Training Center
These release notes describe new WebEx Training Center features; the WebEx service that helps you deliver real-time, interactive training over the Web. For detailed instructions on using Training Center, see the user guides on the Support page of your Training Center service site.
Training Center no longer supports Windows 98, Mac OS X 10.3 and some Linux distributions. It also no longer supports Netscape 8, Mozilla on Windows and Safari 1.3 on Mac. For more information about the operating systems and browsers that you can use with Training Center, see the WebEx Cross-platform Features and Known Issues.
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What's New
The following list shows recent features and enhancements for Training Center, listed by release version number. Versions that did not include major updates are not listed.
WBS29.12
New User Reference link
The New User Reference function has been improved for a better support experience. When you select the New User Reference link for your WebEx service, a web page is displayed with reference information tailored for the WebEx service you're using. This makes it easier to access information about a specific WebEx service. The default setting for the New User Reference link can be changed in WebEx Site Administration.
Recording announcement
Recording has been enhanced to play an audible announcement to attendees when a recording has started in a meeting. If you're calling using a telephone, you'll hear the announcement if you're in the meeting when a recording starts or when you join a meeting that is being recorded. If you're calling using a computer (VoIP), you'll only hear the announcement if you're in the meeting when the recording starts. The recording announcement feature applies only to customers with WebEx audio conferencing.
This feature will be available after additional updates are completed to the WebEx Cloud. The target availability for the Network-Based Recording (NBR) announcement feature timeframe is Q1 2015. When the feature is becomes available, a new setting will be added in WebEx Site Administration so that administrators can enable NBR audible announcements, if desired.
Site Administration updates
Updates were made to the Site Administration tool. For more information, see Site Administration Release Notes.
WBS29.11
Profile page enhancements
The Profile page has been reduced to contain key profile information.
Preferences page
The Preferences page is now the centralized location for all user settings.
- New collapsible categories
- "Webpage Preferences" and "Default Page Settings" have been moved under the General section
- The following settings have been moved from the Profile page to the Preferences Page:
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- "My Phone Numbers" (from the Profile Page) and the Personal Conferencing Page have been merged under "Audio Settings"
- The One-Click Setup page has been moved to the Preferences page and renamed to "'Meet Now' Settings"
- It has been given a more modern look and feel, and made fully accessible.
WebEx Productivity Tools
Updates were made to WebEx Productivity Tools support. For more information, see the "WebEx Productivity Tools Support" tables in Productivity Tools Release Notes.
Updates for operating system and browser support
Support was updated for operating systems and browsers. See Cross-platform Features and Known Issues for more information.
Site Administration updates
Updates were made to the Site Administration tool. For more information, see Site Administration Release Notes.
WBS29.10
WebEx Productivity Tools
Updates were made to WebEx Productivity Tools support. For more information, see the "WebEx Productivity Tools Support" tables in Productivity Tools Release Notes.
Updates for operating system and browser support
Support was updated for operating systems and browsers. See Cross-platform Features and Known Issues for more information.
WBS29.8.1
WebEx ball icon
The WebEx ball icon has been updated with a new design.
WBS29.8
WebEx page redesign and accessibility updates:
There have been improvements to the user experience for web pages in WebEx centers. The WebEx pages now have a modern design, but the interaction has not changed, so all the functionality remains the same.
Accessibility features have also been added to increase our current level of accessibility.
The redesign is a phased approach, beginning with core pages and flows. (We will continue to redesign other pages and centers in subsequent releases.)
- Global elements (such as the header, top navigation, and the left menu bar) and core pages (such as the log in page, the My WebEx > My Meetings page, and the My WebEx > Training page) have been redesigned and have improved accessibility
- The "Welcome" page has been optimized and has been renamed to "Home."
- The join by number page can now be used to look up a Personal Room by the host's username.
Screen saver when sharing
When a user is sharing content in a meeting, the screen saver is disabled for all participants.
WebEx Productivity Tools
Updates were made to WebEx Productivity Tools, including support for the Mac. For more information, see Productivity Tools Release Notes.
Using WebEx on Chrome
Because Chrome will be removing support for NPAPI, a new joining method using a Chrome extension has been provided for using WebEx starting with Chrome 38. When using WebEx for the first time on Chrome, users will be guided through a one-time process to add the extension and update the WebEx application. After the first time, users can join without the extra steps.
Site Administration updates
Updates were made to the Site Administration tool. For more information, see Site Administration Release Notes.
Enhanced audio experience with wideband audio on WebEx VoIP and WebEx Audio
WebEx Audio meetings and VoIP-only meetings now have a superior meeting experience with wideband audio when users are connecting to audio using their computers (VoIP).
Wideband audio also refers to high-definition voice. Wideband audio captures wider frequency range and therefore provides clearer audio connections.
Windows, Mac, and Linux desktop applications, Apple iPad and iPhone devices, and Android mobile devices are supported. Wideband audio is also supported for network-based recording of VoIP only and WebEx Audio meetings.
