Re-enable Java downloads in Mac OS X

Apple has recently disabled automatic Java downloads for Mac OS X 10.7 users with a recent Java update.  This change prevents Citrix Online products from downloading on your computer.

In order to restore this functionality, you must make a change to your Java preferences

In the top menu bar click the Spotlight
Enter Java preferences and click on the Java preferences search result
Click the General Tab
Check Enable applet plug-in and Web Start Applications
Close Java Preferences
Quit and re-open your browser and try your download again

3 Ways to remove the GoToMeeting codec from your recording.

As you may already know (or have just discovered), when you record a GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar or GoToTraining, a codec is applied to the WMV file.  The codec is used to compress the size of the recording, but unfortunately it can get in the way when you try to edit the file.

The good news is that you can always remove the codec from your recording, here are the 3 methods:

Method 1

Configure the GoToMeeting Recording Preferences to automatically remove the codec at the end of the session.  This is handy because it’s an automatic process but the down side is it ties up your PC right after your session.

Method 2

Use the free Expression Encoder from Microsoft as documented here to remove the codec and edit the recording.  The benefit of this method is it lets you remove to codec whenever you want plus you can edit the recording.  The downside is the free version of this application does not let you convert the recording from WMV to another format, but there are other free applications you can use to achieve this.

Method 3

The 3rd method is actually a version of the 1st method, and comes to you via a very talented co-worker @GoToDane.

Dane has written a batch file that uses the built in transcoder installed with GoToMeeting, to remoe the codec the it would normally do if you followed method 1. The benefit being you can do it whenever you want rather than have it automatically start at the end of your session.

It’s quite straight forward:

1. You simply download this batch file on to a Windows PC that has GoToMeeting installed on it.
2. Drag-n-drop the WMV file onto the BATCH file.
3. Enter the GoToMeeting build number and hit enter. To find out your build number simply right click the GoToMeeting icon in your System Tray and select About.

Please note: 

1. GoToMeeting must be installed for the BATCH file to work.
2. The BATCH file should work on 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7. It has been tested on Windows 7 x64, Windows Vista x86, and Windows XP x86.

More secrets of GoToWebinar

A while back I posted The secrets to a great Webinar, in which I covered some of the things you can do to prepare for your webinar to make it more successful.  Today I’m going to show you a couple of built in GoToWebinar features and how to get the most out of them.

Auto redirect Registrants to a URL of your choice.

The process of scheduling a GoToWebinar is pretty straight forward, so I’m going to skip right through to the last option.  This feature allows you to automatically redirect someone that registers for your webinar, to another URL.  The most obvious use of this feature is to direct the registrant to your product page or blog etc, whatever it is you plan to promote.  Some less obvious uses (but potentially more beneficial), are;

• Automatically redirect registrants to a web page containing any special instructions, information they should be aware of prior to the webinar.
• Redirect to your YouTube page (or similar), containing a video greeting letting them know you appreciate their interest and giving a quick highlight of what the stand to gain from actually attending.
• Redirect to a page containing or linking to any relevant pre-reading/watching,  relevant information that will help them understand your webianr content better.
• If you know you are going to have an international audience, provide a page with instructions in multiple languages.

Ultimately you’re only limited by your imagination.

Email Notifications

Once you have scheduled your GoToWebinar you have the ability to edit and make changes as well as personalize the Emails registrants will receive.

• Log into your account, go to My Webinars and select the newly scheduled webinar. 

• In the drop down box opposite Change Session Settings: select Email Notifications

On this page you have the option to Personalize the Confirmation, Reminder, Follow Up and even the Email sent to Registrants that failed to attend.  This gives you 4 more opportunities to  reinforce your message and provide information to your audience.

Of course as the old saying goes “Less is more”, so don’t go overboard as the result may be the opposite of what you desired.