Duration 4:39 | Contains audio
This video shows you how to use the Home page to access the latest news and updates from across IBM Connections 4.5.
To watch the video, click the play button. To read a text version of this video, scroll to the Welcome section on this page.


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You may also be interested in this video that shows how to use @Mentions: Using @mentions

Table 1: Welcome

Step	Audio	Onscreen action
1.1	The Home page provides a central location where you can track the latest updates from IBM Connections at a glance.	The Welcome screen displays. (c) Copyright IBM Corporation 2012
1.2	When you first log in to the Home page, you are brought to the Getting Started view.	The Home page login screen displays. Enter your user name and password, and then click Log In.
1.3	New users can use this view to learn about the different applications and get to know the product.	The Getting Started view displays.
1.4	Follow the steps to find out more about the different applications.	Click Share. The Share step lists a series of tasks under the title What do you want to do next.
1.5	You can watch demos about each application or navigate directly to an application to start using it.	Click Explore. The Explore step lists the applications available. Click an application name to view a description of the application, access a demo video about the application, or navigate directly to the application.
1.6	When you become more familiar with IBM Connections, you might want to disable this view so that it no longer opens when you access the Home page.	Select the Do not show this screen at start check box.
1.7	You can go back to the view at any time by selecting Getting Started from the navigation sidebar.	Select Getting Started from the navigation sidebar.

Table 2: Checking for updates

Step	Audio	Onscreen action
2.1	The remaining Home page views enable you to keep up with the latest updates from across IBM Connections.	The following views are listed in the navigation sidebar: I'm Following Status Updates My Notifications Action Required Saved Discover My Page
2.2	You can view the updates in list format using the activity stream views, or in widget format using the My Page view.	The activity stream views include: I'm Following Status Updates My Notifications Action Required Saved Discover My Page The My Page view is listed after the activity stream views.
2.3	Use the I'm Following view to check updates for the people and content that you are following, and responses to content that you added.	Select the I'm Following view.
2.4	You can use the filters to drill down to the information that is most important to you.	The following filters are available from the Filter By list: All Status Updates Activities Blogs Bookmarks Communities Files Forums People Wikis Tags
2.5	Hover over updates to access in-context options directly from the activity stream. These options change depending on the type of update that you are viewing.	Hover over a status update.
2.6	For example, you can comment on, like, or repost status updates.	When you hover over a status update, the embedded experience window displays the following options: Like Repost Add a comment Click Comment to add a comment, and then click Post to post it.
2.7	You can open files, share them, or follow them.	Hover over a file update. The following in-context options are available: Click the file name to open it Share the file Follow the file
2.8	Use the Tags filter to check the latest updates for people or content with the tags that you are following. You can also manage your tag watchlist from this view.	Select Tags from the Filter By menu. Select the marketing tag from the Show menu. Mouse over the Manage Tags link.
2.9	If a particular update interests you, why not save it to come back to it later? You can access your saved updates from the Saved view. Remember to delete updates when you are finished with them.	Hover over an update and click Save this. Select Saved from the navigation sidebar. Click X next to a saved update, and then click Remove to confirm that you want to delete it from the Saved view.
2.10	Find out what your colleagues are doing by checking the latest status updates. Or post your own status update to let people know what you are working on.	Select Status Updates from the navigation sidebar. Click in the What are you doing right now text field, enter your status update, and click Post.
2.11	You can attach files to your status updates, and use hashtags to tag your updates and make them easier for others to find.	When you post a status update, you can use the Add a file link to attach a file to your update. Any hashtags are automatically converted to links.
2.12	You can use this, and other view options, to post a status update to let others know what you are working on.	Click in the What are you working on right now? field and enter some update text. Tip: When using @mentions in your status updates, use a space for a separator between names.
2.13	The @ Mentions view displays messages that have been directed to you, including posts that mention your name.	Select the @ Mentions view option.
2.14	Use the My Notifications view to track the notifications that you have received and sent to others.	Select the My Notifications view. The following options are available from the Show menu: For Me From Me
2.15	The Action Required view is useful for keeping on top of items that require a response from you. You can accept pending network invitations from this view or check for to-do items that have been assigned to you.	Select the Action Required view. To accept a network invitation, hover over the update and select Accept in the window that displays.
2.16	The Discover view lists the latest public updates, and is a great place to find new and interesting content from your organization.	Select the Discover view.
2.17	Use the To Do List widget in the sidebar to quickly scan for upcoming to-do items; you can even access your to-do list directly if you want.	The To-Do List widget lists upcoming to-do items. You can click the links to open the to-do items or click Go to my to do list to go directly to your to-do list.
2.18	Check for the latest content recommendations using the Recommendations widget. You can hover over the related links to see how you are connected to an item, or click a link to find out more about a recommendation.	The Recommendations widget displays a list of content recommendations. You can click the links to open the recommended content or mouse over the related links to see the related person.
2.19	View upcoming community events at a glance using the Events widget.	The Events widget displays a list of community events. You can click the links to open an event.

Table 3: Working with widgets

Step	Audio	Onscreen action
3.1	Use the My Page view when you want to view your updates in widget format.	The My Page view displays.
3.2	Each widget displays the latest updates for a specific application.	The widgets displaying in the My Page view include the Communities, Activities, and My Profile widgets.
3.3	If you see an arrow under the widget title, this means that different widget views are available. Click the arrow to toggle between the views.	When you click the arrow in the Communities widget, the following views are available: My Communities Public Communities When you click the arrow in the Activities widget, the following views are available: My Activities Public Activities
3.4	You can control the information that displays in this view by adding and removing widgets so that the page shows only the updates that matter to you.	Click Customize. Select My Files to add the My Files widget to the page.
3.5	You can also customize the layout by changing the number of columns that display.	Click the Change Layout tab. The following layout options display: 2 columns 3 columns
3.6	Drag and drop the widgets to rearrange them on the page in the order that you want.	Drag a widget to a different location on the page.
3.7	Or set preferences to control how many entries display in individual widgets.	Select Edit from the widget action menu. Select the number of entries to show from the drop-down list and click Save.
3.8	You can use the widget action menu to access more options for working with individual widgets.	The following options are available from the widget action menu: Move Left Move Right Edit Help Refresh Remove

Table 4: Conclusion

Step	Audio	Onscreen action
4.1	So get started today keeping track of the latest updates in IBM Connections!	The Closing screen displays.
4.2	For more information about the Home page, click Help in the product.	The Closing screen displays.