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Landscape
Architecture
Lab Tracks
Below
are tips and methods
for making your lab experience
more productive. |
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All Lab Computers -
>> Don't Lose Your
Files!
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All
computers in the LA Computer Lab are configured to restore the hard
drive to its original format each time you log out (Macs) or restart
(Windows). Any files stored on the hard drive will be erased when
this happens, and there is no way to recover them. Please do not
leave valuable files on the hard drives of the lab computers.
Also, please keep in mind that if you walk away from a computer,
it is considered open for the next person, and that person is not
responsible for any files left on the computer by previous users.
(REMEMBER:
Do not leave your files on the desktop. All files are erased each
time a machine is restarted.) |
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All Server Folders -
>> Don't Lose Your
Files!
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Each
student is provided with their own folder on the LA Server. These
folders are available throughout your stay in the department. However,
the department does not provide backup for student folders, so it
is a good practice for you to regularly back up your files and folders
on the server.
Instructions on how to connect to your server folder:
Macintosh
Windows
(REMEMBER:
Do not leave your files on the desktop. All files are erased each
time a machine is restarted.) |
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Boards |
Maximum
Size: Boards size should not exceed 42 inches by 36 inches.
Boards larger than this take too long to plot and hold up other
users.
Backgrounds: Do not use a solid color or pattern as a background.
This uses excessive amounts of ink, and has a negative effect on
the department trying to keep the price of plotting to a minimum.
Orientation: Send boards to the plotter with the longest
edge at the top. The plotter can print documents 42 inches wide,
so for example, a board that is 42 inches wide and 36 inches long,
can be sent as is using portrait orientation. A board that is 36
inches wide and 42 inches long, however, should be rotated 90°
(so that the 42 inch edge is at the top) and sent using portrait
orientation. This helps conserve paper, and helps the department
keep plotting costs to a minimum.
Margins: To ensure that your entire board shows on the printed
page, be sure to leave approximately a 1 inch margin around all
edges of your finished design.
(REMEMBER: Do not
leave your files on the desktop. All files are erased each time
a machine is restarted.) |
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CAD -- AutoCAD and
Vectorworks
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Both
Autodesk's AutoCAD
and Nemetschek's Vectorworks
are available in the LA lab. AutoCAD, while a powerful and industry-standard
tool, still relies heavily on a command-line interface and runs
on only one type of computer. Vectorworks, on the other hand, is
a cross platform application, which not only possesses the power
and technical precision of AutoCAD, but also implements a more designer-friendly
interface. In addition, Vectorworks includes an exhaustive reference
database of various plant species, and has a new feature whereby
a CAD representation can be rendered to look sketched, i.e., hand-drawn.
If you would like to explore the difference between AutoCAD and
Vectorworks, (a) go to a Mac, (b) in the upper right corner of the
screen, click on the speaker icon and make sure that the volume
slider is somewhere between middle (medium loud) to top (loudest),
(c) right-click on the Applications Dock folder in the Dock at the
bottom of the screen and click on Vectorworks 11.5 TRAINING-->Training
- AutoCAD to Vectorworks-->Start Training. This training session
lets you progress at your own pace.
(REMEMBER:
Do not leave your files on the desktop. All files are erased each
time a machine is restarted.) |
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| Drives
- Jump |
Backup...not:
Jump drives are an easy and quick method of moving files from
one computer to another, but they are not robust enough to be used
as a backup or archival drive.
Formatting: As with portable drives, most jump drives come
formatted for the Windows file system. Macs can read both Mac- and
Windows-formatted drives and disks, so if you will be using both
Mac and Windows computers, you can leave the formatting as is. If,
however, you will be using only Mac computers, you can reformat
the drive to the Macintosh file system, bearing in mind that Windows
computers can read only Windows-formatted drives and disks.
