Student and Faculty Resources
Technical Assistance
- UO Microcomputer Services
UO Microcomputer Services provides a wide range of assistance to UO students and faculty, ranging from networking to hardware issues.
- Campus Computing Labs
There are several well-equipped computing labs around campus, each with computers, software, and other equipment available for use.
- DUCKWARE and Anti-Virus CD-ROM
UO students and faculty can pick up a free CD-ROM called "Duckware" that contains set-up software for using the UO as an ISP (Internet Service Provider). Pick one up at the Computing Center, the ITC, or at one of the campus computing labs. If you are not able to get to campus, we can make arrangements to send the Duckware CD-ROM to you.
- Computer Help Desk
The Comupter Help Desk is located on the first floor of the Knight Library and can assist with Blackboard or other computer related questions.
- UO Schedule of Classes
The Schedule of Classes enables searches for classes and workshops based on a variety of distinguishable factors such as terms, departments, credits, etc.
- UO Libraries
All UO students and faculty have access to the various campus libraries. The library catalog is available online.
- UO Maps
The University provides a collection of campus maps as well as directions.
File Formats
Wikipedia’s list of file formats
File Uploads/Submissions
Files can be uploaded, transferred, and submitted in a couple of basic ways:
- E-mail: Most e-mail programs allow attachments to be sent with the e-mail message. Common problems include:
- Files not attach to an e-mail or message will not send. Many e-mail systems limit the size of a file transfer. To fix this, try reducing your file size. If you are sending multiple files, try sending them one at a time. You can also try saving the file as a compressed archive, like a ZIP, RAR, or Stuffit file if you have the application to do so. The UO Alpha Mail program has a link in the left hand menu called "Share a Large File" for files that are too large for normal e-mail attachments. These files are accessible for about fourteen days.
- Corrupted files: Sometimes e-mail programs will modify the file for its use (e.g. Outlook can change attachments from their native format to ‘dat’ formats). To correct this:
- Have the person sending the e-mails use plain text formatting.
- Try to use the free download software at http://www.biblet.freeserve.co.uk/ to convert the ‘.dat’ file.
- Blackboard Courses: The instructor may use the "Assignment" feature in Blackboard as a means to give out and collect assignments. This method does not tend to have file size limitations like e-mail attachments. For more information on this feature, check the Blackboard help site.
- Publish to the Web: With this option, you load the file to your UO server space (or similar non-UO space) in such a way that a person can view it as a web page on their browser instead of having to download or save it. This allows the file to be almost universally accessible. For more information on making use of this resource, refer to Web Publishing help.
- File Transfer Protocol (FTP) Program: FTP programs aren't very practical for the kind of general file transfer that Distance Education students usually need to accomplish. They are well suited to handling files on websites and are an excellent way to move large or small files from a campus lab to home computers. You will likely want to use an FTP program such as Fetch, Fugu, Cyberduck, or another free programs. Regardless, when using FTP programs, you will need one that supports Secure FTP and to use shell.uoregon.edu as your host.
- Image Manipulation/Resolution:
Access to Blackboard while Traveling
Blackboard can be accessed while traveling as long as there is an Internet connection that enables access to the University Blackboard system and an updated browser that supports all the features of Blackboard. Check the Blackboard compatibility of a system you're using at UO Library’s "Check" page.
Cross Platform Compatibility
For the most part, projects completed on a Macintosh or Windows-based system can be easily shared. There are times when proprietary file formats to either a Macintosh or Windows-based program cannot be easily shared, as there is no counterpart to the software on both platforms.
- Missing Extensions
In the past, one of the most common problems was to find that files created on a Macintosh without the .xxx (three letter) extension would not open on a Windows-based machine. This can be easily fixed by adding the appropriate extension.
- Powerpoint/Microsoft Word Image Issue
A common problem occurs when Microsoft Word and Powerpoint files are shared between Macintosh and Windows-based systems. Typically, images disappear when a user drags and drops, or cuts and pastes, an image into the document on a Macintosh. When opened on a Windows machine, the image is gone and in its place is a dialog box stating a Quicktime Plugin is required. The easiest solution is to export the PowerPoint or Word documents as a PDF and to share the PDF, not the original document.
Equipment/Laptop Checkouts
For those who have access to campus, there are various opportunities to check out equipment and laptops. Please check with the department and/or school your course is associated with for further information. Additionally, laptops are available through the UO Libraries Laptop Checkout.
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