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Utilizing ParaChat For Moderated Events |
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ParaChat v4.0 is equipped with a moderated event feature that is used to hold organized and
structured events online, and in real time. ParaChat has developed its moderated event
feature to be easy to set up, easy to use, feature-rich, and intuitive for end-users,
moderators, speakers and room administrators alike. Below you will find a guide to setting
up, conducting, and completing a moderated event. If you have any questions about utilizing
ParaChat for moderated events, please contact ParaChat
Support.
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User asks question >>> Moderator screens question >>> Speaker
answers question >>> All users read question and answer
When you place your ParaChat Room into a moderated mode, users may no longer submit their chat
text directly to the main chat window. Private chatting is automatically disabled as well.
Chat text is submitted to a Moderator for screening and editing, then forwarded on to a
Speaker. The Speaker will answer the screened question, and submit both the original question
and the corresponding answer together to the main chat window for all users to read. Standard
Users will then see their name and question appear in the main chat window, along with the
Speaker's name and the answer to their question. When the moderated event is over, moderated
mode may be turned off on-the-fly to return the room to an open chat setting. A transcript of
the event, if generated, can be retrieved for posting or distribution.
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ParaChat's moderated event feature includes 4 types of users. Each type of user has different
attributes and responsibilities during a moderated event, and has access to different
features. Below is a summary of these attributes:
1. Standard User:
A user who attends a moderated event. The Standard User accesses a
ParaChat room using a nickname of their choice. When a ParaChat room is placed in moderated
mode, text submitted by a user is automatically forwarded to a Moderator for review prior to
being answered by a Speaker. A user will see their submitted question in their chat window,
and receive a confirmation that their question has been submitted.
2. Room Administrator:
A user who has access to the administrative controls of the ParaChat
room. The room administrator accesses a ParaChat room using a designated admin user name and
password. They are responsible for setting up the Moderator(s) and Speaker(s) for the event
using the GUI Admin Console, for placing the room into moderation mode, and for turning on the
transcript feature if desired. The Room Administrator also has the ability to ban or expel
unwanted or obnoxious users from the ParaChat room, to change the room greeting, invoke the
profanity filter, and a variety of other important functions.
3. Moderator:
A user who is designated as an event moderator by the Room Administrator. The
Moderator accesses a ParaChat room using the user name assigned to them by the Room
Administrator. Questions posed by
Standard Users are automatically sent to the Moderation Console for review, editing, deleting,
answering, or forwarding on to the Speaker. Although the Moderation Console will
automatically display in a separate window apart from the ParaChat room when a question is
submitted by a Standard User, the Moderator may also launch the window by typing the following
command into the chat text field: %moderate
4. Speaker:
A user who is designated as an event speaker by the Room Administrator. The
Speaker accesses a ParaChat room using the user name assigned to them by the Room
Administrator. A speaker will receive
questions that have been screened and forwarded by the Moderator into their Moderation
Console. Once a screened question is received by a Speaker, the Speaker has the choice of
also editing the question prior to answering it, and submitting it to the entire ParaChat
room. Although the Moderation Console will automatically display in a separate window apart
from the ParaChat room when a question is submitted by a Moderator, the Speaker may also
launch the window by typing the following command into the chat text field: %moderate
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Tips for Setting Up a Moderated Event |
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Below is a list of tips for ensuring a successful moderated event.
1. Setting a Heartbeat:
Your ParaChat room is equipped with a 10-minute default time-out for
idle users. Users who are inactive for a period of 10 minutes will automatically be
disconnected. In a moderated event, some users may wish to simply view the event without
submitting questions. To ensure that idle users are not disconnected after 10 minutes of idle
activity, you may implement a Heartbeat from your ParaChat room to the chat server. When
implemented, a pulse is sent from the ParaChat room every 5 minutes to keep all connections
"alive" until a user logs out. To implement the Heartbeat, simply add the following line of
HTML to your ParaChat room applet code prior to the moderated event:
<param name="net.Heartbeat" value="true">
2. Generate a Transcript:
ParaChat's transcript feature allows you to "record" your
moderated event. The chat text submitted to the main chat window during the event is written
to and retained on the chat server. When your moderated event has ended, simply retrieve the
transcript and post it on your web site, or distribute it by email. To generate a transcript
of your moderated event, the Room Administrator must turn the feature "ON". The transcript
feature is controlled from the GUI Admin Console. Chat text in the main chat window will be
saved to the transcript file until the transcript feature is turned off, or until the Room
Administrator exits the room.