Disconnecting: When disconnecting these drives from a computer,
it is very important that you eject them
properly before unplugging them. If you unplug them without ejecting
them first, you could potentially lose access to all the data on
the drive. To eject, right click on the drive (look for the drive
icon on the Desktop of Macs and in My Computer on PCs) and select
Eject from the pop-up menu. Then you can uplug the drive from the
computer. |
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| Drives
- Portable |
Backup:
Since
student files on the LA Server are not backed up, it would be a
good idea for students to have a portable drive or two to back up
their files. Portable drives range in size from 40 GB to over 100
GB, connect via FireWire, USB or both, and many are also powered
by this FireWire or USB connection, thus eliminating the need to
be plugged into an electrical outlet for use. A model that comes
with both FireWire and USB connections, in sizes 40, 60, 80 and
100 GB, is by LaCie (the 3rd model down on this page):
http://www.lacie.com/products/range.htm?id=10036
Formatting: Most portable drives come formatted for the Windows
file system. Macs can read both Mac- and Windows-formatted drives
and disks, so if you will be using both Mac and Windows computers,
you can leave the formatting as is. If, however, you will be using
only Mac computers, you can reformat the drive to the Macintosh
file system, bearing in mind that Windows computers can read only
Windows-formatted drives and disks.
Disconnecting: When disconnecting these drives from a computer,
it is very important that you eject them
properly before unplugging them. If you unplug them without ejecting
them first, you could potentially lose access to all the data on
the drive. To eject, right click on the drive (look for the drive
icon on the Desktop of Macs and in My Computer on PCs) and select
Eject from the pop-up menu. Then you can uplug the drive from the
computer. |
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PDF - How to Create |
A PDF
file can be easily be created from within most applications simply
by using the Print command:
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save the final version of your finished file |
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select Print from within whatever application you are using |
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in the Print dialog box, select Output Options |
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select Save as File, then PDF |
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give this PDF file that is about to be created a new name
(be sure to give this new file a new name so that your
original file does not get overwritten) |
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save to the location of your choice |
A PDF file will not only print faster, it is also viewable on and
printable from any type of computer.
(REMEMBER:
Do not leave your files on the desktop. All files are erased each
time a machine is restarted.) |
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Photoshop Files -
Printing |
Photoshop
files with all their layers can sometimes take a very long time
to print. A jpg file with no layers will generally print much faster
than a fully-layered Photoshop file. To create a jpg file, do the
following:
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save a copy of the finished file as a Photoshop
file in order to preserve your layers in case you want to
edit them later |
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with this same file open in Photoshop, go to Layer-->Flatten
Image |
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then go to File-->Save As |
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be sure to give this new file, that has no layers now, a
new name so you do not overwrite your original |
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for format, select jpg |
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for quality, select 7 or lower |
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click Save |
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copy this newly created jpg file to the desktop of the machine
you are using, open it in Photoshop, and send to the printer |
(REMEMBER:
Do not leave your files on the desktop. All files are erased each
time a machine is restarted.) |
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Printing Faster
+++++
Applies to any
print job
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Before
sending a print job, always take the final saved version of the
file you will be printing and copy it to the desktop of the machine
you are using. Then send the file to print **from the machine's
desktop** rather than from any other location. Trying to print a
file from a CD, a zip disk, a jump drive, a portable drive or from
the server will cause printing to be significantly slower. Also,
printing PDFs (see "PDF - How to Create")
instead of fully-layered, for example, CAD files, and printing jpgs
instead of fully-layered Photoshop files (see "Photoshop
Files - Printing") can speed up printing.
(REMEMBER:
Do not leave your files on the desktop. All files are erased each
time a machine is restarted.) |
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Printing - Clearing
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In order
to clear printing on the Mac, (a) go to the Desktop, (b) double-click
on the icon for the relevant printer, (c) select all print jobs
listed, (d) click on the "Delete" button in the upper
left corner of the printer's window, (e) wait for the previous print
jobs to clear, (f) when the printer's window is empty of print jobs,
click on the "Start Jobs" button, (g) close the printer's
window. |
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Where do I Start?
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For those
inexperienced with using a Macintosh, here are a few basics to get
you started:
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Applications: Go to the Dock at the bottom of
the screen and right-click the folder with the gold letter
A. Then double-click the application you would like to open.
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CD/DVD & Zip Eject/Open: Press the key in the upper
right corner of the number keypad with the upward arrow symbol.
You can also use the F12 key.
