The next Operator Committee Meeting will be held in the Stavely Conference Room - 202 Hammond Building at 2:00 PM, unless operator reps are notified.
Please MARK your calendars - there should be a representative from each department attending this meeting.
Next Scheduled Meeting in 2004
- May 6, 2004
Operator representatives will be notified of any date/time or location changes
Sue Pysher
Amy Grattan
1. COE Mail Server No Longer Supports Clear Text POP or Clear Text IMAP
2. Joe Lanager - Beagle J Virus Information
The following is quoted from an email message distributed to the college: J. Lanager, March, 3, 2004
"Beagle.J is currently working its way through the mail system. This message looks like a warning from support, management, or some other official group at your recipient e-mail domain name. The attachment is a password protected .zip file that contains an executable. Unfortunately, because it is password protected the mail servers cannot open up the .zip attachment and check it for viral content; even though the virus definitions on the server do cover this worm. The only way to get at the executable within the .zip file is for a person to read the password in the message body and enter it when they try to extract the program. If a user would mistakenly try to extract and run the binary their local AV software should catch it, assuming their desktop AV definitions are up-to-date. If you get any of these messages, please do not attempt to extract the program from the .zip file. Additionally, infected messages including the original message headers can be forwarded to virus@psu.edu and/or jlanag@engr.psu.edu so we can determine if any machines within the College are currently infected."
Dreamweaver MX 2004 - Basics
(TRAINING LAB - 153J HAMMOND BUILDING)
REGISTER: Email Lisa Stevenson (las@engr.psu.edu ) or you can call 865-1444 or 863-4666
College of Engineering ISIS Data Warehouse -
Getting Started
(TRAINING LAB - 153J HAMMOND BUILDING)
REGISTER: Email Lisa Stevenson (las@engr.psu.edu ) or you can call 865-1444 or 863-4666
This orientation session is provided for new users to the College who obtain a network and/or mail user account and become network users of our Windows College-wide network. The session is an information-type training with minimal hands-on instruction. The session includes general information about the College network, logging into the network, password requirements, standard drives and what's provided at the network level, connecting to network drives and/or printers, log on/log off, technical assistance and who to call, etc.
This is a basic overview of the enhancements that are included in the Office 2003 Suite. Access, Excel, PowerPoint & Word. This is a demonstration session (not hands-on).
Migrating to Word 2003: This is a hands-on training session that will cover the new features and enhancements of the new version of MS Word (version 2003). Prerequisite: Basic understanding of previous version of Word (version 2002/XP).
Migrating to Outlook 2003: This is a hands-on training session that will cover the new features and enhancements of the new version of MS Outlook (version 2003). Prerequisite: Basic understanding of previous version of Outlook (version 2002/XP).
Migrating to Access 2003: This is a hands-on training session that will cover the new features and enhancements of the new version of MS Access (version 2003). Prerequisite: Basic understanding of previous version of Access (version 2002/XP).
Migrating to Excel 2003: This is a hands-on training session that will cover the new features and enhancements of the new version of MS Excel (version 2003). Prerequisite: Basic understanding of previous version of Excel (version 2002/XP).
Migrating to PowerPoint 2003: This is a hands-on training session that will cover the new features and enhancements of the new version of MS PowerPoint (version 2003). Prerequisite: Basic understanding of previous version of PowerPoint (version 2002/XP).
Migrating to FrontPage 2003: This is a hands-on training session that will cover the new features and enhancements of the new version of MS FrontPage (version 2003). Prerequisite: Basic understanding of previous version of FrontPage (version 2002/XP).
Migrating to Publisher 2003: This is a hands-on training session that will cover the new features and enhancements of the new version of MS Publisher (version 2003). Prerequisite: Basic understanding of previous version of Publisher (version 2002/XP).