3. Request Password-Protected Names:
To prevent unauthorized use of Moderator or Speaker
names, you may request to have specific user names password-protected in advance of your
event. To request password-protected user names for a Speaker or Moderator, please contact
ParaChat Support.
4. Take Questions in Advance:
Prevent lulls in your moderated event by accepting questions
in advance of your event. In this fashion, the moderator will have a list of pre-screened
questions from which to select in case users do not submit enough questions, or relevant
questions, to maintain a consistent flow. If you promote a moderated event on your web site,
provide a link so that users may submit questions early.
5. Practice:
ParaChat has made every effort to offer an intuitive moderated event feature.
We suggest conducting a trial moderated event so that you may become comfortable with the
features, and also have the opportunity to request technical support in advance of your event.
Practice makes perfect!
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To conduct a moderated event, the Room Administrator, Moderator(s), and Speaker(s) should be
familiar with the Moderation Console, and take the steps outlined below.
The Moderation Console:
The Moderation Console is used by the Moderator(s) and Speaker(s) to screen and answer
questions submitted by Standard Users. It provides the ideal interface to manage questions.
The Moderation Console may be launched by the Room Administrator, Moderator(s), or Speaker(s)
by typing the following command into the chat text field: %moderate. The Moderation Console
will launch in a separate window from the ParaChat room.
When a question is submitted by a user, it is automatically numbered for easy reference, and
posted to the Moderation Console. Highlight a question by clicking on it with your left mouse
button. You may take the following actions with each highlighted question by clicking on the
appropriate button, each of which is described below:
Answer: Answers the highlighted question. An "Answering Chat Question" dialogue window will
appear that contains the question, and a blank field into which the answer to the question may
be entered. Press the "OK" button to submit the question and the answer to the main chat
window. Answered questions appear in italics within the Moderation Console.
Edit: Make edits to a highlighted question prior to forwarding it to the Speaker, or
answering it. An "Editing Chat Question" dialogue window will display that contains the
submitted question. When finished making edits, press the "OK" button. The edited question
is once again listed in the Moderation Console, and it may be forwarded or answered.
Forward: Forwards the highlighted question to the Speaker. Questions that have been
forwarded appear with a strike-through.
Delete: Deletes the highlighted question
Post: Allows the Moderator or Speaker to submit a comment directly to the room without
having received a question.
Gag Allows the Moderator to block questions being posed by a specific user from
being submitted to the Moderation Console. A user may be "ungagged" by using the
"Action" file menu at the top of the Console.
Delete Clears all questions, regardless of their status, from the Moderation Console.
Room Administrator
Set a Topic or Greeting (optional): Before the event begins, set a relevant greeting or
topic of discussion that users will see when they first log into the room. In the Admin
Console, Configure tab >>> Topic tab >>> enter a topic and press the "Set" button.
Set Profanity Filter (optional): Although questions are screened by the moderator prior to
being submitted to the chat room, unwanted profane language can automatically be filtered by
turning on the Profanity Filter. In the Admin Console, Configure tab >>> Profanity tab >>
press the "Turn On Filter" button.
Turn on Transcript (optional): Record a transcript of the moderated event using the
Transcript feature, In the Admin Console, Configure tab >>> Transcript tab >>> enter a file
name of your choice and press the "Start" button.
Set up Moderator(s): Add the user name(s) that will be used by the Moderator(s). In the
Admin Console, Moderation tab >>> Moderator tab >>> enter a Moderator user name and press the
"Add Moderator" button. You will see an updated list of current Moderators printed in the
main chat window. To review a list of current Moderator names, press the "Current Moderators"
button to review the list in the main chat window. To remove unwanted Moderator names, enter
the user name and press the "Delete Moderator" button.
Set up Speaker(s): Add the user name(s) that will be used by the Speaker(s). In the Admin
Console, Moderation tab >>> Speaker tab >>> enter a Speaker user name and press the "Add
Speaker" button. You will see an updated list of current Speakers printed in the main chat
window. To review a list of current Speaker names, press the "Current Speakers" button to
review the list in the main chat window. To remove unwanted Speaker names, enter the user
name and press the "Delete Speaker" button.
Turn on Moderation mode: Change the room mode from open chat to moderated chat. In the
Admin Console, Moderation tab >>> Status tab >>> click the "Turn Moderation on" button.
Moderator
Log into the ParaChat Room: Enter the chat room using the Moderator user name (and password
if applicable) that has been provided by the Room Administrator.
