Triad Tool - User Documentation
Comprehensive guide for managing timed breakout sessions, participant monitoring, and automated meeting controls in Zoom.
Overview
Triad Tool is a comprehensive Zoom application designed for managing timed breakout sessions, participant monitoring, and automated meeting controls. The app provides hosts and co-hosts with powerful tools to create structured, time-managed discussions in breakout rooms with real-time broadcasting capabilities.
Complete Triad Tool interface showing all 4 main tabs
Key Features
- • Timer Management: Configurable multi-phase timing with visual countdown and breakout room synchronization
- • Breakout Room Control: Automated room creation, participant assignment, and management
- • Participant Actions: One-click spotlight, pin, and audio controls for all participants
- • Real-time Broadcasting: Timer updates sent directly to breakout rooms via MeetingSDK integration
- • Language-based Assignment: Intelligent participant grouping based on language prefixes
Table of Contents
Adding the App
Prerequisites
- • Zoom account with host or co-host permissions
- • Zoom Desktop Client (version 5.2.0 or higher)
- • Active Zoom meeting to use the app
Installation Steps
1. Access the Zoom App Marketplace
- • Log in to your Zoom account at zoom.us
- • Navigate to the Zoom App Marketplace
2. Find Triad Tool
- • Search for "Triad Tool" in the marketplace search bar
- • Click on the Triad Tool app from the search results
3. Install the App
- • Click the "Add" or "Install" button
- • Review the permissions and click "Authorize"
- • Complete the OAuth authorization process
4. Verify Installation
- • Join a Zoom meeting as host or co-host
- • Click "Apps" in the meeting toolbar
- • Look for "Triad Tool" in your installed apps list
Bottom navigation tabs - all 4 tabs should be visible for hosts
Need help with installation? See our Troubleshooting Guide below.
Getting Started
First Launch
1. Start a Zoom Meeting
- • You must be the host or co-host to access all features
- • Participants will only see limited functionality
2. Launch Triad Tool
- • Click "Apps" in the Zoom meeting toolbar
- • Select "Triad Tool" from your installed apps
- • The app will open in a sidebar window
3. Complete Authentication
- • If prompted, complete the OAuth authentication
- • Grant necessary permissions for meeting control
4. Verify Interface
- • You should see 4 tabs: Timer, Breakout Monitor, Actions, Settings
- • Non-hosts will only see Timer and Settings tabs
Participant Name Requirements
For optimal language-based grouping, participants should format their names with two-letter language prefixes:
- • Examples: "EN John Doe", "DE Maria Schmidt", "FR Pierre Dubois"
- • Supported Languages: EN (English), DE (German), FR (French), ES (Spanish), etc.
- • Alternative: "NT" prefix for participants without specific language preference
Using Triad Tool
Timer Configuration
The Timer tab provides comprehensive controls for managing timed breakout sessions with real-time synchronization.
Timer tab showing all timing controls and configuration options
Setting Up a Timer
1. Navigate to Timer Tab
• Click the "Timer" tab in the bottom navigation
2. Configure Timing Phases
Input fields for configuring timer durations
- • Check-in Time: Initial discussion period (recommended: 2-3 minutes)
- • Round Time: Main discussion rounds (recommended: 3-5 minutes)
- • Fadeout Time: Wrap-up period (recommended: 1-2 minutes)
- • Number of Rounds: Total discussion cycles (1-10 rounds)
3. Start the Timer
- • Click the play button to start the timer
- • Timer will automatically broadcast to all breakout rooms
Fullscreen Presentation Mode
- • Automatic Popout: Click the fullscreen button
to pop out the timer window - • Screen Sharing: The app will automatically share the timer screen to all participants
- • Breakout Broadcasting: Timer updates are sent to breakout rooms via MeetingSDK
Breakout Room Management
The Breakout Monitor provides complete control over participant distribution and room management.
Breakout Monitor tab showing participant management interface
Creating Breakout Rooms
1. Navigate to Breakout Monitor
- • Click the "Breakout Monitor" tab
- • Only available to hosts and co-hosts
2. Refresh Participant List
- • Click the refresh button to load current participants
- • Participants are automatically monitored for joins/leaves
3. Configure Room Settings
Breakout room settings dialog with configuration options
- • Click the settings (gear) icon
- • Set desired group size (2-8 participants recommended)
- • Configure auto-assignment preferences
- • Save settings
4. Create and Assign Rooms
Participant table showing room assignments and status information
- • Review participant assignments in the table
- • Manually adjust assignments if needed
- • Check participants for specific room assignments
5. Open Breakout Rooms
- • Click the floating action button (FAB)
- • Select "Create Rooms" to generate breakout rooms
- • Click "Open Breakout Rooms" to allow participants to join
Language-based Assignment
- • Participants with language prefixes are automatically grouped by language
- • Mixed groups can be created for language exchange sessions
- • Manual assignment overrides automatic grouping
Participant Actions
The Actions tab provides one-click controls for common meeting management tasks.
Actions tab showing the complete action button grid
Available Actions
1. Spotlight Controls
- • Spotlight All: Highlight all participants
- • Unspotlight All: Remove all spotlights
- • Individual participant spotlighting
2. Video Pin Controls
- • Pin All: Pin all participants to video view
- • Unpin All: Remove all video pins
- • Individual participant pinning
3. Audio Controls
- • Mute All: Mute all participants
- • Unmute All: Unmute all participants
- • Individual audio toggling
Keyboard Shortcuts
Individual action button showing keyboard shortcut information
- • Use keyboard shortcuts for quick access (e.g., Alt+4)
- • Shortcuts are displayed on each action button
- • Customizable in the Settings tab
Settings Configuration
The Settings tab organizes all configuration options in an accordion-style interface.