Wideband Audio Codec (OPUS) is now the default codec for WebEx VoIP attendees. The OPUS codec has superior Packet Loss Concealment (PLC) and Forward Error Correction (FEC) and is more resilient to packet loss. As a result, it provides better audio quality in less ideal conditions.
It has a better noise-suppression algorithm that provides a much better experience when using audio through a computer, even without headset. It includes enhanced jitter buffer for UDP-based VoIP traffic. Reduced delay and data loss with smaller packet sampling size of 20 ms.
Computers operating on Solaris, Windows mobile devices, and Blackberry devices will continue to use narrowband audio for VoIP audio. If a user joins a meeting from any of those devices, the narrowband audio is used for the whole meeting.
Company Address Book and Personal Address Book in Site Administration and My WebEx
In the Company Address Book, which is available in Site Administration and in My WebEx, and the user's Personal Address Book, which is available in My WebEx, multiple contacts can be imported only by using a comma- or tab-delimited values file (.csv). To upload a comma- or tab-delimited .csv file, select the file to upload, select the type of delimiter your file uses (Tab or Comma), and then select Import. The WebEx Address Book format can also be exported from Site Administration and from My WebEx.
WBS29.7
WebEx Productivity Tools
Updates were made to WebEx Productivity Tools support. For more information, see the "WebEx Productivity Tools Support" tables in Productivity Tools Release Notes.
WBS29.6
Updates for operating system and browser support
Support was updated for operating systems and browsers. See Cross-platform Features and Known Issues for more information.
WBS29.5
Updates for operating system and browser support
Support was updated for operating systems and browsers. See Cross-platform Features and Known Issues for more information.
WBS29.4
New range for reuse of last passwords
The Do not allow reuse of last passwords option site administration option now allows site administrators to select a range from 3 to 8 last passwords. The new default is 3.
Updates for operating system support
Support was updated for operating systems. See Cross-platform Features and Known Issues for more information.
WBS29.3
WebEx Productivity Tools
Updates were made to WebEx Productivity Tools support. For more information, see the "WebEx Productivity Tools Support" tables in Productivity Tools Release Notes.
Security enhancement for VeriSign security servers
This security enhancement has also been made to remote access agents that are installed on a remote computer in all WebEx services. This includes the following services:
The enhancement requires the remote access agent to validate the security certificate from VeriSign. If using these services, make sure your firewall is configured to allow access to the URLs listed above in order for the remote agent to stay online and accessible for your users.
WBS29.1
Support for PayPal
Starting in version WBS29.1, the site administrator will see new selections to the Provider Settings for PayPal Payflow Pro, PayPal Website Payments Pro UK, and PayPal Express Checkout US and Canada for training sessions. End users will see changes in the Payment Information Page for training sessions.
Cross-platform support
Updates were made for browser support. See the "Operating System and Browser Support" section in Cross-platform Features and Known Issues for more information.
WBS29
Document loading indicator
Sharing multiple documents during file sharing has become easier with the following features:
- Users now have the ability to select multiple documents to upload at the same time.
- All selected files show up in tabs above the content area.
- Files get uploaded one at a time and become available for sharing as soon as they are uploaded.
- Progress indicators in the content area and document tabs provide an immediate upload status for all selected documents.
- Users can cancel uploading for a file by selecting the close (x) icon on the tab of the file that is currently being uploaded. Users cannot cancel uploading for multiple files in the queue, but those files can be removed after they have been uploaded.
Multiple monitor support enhancements
- If a user has multiple monitors and goes to full-screen video when sharing, the user is presented with an option to move video to another monitor. Sharing is paused if video is not moved, and controls switch to video controls.
- Windows users can also share secondary monitors. In this case, the meeting controls and video panel also move to the secondary monitor to enable easy access when sharing.
Known Issues/Limitations
Links generated by WebEx centers and WebEx recording services
As part of our continuing updates to improve security, Cisco is making changes to improve the management of cryptographic keys used to generate URLs used in WebEx Meeting Center, Training Center, Support Center, Event Center, and WebEx recording services. As a result, existing links that were generated by those services have been updated, and in some cases, users may need to request new links.
Windows 8 and 8.1
- If a presenter using Windows 8 or 8.1 shares his or her application or screen (formerly called "desktop sharing"), other participants will see windows with a crosshatch pattern on top of the shared content in places where any panels are open. This problem occurs with all panels, including the meeting control panel, Participants panel, Chat panel, and sharing indicators. We recommend that presenters using Windows 8 or 8.1 keep panels closed as much as possible to provide a better viewing experience for other participants.
- When connecting to remote computer with Windows 8 or 8.1, the local screen will not be able to be blacked out.
- File sharing Word documents for the 32-bit version of Microsoft Office 2010 is not supported for Windows 8.1. We recommend that you use application sharing or screen sharing instead.
Microsoft Office 2013 Support
- If you have Microsoft Office 2013 installed, the following features are not supported when sharing PowerPoint 2013 files:
- If you have customized your Info Tab, some custom elements may not be supported. We recommend that you validate it to make sure it continues to display properly in a WebEx meeting.
