What settings can I change at my own computer?
Changing local settings at one computer does not affect any other users on the network; however these settings are essential for optimizing communication in a way that makes the best sense for that computer's user or location.
Where do I find the settings that I can change from my computer?
The Menu button contains Actions for quick use. Within that, Notifications controls the local Alert Manager. For all other settings, tab down to Preferences.
Front office computers have different communication needs than back office computers - actually, this can be said pretty much about every computer in an office! Local changes on each computer are what mold BlueNote Lights to user needs, instead of expecting everyone to encounter notifications in exactly the same way.
Before making changes at a BlueNote client, decide what it is that should be changed to fit the software to its environment. Do popups need to stay up longer? Should a tone automatically play again when a Light ages to orange or red? Would it be helpful to be able to turn off a Light with a single click? Are the tones at this computer too loud or intrusive? With a goal in mind, try out different settings and adjustments on a BlueNote client to discover what is optimal for a specific computer.
Here is a list and explanation of the features that can be customized within local settings:
Menu > Actions:
• Toggle Elapsed times On so that the elapsed time displays on all active Lights.
Menu > Notifications > Open Alert Manager:
• Choose which Tones and Popups should interrupt users at this workstation.
• Enable a third type of interruption that can be sent to a phone number, email address, or Pushover account under Mobile Notifications.
Menu > Preferences > Location:
• Change the user name for the BlueNote client, and add a Location if the user name is a person.
Menu > Preferences > General:
• Startup Options. The default is for BlueNote to automatically start any time a user logs in to a computer.
• Do Not Disturb/DND settings control whether or not DND needs to be manually toggled off or if it turns off automatically. This option is helpful when a user temporarily needs to mute all notifications. All other users will see a headset icon displayed in the User list in Conversations when DND is active.
• Light Panel Options. Enable right-click to clear to quickly turn off Lights either from the Light Panel grid or by right-clicking on an active Popup. A single-click light gains more function if this user needs others to immediately know which client turned on a light when "Insert Panel Name as a comment" is checked. Individuals may also change the default am/pm settings on their client to display 24 hour time instead.
Menu > Preferences > Sound:
• Local sound management controls to generally choose when tones are played as well as volume, and selecting the sound output device.
Menu > Preferences > Popups:
• Control the size of popups, as well as how long a popup for an active Light stays up on the client's monitor. The default setting is 6 minutes, but popups can be set to clear in hours if preferred.
• Decide how colors appear on all popups. The default is for BlueNote colors to take priority if one is present, then a Light color tag, with Aging color only appearing if no Light color tags or BlueNote colors are present on the active Light.
• Modify other actions of popups, including whether or not the user sees a popup when turning on their own light, aging refresh options, ease of responding to a light by automatically opening the Light action response window, and other options that can be de-selected.
• If Lights have Client, Patient, or Occupied tags enabled, select to include the tag name on all popups. Note: This feature is not included in Version 8 or previous versions.
Menu > Preferences > BlueNoteGo
• BlueNoteGo has been moved to its own tab (not seen in the image above) and is a small control bar that stays on top of all other windows. BlueNote Go is designed to help users bring the Light Panel and Conversations over all other windows or to toggle Do Not Disturb on or off. Program up to three Quick Light immediate, on-top buttons for notifications turned on most frequently at that workstation. New for Version 9.3: A GoFocus Bar has been added as a side-view for active Lights. See full BlueNoteGo Instructions here.
Note: BlueNoteGo is not included in Version 8 or previous versions.
Menu > Preferences > Conversations:
These options are covered in their own section: Sending Messages to a specific computer/user.
Menu > Preferences > Shortcuts:
• Windows Hotkeys are keyboard shortcuts that can also be used with devices connected to the computer such as foot pedals, button arrays, or any other hardware that can be mapped to a hotkey sequence.
Menu > Preferences > Activity:
• Determine whether or not the light history, called Daily Lights activity, should be cleared out each night, or retained in a FIFO (First in/First out) buffer over multiple days.
Menu > Preferences > Network:
• BlueNote Lights is designed to detect and connect to the network automatically, or users may select out of multiple network adapters available.
• The Serverless connection is best for ethernet (hard wired) adapters, while the Lights Gateway is used for wireless networking, multiple subnets, or to route around network interference caused by antimalware or other programs that may be installed on the network.
Menu > Preferences > Remote:
• This tab is enabled in System Wide Changes. If present, BlueNote Remote allows the user to control the actions on this BlueNote client remotely from the web browser of any device connected to the private secure network. BlueNote Remote is not active during the trial period without a trial extension license. To learn more, go to BlueNote Remote Overview.
Menu > Preferences > Advanced:
• This is the access point for System Wide Changes, as well as options for data management at this client. It is recommended not to change any of these settings unless instructed by IT or BlueNote support.
Resizing
• While resizing is not a navigable option, there may be times that users prefer to expand or shrink the main BlueNote panel or the Conversations window. Hovering over the edge of the Light Panel over Conversations windows allows users to resize either window.