The Academic Computer Center Manual

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Academic Computer Center

Computer Lab Manual

January 2005Revised: February 2006

Created by: Stacey Katz

With the help of the computer technicians of Dawson College


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The Academic Computer Lab Manual 2005 Dawson College

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Network User Agreement

I understand that I am being given an account to use the Dawson College Network in

order to facilitate my work at Dawson. By logging on to the network I agree to abide by the

following:

I will not use this account for commercial or illegal purposes.

I will not use this account to send or post spam, abusive, libelous, hateful, illegal ordishonest messages.

I will not use this account to misrepresent myself, others or Dawson College. I will not use this account for activities, such as but not limited to, music or video

downloading or uploading which cause congestion or disruption to systems or

networks.

I will not allow anyone other than myself to use this account.No one at Dawson or at any other domain or node shall be liable for direct, indirect,

incidental, special or consequential claims and/or damages arising out of my inability to

use any and/or all of the components of or linked to the Dawson Network.

Failure to meet the conditions of this agreement may result in the suspension of

your access to the network.


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Table of contents

Network User Agreement ........................................................................................................... 2

The Academic Computer Labs .................................................................................................. 4

Lab rules ................................................................................................................................................................................................................4

How to Logon .................................................................................................................................. 5

New Students ........................................................................................................................................................................................................5

Returning Students...............................................................................................................................................................................................6

How to Logoff.................................................................................................................................. 7

Other computer resources.......................................................................................................... 9

How to print....................................................................................................................................10

How to add money to your printing account ......................................................................12

Security ............................................................................................................................................15

Please Note: The pictures and graphics are for illustration purposes only.


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The Academic Computer Labs

Do you need to do some research on the Internet?

A place to type and print an assignment?

Want to check your e-mail?

Dawson College has more than 50 computer labs and workrooms for students, faculty andstaff to use. The two primary areas for students are the 2F labs with the Academic

Computer Center located at 2H.12 and the 5B labs with an office at 5B.5.

The software in each lab includes Microsoft Office, web browsers, graphic utilities and

other software depending on the primary use of the lab. Most computer labs are primarily

used for scheduled classes. You should never enter a lab in which a scheduled class is

being held. Read the schedule outside the lab or read any notices posted on the door before

entering. If no class is scheduled into a lab then you may enter the lab. You are expected

to be using the lab in support of your course work and not for recreational purposes. As

well, certain labs may have their unscheduled time made available only to students in

certain programs. Please respect this and find another lab to work in. The schedules andconfiguration of the labs can be found at either the 5B office (5B.5) bulletin boards or the

Academic Computer Center (2H.12), as well as near each lab.

5B.1 is always open as a free time lab.

The following is what you need to know in order to use the computer labs. More

information is available at either the Academic Computer Center (2H.12) or the 5B

(5B.5-1) lab office.

For security, your valid I.D. Card (or a copy of your official current scheduleand ID) is required for most services from the Computer Center.

Lab rules.

No food or drinks of any kind (including water) No internet chat of any kind (IRC, ICQ, AOL, MSN etc.) No games No hardware can be connected or disconnected in our labs, with the exception of

USB drives

No downloading or uploading of MP3, JPG or MPEG files not directly needed foryour work at Dawson

If you are having problems or questions, please go to either the Computer Center (2H.12)

or the 5B (5B.5) office. An attendant will help you.


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How to Logon

You will need your:

Username: student ID numberPassword: First time users use your birthday (ddmmyy) for the first logon only

Hitting Cancel key will bring you right back to this screen

New Students

If this is your first time logging on, you will be notified that your password has expired

and asked if you want to change it? Click YES or OK and create a new password (8characters minimum letters & numbers are ok).

Please note, youMUSTchange your password now!

Enter your new password in both boxes then click the OK button. If you click Cancel,

you will NOT be able to logon again until your password is reset at the computer center.

Your new password must be at least eight (8) characters long.

Do not use your birth date again


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Returning Students

If you are a returning student, you will also be asked to change your password at least

once a year. You MUST change your password or you will not be able to logon to the

network.

The procedure is the same as for new students when you are told your password hasexpired at logon. Otherwise, you can change your password at any time by following the

instructions later in the Security section of the manual (Page 14).

If you do not change your password you will not be able to logon again, and you will have

to go to either the computer center (2H.12) or the 5B office (5B.5) to get your password

reset.

DO NOT REUSE AN OLD PASSWORD WHEN ASKED TO CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD

A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE VARIOUS SOFTWARE IS REQUIRED IN ORDER

TO USE THE COMPUTER LABS.

FOR ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SOFTWARE, READ THE SOFTWARES HELPFILE OR ASK YOUR TEACHER.


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How to Logoff

Click on the Startbutton

Click on Shut Down

The Shut Down dialog box will appear and the rest of the screen will darken


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The Shut Down dialog box

Click OK

Or if you want to restart the computerselect Restartfrom the dropdown list and then click OK

The computer will now shut down or restart depending on your choice

LOGOFF AFTER USING THE COMPUTERS IN THE LAB OTHERWISE PEOPLE WILL

BE ABLE TO PRINT AT YOUR EXPENSE AND ACCESS YOUR FILES.