- In a few cases, the following problems may occur:
- If an object in a PowerPoint presentation does not display correctly in edit mode, it is automatically removed in Slide Show view; however, the object may continue to display when the file is shared in a WebEx meeting.
- You cannot share password-protected PowerPoint 2013 files using the file sharing feature. Use the application sharing or desktop sharing features instead.
- You cannot share Excel 2013 files on Windows 8 using the file sharing feature. Use the application sharing or screen sharing (formerly called "desktop sharing") features instead.
- You cannot share Word 2013 (64-bit) documents on Windows 8 (64-bit) using the file sharing feature. Use the application sharing or screen sharing features instead.
Sharing Office 2010 documents
Some features newly introduced in PowerPoint 2010 such as 3D graphics, animations and transitions are not supported and may be rendered as static objects when sharing presentations using those features.
Streaming media sharing
High-definition video
High-definition video is available for the main session only. There is no support for breakout sessions at this time.
High-quality video
High-quality video is available for the main session only. There is no support for breakout sessions at this time.
Operating system limitations
- Display UCF PowerPoint animations and transitions
- Share UCF files
- Cache course material before the session starts
- See the attendee-ready indicator
- Use WebEx integrated video
- Record sessions with the WebEx Recorder or edit them with the WebEx Recording Editor
- Play a training session recording file (WRF format) on Solaris or Linux
- Use PCNow
- Install the Integration to Microsoft Outlook
- Conduct Hands-on Labs
The Linux platform does not support the new interface, Training Control panel, streaming video sharing, computer audio enhancements, new participant panel, and high-quality video behavior, including full-screen video behavior.
- Install integration to Microsoft Outlook
- View PowerPoint Notes in a panel
- Playback non-Quicktime movie format files during a session (only .MOV and .QT are supported)
- Use Quick Start
- Invite or Remind attendees from Session Option tray during full screen document sharing, application and desktop sharing
- Set Hands-On Lab options
- Record sessions to a local computer with the local WebEx Recorder or edit them with the WebEx Recording Editor (.WRF format only).
For details see Cross-platform Features and Known Issues.
Other Mac issues
- If a host on a Mac assigns the Presenter role to an attendee on a Mac, and at the same time has polling list, invite options, or Q&A tab options open, these options do not automatically close for the new presenter if she does full-screen or Application/Desktop sharing
- A host cannot start a session on a Mac simultaneously while viewing a WebEx Network Based Recording.
- Chat and Q&A text box does not have a scroll bar when entering large amounts of text in the message
- If an attendee switched to a presenter role while taking a test, they still can take the test.
- Attendees can see the Presenter's Sharing menu during desktop share, if the latter is on an Intel Mac.
- Web Browser for attendee does not close automatically when Presenter on Mac stops web sharing
- When doing desktop share, if Presenter tries to simultaneously assign attendees to breakout sessions from the Session Options tray, the panel overlaps the Assignment dialog and this dialog disappears if the presenter clicks anywhere on the desktop.
- Scroll bar space for polls always appears, even if there is no scroll bar
Session options always appears on top of other windows if opened during desktop share and using other functions from the session options tray.
Feature enhancements for Macintosh
Feature enhancements in this release are available for Windows, Solaris, and Linux. Enhancements and more feature support on Macintosh will be available shortly after this release.
Mobile device support
Training Center is not currently supported on mobile devices.
Hands-on Labs
- When upgrading from WBS 26 to WBS 27, Hands-on Labs within a session will not have all features for approximately 24 hours from the time of the upgrade. During this period, labs can be started and attendees will be able to join, but attendees will not be able to pass control to each other or transfer files.
- If file transfer is disabled for Hands-On Labs in a customized session type, it is still available in On-Demand Hands-on Labs because it is supported in the main training session type.
Sessions deleted automatically after ending
If a session is automatically deleted after it ends, as specified by the host, and then the attendees of that session are also invited to an On-Demand lab, those attendees do not receive any cancellations from the On-Demand session and there is no way for the host to manually cancel their invitations. However, when they try to join the lab, they will not be allowed to do so.
Attention tracking
If an attendee is on Solaris or Unix and they take a test within the session, they are assumed to be always paying attention in the session for as long as they are in the session during and after completing the test.
Registering for recurring sessions
In the case of single recurring sessions, if a registered attendee from a later session is manually invited by the presenter into the current ongoing session, they will lose their registration from the session they originally registered for and show up as an attendee of the current session in the usage reports.
Meta data name
The meta data name when entering data for SCORM 2004 cannot include certain special characters, even if the original session included these characters in the title.
Registering through email link
If an attendee is invited to register for a session and clicks on the email link to do so, their name is not pre-filled in the registration form.
Host account files
If your host user account is deleted, your files are still included in the site storage space allocation.
Network-based recording
Disabling Quick Start
If your site administrator disables the Quick Start page in the session type and you save a scheduling template for this session type, Quick Start still appears in the template's options. However, the Quick Start page does not appear in the session.
Closing dialog windows in the Firefox browser
When using Firefox, some dialog windows may not close when clicking the Close or OK button due to a technical limitation with Firefox.
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