Microsoft Teams Overview

Microsoft Teams Overview

 Microsoft Teams: a collaboration software

Microsoft Teams is an ecosystem that enables people to collaborate online.  To use the toolset, you must first open the application named Microsoft Teams from the start menu.

After opening the software, you will be presented with an application window that has a left navigation based menu. Bottom-left has a built-in help button.

Teams

Clicking the Teams button on left lets you go to a specific Team.  A Team is a group of people with a common purpose.
  1. To view the content of a team, it is necessary to click it
  2. You can be on more than one team or may not have any teams available at all
  3. You organize things in 'Channels' which I believe the default one is 'General'
    1. Adding channels allows you to focus on a topic there
    2. Each channel has Posts & Files
    3. Posts seem to be tailored for announcements or one-off conversations
Clicking on Chat gives you the ability to have instant message type chats with people.
  1. You can create group chats
  2. If any common questions & answers are discussed in chat it might be best to put them in the Teams 'Posts' so they can be quickly & historically seen to benefit all. This is best as chat tends to be long. Microsoft probably can explain Teams better: 2min video, video training site, don't forget the help question mark (?) in the bottom-left of Teams!

Commonly Used Features

Create a chat:


Mute &  unmute  a chat:


Add member (or channel) to your 'team':


Only certain people ('Owner's) can add members

Leave a 'team':


Disable Teams from popping up automatically at login

Click 3 dots in top-right, Settings, untick 'Auto-start application'

You can still use it, you just need to open it manually. Affects only the PC you're on.

Change File Open Preference setting

Open the Settings menu by clicking the 3 dots in the top right of the Teams window.

Click on Files and links then select the method you would like to use for opening Word, PowerPoint or Excel documents via teams.

Schedule video call

  1. Within Outlook app click New Items, Teams Meeting. Alternatively in Teams click Calendar, New meeting
  2. Fill in the required details & click Send (or Save)
See this other article for more details: Schedule a Meeting in Teams

Stop getting emails from a ‘team’ in Microsoft Teams



Stop getting ANY emails from Microsoft Teams: 3-dots top-right, Settings, Notifications, change 'Missed activity emails' to Off

FAQ

  1. It's very possible you may not be in any Teams, that is normal & OK. Team owners can add you if needed, you can reach out to them.
  2. If you'd like to create a new Team, simply open a ticket using these instructions: Make a New Team in Microsoft Teams
  3. If things aren't working you may need to trigger an update so you're on the latest version
  4. Related Nexus Service Desk article: Troubleshooting issues with Microsoft Teams

Meeting (video/audio call) FAQ

  1. When the host/scheduler leaves the meeting does it end for everyone?
    No. Top-right click arrow next to Leave then select ‘End meeting’

  2. Is there a time limit or maximum number of people/guests in a meeting?
    No time limit (technically 30hr). 1,000 max people in a meeting. When reaching your set meeting end time you get notified, which can be ignored. This is not a time limit, simply a courtesy to keep you on track.

  3. What is the guest (person outside company) experience like?
    Those with a PC can join without downloading any software. Joining from a smartphone/tablet does require downloading an app in the same way as Zoom does. They are usually placed in a lobby until you (or anyone in the meeting) admit them. They MAY not be able to see the chat
    1. If they join wrong/old meeting or join hours late you may not be notified they are stuck in lobby which is not something we control sadly. Simply communicate for them to always use the link in the newest email & verify the time
  4. If I create a meeting, but do not attend, who can admit guests from the lobby?
    Any Nexus staff in the meeting can admit a guest from the lobby. If this is undesired go to the 'Meeting options' link at bottom of meeting email & change 'Who can present?' to 'Only me and co-organizers' (or 'Specific people')
  5. Can someone join a teams meeting by telephone only (ex: conference call)?
    Yes. See these two articles: Audio Conferencing in Microsoft Teams Meetings or Schedule a Meeting in Teams

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