WE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IF THIS HAPPENS, NOR WILL ANY REFUNDS

BE GIVEN.


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Other computer resources

Once you have logged onto Dawsons computer network you should find two useful

network drives:

The H: or home directory is a place for you to store your files.

The academic program you are in determines the amount of space in your home directory.

Students have between 10 and 30 MB.The S: or shared directory contains files from your teacher for you to use during class.

Your Home directory is the drive with your username(7935400 in the picture)

CD burners are in all the 2F and 5B labs. Scanners are available in the 2F labs at the teachers station

SAVE YOUR WORK FREQUENTLY

MAKE COPIES ON FLOPPY DISK, CD OR USB KEY

FOR ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE SOFTWARE, READ THE SOFTWARES HELP

FILE OR ASK YOUR TEACHER.


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How to print (black & white and colour).

Each lab has a black & white printer

As of September 2002, the black & white printer costs 5/page. The colour printercosts 50/page.

Printing to the black & white printer is straightforward. Open the application (i.e. Word or

Excel) and either click on the small printer icon on the tool bar

Each lab has a Black & white printer

The popup will indicate the printer; for example, this will print to the printer in room 2F-26.

or alternatively, from the menu; select File/Print

Then click OK.


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Your work will print on the printer named in the dialog box.

For example: this will print to the printer in room 2F-26

Printing to the colour printer is also easy. Select File/Print from the menu (as above) and

from the dropdown list select 2H12-clrq and then OK. Your work will print to the

colour printer located at the Computer Center (2H.12). It will take a few minutes for your

work to be printed so please be patient.

Colour printing is available from all the labs.The colour printer is located at The Academic Computer Center, room 2H.12

If you want to print to the black & white printer again, you must select it the same way

you selected the colour printer.


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How to add money to your printing account

When you started the semester, money was added to your printing account. The amount of

money varied depending on your program. You can add money to your printing account at

any time.

In order to add money to your account, you will need either your student ID card or a printcard. (The Print Shop, 2E-1, can help you if you have a problem with either of these cards).

Step 1

On the wall near the 2H Computer Center,

there is a black ITC card reader. This can

be used to add money to your print or ID

cards.

There are similar machines in the 2C wingand in the library.

The ITC machine in the 2C wing also sells

print cards.

Insert your card before you insert any money

This machine does not provide change

Please follow the instructions on the

machine.

Step 2

After you have added money to your

card, go to either 5B.1 or the Computer

Center (2H.12) and you will find

computers called Print Managers with

card readers (small black boxes)

attached.

WE DO NOT PROVIDE CHANGE FOR PRINTING


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Step 1

With the print manager displaying this screen

Insert your ID or Print card into the card reader;

black stripe down in the direction of the arrows.

Notice the arrows

Follow the arrows

Step 2

Enter your Username and Password and then click OK.

This is an example


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Please be patient while the system searches for your account, it may take a few minutes.

Step 3

You are deducting money from your card and adding it to your account.

Type in the amount you would like to add to your account, then click the Add button.

Your Printing Balance: How much money is currently in your printing account

Balance on your card: How much money is left on your card

Amount to Add: Using the arrows, specify how much money you want to move from your

card to your printing account

Your card will be returned to you after you click the Add button

If you would like to verify your printing account balance, double click on the large black dollar sign

on the desktop. Your print balance will be displayed.

WBalance Icon on the desktop


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Security

You are responsible for the security of your password. Please remember to keep it

confidential. Sharing your username and password with anyone else makes you liable for

anything they may do. As well, please remember to logoff your computer when you have

finished using it.

LEAVING THE COMPUTER LOGGED ON MEANS THAT OTHERS WILL HAVE ACCESS

TO YOUR FILES AND PRINTING ACCOUNT.

You can change your own password at anytime by typing password from the Start/Run

command. Password will ask for your old password and ask that you type your new

password twice.

These are the steps:

Step 1

Step 2 (This is an example)

Step 3

Step 4

The pictures are for illustration purposes only

Your password MUST be at least 8 characters long; a mix of letters and numbers is okay.


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If you select a password of less than 8 characters, you will not be able to login

again until your password is reset at the Computer Center or 5B office.

DO NOT REUSE AN OLD PASSWORD WHEN ASKED TO CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD

Your account will remain active for as long as you are a student at Dawson. You will be

asked to change your password at least once a year.

If you are having a problem with your password, go to the Computer Center (2H.12) or the

5B (5B.5) office for help.

Your valid I.D. Card (with a current semesters sticker) or a copy of your official currentschedule (available from the registrars office) and ID is required for most services from theComputer Center.

ID card validation stickers are available from the Security office 2E.14

WE ARE HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LABS, NOT TO TEACH YOU

HOW TO USE THE COMPUTER OR TO TEACH YOU THE SOFTWARE

FoxTrot by Bill Amend

Documents

The Academic Computer Center Manual