Important Information About Working in English Department Computer Labs
| Saving Documents |
Save often |
Save often! (anytime you have written more than you would want to re-type) We have been experiencing periodic power outages in labs. This could happen to anyone anytime. Save before you start typing, the program may also auto-save occasionally. |
| Save in rich text |
Saving your paper as a rich text file (.rtf) will allow you to work on it on computers that do not have MSWord (at home, etc.). Rich text usually does not change your formatting. Directions for saving in rich text | |
| Use quick keys | A fast way to save that you may not have tried is to hold down the Ctrl key and type s. | |
| Saving on hard drives | It is acceptable to save your papers under My Documents. It is also acceptable to make bookmarks (or favorites) in the Internet Browsers. However, there is no guarantee that these materials will continue to be saved on the computer over time. Downloading programs and changing settings on the computers is prohibitted (besides this is pointless, since the computer will return to the default setting and the programs will be eliminated the next time that the computer is re-booted). | |
| Media for saving |
Lab computers are not set up for saving onto CD's though you can pull up work you have saved at home on CD. You can save on a floppy disk or send your paper to yourself as an e-mail attachment. You are also welcome to transport your work back and forth on a jump drive, but you are responsible for figuring out how to do this yourself. | |
| Printing Documents | Check number of pages |
Before sending an online document to the printer, check to see how long it is. Printing a 40-page document wastes ink and prohibits other students from printing their work. Currently, there is no charge for documents printed in English department computer labs, but this could change if users are not prudent in what they print. |
| Proofread one more time |
Proofread one extra time before hitting the send button can save a great deal of time, ink and paper required to re-print the paper. | |
| Check for paper in the printer |
Before you panic about the fact that your paper won't print, always check the printer to see that it has paper. When whole classes are printing assignments, the paper tray empties quickly. | |
| Send papers to print only once or twice |
If there is a problem with printing a paper, sending it to print 12 times will not help to fix the problem (it will probably just result in someone else getting your 12 copies of your paper after you are gone). Sending the paper to print once or twice at the most is sufficient for any troubleshooting with the equipment. | |
| Recycle paper | Put any paper that misprints in the box for recycling. | |
| Making modifications to Computers |
Downloading programs on lab computers |
Downloading programs on the computers is prohibitted (besides this is pointless, since the programs will be eliminated the next time that the computer is re-booted). |
| Changing Settings on computers | Changing settings on the computers is prohibitted (besides this is pointless, since the computer will return to the default settings the next time that the computer is re-booted). | |
| Inappropriate Behavior |
Food and Drink |
Food and drink are not permitted in the computer labs anywhere near the computers. |
| Internet Searches | Viewing inappropriate web sites in class is distracting and offensive to other students. Such behavior can consitute a disruption of class and result in the student being dropped from the class. | |
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