Technical Information and CCLI Etiquette

14. HOW DO I TRANSFER A FILE FROM THE MAC SIDE OF THE LAB TO THE IBM SIDE? AND VICE VERSA?

MacLink Plus is a program for switching a file from IBM format to Macintosh format and vice versa. The software is located on the Macintosh side of the lab. Ask a consultant to help you. *Always keep a back up copy of the file you want to transfer.* PageMaker and Microsoft Word should automatically transfer the files from Windows to Macs. IBM disks are readable on the Mac drives.

15. WHAT PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE AND SUPPORTED?

The commonly used programs in the CCLI are the ones that the consultants are expected to know well enought to guide you through with the help of the software manual. (See supported and unsupported software listing on the Hu gopher site)

16. WHAT PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE BUT UNSUPPORTED?

The CCLI has experiemental or older programs available for your use. These are not among the applications that consultants are required to know. All games in the CCLI are in this unsupported catagory. (See unsupported software listing on the Hu gopher site)

17. HOW DO I GET HELP ON UNSUPPORTED PROGRAMS?

It never hurts to ask the consultants on duty if they are familiar with the program. Otherwise, check the expertise grid to see who knows the program, and try to meet them during their consulting hours--or leave a note in their mailbox to set up a time when you can get together.

18. CAN I USE FILES OR PROGRAMS FROM MY COMPUTER AT HOME?

You are welcome to bring in files and documents from your computer at home. If the CCLI does not have the program you have at home, there are conversion programs like Teach Text available to open your document. HOWEVER, you may NOT bring software into the lab. (Virus protection)

19. CAN I SEND E-MAIL TO MY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES AT DIFFERENT UNIVERSITIES OR COMPANIES?

Yes. Through your lab fee, you are given access to e-mail programs that allow you to receive or send messages to anyone else with an e-mail address in the world.

20. IS IT OKAY TO EAT IN THE CCLI?

Yes. Just be sure to clean up after yourself.

21. WHAT'S WITH PEOPLE PLAYING MUSIC IN THE CCLI?

CCLI policy allows users to bring tapes, CDs and radios into the lab. Playing music is okay as long as no one else is annoyed by it. If someone objects to your music as too loud, etc., you must turn it down or off.

22. WHAT'S WITH THE STUFFED ANIMALS IN THE LAB?

The stuffed animals in the CCLI are there for you to hug, squeeze, talk to, etc., while you work on papers, wait for print outs, or need a break.

23. IS IT OKAY TO PLAY GAMES ON THE COMPUTERS DURING OPEN HOURS?

Yes. You may play games on the computers as long as no one else needs that machine. CCLI policy states that a similar speed computer must be available, otherwise you will be asked to log off. (See CCLI Lab Use Policy on Hu gopher site.)

24. WHAT'S IN THE LOCKED CABINETS BEHIND THE CONSULTANT DESK?

The CCLI's range of programs and resources is expanding. Behind the consultant desk in the locked cabinet, are interactive CDs, multimedia software CDs, and software manuals. All these materials can be checked by users with a valid MTU ID.

25. WHERE CAN I FIND A DICTIONARY OR THESAURUS IN THE CCLI?

If the program you are using doesn't have a built in dictionary or other reference guides, fear not. The bookshelves on both the Macintosh and IBM sides of the lab are stocked with thesauruses, dictionaries, style guides, etc.

26. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY DOCUMENT WON'T PRINT?

There are many reasons why a document may not print. First, verify which printer you sent the document to. Next, check the printer you sent your document to--is it on? If you are on the Macintosh side of the lab, ask a consultant how to use the printer queue. The printer queue will tell you whether the print ever made it to the printer. Ask the consultant on duty what to do next.

27. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY COMPUTER "FREEZES" OR "LOCKS UP?"

During peak use hours the computer network gets bogged down and may run very slowly. Ask people around you if they are also locked up? If it seems that it is only your machine, ask the consultant to restart your machine

28. WHY DOES EVERYTHING TAKE SO LONG?

All the computers in the lab are connected to a central server where the actual application programs are stored. Each computer has to access the server to perform its tasks; during peak-use hours the computer network get bogged down and may run very slowly. If you are working on large documents or graphics, consider working in the lab later in the evening or early in the morning.

29. HOW DO I SET UP MY E-MAIL ACCOUNT?

First decide which side of the lab you want to check your mail from, and which e-mail package you would like to use. The most commonly used e-mail package is Eudora. You will only need to set up your e-mail account once. Load the e-mail program. (See Eudora stuff on Hu gopher site) ****NEED MORE INFO (how about HU433 e-mail projects?)

30. HOW DO I USE MY HOME DIRECTORY?

Everyone who has an account in the CCLI is allotted ~20 megabytes of storage space on the server. This storage space is called your home directory, and you may save files to it as a back up to your disks. Ask a consultant to show you how to select your home directory.

31. WHAT IS TEMPORARY STORAGE FOR?

Storage space is also available on each of the Macintosh computers. If you need to make sure you have a duplicate copy of a file or if you are using the scanners, save the file on Temp Storage. Remember that temporary is a key word. Each machine's Temp Storage is cleared once a week.

32. WHY ARE WE SUPPOSED TO ONLY SEND FINAL COPIES OF TEXT OR GRAPHICS TO THE O'KEEFE PRINTER?

O'Keefe has a resolution of 600 dots per inch(dpi); this high resolution is more than twice what is needed to print crisp looking text files. In an attempt to maintain high quality output from O'Keefe, we ask that only documents that need more than 300 dpi be sent to O'Keefe.

33. HOW DO WE USE THE COLOR PRINTER?

Very carefully. You must request access to the color printer from the System Administrator--this is to reduce accidental printing. Please note that each page you send to Artemesia, the color printer, will cost you $2.00 regardless as to whether the colors are "right." The $2.00 per page print fee will automatically be added to your university billing statement. We suggest you print multiple thumbnails on one page that have different color saturation, resolution, and brightness so you can make adjustments so your printed output looks like the screen output. A binder containing the process colors is available at the consultants' desk.

34. WHO SHOULD I TALK TO IF I THINK THERE'S A PROBLEM IN THE CCLI OR IF I AM DISTURBED BY A CONSULTANT OR LAB USER?

The director of the CCLI, Richard Selfe. (Call him Dickie-- really). His e-mail address is rselfe@mtu.edu. His office telephone number is 487-3225. His office number in the Walker Arts and Humanities Building is 138.

35. WHERE CAN I MAKE A PHONE CALL FROM THE CCLI?

Brief on-campus calls can be made from the consultant's desk. If you need to make off campus calls, use the pay phone in the Walker Arts and Humanities Building lobby or the courtesy phone in the entrance.

36. WHERE CAN I GET A COPY OF THE OFFICAL CCLI LAB USE POLICY STATEMENT?

On the Hu gopher site.

37. HOW DO I BECOME A CCLI CONSULTANT?

Contact the Director of the CCLI, Richard (Dickie) Selfe. E- mail address: rselfe@mtu.edu. Office: Walker Arts and Humanities Building Room 138. Office phone 487-3225.