Using External Chat Clients

Instead of OLAT's chat features you can use other chat clients as well. Here you will learn more about using the Psi Chat Client but you can also use other chat software (e.g. iChat).

Advantages of External Chat Clients

In contrast to the OLAT chat using external chat clients means

  • recording chat protocols,
  • chatting without OLAT login,
  • chatting even if the OLAT chat is deactivated and
  • knowing when your chat partner types a reply.

Requirements

We recommend using the Psi Chat Client for free. Download its software from the Psi website and install it on your computer. Mac users might want to use iChat as well.

Additional requirements:

  • Chat server link: jabber. + address of your OLAT server. Example: jabber.olat.uzh.ch,
  • your OLAT user name and
  • your Instant Messaging password.
info

You will find your Instant-Messaging password on your homepage, section "Settings," in the tab "Instant Messaging."

Setup of External Chat Client

1 Start Psi, click on the button at the bottom on your left and select "Account Setup."
2 Click on "Add" to add a new account.
3 Fill in the field "Name" before clicking on "Add."
4 Indicate your Jabber ID. It comprises your OLAT user name followed by the Chat Server link.
5 Save your settings.
6 Click on the button at the bottom on your right and go online.
7 Now you will see other members of your project groups. Double-click on the name of your chat partner to write a message.

Recording and Viewing Chat Protocols

Before recording chat protocols (History) you should make sure that you have selected "Log message history" in Psi, section "Account Setup."

There are two possibilities to view chat protocols:

  1. Double-click on the name of your chat partner. Click on the button on your right above the input field and select "Message history."
  2. All protocols will be stored on your computer via \PsiData\profiles\default\history. Open those protocols in a text editor to have a look at them.

Participating in a Course Chat

If you want to participate in a course chat by means of an external chat client just select in the menu on your left the link "Service Discovery" before choosing "Public Chatrooms." Double-click on a course, indicate a "Nickname" and enter the chat room by clicking on the button "Join."