FAQs: Look here first!
Handouts and Tutorials: Helpful documentation arranged by topic
Downloads: Free Viewers and Readers
FAQs
What is my username? (DOC)
How can I change my password?
Do I have an e-mail account?
Will I need to configure e-mail? (HTML)
Where are the computers on campus?
What can I access from off campus?
How can I prevent viruses?
Can I open my files on both Mac and PC?
How can I create web pages?
What is Blackboard?
How do I get rid of Spyware?
Where can I save my files?
Can I print and/or scan on campus?
What computers are recommended?
What software is recommended?
Handouts and Tutorials
| Banner | Blackboard |
| Corporate Time Calendar (Office Use) | |
| Word | Excel |
| PowerPoint | Publisher |
| Spyware & Adware | Wireless Networking at Canisius |
| Windows | Publishing a Web Page at Canisius |
New Griffmail (updated August 14, 2006)
- New Griffmail for Beginners (PDF)
- New Griffmail for Advanced Users (DOC)
- Handling Addresses in New Griffmail (PDF)
- Griffmail Calendar (PDF)
- Classic Griffmail for Beginners (PDF)
- Classic Griffmail for Advanced Users (PDF)
- Handling Addresses in Classic Griffmail (PDF)
Listproc
- Listprocs (PDF)
- Listprocs - Additional Information for List Owners (PDF)
- Retrieving Class Lists from Listproc (PDF)
Blackboard
- Using Blackboard for Students (PDF)
- Using Blackboard for Faculty (PowerPoint)
- Bb Checklist and FAQ for Faculty
- Using the Blackboard Gradebook for Instructors (PowerPoint)
Web Publishing at Canisius
Banner
Windows
Word
- How to write a Paper in Word (PPT)
- Mail Merge for Word XP (PPT)
- Installing Canisius College Templates (PDF)
- Introduction to Excel (PPT)
- I Didn't Know Excel Could Do That - Database Functions (PowerPoint)
- I Didn't Know Excel Could Do That - Database Functions (HTML)
- I Didn't Know Excel Could Do That - Pivot Tables (PowerPoint)
- I Didn't Know Excel Could Do That - Pivot Tables (HTML)
- I Didn't Know Excel Could Do That - Statistics (PowerPoint)
- I Didn't Know Excel Could Do That - Statistics (HTML)
- I Didn't Know Excel Could Do That - Grade Book (PowerPoint)
- I Didn't Know Excel Could Do That - Grade Book (HTML)
Publisher
Wireless Networking at Canisius
Downloads
- Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack (for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats)
- PowerPoint Viewer
- Word Viewer
- Excel Viewer
- Adobe Reader
- QuickTime
This document provides information on how to synchronize your network password (Novell) with your e-mail and Banner passwords. Please follow the procedure for choosing a strong, secure password. Change Password Instructions
Do I have an E-Mail Account?
All students, staff and faculty have an e-mail account. E-mail addresses are username@canisius.edu. (Don't know your username? Click here!) Users have a choice of e-mail clients in which to read and send electronic mail:
- Griffmail allows users to access their e-mail from any web-enabled computer, both on and off campus. Griffmail is easily reached at https://griffmail.canisius.edu or by clicking the Griffmail box on the current students or faculty & staff pages of the Canisius web site.
- Pine (UNIX) is a text-based e-mail client accessed by using a Terminal Service, such as telnet.
- OS X Mail can be used by Macintosh users with the appropriate Operating System.
For Links to Helpful Documentation, see the E-mail section of this page.
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What is Blackboard?
Blackboard is the course management tool used by faculty for posting course material on the Web. Because Blackboard is web-based it can be accessed by faculty and students both on and off campus. It features an Announcement "board", sections for secure posting of course material and assignments, access to CANDO, the Canisius online library catalog, an online grade book, electronic drop box for submitting and receiving assignments, and communication tools, such as online asyncronous Discussion Boards. All courses offered for each semester are populated automatically with the registered students before classes begin and updated through the Drop/Add period. Faculty who wish to use Blackboard will activate their courses and make them available to their students.
To access Blackboard from any web-enabled computer, open a browser, such as Internet Explorer or Netscape. At the Canisius Home Page, click on current students or faculty & staff. Click the Blackboard box, or use the direct URL http://blackboard.canisius.edu.
Faculty and Students are required to login to access Blackboard material. Usernames are the same as Canisius e-mail usernames; initial passwords are the same as the Online Services PIN.
Links to Helpful Documentation:
Canisius Blackboard Tutorial for Students (PDF)
Canisius Blackboard for Instructors (PPT)
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What software is recommended?
All Canisius computing labs and ITCs are equipped with the latest Microsoft Office software (MS Office XP for the PCs; MS Office2004 for the Macs). See Handouts and Tutorials for additional information.
Links to Helpful Documentation:
Recommended Configuration for Students: Windows
Recommended Configuration for Students: Macintosh
Supported Equipment and Software: Labs and Offices
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How can I prevent viruses?
For office and lab computers: All PCs on campus are equipped with Symantec AV which automatically updates computers with new virus configurations. Automatic virus scans are run on each PC once per week. Any viruses detected will be quarantined to protect the PC. Virex, the Antivirus software for Macs will similarly protect Mac users.
For students: ITS provides Symantec Anti-Virus, at no charge, for all students. Instructions on how to CONFIGURE and RUN Symantec Anti-Virus software in college dorms.
For faculty/staff personally-owned computers: All Canisius desktop and laptop computers will automatically have virus protection installed. However, ITS strongly recommends that everyone connecting to the Internet with a personally-owned computer install and keep current an antivirus package. This is especially critical for those using the Microsoft Windows operating systems, since these are by far the most popular targets for malicious computer worms and viruses. Macintosh users are not immune, however, and it is a good idea to install and update anti-virus software as a precautionary measure on Apple computers as well.
Anti-virus software is now available at academic discount prices in the Canisius College bookstore. Symantec AV, perhaps the most well-known software of this sort, is available for both Windows and Macintosh computers. McAfee VirusScan (for Windows users) and Virex (for Macintosh users) are available from the bookstore as well. Installing any of these software packages, and allowing them to auto-update their virus definitions when necessary, will greatly aid you in protecting your computer against harmful viruses. Click here for more virus information and useful web links.
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What can I access from off-campus?
Canisius does not have direct dial-up access to its Novell servers. However, off-campus users may reach Online Services, Blackboard and Griffmail by connecting to their own ISP (Internet Service Provider). One provider, AT&T Global, offers the Canisius community a discounted monthly subscription fee. For more information, call the ITS Help Desk at 716-888-2299.
Links to Helpful Documentation:
AT&T Globalnet offer for Canisius College
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Can I print and/or scan on campus?
All Canisius students can use the Library computer lab, which is equipped with scanners and networked laser printers. See the ITS consultant on duty for assistance. Some dorm and department labs are similarly equipped.
Links to Helpful Documentation:
Labs and ITCs
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Where can I save my files?
Campus computers are no longer equipped with either floppy disk drives or zip drives. For convenient offline storage of data and document files students should use USB flash drives. Some computers may have CD-RW drives. All users with a Canisius username and password have access to space on the Novell network for storage of data and document files. While there is plenty of space, it is not unlimited. Users should regularly backup important files and clean out folders. See Backup Strategies in the Handouts and Tutorials section for more information.
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Can I open my files on both Mac and PC?
Microsoft Office files, in general, are very compatible across platforms. To read implications concerning file formats, fonts, and presentation considerations consult the following article from Microsoft: Information on Compatibility between Windows and Mac Platforms
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Page last published on 12/7/2007 10:56:26 AM