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Net-Print Log In: Go to the Dock at the bottom of the screen,
(a) click on Kerberos icon, (b) click on Get Tickets, (c)
type in netID and password, (d) close Kerberos window.
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Net-Print Log Out: Go to Dock at bottom of screen, (a) click
on Kerberos icon, (b) click on your name in the Ticket box,
(c) click on Destroy Tickets button above, (d) close Kerberos
window. Always remember to log out of Kerberos before leaving
a machine in the lab. Neither the department nor other users
are responsible for accidental Net-Print charges incurred
due to a failure to log out.
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SketchUp
Access
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SketchUp
is a cross-platform application and is available on Macintosh and
Windows machines. In order to use SketchUp on Windows machines,
you need to be logged in to your folder on the LA server. SketchUp
on Macintosh machines does not require that you be logged in to
your folder on the LA server. |
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VIZ Render Error
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VIZ Render error: The application has run out of memory
Autodesk Knowledgebase • Published: 2005-09-06 • ID: TS1052472
ISSUE:
When you tried to run a Radiosity solution in VIZ Render, you received the following error message:
"The application has run out of memory. The program will now shut down."
SOLUTION:
This issue occurs when you try to render an image larger than the largest contiguous
section of RAM available.
Depending on the space you have available on your hard drive, you can try increasing the
virtual memory in Windows. Follow these steps:
- On the Start menu (Windows), select Settings > Control Panel.
- In Control Panel, double-click the System icon, and select the Advanced tab.
- In the Performance Section, click Settings.
- In the Performance Options dialog box, select the Advanced tab
- In the Virtual memory section, click Change.
- Change the Maximum size to something larger than the size of your file.
You can also try turning on the Bitmap Pager. Follow these steps:
- On the VIZ Render Customize menu, select Preferences.
- Select the Rendering Tab.
- Select the Bitmap Pager box.
- Click OK.
Turning the Bitmap Pager option on will slow down the rendering process,
but it will most likely eliminate the Out of Memory error.
(Keep in mind that these settings will
go away and have to be reentered
each time the computer is restarted.) |
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Scanning
Resolution |
When scanning
images, the resolution should not be set greater than 150–180
dpi for printing (printers will not show more detail than this
even if scanned at higher resolutions), and 72 dpi for on-screen
presentations or the web. (REMEMBER:
Do not leave your files on the desktop. All files are erased each
time a machine is restarted.) |
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How
to Scan to the
Large Document
Scanner |
Step1:
Select Scan Mode
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Press the "MODE" button |
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Make sure the Directory shows: IMAGES (it must be in upper
case) |
Step 2: Select Format
| The default for scanning is TIF format. To
change to JPG, do the following: |
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Press the ^ button 4 times. Then press the "ENTER"
button. Then the "EXIT" button. |
Step 3: Select Resolution
| The default for resolution is set for 400
dpi. This is too high for such large scale drawings. Resolution
should be set between 150 dpi and 180 dpi for printing (printers
will not show more detail than this even if scanned at higher
resolutions), and 72 dpi for on-screen presentations
or the web. |
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To lower the dpi, press the "PREVIOUS" button. |
Step 4: You are ready to scan!
Step 5: Retrieve Scans (sorry, Windows only)
| To retreive your document you must use PC
# 68 or 69 (the PC’s closest to the window against the wall). |
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Go to the Start menu and select "Lg Doc Scanner Retrieve
Utility" |
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Click on the Document Retrieve tab |
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Click on the icon that looks like binoculars. It will
then go out to find your documents. |
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Once the list of documents shows, click on the icon to
the right of the binoculars. It will move your image over
to the other column. |
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Go to the Start menu and select "Lg Doc Scanner Retrieved
Images". This will take you to where your documents
are being stored. It will most likely look like a set of
numbers (SAMPLE: 000002.jpg). Copy to a disk and remove
from computer. |
(REMEMBER:
Do not leave your files on the desktop. All files are erased each
time a machine is restarted.) |
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LA
412
Online Beginner
Web Book |
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Go to this address:
http://www.englib.cornell.edu/erg/ethics.php#ejournals |
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Click on the Books24x7.com link. |
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Type in your own Cornell netID and password. |
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When the Books24x7 page comes up, where it says Search,
type in:
HTML 4 for Dummies, and click on Go. |
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In the next page that opens, click on the image of the
book, and it's contents will become available. |
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LA
412
FTP Connect
(Macintosh) |
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Go to the Dock-->Applications Dock folder-->FTP
Connect. |
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Where it says Host, type in: instruct1.cit.cornell.edu |
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Where it says User ID, type in your Cornell netID. |
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Where it says Password, type in the password provided to
you by the class handouts. |
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In this same window, click on the small triangle directly
above "Shortcuts". |
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Where it says Initial Directory, type in:
/www/instruct1/courses/la412/spring06/your_netID
(there is not a slash after your_netID) |
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Click OK. |
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You will now be connected to your individual website folder. |
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Create your web pages and upload them to your web folder.