Launch Moderation Console: Although the Moderation Console will automatically display in a
separate window apart from the ParaChat room when a question is submitted by a user, the
Moderator may also launch the window by typing the following command into the chat text field:
%moderate
Receive and Screen Questions: When a question is submitted by a user, it will appear in the
Moderation Console. Each question is numbered for easy reference. Use the button controls to
edit or delete functions to screen a highlighted question.
Forward to Speaker: Once a question has been screened, use the button controls to forward
the highlighted question to the Speaker.
Speaker
Log into the ParaChat Room: Enter the chat room using the Speaker user name (and password
if applicable) that has been provided by the Room Administrator.
Launch Moderation Console: Although the Moderation Console will automatically display in a
separate window apart from the ParaChat room when a question is submitted by a Moderator, the
Speaker may also launch the window by typing the following command into the chat text field:
%moderate
Receive Screened Questions: When a question is received from the Moderator, it will appear
in the Moderation Console. Each question is numbered for easy reference. As a Speaker, the
option to further edit or delete a question is available.
Answer and Submit Questions: Use the Answer button to reply to a highlighted question.
Press the "OK" button when the question has been answered, and the question will be posted to
the main chat window with the accompanying answer.
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Multiple Moderators & Speakers |
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Large-scale moderated events may require multiple moderators, as well as multiple speakers.
ParaChat's moderation mode utilizes a round-robin format for distributing questions from
Standard Users to Moderators, and from Moderators to Speakers.
Examples:
If an event has two Moderators, questions from Standard Users will be distributed evenly between the two
Moderators. Moderator 1 will receive questions 1,3,5,7, etc., and Moderator 2 will receive
questions 2,4,6,8, etc. If one of the two Moderators disconnects from the session for any
reason, any unanswered questions will automatically appear in the remaining Moderator's
Moderation Console.
If an event has two Speakers, questions forwarded by Moderators are distributed evenly between
the Speakers. Speaker 1 will receive questions 1,3,5,7, etc., and Speaker 2 will receive
questions 2,4,6,8, etc. If a question is not relevant to a particular Speaker, the Speaker
may highlight the question, press the "Forward" button, and send the question to the other
Speaker. If one of the two Speakers disconnects from the session for any reason, any
unanswered questions will automatically appear in the remaining Speaker's Moderation Console.
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At the conclusion of a moderate event, there are several post-event tasks that may be
performed.
Turn Off Transcript: In the Admin Console, Configure tab >>> Transcript tab >>>
and press the "Stop" button.
Turn Off Moderation: In the Admin Console, Moderation tab >>> Status tab >>>
click the "Turn Moderation off" button. The room will automatically revert to an open chat, where users may
freely submit chat text directly to the main chat window.
Retrieve the Transcript: The transcript can be retrieved by logging into the Server Admin
Pages using your Room Administrator name and password, entering your ParaChat room name,
entering the transcript name (with a .log suffix) into the "Fetch Room Transcripts" field, and
pressing the "Fetch Transcript" button.
Questions Are Cleared: When the Moderator(s) and Speaker(s) close their Moderation Consoles
and disconnect from the ParaChat room, the list of questions contained within the Moderation
Console are permanently cleared. A record of the questions that have been answered, and
posted to the main chat window, are found in the transcript if one was generated.
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Retrieving Chat transcripts using your browser |
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You may retrieve the transcript using one of two methods. The first is
from the Server Admin Pages. Point your browser toward:
http://<your_host_name.com>:7877/plynx/parachat/index.lhtml
and
use your server or room admin name and password to gain access to the
server web pages. Enter your exact ParaChat room name in the "Edit
Existing Room" field. Under "Retrieve Transcripts" enter the name of
the transcript using the .log suffix (i.e. if you named the session
WeeklyChat, the name of the log file you want to retrieve is
WeeklyChat.log). You can enter a specific speaker name in the "Make
These Users Stand Out" field, and their chat text will be bolded
automatically in the transcript. Cut and paste the transcript from this
window and paste it to a web page on your site for others to view. To
view the list of available logs, you can enter the command: "/room log
list" within the chat text entry window
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Download your Chat Transcripts |
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The second way is to retrieve the .log file directly from the server.
Log files are written to the "logs" directory on the chat server, and
each ParaChat room has its own directory into which the log file is
stored (..Program Files/ParaChat/ParaChat400/logs/#roomname/logname.log).
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