Basics: Interface
- Maarten Meijer
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.
Exiting Skype for Business
When you have finished using Skype for Business, you can
Close the Skype for Business window
Sign out of your session
Exit from the program
Closing the Skype for Business window
You can close the Skype for Business window by clicking the X in its upper-right corner. Although the window closes, your session continues to run, so others can still see your availability status and you still receive alerts.
The Skype for Business icons on your taskbar will appear as they do when you have the Skype for Business window open, indicating your presence status. Re-open the Skype for Business window at any time by clicking the large icon in the program section of the taskbar.
Sign out
Sign out closes your Skype for Business session, but continues to run Skype for Business in the background, making it easier to sign in again when you’re ready. The Sign out option is available from your status dropdown in the main Skype for Business window or by right-clicking the small icon in the system tray at the end of the taskbar. Once you have signed out in this way, others cannot see your status or interact with you.
When signed out, the Skype for Business presence indicator displayed on the taskbar/system tray is a red cross
Exit
Exit closes your Skype for Business session and stops Skype for Business running on your computer.
Both icons will disappear from the taskbar/system status tray at the bottom of your screen