To see a complete list of training sessions available for the months of March, April, and May, please visit http://www.ecs.psu.edu/training/schedule.htm
3. Network Orientation for New Users
Please inform and encourage new employees to attend the Network Orientation sessions scheduled specifically for them. This gives new users an overview of the College of Engineering network, network drives and services that are accessible when logged on, and software, training and support services provided by the College. These sessions are scheduled regularly. We can also provide one-on-one 'just-in-time' training for new users [call us at 863-4666 or contact Lisa Stevenson las@engr.psu.edu to request]
Network Orientation using Windows XP -
NOTE: If users are using Windows 2000, please contact us and we can schedule an orientation using that operating system instead of Windows XP.
4. Training Attendance Information is Available
The training group can provide you with training attendance information. If you have come through any training sessions held in our training lab this past year and you would like a list of the sessions you have attended, you can contact Lisa Stevenson by calling 5-1444 or by emailing her at las@engr.psu.edu.
5. MS Office 2003 Issues
For those who work with MS Word and WordPerfect, Microsoft has not provided any output converters for WordPerfect in its latest release of MS Word (version 2003). In addition, Microsoft no longer provides converters for earlier versions of MS Word and unless you already have a converter installed to work with your MS Word application, you will not be able to obtain one.
When you initially open MS Access 2003 after being upgraded from an earlier version and open a database file, you may receive the following update notice.
There is a link available from the MS Access dialog box that will take you to Microsoft's site where a security update can be downloaded and installed to your PC. Click on the link that says Windows Update. MS Internet Explorer will open. Click Scan for Updates. Once the scanning process is finished, click on Windows XP from the left side of your screen and then scroll to find the 'Update for Jet 4.0 Service Pack 8 (KB829558)' option that appears and click on the Add button.
Click on the Review and install updates link. Click Install Now. You will see an installation dialog box appear indicating the status of the installation process. When the installation is finished, click Ok to Restart your computer.
Once your computer restarts, open MS Access and from the Tools menu, choose Macro and then choose Security.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU DON'T SEE 'SECURITY' OPTION ON MENU:
CLOSE any open database file
From the menu, select VIEW/Toolbars/Customize
<Customize window appears>
Select (highlight) 'Menu Bar' then click [PROPERTIES] button
Click [RESTORE DEFAULTS] button
<a message will appear for you to confirm change to default settings>
Click [YES] - you will then have 'Security' option under TOOLS to change security levels
Click [CLOSE]
Click [CLOSE] to exit Customize
Once the 'Security' option is available on your TOOLS menu, to CHANGE the security level:
From the menu, select TOOLS/Macro/Security
<the Security window appears for you to set Security level, etc. for Access files>
Click the radio button for the Security Level that you wish to set as a default, then [OK]
EXAMPLE: If your default Security Level is set to 'Medium,' when you OPEN any Access file, window will appear before opening - simply click [OPEN] to open file
****If you do not feel comfortable completing the above instructions, you may want to contact your department's technical contact regarding this update and the installation of the MS Jet 4.0 service pack.****
When installing MS Office 2003, the Training & Support group recommends that department technical contacts install a "Full Install" of MS Office 2003 to eliminate the problem with MS Outlook 2003 not displaying reminders.
IBIS/ISIS College Data Warehouse User Group Updates
These two user groups continue to meet monthly for group discussions as well as hands-on experience with using the College of Engineering's Data-Warehouse tables for student and financial data.
ISIS
1. The next ISIS User Group meeting will be Tuesday, March 23 in the Engineering Training Lab (153-J Hammond Bldg.). This meeting will be divided into two hands-on sessions. The first session, from 1:30 to 2:30, will be conducted by Peggy Ryder and she will be demonstrating creating a query and report using the College of Engineering's ISIS Data Warehouse. The second session, from 2:45 to 3:45, will be conducted by Susan Pysher and Clint Holsinger. They will be demonstrating a prototype of the graduate student, supplemental web form, demonstrate how it will work and obtain user feedback.If you'd like to register for either of these sessions now, please do - simply contact us here in the Training Lab (863-4666). You WILL need to contact me or Sue (863-4666 or email agrattan@psu.edu) to let us know if you intend to be at either of these sessions. We have 7 machines that can be used for the session and we can double-up with two people per machine if requested.
