The main Skype for Business window
When you open Skype for Business, the main Skype for Business window will appear:
Adding a profile picture
If you have uploaded a profile picture to Office 365 through the main portal, it will automatically carry through to Skype for Business. To upload or edit your picture from within Skype for Business:
- Click Options (cog icon) on the Skype for Business main window
- Choose Tools > Options
- In the Skype for Business Options window, select My Picture from the left-hand panel
- Click the Edit or Remove Picture button to upload an image. Office 365 will open.
- Browse to select your picture file, then click Save at the bottom right of the screen
- You will be returned to the Skype for Business Options window
- Ensure that the Show my picture radio button is selected
- Click OK
Displaying your availability: Presence
You can also manually change your availability by: | A user’s availability is indicated by the coloured icon beside their profile picture. This availability status is known as your presence and will indicate a status such as Available, Busy, Away, Do Not Disturb, etc. Your presence indicator will effect which communication options are available. Presence is only indicated for those with the Skype for Business client running, otherwise it will show as Offline (uncoloured). Indicators are based on your Outlook calendar information, but update according to both your calendar and your activity. For instance, if you are available at your desk but don’t use your mouse or keypad for a period of time (the default is 5 minutes, but this can be changed – Options> Tools> Options> Status), Skype for Business automatically changes your presence indicator from green to an inactive yellow icon. Using your keyboard or mouse returns your status to available. |
Using the drop-down status menu in the Skype for Business window
Hovering over the large icon on the task bar
Right-clicking the small icon on taskbar
Manual statussettings override all automatic changes.
- To return to automatic settings, select Reset Status from the Status drop-down menu.
Guide to status icons
If your Outlook calendar is set to Out-of-Office, but your Skype presence is set to Available (for instance, when you are working from home), there would be a purple dot displayed beside the status, as shown below.
As Skype for Business is integrated with Outlook, you will automatically see the availability of colleagues when you communicate with them by email. When you add a name to the address field in a new email you will also see their presence status displayed beside the name.
Contacts
When you first start using Skype for Business, it is worth investing some time setting up contacts and groups so that you can easily communicate with people that you frequently interact with.
Creating a group
- In the main Skype for Business window, click the Add a Contact
- Choose Create a New Group Alternatively, right-click any group name in your contacts list (e.g. Other Contacts), and then click Create New Group
- A New Group box will appear. Rename it by overwriting the text so that the new name is meaningful to you
- Your group has been created, and you can start adding contacts to it
Finding and adding contacts
In the main Skype for Business window start typing the name in the search box. A list of matching people from your Contacts will appear
You can also add contacts from the Add a Contact icon, then choose Add a Contact in My Organisation
Controlling privacy relationships
This setting controls the connectivity and the type of information that can be viewed by your contacts. If you want to view or change the privacy relationship with a contact, right-click the contact’s listing, and then click Change Privacy Relationship. You may also use this setting to block a contact.
