• The following instructions apply to RCT use on the computers in Olson 18A during Spring 1998. There are separate instructions for installing and launching RCT from home machines.
• Before beginning an RCT session, it is a good idea to open any other applications you might be using with it, such as a web browser.
• To communicate with the computers in Olson 18A, you have to use the English keyboard. That is, to login, enter information in the various panels in RCT, etc, you will have to be in English mode.
• To switch to another language mode to communicate with classmates via RCT, go to the Language menu at the upper right of your monitor screen, click to open the menu, then drag the mouse down to the desired language. Japanese, for example, is the last mode on the list. Drag your mouse down to this mode and then release. When you type in RCT now, Japanese text will appear in an Input strip along the bottom of the screen. Press the Space Bar to convert to kanji, and then press the Return Key to display your message in the Chat input window.

01. Launching RCT 

1. Double click on the RCT icon.
2. In the main RCT panel that appears, click on the Login button to display the Login panel.

 02. Logging in for an RCT session 

1. In the Available Classes window of the Login panel, choose the class by clicking on it.
2. Click once anywhere in the Login box and type the login name assigned by your instructor.
3. Press the tab key to move to the Password box and type in the password assigned you by the instructor.
4. Click on the Login button to display the main RCT panel.

 03. Connecting to your partner 

1. In the On-line window at the top of the main RCT panel are displayed the names of all users presently logged in to RCT.
2. Connect with a person by clicking once to select the line identifying that person, and then click on the Connect button.
3. The person requesting the connection gets a "Waiting for Connection" message.
4. When someone wishes to connect with you, you get a "Wishes to Connect" message and you click the OK button to complete the connection.

04. Chatting 

1. When a connection to another person is established, the Chat panel opens. You can chat using the window in this panel, and you get access here to the other features of RCT you can use while chatting.
2. As you type a message it first appears in the Chat input window. To edit your message before sending it, press the Delete Key for as many spaces as you need and then retype.
3. When the message is ready, press the Return Key to send it to your partner. When you do this, it appears simultaneously in your Chat window and in your partner's.
4. When a response comes from your partner, it will be identified with the sender1s name.

05. Whiteboarding 

1. Whiteboarding is a way to share with your partner a portion of your monitor screen (for example, the part that displays an open graphic file) or share a white panel of varying size that you and your partner can draw or make other notations on.
2. To create a whiteboard within RCT, click on the Whiteboard button in the RCT Access Bar.
3. A panel appears asking if you want to create a white panel as a whiteboard or if you want to share a portion of your monitor screen. Select either by clicking on the button.
4. WHITE
   1. When you click the White button, the monitor screen turns completely white.
   2. Position your mouse in one corner, hold down the mouse button and drag out an area to share with your partner. When you1ve marked out the desired size, release the mouse button. A whiteboard now appears on both your screen and your partner's.
   3. In the Draw menu, select a drawing tool and color (to distinguish your markings for your partner's). Any markings you make appear on both screens. You can also enter text.
   4. Close the whiteboard by clicking in the closebox in its upper left corner.
5. SCREEN
   1. The screen whiteboard is useful if you want to share a picture file open on one of the computers.
   2. First, open the text file, graphic, web page, etc. you want to share and make sure it is topmost on your computer screen.
   3. Return to RCT and click on the Whiteboard button in the RCT Access Bar, and then click the Screen button. All open RCT windows disappear, leaving your monitor screen available for capture.
   4. Select the desired part of your screen by marking out a space with your mouse: place the cursor arrow at the upper right-hand corner of the desired whiteboard, press the mouse button, and while holding down the button, drag the mouse to form a rectangle that outlines the desired area. When the desired area is defined, release the mouse button.
   5. A whiteboard (a picture of the marked-off section of your monitor screen) now appears on your screen and your partner's.
   6. In the Draw menu, select a drawing tool and color (to distinguish your markings for your partner's). Any markings you make appear on both screens. You can also enter text.
   7. Close the whiteboard by clicking in the closebox in its upper left corner.
   8. Only one whiteboard can be open at any one time. Opening a second whiteboard will always erase the previous one whether opened by you or your partner. You cannot save whiteboards in RCT.

06. Sending Sound Messages 

1. You can send short sound messages to your parter while connected during a chat session. These sound messages can be no longer than about 12 seconds. (Longer sound messages can be attached to written messages; see section 13 "Creating Messages" below.)
2. To send sound message to your chat partner, click on the Sound button in the Chat panel Acces Bar. The Sound palette appears.
3. Holding down the Record button (clicking on it and holding) activates the microphone. Speak clearly into the mike and when finished, release the Record button. Your message is immediately sent to your partner.
4. Recorded chat messages remain stored on the receiver1s computer. Each message is numbered and appears in the Sound palette window. Double click on a message to hear it again.
5. To close the Sound panel, click in the closebox at the upper left of the panel.

