Bridgit Client.
Note: You may see the option to [Save]. This option installs the Bridgit client to the desktop, meaning Bridgit will not authenticate and you will not be able to run the software. Choose [Run] instead.
Browsers:
DET only supports Bridgit on Internet Explorer 6 and 7 or Firefox 2 on Windows. Firefox may offer [Open] instead of [Run]. Choose [Open].
Other browsers/versions may work, but are not supported.
Mac users please refer to the document ‘Guide to Using Bridgit - Mac’ on the DET Intranet Certain browser configurations may require confirmation of the security notification (example pictured below). If you receive this notice, click [Run].
This completes the installation process. You will now be given the option to create or join a conference. See Step 4 (a) and (b) on the following pages for more information.
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Step 4 (a) – Create a Conference
(Step 4 (b) on page 10 provides instructions on how to Join a Conference)
.
(i)
Create a Conference
Windows Client
1. Click [Create New Meeting]. Your DET User ID (e.g. JOHN.SMITH) will appear next to ‘Your name:’ 2. Enter a meeting name. (Example: SchoolName+Topic i.e. ‘dubbomaths’)
3. Enter a password*.(Example: TeachersName+Date i.e. ‘MrRonson280609’) 4. Confirm password.
5. Click [OK].
*
Please ensure you set a unique password for ALL conferences. This is to ensure that uninvited participants are not able to join or interrupt your Bridgit conference.Your conference is now live. You can begin to share your screen or invite participants to join your conference meeting. See Step 5.
Step 4 (b) - Join a Conference
(ii)
Join a Conference
Windows Client
1. Click [Join Meeting]. Your DET User ID (e.g. JOHN.SMITH) will appear next to ‘Your name:’
2. Choose the conference you wish to join from the list in the drop-down menu by clicking on its name. 3. Enter the meeting password (this should have been supplied to you previously by the meeting host). 4. Click [Join Meeting...]
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Message of the Day
Occasionally, a message of the day will be visible upon entering a conference. This is a customised message that the Bridgit server team may utilise to inform users of any service notices or additional information that may impact their conferences. To close the message and join a conference, click [OK]:
Step 5 - Bridgit Lobby Screen & Email Invites
You are now in a live Bridgit conference. You will see the Bridgit Lobby Screen, from which you can begin to share your screen or invite participants to join your conference.
Bridgit Lobby Screen
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(a) Inviting participants to your conference
Staff
(i)
If using an Email client (e.g. Microsoft Outlook)
1. Go to the drop-down Menu.2. Click [E-mail Invite...] :
3. You should now see the [Invite Participant] dialog box:
NB: By default, the ‘Include password in email’ option will be ticked. Conference participants will require the conference password in order to join the conference. If you do not want to email the password, you can un-tick this option and instead
4. Click the [E-mail] button.
5. An automated message will appear as a new email message in your default Staff Email account (example shown below). Add the names of the participants you wish to invite to your conference and click [Send].
NOTE: Recipients of these emails will need to authenticate (i.e. login to the DET portal) before clicking on the conference URL. If the user attempts to click on the URL without authenticating first, they will receive this error message:
(ii) If using webmail (e.g. Outlook Web Access (OWA))
1. Go to the drop-down Menu. 2. Click [E-mail Invite...]:
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3. You should now see the [Invite Participant] dialog box:
4. Click and drag over the Conference URL (see example below). Right-click and ‘Copy’ this text.
5. In your webmail account, go to [New] to create a new email.
6. Create a ‘subject’ for the email (for example, the name of your conference)
NB: All conference participants will require the conference password in order to join the conference. You may like to include the password in this email, or instead provide it either over the phone or in person. 8. Add the names of the participants you wish to invite to your conference and click [Send].
