Using the Cisco IP Communicator Interface

Use your mouse to click buttons and menu items and your computer keyboard to enter letters, numbers, and keyboard shortcuts.

Cisco IP Communicator comes with two desktop appearances called skins:

Figure 1 shows Cisco IP Communicator with compact mode selected.
Figure 2 shows Cisco IP Communicator with the default mode selected.

Table 3 identifies buttons and other components shared by both skins.

Figure 1 Cisco IP Communicator with an optional skin selected

Figure 2 Cisco IP Communicator with the default skin selected

Table 3 Buttons and other components, as illustrated in Figure 2

1

Phone screen

Allows you to view call status and feature menus, and activate items. See the "Phone Screen Features" topic for details.

2

Window control buttons

Allows you to view the menu, hide the Cisco IP Communicator interface, toggle between skins, or quit the application. See the "Understanding Feature Functionality and Availability" topic.

3

Line buttons and speed dial buttons

Each button opens or closes a line or speed dials a number. (Ctrl + numbers 1 - 8 are keyboard shortcuts). Line buttons indicate line status as follows:

Green, steady--Active call on this line (off-hook)

Green, blinking--Call on hold on this line

Orange, blinking--Incoming call ringing on this line

Red--Shared line, currently in use

No color--No call activity on this line (on hook)

You can convert extra line buttons into speed-dial buttons. See the "Setting Up Speed Dial Buttons" topic.

4

Messages button

Typically auto-dials your voice message service (varies by service). (Ctrl + M is the keyboard shortcut.) For more information, see item 16 in this table and the "Using Voice Messaging, Call Logs, and Directories" topic.

5

Directories button

Opens or closes the Directories menu. Use it to view and dial from call logs and a corporate directory. (Ctrl + D is the keyboard shortcut.) Alternately, you can use the Quick Search feature (Alt + K) to search directories. See "Using Voice Messaging, Call Logs, and Directories" topic.

6

Help button

Activates the Help menu. (Ctrl + I is the keyboard shortcut.) See the "Selecting Calls" topic.

7

Settings button

Opens or closes the Settings menu. Use it to control phone screen appearance and ring sounds. (Ctrl + S is the keyboard shortcut.) See the "Customizing Cisco IP Communicator Settings" topic.

8

Services Button

Opens or closes the Services menu. (Ctrl + R is the keyboard shortcut.) See the "Accessing Your User Options Web Pages" topic.

9

Volume button

Controls audio mode volume and other settings. (Page up/Page down are keyboard shortcuts). See "Customizing Cisco IP Communicator Settings" topic.¹

10

Speaker button

Toggles speakerphone mode on or off. (Ctrl + P is the keyboard shortcut.) See the "Using Headsets and Other Audio Devices" topic.

11

Mute button

Toggles the Mute feature on or off. (Ctrl + T is the keyboard shortcut.) See the "Using Mute" topic.

12

Headset button

Toggles headset mode on or off. (Ctrl + H is the keyboard shortcut.) See the "Using Headsets and Other Audio Devices" topic.

13

Navigation button

Allows you to scroll through menus and highlight items. Use in conjunction with softkeys to activate highlighted items. Also, while the Cisco IP Communicator is on-hook, click the Navigation button to access phone numbers from your Placed Calls log.

14

Launch Video button

Launches Cisco VT Advantage. You must be running Cisco VT Advantage release 2.0 and Cisco IP Communicator release 2.0 on the same PC in order to use this feature.

15

Dial Pad

Allows you to enter numbers and letters, and choose menu items. (Not available on the optional skin.) Alternately, use your computer keyboard.

16

Softkey buttons

Each activates a softkey. You can click softkey labels (instead of buttons) to activate softkeys, as well. (F2 - F6 are the keyboard shortcuts.) See the "Using Cisco IP Communicator to Handle Calls" topic.

17

Voice message and ring indicator

Indicates an incoming call and new voice message. See the "Using Voice Messaging, Call Logs, and Directories" topic.