Your home page must be named, index.html or index.htm. |
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To view your website, use this address:
http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/la412/spring06/your_netID/
(here, you must put the slash after your_netID) |
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How
to Connect
to the LA Server
(Macintosh) |
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Go to the bottom of the screen in the Dock and click on
the two-tone blue face, the Finder |
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Then go to the top of the screen and click on Go-->Connect
to Server... |
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Where it says Server Address, type in: laserver.landscape.cornell.edu |
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Click Connect |
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Type in your user name and password (see Kris or Deb) |
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Click Connect |
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Click on Files |
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Click OK |
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The Files volume will mount on the desktop |
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Double-click on the Files volume on the desktop |
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Scroll down to your folder and double-click on it to open |
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Your folder will now be available
to anyone who sits at this computer until you log out. |
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| REMEMBER TO LOG OUT ** |
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Go to the Apple menu in the upper left corner of the screen |
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Choose Log Out... |
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A confirmation dialog box will open |
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Click on the Log Out button |
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Logging out is important to reset
the machine. If the student folder does not show its contents,
it is a reminder that you need to log out and log back in. |
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LA
412
FTP Connect
(Windows) |
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Go to Start-->FTP Connect. |
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In the Session Properties window that opens, where it says
User ID, type in your Cornell netID. |
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Where it says Password, type in the password provided to
you by the class handouts. |
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In this same window, click on the Startup tab. |
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Where it says Initial Remote Site Folder, type in the location:
/www/instruct1/courses/la412/spring06/your_netID
(there is not a slash after your_netID) |
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Click OK. |
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You will now be connected to your individual website folder.
(If, for some reason, the location
on the top right side of the FTP window shows, /user1/your_netID,
simply manually delete this location, and type in the one
above.) |
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Create your web pages and upload them to your web folder.
Your home page must be named, index.html or index.htm. |
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To view your website, use this address:
http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/courses/la412/spring06/your_netID/
(here, you must put the slash after your_netID) |
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How
to Connect
to the LA Server
(Windows) |
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Right-click on My Computer |
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Choose Map Network Drive... |
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The Map Network Drive window will open |
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Where it says Folder, type in: \\laserver\files |
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DO NOT click in the box next
to Reconnect at logon. This box should be empty. |
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Click on "Connect using a different user name" |
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The Connect As... window will open |
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Type in your user name and password (see Kris or Deb) |
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Click OK |
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You will be returned to the Map Network Drive Window |
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Click Finish |
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The LA Server window will open as Z:\ |
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Scroll down to your folder and double-click on it to open |
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This network drive will be available in My Computer under
the heading, Network Drives. |
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Your folder will now be available
to anyone who sits at this computer until you log out. |
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| REMEMBER TO LOG OUT ** |
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Go to Start-->Shut down |
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The Shut Down Windows window will open |
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Select Log off... |
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Click OK |
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Logging out is important to reset
some aspects of the machine. To completely reset a Windows
machine, it is necessary to restart. |
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Windows
to
Macintosh
Macintosh to
Windows |
There is
an old computer's tale that if you create a file on one platform,
it will be ruined if you open it on another platform. This is not
the case. A file created on one platform will open interchangeably
on any platform as long as the applications on both platforms are
the same and are the same version. |
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