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 Spring 2000 Planning
Computer Services has started the planning process for Spring 2000
software installations. By the time this newsletter is published, we will have met
with the Nursing Division, Math/Science Division, and Behavioral Science Division.
The purpose of this meeting with each division is to understand what
software will be needed for the Spring 2000 curriculum. For the most part, our labs
are ready for Spring 2000, yet this is an opportunity to make adjustments and changes to
the software currently in place. If an upgraded version of Cad software or new
version of PhotoShop needs to be installed, now is the time to let us know. Our
department can make the upgrades in the next 10 weeks and have the labs ready to run in
January. (Wow! Only 10 weeks left??)
Check with your Division Director for the meeting time and place.
Thanks.
Windows 98 ShutDown Problems
You've seen the message . . . "Windows is shutting down...". And it
never shuts down. Take comfort with the fact that you're not alone in this.
It's a real bug in Windows 98 Second Edition version. Your computer thinks its still
busy doing something and won't stop until the process is finished.
Computer Services staff have discovered possible work-arounds for this aggravating
problem. However, the solutions are varied, and may or may not work. Until the
"patch" from Microsoft is released for the Win98 SE version, you may continue to
see . . . "Windows is shutting down . . . ", and it . . . never . . .
shuts . . . down . . . .
Office 2000 Software
Along with the Microsoft CampusWide License Program that our campus
participates in, copies of Office 2000 software can be made available for faculty and
staff on home computers. At our IT Director's meeting in Hartford this month, steps
were outlined for distribution of this software. Please read carefully.
Usage rights are posted at this website: www.microsoft.com/education/pricing/campusterms.htm
Faculty
or staff member must submit HelpDesk request for copies of the software.
Each
home user must sign an agreement for proper usage of the software.
Computer
Services is not responsible for user's home computer and will not load the software for
the user, nor repair any user's home computer.
Faculty and staff are reminded of CT State
Software Policy - only software purchased by the college can be loaded on faculty and
staff computers at NVCTC. MSOffice 2000 will be campuswide by Summer 2000.
Installing MSOffice 2000 at NVCTC
What can a user expect to see as differences in Office 97 and Office
2000? Office 2000 file formats and Office 97 file formats are compatible in
Word, Excel and PowerPoint. No version wars! However, Access 97 databases will
convert to Access 2000 databases and cannot be used again in Access 97.
Should a faculty person ask for an installation of Office 2000, we will
first assess the user's hardware to be certain sufficient RAM and processing speed is
available. As we install Office 2000, we will keep the current Office 97 software
available on the user's computer. An exception will be Outlook 2000, which will
overwrite Outlook 97, permitting only one version of e-mail software to run on the user's
computer. Also, the Office 97 Shortcut Bar will be replaced with the Office 2000
Shortcut Bar.
Any
faculty person wanting Office 2000 now for the purpose of learning the software,
please let us know via HelpDesk.
FrontPage Training
Computer Services staff offers training in FrontPage. During the October training
session, three websites got underway. After a few more hours of tweaking and
refining, links to these new sites will be in place. It is interesting to see the
ideas that came from the staff involved in the training. Here's what was developed:
- Accounts Payable Department website will include pages with Vendor information, CT State
web sites, Travel Form information, and staff information.
- College Recruiting and Outreach website uses a table of dates that lets high schools
know of upcoming college visits to their areas and provides information for interested
prospects.
- Cafe Menus website will highlight the menus for the week and a cafe staff directory.
Here is an outline of FrontPage training:
Day 1: A FrontPage tutorial is used to practice navigation and adding new
pages. Explorer and Editor are introduced; forms and Discussion websites are
inserted. (2 hours)
Day 2: The tutorial is repeated, except our own ideas are incorporated to create
a website. (2 hours)
Day 3: New elements of FrontPage are introduced. Our new website is
refined. A web-page designer visits the last half-hour of class to review design
practices and issues. (Jim VanCampen joined us in October.) Critiques are
given. (2 hours)
Additional FrontPage training will be offered in November. Class limit is seven.
Our faculty are busy preparing more course web sites to support upcoming Spring 2000
courses. Faculty are finding that course web sites are an invaluable companion tool
for students to use at home and on campus.
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