¹In all releases prior to release 2.0, the keyboard shortcut is Ctrl + V

**Table 3 Buttons and other components, as illustrated in Figure 2**
1	Phone screen	Allows you to view call status and feature menus, and activate items. See the "Phone Screen Features" topic for details.
2	Window control buttons	Allows you to view the menu, hide the Cisco IP Communicator interface, toggle between skins, or quit the application. See the "Understanding Feature Functionality and Availability" topic.
3	Line buttons and speed dial buttons	Each button opens or closes a line or speed dials a number. (Ctrl + numbers 1 - 8 are keyboard shortcuts). Line buttons indicate line status as follows: Green, steady--Active call on this line (off-hook) Green, blinking--Call on hold on this line Orange, blinking--Incoming call ringing on this line Red--Shared line, currently in use No color--No call activity on this line (on hook) You can convert extra line buttons into speed-dial buttons. See the "Setting Up Speed Dial Buttons" topic.
4	Messages button	Typically auto-dials your voice message service (varies by service). (Ctrl + M is the keyboard shortcut.) For more information, see item 16 in this table and the "Using Voice Messaging, Call Logs, and Directories" topic.
5	Directories button	Opens or closes the Directories menu. Use it to view and dial from call logs and a corporate directory. (Ctrl + D is the keyboard shortcut.) Alternately, you can use the Quick Search feature (Alt + K) to search directories. See "Using Voice Messaging, Call Logs, and Directories" topic.
6	Help button	Activates the Help menu. (Ctrl + I is the keyboard shortcut.) See the "Selecting Calls" topic.
7	Settings button	Opens or closes the Settings menu. Use it to control phone screen appearance and ring sounds. (Ctrl + S is the keyboard shortcut.) See the "Customizing Cisco IP Communicator Settings" topic.
8	Services Button	Opens or closes the Services menu. (Ctrl + R is the keyboard shortcut.) See the "Accessing Your User Options Web Pages" topic.
9	Volume button	Controls audio mode volume and other settings. (Page up/Page down are keyboard shortcuts). See "Customizing Cisco IP Communicator Settings" topic.¹
10	Speaker button	Toggles speakerphone mode on or off. (Ctrl + P is the keyboard shortcut.) See the "Using Headsets and Other Audio Devices" topic.
11	Mute button	Toggles the Mute feature on or off. (Ctrl + T is the keyboard shortcut.) See the "Using Mute" topic.
12	Headset button	Toggles headset mode on or off. (Ctrl + H is the keyboard shortcut.) See the "Using Headsets and Other Audio Devices" topic.
13	Navigation button	Allows you to scroll through menus and highlight items. Use in conjunction with softkeys to activate highlighted items. Also, while the Cisco IP Communicator is on-hook, click the Navigation button to access phone numbers from your Placed Calls log.
14	Launch Video button	Launches Cisco VT Advantage. You must be running Cisco VT Advantage release 2.0 and Cisco IP Communicator release 2.0 on the same PC in order to use this feature.
15	Dial Pad	Allows you to enter numbers and letters, and choose menu items. (Not available on the optional skin.) Alternately, use your computer keyboard.
16	Softkey buttons	Each activates a softkey. You can click softkey labels (instead of buttons) to activate softkeys, as well. (F2 - F6 are the keyboard shortcuts.) See the "Using Cisco IP Communicator to Handle Calls" topic.
17	Voice message and ring indicator	Indicates an incoming call and new voice message. See the "Using Voice Messaging, Call Logs, and Directories" topic.

Tips

You can click the menu icon at the top of either skin, or right-click on the Cisco IP Communicator interface to view and configure settings, choose skins, and enable screen-only mode. See the "Using the menu" topic.
The default skin (Figure 2) and the optional skin (Figure 1) use the same set of button icons. However, button shapes and locations may differ by skin.
For a complete list of shortcuts, see the "Using Keyboard Shortcuts" topic.
See the "Phone Screen Features" topic for information about how calls and lines are displayed on the Cisco IP Communicator phone screen.