Settings tab with accordion sections for organized configuration
Available Settings
1. Timer Settings
- • Default timer durations
- • Audio notification preferences
- • Broadcast settings
2. Breakout Settings
- • Default group sizes
- • Auto-assignment preferences
- • Language grouping options
3. Action Settings
- • Keyboard shortcut customization
- • Default action configurations
- • Permission settings
4. Audio Settings
- • Computer audio sharing
- • Notification sounds
- • Volume controls
Removing the App
Uninstallation Steps
1. Access Zoom App Management
- • Log in to your Zoom account at zoom.us
- • Navigate to "Account Management" > "App Marketplace"
- • Click "Manage" > "Added Apps"
2. Locate Triad Tool
- • Find "Triad Tool" in your installed apps list
- • Click on the app name
3. Remove the App
- • Click the "Remove" or "Uninstall" button
- • Confirm the removal when prompted
4. Revoke Permissions (Optional)
- • Go to "Account Management" > "App Marketplace" > "OAuth Apps"
- • Find Triad Tool and click "Revoke" to remove all permissions
Implications of Removal
- • Meeting Features: Timer and breakout room automation will no longer be available
- • Data Handling: All participant data is processed locally and is not stored by Triad Tool
- • Settings: Custom configurations will be lost and need to be reconfigured if reinstalling
- • Active Sessions: Any running timers or open breakout rooms will continue but won't receive updates
Troubleshooting
Common Issues and Solutions
Adding the App
Problem: Can't find Triad Tool in the marketplace
- • Solution: Ensure you're logged into your Zoom account and have marketplace access
- • Check: Verify your account has permission to install apps
Problem: Installation fails or gets stuck
- • Solution: Clear browser cache and try again
- • Alternative: Try installation from a different browser
- • Check: Ensure popup blockers are disabled for zoom.us
Problem: OAuth authorization fails
- • Solution: Disable browser extensions that might block authentication
- • Check: Ensure you have admin permissions for your Zoom account
Using the App
Problem: Only see 2 tabs instead of 4
- • Solution: This is normal for non-hosts. Only hosts and co-hosts see all tabs
- • Check: Verify you're the meeting host or have been assigned co-host role
Problem: Participant list doesn't load in Breakout Monitor
- • Solution: Click the refresh button to reload participants
- • Check: Ensure you have host permissions and participants have joined the meeting
Problem: Breakout rooms don't open
- • Solution: Verify you have breakout room permissions in Zoom settings
- • Check: Ensure you're the meeting host (co-hosts may have limited breakout permissions)
Problem: Timer doesn't appear in breakout rooms
- • Solution: Ensure breakout rooms are open before starting the timer
- • Check: Verify screen sharing permissions are enabled
Timer and Broadcasting
Problem: Timer doesn't start
- • Solution: Check that all timing fields have valid values (minimum 1 minute)
- • Alternative: Refresh the app and try again
Problem: Fullscreen button doesn't appear
- • Solution: The button only appears after starting the timer
- • Check: Ensure you have screen sharing permissions in the meeting
Problem: Timer doesn't broadcast to breakout rooms
- • Solution: Ensure breakout rooms are open before starting the timer
- • Check: Verify MeetingSDK window opens (may be blocked by popup blockers)
Participant Actions
Problem: Action buttons don't work
- • Solution: Verify you have host or co-host permissions
- • Check: Some actions require specific Zoom account settings
Problem: Keyboard shortcuts don't work
- • Solution: Ensure the Zoom app has focus (not minimized)
- • Check: Verify shortcuts in Settings tab for conflicts
Getting Additional Help
If you continue to experience issues:
- 1. Check Zoom Status: Verify Zoom services are operational at status.zoom.us
- 2. Update Zoom: Ensure you're using the latest Zoom Desktop Client
- 3. Browser Issues: Try using a different browser for marketplace operations
- 4. Contact Support: Reach out to Zoom support for account-specific issues
Data Privacy & Security
Data Collection and Usage
- • Local Processing: All participant data is processed locally within your Zoom session
- • No External Storage: Triad Tool does not store any user data on external servers
- • Session-Only Data: Participant information is only used during active meeting sessions
- • Automatic Cleanup: All data is automatically cleared when the meeting ends
Permissions Required
- • Meeting Control: Required for breakout room management and participant actions
- • Participant Information: Needed to display participant lists and manage assignments
- • Screen Sharing: Used for timer presentation mode
- • Audio Sharing: Required for timer notification sounds (optional)
Security Measures
- • OAuth 2.0: Secure authentication using Zoom's OAuth 2.0 implementation
- • Minimal Permissions: App requests only necessary permissions for functionality
- • Real-time Processing: No data persistence beyond active meeting sessions
- • Zoom Security: Inherits all security measures from Zoom's platform
Compliance
- • GDPR Compliant: No personal data storage means minimal GDPR impact
- • SOC 2: Inherits compliance through Zoom's infrastructure
- • Privacy by Design: Built with privacy considerations from the ground up
Recommended Setup
- • Participants: 6-50 participants for optimal breakout room experience
- • Language Tags: Participants with language prefixes for automatic grouping
Support and Updates
Version Information
Current Version: 1.0.0
Getting Updates
Updates are automatically distributed through the Zoom App Marketplace. You'll be notified of available updates when launching the app.
This documentation was last updated in September 2025. For the most current information, please check the Zoom App Marketplace.