Skype Linking

NOTE: Your Skype Name is your unique username for Skype.  It will be 6-32 characters long, will start with a letter and contain only letters and numbers (no spaces or special characters, except that periods are allowed).  For example, a valid Skype name would be typewell.houston.  You will be the only person in the world with the Skype name you choose, so you may find that some of the easy names like typewell.transcriber are already taken. 

Both the transcriber and the reader must follow the following steps to use TypeWell Premium linking with Skype.

Establish the text link

• Start Skype and sign in.
   
• Make sure your status is set to "Online" (showing a green check-mark icon next to your Skype Name in the upper left-hand corner of the window).
   
• Make sure the reader's/transcriber's Skype Name is in your Skype Contacts list.  If not, follow these steps in Skype to add them to your Contacts list:
  • Click the Directory tab and go to Find people.
  • Click in the box and type in their name, email address or Skype Name.
  • Click Search.  Wait for Skype to search.
  • In the list, find the person you're looking for.
  • Click on them, then click Add contact.  This will open a "Say hello" window.
  • Click in the message box and type an introduction message so they know who you are.
   
• Click OK to send.  Once they accept your invitation, you will be able to see when they are online.
   
• Start the TypeWell program.
   
• Under the Link menu, click By Remote Skype.... This will open the Skype Linking Setup window.
  
   
• In the Skype Linking Setup window:
  • Check the box to Enable Skype linking.
  • "This computer's Skype Name" should be the same name you used to sign in to Skype.
  • If it says "Waiting for Skype to respond," then you are either not signed in to Skype, or Skype is asking for permission to allow access to the TypeWell program.  To allow access, change the settings in Skype as follows:
    • Go to Skype's Tools menu and click Options.
    • Choose the Advanced tab on the left, and then click "Manage other programs' access to Skype" at the bottom.
    • Find TypeWell on the list and change the setting to allow access.
    • Click OK and then OK again, to save the changes.
    • Then re-enable Skype linking in the TypeWell program.
  • Enter the Skype Name(s) of the other computers that are to be linked to your computer for this session, and remove other Skype Name(s) from the list if they are not to be linked for this session.  You can link to up to 4 Skype Names in TypeWell.
  • Click OK to close the Skype Linking Setup window.
   
• The Link menu should begin blinking and the status bar on the bottom right should blink the message "Skype (searching)".  At this point, both users need to be signed in to Skype and both need to have the Link turned on in TypeWell.
   
• Once the computers become linked, the Link menu will be highlighted solid (not blinking) and the status bar will show which Skype Name(s) you are linked to.
   
• Test the text connection by typing something in the bottom window.  Have the other party type something in their bottom window, and verify that you can see their text in your top window.

Troubleshoot problems with the text link

• If the Link menu is not blinking and the status bar doesn't show the "Skype (searching)" message, then your link might be turned off.  Click the Link menu, then "Link (turned off -- click here to turn on)".
   
• If the computers don't link up after several seconds, try turning the Link off and then on again, using the Link menu.  If the computers still don't link up, try closing and restarting the TypeWell program.
   
• In the Skype Linking Setup window, make sure that the Skype Names are spelled correctly.

Establish the audio call

• Click the Contacts tab and then click the name of the person you want to call.
   
• Click the "Check settings" button Click the green Call button.
  • Hearing individuals: you should hear the call ringing through the computer speakers or headphones.
  • Deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals: click the Call Quality button next to the call volume slider.  The volume level bars next to the microphone and speaker icons will be active if there is sound.
   
• Once the other party answers the call, a call duration timer will begin, displaying minutes and seconds.
  • Transcribers should click the Mute button to mute their microphones.
  • Readers should set their microphone volume to the highest level.
   
• To hang up, click the red End call button.

Troubleshoot the Audio Call (Skype)