Victory is mine! I have figured out how to customise Lync 2013 status messages in much the same way that I previously used to customise Lync 2010. If you have recently upgraded to Office 2013, and I can tell which of you did by the big smiles, then this post’s for you!
1. Create an XML file on your desktop using your favourite text editor and call it presence.xml.
2. Paste the following text into that file, making sure you don’t get smart quotes by accident.
<?xml version="1.0"?>
< customStates
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/09/2005/communicator/customStates"
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsi:schemaLocation=
"http://schemas.microsoft.com/09/2005/communicator/customStates
">
< customState ID="1" availability="online">
< activity LCID="1033">Loving my commute</activity>
< /customState>
< customState ID="2" availability="busy">
< activity LCID="1033">Deadline looming, send coffee</activity>
< /customState>
< customState ID="3" availability="busy">
< activity LCID="1033">But not at my PC...call my cell.</activity>
< /customState>
< customState ID="4" availability="do-not-disturb">
< activity LCID="1033">Presenting, so everyone will see</activity>
< /customState>
< /customStates>
Or you can just download my version, found here. Hooray for Dropbox! What??? You don’t have a Dropbox? Inconceivable! Click here my friend for 2GB of free storage!
3. Launch regedit and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\.
4. Create a key structure below that point for Office\15.0\Lync so that you have a full path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Lync
5. Then, you will need to tell Lync it can accept a presence.xml file without using HTTPS. Create a REG_DWORD called EnableSIPHighSecurityMode and set that value to 0.
6. Next, create a REG_SZ (string) called CustomStateURL and give it a value of “file:///C:/Program Files (x86)/Microsoft Lync/presence.xml” if you are running 64bit, or “file:///C:/Program Files/Microsoft Lync/presence.xml” if you are running 32bit. In either case, don’t include the quotes.
7. Then, create a REG_DWORD called EnableAppearOffline and give it a value of 1.
Or, you can just download my reg file and merge it into your registry if you are using 32bit Lync on 64bit Windows 8. Here’s another chance to get that free 2GB of storage!
8. Copy the presence.xml file to whichever path from step 5 is appropriate for you.
9. Exit and relaunch Lync, and see your new status options.
Two more things to keep in mind. First, don’t leave yourself as “Appear Offline” for too long, or folks will think you’re goofing off. Second, federated contacts won’t see your custom messages. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but if you want them to see it to, change their relationship to “colleagues.”
And since I got a song idea from an earlier comment on another post, and am really pleased to finally have this working on Lync 2013, here’s the little ditty I’m currently doing the Snoopy Dance to. Enjoy!
Direct link for RSS and email subscribers…http://youtu.be/ieOwL1UB1V4
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