2. To access the main ISIS User Group documentation page, please visit http://www.ecs.psu.edu/training/isis/documentation/isis-documentation.htm.
3. We have developed a College of Engineering Data Warehouse User Group Survey. This short survey is to help us obtain your feedback regarding the current use of the datawarehouse tables in the College, use of Access queries/reports already created, and suggestions/comments concerning the College of Engineering's IBIS and ISIS User Groups. The ISIS and IBIS User Groups were notified through email and provided a URL to the User Group Survey. If you would like to complete this form, please visit http://www.engr.psu.edu/www/trg/UserGroupSurvey/UserGroupFeedbackForm.htm. We hope you will complete this survey so we may receive your feedback and any comments and/or suggestions you may have regarding the User Group(s).
Currently, we have 24 responses received. Fourteen indicated they are using the IBIS User Group Database and Fifteen indicated they are using the ISIS User Group Database. Six reponses indicated they attend Seven or More User Group Meetings per year, Eleven indicated they attend Three to Six User Group Meetings per year, and Six responses indicated they attend Zero to Two User Group Meetings per year.
4. A new Main Switchboard form is being developed using Access that could provide an easier method of generating some standard queries using the student datawarehouse tables. New compiled student datawarehouse tables are now available that make it feasible to generate this form. ISIS users will be notified through email when a draft is ready to test and give feedback.
IBIS
1. The next IBIS User Group meeting will be Tuesday, March 16 in the Engineering Training Lab (153-J Hammond Bldg.). The session, from 1:30 to 2:30, will be presented by Nancy Sabol and Nancy will be demonstrating creating queries and reports.2. Nancy Sabol added a report to the IBIS User Group Reporting Switchboard in the version 6.1 User Group database file.The latest 'version' of the IBIS User Group Database file is V-6.1 ('version 6.1' - this 'number' will change as Nancy makes additions/changes to the user group file). This UsersGroupOffice2000--V6.1.mdb file is located on drive Q: - look in subfolder Q:\Datawarehouse\IBIS. Anyone who logs into the College network can get to this 'general information' drive area. You can copy this file down to your M: drive (your personal network drive) and in a folder called 'Datawarehouse'. This way, if your machine is replaced or taken away for any reason, the database file will still be on the network drive. You can create a 'shortcut' on your desktop to quickly launch Access and open the file. Nancy Sabol indicated to the IBIS User Group that the reports will take a little longer to run in this new version, but the data should be more accurate than in previous versions.
Two Options to Get the Latest V6.1 Update:
If you're using the Datawarehouse reports in the IBIS User Group file, and you don't have the latest version, you can:
Call Sue at 3-4666 if you'd like her to stop by your office and set you up again. She can arrange a time that's convenient for you. (Note: she can also step you through over the phone if you'd like) If you want to copy the latest version of the file down yourself, we have a web page with the instructions for getting your file updated: http://www.ecs.psu.edu/training/ibis/documentation/Copy-Database.htm
These instructions explain that you'd:
- Copy your file from the Q: drive to where you have the original file saved locally
- You would then need to RELINK your datawarehouse tables and MAKE the Active Budgets table (with all your department accounts)
- You would need to create a new 'shortcut' on the desktop if your filename is different (which it would be - it would have the 'V6' at the end of the filename).
3. To access the main IBIS User Group documentation page, please visit http://www.ecs.psu.edu/training/ibis/documentation/ibis-documentation.htm.
4. We have developed a College of Engineering Data Warehouse User Group Survey. This short survey is to help us obtain your feedback regarding the current use of the datawarehouse tables in the College, use of Access queries/reports already created, and suggestions/comments concerning the College of Engineering's IBIS and ISIS User Groups. The ISIS and IBIS User Groups were notified through email and provided a URL to the User Group Survey. If you would like to complete this form, please visit http://www.engr.psu.edu/www/trg/UserGroupSurvey/UserGroupFeedbackForm.htm. We hope you will complete this survey so we may receive your feedback and any comments and/or suggestions you may have regarding the User Group(s).