07. Sharing Web Pages with your Partner 

1. RCT allows users to view a web page together. One person has to open the web page within RCT, which then shows the page on both computers.
2. To open a page, click on the URL button in the Chat panel Acces Bar.
3. In the URL window that appears, type in the internet address right after "Http://"
4. When you press the Send button, the web browsers on both computers launch and go to the address entered.
5. You have no draw tools available now, but you can chat with your partner (using the Chat window). Position the Chat and Browser windows so you can see each.
6. You and your partner only share the initially opened web page. Any links you subsequently visit are not automatically presented to your partner. You have to send them by re-invoking the URL function on the Chat panel. Another option is to send a whiteboard of all or part of a web page. While working, keep in contact with your partner by using the Chat window.
7. To quit the Browser, chose Quit from the file menu.

08. Transferring Files 

1. You can send any kind of file (text or graphics) to your partner by using the Transfer function.
2. Click the Transfer button in the Char panel Access Bar.
3. A panel opens allowing you to navigate to and chose the file you want to send. Click on the file you want to send and then click the Open button.
4. A panel opens on the recipient1s screen allowing her to name and place the received file. After you name and chose a location, click on the Save button.
5. RCT asks if you want to open the file. Text and graphics files are opened in SimpleText.

09. Creating a Text Document with your Partner 

1. RCT allows you and your partner to jointly create a text document. You do this with TextPad.
2. To open a new TextPad document, click on the TextPad button in the Chat Panel Access Bar.
3. Position the TextPad window that appears so that you can also easily see the Chat window. You will probably want to use both windows together.
4. To enter text in the TextPad document, you must first take control by clicking in the little box at the upper right of the window. The person currently in control is always identified beside the box.
5. Once you have control, you can enter or edit text. Click your pointer where you want to begin. The text you enter (or change) will also appear on your partner's TextPad. Additions or changes made by your partner (when she takes control) will also appear on your TextPad. (Sorry: cut and paste are not yet functional.)
6. Save your work to return to later by clicking on Save in the File menu.
7. While in TextPad you can open a text file your previously worked on. Click Open TexPad file in the File menu. A panel opens asking you to locate the file you want to open.

10. Ending a Chat Session 

1. To end a chat session and disconnect with your partner, click on the Disconnect button in the Chat panel.
2. A panel appears asking if you want to save a copy of your chat before closing. Click Yes.
3. A panel appears now asking you to name the chat and to place it somewhere on the computer. It is probably best to use your own name and perhaps the date and to save your chat on the Desktop, where you can find it easily. Type in a name and chose Desktop from the pulldown menu and then click Save.
4. When the panel appears telling you the connection is closed, click on Continue.
5. You can now connect with another partner, or Quit out of RCT.

11. Quitting RCT

In the main RCT panel, chose Quit from the File menu.

12. Receiving Messages 

1. You can leave messages on RCT for classmates or instructors who are not presently logged on. These messages can have pictures, sounds, and documents attached to them.
2. In the main RCT panel that appears right after you log in, there is a Messages window below the Chat window. Any messages left for you will appear in this window.
3. Double click on a message to open.
4. There are From: and Subject: lines at the top of the message. To the right is a list of the kinds and number of attachments with the message.
5. To access the attachments, click on the Attach button to open the Attachment panel. Click on any item to open it. Click on the close box (upper left) to close it.

13. Creating Messages 

1. To create a message, press the Create button in the main RCT panel.
2. Use the dropdown To: menu to select the person you want to send the message to. Selecting "All" sends the message to the entire class, including instructors, TAs and tutors. Selecting "Any" sends the message to the instructional staff. When an "Any" message is opened by one of the instructional staff, it disappears from the others' lists.
3. Press the Attach button to get access to the panel where you can create the various kinds of attachments.
4. When your message is complete, click on Send.

14. Positioning windows 

1. You will often have more than one window open in RCT. Position windows so that you can get at and see things easily.
2. You can move windows around by pressing down on the mouse with the pointer in the window's title bar and then holding down the mouse as you drag the window to a new position. Release the mouse once you have the window positioned where you want.
3. Double clicking on the title bar will make the window, but not the title bar, disappear This is a very convenient way to get windows out of the way temporarily. Just double click on the title bar again to make the window re-appear.
4. The Chat window and the TextPad windows can be shortened or lengthened by dragging the resize box at lower right of each window.