Skype
This page is in the main devoted to running Skype under Ubuntu Linux.
Linux
Installation
sudo aptitude purge ~iskype # yes, that's tilda EYE rm -rfv ~/.skype wget download.skype.com/linux/skype-ubuntu-precise_4.3.0.37-1_i386.deb sudo gdebi skype-ubuntu-precise_4.3.0.37-1_i386.deb
Notifications
Step One:
It is possible to integrate Skype notifications with Ubuntu's own notification system you, to do this you first need to add two extra repositories. These repositories will install a modified version of NotifyOSD and additional software which includes a configuration utility. The repositories and the installation of the software must be done in the following order due to dependencies.
Installation the modified NotifyOSD repository.
Open a terminal and enter the following lines one at a time:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:leolik/leolik sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
Install the NotifyOSD Configuration software repository.
Open a terminal and enter the following lines one at a time:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:amandeepgrewal/notifyosdconfig sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install notifyosdconfig
The new software can be accessed through 'Applications' --> 'Accessories' --> 'NotifyOSD Configuration'
Step Two:
Start Skype
Go to 'Options' --> 'Notifications' --> click the 'Advanced View' button.
The following two examples should provide enough details to allow you to successfully create your own notification messages
Select the notification you want to change, the first example is for 'Incoming Call Ringing':
Untick 'Display pop-up notification'
Tick 'Execute the following script'
Enter the following in the box provided:
notify-send "%sname is calling" -i skype
This next example is for 'Voicemail Received':
Enter the following in the box provided:
notify-send "You have a voice message waiting" -i skype
Press the 'Apply' button before moving on to the next notification
Changes made this way are recorded in 'config.xml' file located in the home directory of your user profile:
/home/user_name/.Skype/skype_user_name
Users with more than one Skype account can copy everything between the tags <Notifications> </Notifications> and <Notify> </Notify> (if the 'Notify' tags do not exist paste direclty after the </Notifications>) then paste it in to the corresponding area of the 'config.xml' file of the other profile.
Below is an example of the modifications I have made to my own set up:
<Notifications>
<Enable>
<Scripts>
<Birthday>1</Birthday>
<CallBusy>1</CallBusy>
<CallFailed>1</CallFailed>
<CallHangup>1</CallHangup>
<CallHold>1</CallHold>
<CallMissed>1</CallMissed>
<CallRemoteHangup>1</CallRemoteHangup>
<CallResume>1</CallResume>
<CallRingingIn>1</CallRingingIn>
<ChatIncoming>1</ChatIncoming>
<ChatJoined>1</ChatJoined>
<ChatOutgoing>0</ChatOutgoing>
<ContactAdded>1</ContactAdded>
<ContactAuthRequest>1</ContactAuthRequest>
<ContactDeleted>1</ContactDeleted>
<ContactOffline>1</ContactOffline>
<ContactOnline>1</ContactOnline>
<Global>0</Global>
<SMSFailed>1</SMSFailed>
<SMSSent>1</SMSSent>
<TransferComplete>1</TransferComplete>
<TransferFailed>1</TransferFailed>
<TransferRequest>1</TransferRequest>
<VoicemailReceived>1</VoicemailReceived>
</Scripts>
</Enable>
<Scripts>
<Birthday>notify-send "%sname's birthday" -i skype
</Birthday>
<CallBusy>notify-send "%sname's line is busy" -i skype
</CallBusy>
<CallFailed>notify-send "Your call failed to connect" -i skype
</CallFailed>
<CallHangup>notify-send "Call Hung Up" -i skype
</CallHangup>
<CallHold>notify-send "Your current call is on hold" -i skype
</CallHold>
<CallMissed>notify-send "You missed a call from %sname" -i skype
</CallMissed>
<CallRemoteHangup>notify-send "Call ended" -i skype
</CallRemoteHangup>
<CallResume>notify-send "Your current call has resumed" -i skype
</CallResume>
<CallRingingIn>notify-send "%sname is calling" -i skype
</CallRingingIn>
<ChatIncoming>notify-send "Chat message received from %sname" -i skype</ChatIncoming>
<ChatJoined>notify-send "%sname has joined the chat" -i skype</ChatJoined>
<ChatOutgoing>notify-send "%sname has sent a chat message" -i skype</ChatOutgoing>
<ContactAdded>notify-send "%sname has been added to contacts list" -i skype</ContactAdded>
<ContactAuthRequest>notify-send "Incoming contact request" -i skype</ContactAuthRequest>
<ContactDeleted>notify-send "%sname has been deleted from contact list" -i skype</ContactDeleted>
<ContactOffline>notify-send "%sname is now offline" -i skype</ContactOffline>