NOTE: Recipients of these emails will need to authenticate (i.e. login to the DET portal) before clicking on the conference URL. If the user attempts to click on the URL without authenticating first, they will receive this error message:
Students
(ii) Using a DET Student Email account
1. Go to the drop-down Menu.March 2010
3. You should now see the [Invite Participant] dialog box:
4. Click and drag over the Conference URL (see example below). Right-click and ‘Copy’ this text.
5. In your student email account, go to [Compose Mail] to create a new email. 6. Create a ‘subject’ for the email (for example, the name of your conference)
7. Right-click or press [Ctrl + V] on your keyboard to ‘Paste’ the Conference URL into your message.
SCHOOL STUDENTS
:
TAFE STUDENTS
:
NB: All conference participants will require the conference password in order to join the conference. You may like to include the password in this email, or instead provide it either over the phone or in person.
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NOTE: Recipients of these emails will need to authenticate (i.e. login to the DET portal) before clicking on the conference URL. If the user attempts to click on the URL without authenticating first, they will receive this error message:
(b) Joining a Bridgit conference from an email invitation
1. Open the email with the Bridgit conference invitation from your DET email account. 2. Keep this email open and login to the DET Portal.
3. Click on the Bridgit link and wait for the Bridgit Launch Page to appear:
4. Return to your open email message and click on the link, which will look something like this:
http://bridgit.det.nsw.edu.au/BridgitLoader?cid=558574300
5. A Join Conference window will automatically open. 6. Enter the conference password and click [OK]
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Step 6 - Desktop Sharing
In this step, we cover how to share your desktop.
Conference hosts
1. Turn on desktop sharing
Now you have invited your conference participants, you will need to share your Desktop so participants can see your data. In the Lobby screen click the [Share my desktop] button this will allow you to share your desktop:
NOTE: Dual monitor setup
If you have a dual monitor set up, you will need to specify which monitor you wish to share. The Select Sharing Monitor dialog box (pictured below) will automatically open. A border will appear around the monitor to be shared (in the example below, monitor 1). If you wish to share monitor 2, simply click 2 then [OK].
Tip: If you are unsure which is monitor 1 or 2, click [Identify]. Numbers identifying each of your monitors will flash up on your screens.
2. Preparing your desktop
You will now see the following appear on your selected monitor. Your screen will appear grey with the words “Preparing to Share your Desktop. Please Wait…..” in blue. Bridgit is now connecting your monitor to the data conference. When it has successfully connected, your screen will return to its normal appearance(Note: The blue border will turn red when you are transmitting your desktop).
Other participants will now see your screen on their Interactive Whiteboard (IWB) or PC screen and you can begin your conference.
Go to the [Menu] to stop desktop sharing.
Allowing participants to share their desktop
The conference host can allow conference participants to share their desktop. To do this, the host must select the option “Allow others to share their desktop” from the Bridgit menu:
1. Go to [Menu]
2. Select the [Conference Settings] tab 3. Tick “Allow others to share their desktop” 4. Click [Apply] then [OK]
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Step 7 - Additional Help
In the drop-down Bridgit menu there is a [Help] option:
This option will take the user to the Bridgit Conferencing Software Help website:
The information contained in this website is generic and does not reflect the DET implementation of Bridgit. However, there is additional information on the features of Bridgit that is relevant, such as the tools (see Step 8 on page 25for more information about Bridgit tools).
Supporting resources, information and further assistance for the DET implementation of Bridgit are all available via the Learning Systems Support pages on the DET Intranet:
Data Collaboration Support website:
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Step 8 - Bridgit Tools
Tools are accessed from the Bridgit Menu. Depending on your configuration and access privileges, you may need to initiate a shared desktop to be able to access these tools.
Bridgit Menu (from Lobby Screen)
The menu button is also where you terminate a conference, by choosing [Exit] or [Quit]. When you enable Desktop Sharing, the menu shrinks to a small tab that sits at the top of the screen (which can be moved to suit):
Bridgit Menu tab (when sharing desktop)
From the drop-down [Menu], you can access [Tools], including the pen, highlighter and eraser.