Currently, we have 24 responses received. Fourteen indicated they are using the IBIS User Group Database and Fifteen indicated they are using the ISIS User Group Database. Six reponses indicated they attend Seven or More User Group Meetings per year, Eleven indicated they attend Three to Six User Group Meetings per year, and Six responses indicated they attend Zero to Two User Group Meetings per year.
Macromedia Dreamweaver User Group
The Dreamweaver User Group continues to meet monthly for group discussions as well as hands-on experience with using the Macromedia Dreamweaver MX software application for creating web sites.
1. The next Dreamweaver User Group meeting will be Wednesday, March 31 in the Engineering Training Lab (153-J Hammond Bldg.). This meeting will be from 1:30 to 2:30, and the topic for this meeting will be "Dreamweaver Templates". This session will be conducted by Ryan Booz from Information Technology Services (ITS).If you'd like to register for this session, please do - simply contact us here in the Training Lab (863-4666). You WILL need to contact us (by calling 863-4666 or by emailing agrattan@psu.edu) to let us know if you intend to be at either of these sessions. We have 7 machines that can be used for the session and we can double-up with two people per machine if requested.
2. To access the main Dreamweaver User Group documentation page, please visit http://www.ecs.psu.edu/training/Dreamweaver/dreamweaver.htm
1. ITS SPAM Filtering
The University's Information Technology Services (ITS) has implemented an email spam filtering service in an attempt to limit "Junk/Spam" email messages. Email messages with specific words contained in the subject are blocked. The following is a list of blocked words:
The following information is quoted from the University Information Technology Services' 02/04 Tech News bulletin:
For more information, please visit: http://live.psu.edu/story/5558
For the latest updates on the SPAM Filtering project, please visit: http://aset.its.psu.edu/spamfilter_update.html.
2. AOL Blocks connections to PSU.EDU
Penn State Security Operations and Service as recently found that AOL is currently blocking all mail bound to them from the psu.edu domain. The Security Operations office is currently in contact with AOL regarding this matter and if you have any questions, you can contact them at security@psu.edu.
Latest Information as of 3/1/04. By J. Carnicella, Information Technology Services, 3/1/04:
"ITS is rolling out a service that may
prevent this from happening. Authenticated SMTP is a service that will
require authentication using your access account userid and password to
send mail. Because authentication is required, virus or spam-related
programs should not be able to use authsmtp as a relay, and therefore the
authsmtp server should not become blocked. (We can't guarantee AOL's
behavior, but thus far they have not blocked authenticated smtp servers.)
There are two known issues with this new service, both affecting Windows
Eudora users:
1.) If you are using KPoP for incoming mail, then you cannot use authsmtp
to send mail. This seems to be a limitation with Eudora's client and the
way it treats KPoP.
2.) Some installations of Eudora 6.x don't work. You get an error message
that says "Encryption too weak 0 less than 39". We have found that
removing Eudora 6, installing Eudora 5.2, then installing Eudora 6 over
Eudora 5.2 fixes the problem.
Please try authsmtp and send feedback to this list. Configuration details
are found here:
http://helpdesk.psu.edu/authsmtp.html"
John Carnicella, Senior Research Programmer
Information Technology Services
Old versions of Eudora are available for download from https://www.work.psu.edu/downloads/eudora/old/
3. AIS Unveils New Web Site
On Monday, February 2, AIS changed their web sites to reflect a new and cleaner look with more intuitive navigation. While the pages look different, the web page address (URL) of the AIS Home Page (http://ais.its.psu.edu) remains the same. AIS recommends that if you have additional AIS pages bookmarked, check these bookmarks since some file locations and file names have changed.
4. ITS Upgrades to Central Services Computers (March 6, 2004) & Centralized Accounts System (March 7-9, 2004)
Next Operator Committee Meeting will be held:
May 6, 2004
Stavely Conference Room - 202 Hammond Bldg.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email:
spysher@engr.psu.edu or
agrattan@engr.psu.edu.
Thank you
Minutes completed 03/2/04