<ContactOnline>notify-send "%sname is now online" -i skype</ContactOnline>
<Global></Global>
<SMSFailed>notify-send "SMS failed to send" -i skype</SMSFailed>
<SMSSent>notify-send "SMS sent" -i skype</SMSSent>
<TransferComplete>notify-send "File transfer complete" -i skype</TransferComplete>
<TransferFailed>notify-send "File transfer failed" -i skype</TransferFailed>
<TransferRequest>notify-send "File transfer request" -i skype</TransferRequest>
<VoicemailReceived>notify-send "You have a voice message waiting" -i skype
</VoicemailReceived>
</Scripts>
</Notifications>
<Notify>
<Authreq>0</Authreq>
<Birthday>0</Birthday>
<Call>0</Call>
<Chat>0</Chat>
<ContactAdded>0</ContactAdded>
<ContactDeleted>0</ContactDeleted>
<Offline>0</Offline>
<Online>0</Online>
<SMSFailed>0</SMSFailed>
<SMSSent>0</SMSSent>
<TransferComplete>0</TransferComplete>
<TransferFailed>0</TransferFailed>
<TransferRequest>0</TransferRequest>
<VoicemailReceived>0</VoicemailReceived>
</Notify>
Running Skype & Have It Log In At Start Up
Note: up to and including v.2.
To have Skype run at start up and have it log in to an account you need to create a shell script for each account, use the following code:
#!/bin/bash echo username password | skype --pipelogin
Note: v.4 onwards.
echo username password | skype --dbpath=~./.Skype2 --pipelogin
Replace 'username' and 'password' with your account details, then save the script to a convenient location.
Note: You will need to change the permissions to make it executable.
Then go to System --> Preferences --> Startup Applications, click the 'Add' button, give the new entry a name i.e. 'Skype - Work', then browse to the script and add it in.
Do this for as many accounts as you like, I have three and they work fine.
The above information was found here.
Running More Than One Instance Of Skype v.4
Before the release of Skype v.4 it was possible to run more that one instance of Skype with ease, with v.4 there is now a new hurdle but it is an easy one:
Quit all Skype instances, then:
Linux Terminal:~$ cp -a .Skype .Skype2
The above command copies the directory where Skype stores its options to a new folder.
Start the first instance of Skype as normal.
Open the second with using:
skype --dbpath=~./.Skype2
Note: You will be asked to agree with the Skype licensing again the first time of running a secondary instance.
To achieve this it is best done by creating a new shortcut.
Of course if you have more than two Skype instances you will need to create a separate directory for each, e.g. Skype42.
The above information was found here
Mac OS X
Full Installer Download Location
Windows
Disable On Startup Windows 10 Build 2004 (May 2020)
- Open Settings
- Go to the Privacy group of settings
- Select the Background apps tab
- Locate Skype, and turn the switch next to it off
- Skype can now be opened from the Start Menu
- Thanks to Addictive Tips
Full Installer Download Location
Live Installer Download Location
If you want the bypass logging in to Skype's website to get the live installer you can get it from here:
FileHippo Skype Live Installer
Running More Than One Instance Of Skype
Note: The following is applicable for version 4 onwards.
- From the Windows taskbar, click Start > Run (or press the Windows and R keys on your keyboard at the same time)
- In the Run window, enter the following command (include the quotes) and press OK:
"C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /secondary
If you get any error messages, please copy and paste the exact command from this email and try again.
Please keep in mind that if you have changed the installation path for Skype then you need to enter the correct path for the Skype.exe file.
If this solution fails, you can try another option:
- Find the Skype executable file (Skype.exe) in: C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\
- Right click on it and choose: Send to > Desktop (create shortcut)
- Locate the shortcut on the desktop, then right-click on it and choose Properties
- In the Target field, add: /secondary. The Target field should now be: "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /secondary
- Click OK. You can now start a new instance of Skype every time you double-click on the new shortcut.
The original Skype tutuorial can be found here.
Transfer History To New PC
Call and IM history is stored in (Vista & 7):
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Roaming\Skype\YourSkypeName\main.db
Copy the above to the new PC ensuring that it retains the same file name.
http://www.kudosknowledge.com/how-do-i-transfer-my-skype-chat-history-from-one-machine-to-another/