Step 9 - Preferences and Service Differences
DET operates two Bridgit services,
Bridgit
and
BridgitAV
.
• Bridgit is the standard service and designed for use with an Interactive Classroom. The sharing of audio and video
elements is supplied by the Video Conferencing unit of the Interactive Classroom.
• BridgitAV has webcam enabled, for users who are not in an Interactive Classroom (i.e. when using Bridgit between 2 PCs).
In all other respects, the functions of the two services are identical.
Access
School students are able to create conferences via the Bridgit service only. DET staff (school, corporate and TAFE) and TAFE students have the option to create conferences with either the Bridgit OR BridgitAV services.
NOTE:
• You cannot change your conference from one Bridgit service to the other during a conference:
If a staff member (or TAFE student) wishes to change their conference from Bridgit to BridgitAV (or vice versa), they will have to end their open conference, login to the Portal again and begin a new conference, selecting the appropriate service. All participants in the conference will need to login to the Portal again and join the new conference.
• Unless you have a specific need to broadcast video, users should always use the standard Bridgit service. Video performance of BridgitAV is not guaranteed, and users should book an Interactive Classroom for full AV.
All users should note that use of Bridgit is subject to the DET Acceptable Usage Policies1
Where participants have requested not to be on camera, please ensure that they are not included in a BridgitAV webcam.
.
Please ensure you have all the relevant written permissions before creating a conference where participants may be on camera.
1Online Communication Services – Acceptable Usage for:
School Students: TAFE NSW DET Staff Use Also see:
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Conference Options
Options for customisation are available to the conference host in [Menu] > [Menu] > [Options].
These options include “Allow others to draw” (giving other participants the option to draw or write notes on a shared desktop) and “Allow others to share their desktop” (giving other participants the option to share their desktop):
Bridgit Options
The options for a BridgitAV conference include an additional webcam option and tab for Audio Settings (see next page for more information):
BridgitAV Options
Audio Settings
Before you start (BridgitAV), you may be prompted to run an Audio Setup Wizard. Whilst not essential, you may opt to step through the wizard:
Ensure your audio is muted or headphones are used to prevent audio feedback. These preferencesare available on the Audio Settings tab of the conference Options:
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Step 10 – Bridgit in the Interactive Classroom
Each Interactive Classroom (IC) contains a PC unit in the cabinet. To add data collaboration services to an IC session, follow the instructions below.
Conference Host:
1. Connect to a Video Conference session via the normal process.
2. Use the IC cabinet PC to go to the DET Portal
3. Login to Bridgit (see Step 1, page 2), and Create a conference (see Step 4 (a), page 9).
4. Bridgit will start running on the Interactive Whiteboard (IWB). Users can then enable Desktop Sharing (see Step 6, page 21) making their desktop visible to participants in remote ICs.
PC desktop shared using Bridgit Standard VC camera output
Conference Participant:
1. Connect to a Video Conference session via the normal process.
2. Use the cabinet PC to go to the DET Portal
3. Login to Bridgit (see Step 1, page 2), and Join a conference, (see Step 4 (b), page 10). 4. Bridgit will then start running on the IWB.
5. If the host has enabled desktop sharing, participants will be able to see the host desktop on the IWB.
Note: The audio and video capabilities of the DET video conferencing system are superior to the webcam capabilities within BridgitAV. BridgitAV (with webcam) should only be used when an IC is not available and video broadcast is required.
Step 11 – Bridgit access for when the portal is unavailable
When the portal is not available, users will be redirected to a webpage with an alternative login screen:
From here, users will need to enter their DET User ID and Password. They will then be re-directed to the Bridgit Launch Page (see Page 7) and the process from here onwards is identical to portal authenticated Bridgit.
This access point will be removed upon re-establishment of portal access. Existing conferences will not be affected but new conferences will need to be created via the standard process.
