How To Use NetMeeting To Host a PowerPoint Presentation Meeting?
Jon Forrest, 27 Mar 2000
Last updated: 3 Mar 2004

Below is mostly out of date, see How Do I use NetMeeting

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How To Use NetMeeting To Host a PowerPoint Presentation Meeting

NetMeeting can be used to present a meeting in which virtually any number of people logged in to other computers can see what you're doing when you run an application on your computer. This works in a manner very similar to that used by PcAnywhere. That is, when you're running the application, the people watching you see a window on their PC that shows the application window just as you see it. When you move the mouse, for example, they see the mouse move on their screen. You can set things up so that the people in your audience can only watch what you're doing without being able to take control of your application. Or, if you trust your audience, you can allow them to use your application just like they were in front of your PC.

Although this note concentrates on how to share a PowerPoint 2000 presentation it's important to realize that you can use NetMeeting to share any Win32-based application.

To create the meeting,

• Start the application you want to present in the meeting the way you would normally.
• Start NetMeeting. (On Windows 2000 the NetMeeting icon is located in Start->Start Programs->Accessories->Communications->NetMeeting).
• Click on the "Call->Host Meeting..." item. This lets you give your meeting a name, and a password if you want.
• Click on the "Tools->Sharing" item. This brings up a window asking you to specify the application you want to share. Pick Microsoft PowerPoint.

That's all you have to do.

When people want to join the meeting to see your PowerPoint presentation they first need to know the name of the computer you're running NetMeeting on. Then they need to start NetMeeting on their computer. They DON'T have to start PowerPoint. Using NetMeeting they should click on "Call->New Call" and then give the name of the computer that you're on in the "To:" box. Then, the should click on "Call". When they do this you'll see a pop-up window on your screen asking if you want to accept their call. Click on "Accept". (You can configure NetMeeting to automatically accept calls so you won't be bothered having to accept calls from every member of your audience). Once a person has been accepted they will see a new window on their screen showing the same thing that your PowerPoint window is showing. As you flip through slides every member of your audience will see the same flips. When you're done with your presentation click on the "NetMeeting Call->Hang Up" choice. This will cause all the audience members to be dropped from the call.

That's it.