About the Groove Launchbar

The Groove Launchbar opens when you first start up Groove, unless you change your Groove start-up options. You can initiate all Groove activities from the Launchbar.

To open the Launchbar, double-click the Groove icon in the Windows notification area, or click the Groove icon and select Launchbar. If you're not logged into your account, Groove will prompt you to enter your password before opening the Launchbar.

The Launchbar contains two panels, one for creating and managing workspaces, and the other for managing Groove contacts.

To switch the layout of the Launchbar between tabbed panels (the default layout) and stacked windows, select Tabbed Viewfrom the Optionsmenu.

The Launchbar includes a Common Tasks pane, with options that change to correspond with your current activity or selection. For example, if you select a contact in the Contacts panel, you see options to send a message or invitation to that contact.

Workspaces Panel

The Workspaces panel displays a list of your workspaces. You can start activities from the Workspaces panel as follows:

• Double-click any workspace to open it. The workspace opens into a viewer that corresponds with its workspace type. For example, standard workspaces open in the Groove Workspace Explorer; file sharing workspaces open in a special layout in Windows Explorer.
• Right-click any workspace to see menu options for managing the workspace. For example, you can open workspace properties, rename, pause, or delete the workspace, save a workspace as an archive or template, and invite people as new members.
• Click New Workspace to create a new workspace.

Ways to list workspaces

There are several ways you can list your workspaces. Select Options-View Workspaces By, and select an option.

• Folders. Sorts workspaces by folder.
• Alphabetical. Lists workspaces alphabetically.
• Status. Sorts workspaces by status:
• Active. Workspaces that you and/or other members currently have open for reading or updating.
• Unread. Workspaces containing new or updated information that you have not yet read.
• Read. Workspaces that do not currently contain any information you have not read.
• Not On This Computer. Workspaces you have on other computers. You can download the workspace data either from another computer that contains your account or from another workspace member.
• Type. Sorts workspaces by type, such as "Workspace" or "File Sharing Workspace".
• Last Unread Time. Select this option to view your workspaces sorted by their relative activity. For example, see which workspaces received new or updated information Today, Yesterday, within the Last Seven Days, or within the Last Thirty Days. Workspaces that have not received updates for more than thirty days are categorized as Older.

Note that within each category, workspaces are sorted top to bottom by "most recently read".

Workspaces may be sorted under these additional categories:

• Downloading: Workspaces that are currently being downloaded from another computer or workspace member.
• Suspended: Workspaces in which you're membership has been suspended.
• Paused: Workspaces in which communications are currently paused.

Contacts panel

The Contacts panel lists all people you've added to your personal list. These can include Groove, Microsoft Communicator, and e-mail contacts. You can start activities from the contacts panel as follows:

• Double-click a Groove contact to open the Groove Send Message window and create a message.

Double-clicking an e-mail contact opens a new message in your e-mail program.

• Drag a contact to a workspace in your Workspaces List to open a workspace invitation addressed to that contact.

 Tip   You can drag contacts to a workspace even if Workspaces and Contacts are separate tabs. Drag the contact to the Workspaces tab to display that tab and then select the workspace.

• Right-click any contact name to see a menu of activity options. For example, you can send an invitation to the contact; delete the contact; set alerts; export the contact; and e-mail your Groove contact information to the contact.
• Click Add Contact to search directories and add new contacts to your list.

Ways to list contacts

There are several ways to list contacts. Select View Contacts By from the Options menu, and select an option.

• Folders. Categorizes contacts by folder.
• Alphabetical. Lists all contacts alphabetically.
• Status. Categorizes contacts according to their current status. Status categories you may see include the following:
• Active. Lists contacts who are currently online and doing activities in a workspace in which you share membership.

To immediately go to the workspace, right-click the contact and select Go to Active Workspace. If the selected member is active in several of your workspaces, a Select Workspace window opens and displays a list.

• Online. Lists contacts who are currently online.

An idle indicator is appended to contacts who are online but who have not done activities at their computer for at least the past 15 minutes. If you want, you can select an option in your preferences to segregate idle contacts to the bottom of the Online list.

• Offline. Lists contacts who are currently offline.

• Verification. Categorizes members according to their verification status.
• Organization. Categorizes contacts by the organization listed in their contact properties. If contacts have no organization included in contact properties, they are listed under "Unknown Organization."
• Type. Categorizes contacts by contact type: Groove or e-mail.

Organizing your contacts in folders

You can organize your contacts in folders. You see categories by selecting the option to view folders.

1. On the Options menu, point to View Contacts By, and then click Folders .
2. Click the location in the Contacts list where you want to place a new folder.

Folders are created at the same level as the selected folder (if any). For example, if you select a contact that is already in a folder, the new folder will appear hierarchically within that folder.

3. On the File menu, point at New, and then click Contact Folder.
4. Replace the "New Folder" text with a name that makes sense for the contacts intended for that folder.
5. Drag and drop contacts into the new folder or add new contacts.

Workspace communication status

Click in the status bar to pop up a list of your workspaces. Uncheck or check workspaces to pause or resume communication activities. Data counters report on the flow of incoming and outgoing data. To do more Communications Manager activities, click the Communications Manager link.

Start messaging activities

Click the envelope icon to open the Message History window.

Common Tasks

The Common Tasks pane lists options that are intended to correspond with your current activity or selections. For example, if you select a workspace in the Workspaces pane, common task options pertain to workspaces, such as sending invitations or showing workspace properties.