Problems Joining Collaborate Sessions on Mac OS X 10.8.4

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Dylan Romero

We have discovered an issue with the Collaborate web conferencing system and OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.4. If you have recently updated a Mac that you use to join a Collaborate session as a moderator or participant; or if you are trying to view a recorded Collaborate session, please follow either one of the three suggested workarounds below that have been provided by Blackboard.

Affected PlatformsMac OS X 10.8.4

Issue
Recent security changes released by Apple may prevent Web Conferencing customers from launching Blackboard Collaborate sessions and recordings. Customers using OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.4 will be affected. The security changes no longer allow users to auto-launch JNLP files. The following message will appear when trying to launch a session:

Note: Clicking the OK button will NOT launch the session

Solution/Workaround
This issue can be resolved by using one of the following workaround methods:

Workaround 1 (Recommended):
Role: Moderators and Participants
Difficulty: Novice

To launch a Web Conferencing session or recording follow the steps below:

1. Locate the downloaded JNLP. Note: Please refer to knowledge base article 2941 to learn how to locate the JNLP Download.
2. Control-click (or right-click) the file and then select “Open” from the context menu. You will see the Open meeting.jnlp confirmation message (Refer to the image below).
3. Click the “Open” button at the bottom of the dialogue box to launch your Web Conferencing session (Refer to the image above).

Note: Repeat workaround 1 every time you wish to launch a Web Conferencing session or a recording.

Workaround 2:
Role: Moderators and Participants
Difficulty: Novice

1. Go to your Apple Menu at the top left corner of your computer screen.
2. Select System Preferences.
3. Select Security & Privacy (Refer to the image below).
4. If necessary, click the lock icon at the bottom left of the Security & Privacy window to make the needed changes (Refer to the image above).
5. Under the “Allow applications downloaded from area”, select the Anywhere option at bottom of the Security & Privacy window (Refer to the image below).
6. Click the “Allow from Anywhere” button to confirm (Refer to the image above).
7. You should now see the Open confirmation message shown in the image below:
8. Click the “Open” button to allow your Web Conferencing session or recording to launch successfully.

Workaround 3: Collaborate supports mobile devices too!
Role: Participant Only

Join the Blackboard Collaborate session on your iOS mobile device (iPhone/iPad) or Android phone or tablet. Please refer to knowledge base article 2474 to learn how.

Further Details
For further information regarding this Apple Security Update, please visit:http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5784

Link to the Blackboard Collaborate article:http://support.blackboardcollaborate.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8336&task=knowledge&questionID=2940

Teleconferencing in Blackboard Collaborate

Blackboard Collaborate has a built-in teleconference option that lets participants call into the conference using their telephones.

To phone into your session:

1.  Enter your collaborate session

2.  From the menu at the upper-right of the video window, select "Use Telephone for Audio"

3.  The phone number and pin for your session will appear.  Call the number and dial your PIN to be connected to the conference, or distribute the phone number and PIN to participants.

4.  Teleconferencing participants appear on the Participants panel as "Teleconference"

How to Record a Collaborate Session

Moderators may optionally record Blackboard Collaborate sessions for later playback.  To record a Collaborate session, enter the session first, then click the "Record" button at the upper-right. 

If you would like to be reminded to start the recording in future sessions, click Tools > Preferences at the upper left, then click "Remind" and check the "Remind me to start recording button":

Within 1 hour after the last person has left the session, a link to the recorded session will appear for the students and instructors in the "Recordings" tab of Blackboard Collaborate in Blackboard itself.

Here is a video that shows the complete process for recording a Collaborate session: