We heard back from a number of users on campus who tried out SharePoint after reading our initial announcement about it back in April.

Here are some important things we have learned:

1.) Staff members seemed to like the idea of being able to set up a team site in SharePoint as a place where their committee members could easily share and collaborate on documents rather than e-mailing large attachments.

2.) Faculty members showed interest in generating team sites for different research groups they are involved with. They wanted to be able to give access to colleagues off campus. We are working on this and will let the campus community know as soon as a procedure is in place. For now, only people on the sunysb.edu domain will be able to access SharePoint sites at Stony Brook.

3.) Logging in - you must know your NetID and NetID password in order to log in to a SharePoint site. You find your NetID and NetID password in SOLAR under NetID Maintenance. Stony Brook employees who work on East Campus (UHMC) may not be as familiar with the NetID and may have to establish a NetID password in SOLAR which will take 15 minutes. Once this takes effect, you type the SharePoint Web address into your browser’s address bar. You will be asked to authenticate in the following way:

Username: SUNYSB.EDU\NetID
Password: NetID Password

Where "NetID" is your NetID and "NetID Password" is your NetID Password.

* Make sure you are using a backslash ( \ ) between SUNYSB.EDU and your NetID

 
4.) When site managers are granting other people access to their sites by creating lists of users and groups from the Active Directory, they need to be cognizant that they are selecting the person’s name that is attached to the sunysb domain. Hospital employees, for example, are listed in the active directory twice with both their UHMC account and their SUNYSB account. Be sure to select the one that reads /sunysb if your team or committee involves SB Hospital employees. Your users need to be signed in to the sunysb.edu domain in order to access a Stony Brook SharePoint site.

5.) It is best to use Internet Explorer as your browser when trying to access a SharePoint site.

6.) Web browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Opera are able to access SharePoint Web pages, but will not be able to use drag-and-drop for Web parts, explorer view, or the rich text editor. Safari (for Windows) users must have version 3.1 or higher in order to log in to Sharepoint sites.

7.) Internet Explorer users - To avoid having to authenticate numerous times, add your SharePoint sites to your local intranet zone in Internet Explorer. Here’s how you do it:

Step 1: Open Internet Explorer and go to Tools > Internet Options

Step 2: Click on the Security tab

Step 3: Select the Local Intranet zone icon and then click the Sites button

Step 4: Click the Advanced button when you come to this screen

Step 5: Remove any Web address that may already be located in the “Add this website to the zone” field.

Step 6: Enter https://mysite.stonybrook.edu and click Add.

Step 7: Enter https://teams.stonybrook.edu and click Add.

Step 8: Enter https://web.stonybrook.edu and click Add.

Step 9: Enter https://courses.stonybrook.edu and click Add.

Step 10: Click Close.

Step 11: Click OK.

Step 12: Click OK.

8.)  Firefox users can find out how to avoid having to authenticate numerous times in SharePoint by accessing this document.

9.) Everyone on campus automatically has a MySite (100 MB of space on the SharePoint server). You can begin experimenting in SharePoint immediately with your MySite. To log in, type https://mysite.stonybrook.edu. Here is the way Microsoft explains MySite.

10.) Microsoft has some pretty good instructions and tutorials to help new users get started.

These are just a few things we’ve learned so far. We will continue to share our findings with you. If you want to request a SharePoint team site, visit the SharePoint Information Site.

Stony Brook University’s Division of Information Technology recently issued its second edition of DoIT News. It is a newsletter geared towards faculty and staff that is currently being published once a semester. The big news item this spring was the announcement of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) being available on campus. For those who did not see the newsletter, here is the article along with related links. If you are a member of the Stony Brook University community, give SharePoint a try and let us know what you think!

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server Now Available

Improved team productivity, tools for collaboration and a means to keep people connected regardless of geographic location are three big reasons to try out Microsoft Office SharePoint Server.

Collaboration is a whole lot easier at Stony Brook University. Microsoft Office SharePoint Server technology provides freedom to create and manage Internet sites that allow for document sharing, team collaboration, Web-site authoring, content management and social networking.

To get started using SharePoint all you need is a Web browser (preferably Microsoft’s Internet Explorer) and your Stony Brook NetID.

Research teams, committees and student organizations are the likely groups to benefit from SharePoint. It works seamlessly with Microsoft Office products such as Word, Excel and Access.

My Site is a personal Web portal that allows individuals to create a profile and a personal Web site that can be shared with colleagues.

There is a calendar tool, a place to post announcements, task lists and relevant links. Templates are available for creating blogs and wikis.

SharePoint is a great tool for managing documents. Libraries can be created and multiple authoring is supported. You can be alerted if someone in your team modifies a shared document. A check-in and check-out system can be enabled to ensure that just one person is working on a document at any given time to prevent overwriting. Different versions of a document can be saved and restored.

As a Web site content management system, SharePoint helps you separate the site design from the content authoring. Permissions can be set, giving you control over who has access to your site, a particular page or even a page element. In addition, a feature called audiencing provides a means for filtering specific parts of a page to a targeted audience.

Build your own My Site right now by logging into https://mysite.stonybrook.edu and entering your NetID and NetID password. Your NetID will need to be entered in the following format: sunysb.edu\“Your NetID”.

Additional SharePoint sites can be requested by filling out the form provided at https://web.stonybrook.edu/sharepoint.

Related Links:
http://www.stonybrook.edu/it/sharepoint1.shtml
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepointserver/HA101087481033.aspx

It’s the first day of classes for the Spring 2008 semester and we have a line of students in Client Support with a variety of computer registration issues. Last fall, we put together a list of the typical problems our technicians were seeing when they were helping Stony Brook students register their computers and gain Internet access.

Here is the list again of common registration problems and some possible solutions.

Problem: CAT tells you that you need to install the latest Microsoft Updates, but you can’t get to the Microsoft site to access them.

Solution: Make sure you have “Automatic detect settings” selected in Internet Explorer. Here’s how you do it:

• In Internet Explorer, go to the top and click on Tools
• Select Internet Options
• Click on the connections tab
• Click on LAN Settings (in the bottom right)
• Make sure the “Automatically detect settings” box is checked off
• Click OK

You should now be able to go to Microsoft for updates (http://www.microsoft.com)

 
Problem: "Can’t Write to Log" Error

Solution: Close out of Internet Explorer and run the Client Assessment Tool (CAT) again. You may have to restart your machine.

 
Problem: You forgot your NetID password and can’t get into SOLAR to find out what it is because you’re working on an unregistered machine.

Solution: If you need to get on SOLAR from an unregistered machine to find out your NetID password, you must do the following:

• In Internet Explorer, go to the top and click on Tools
• Select Internet Options
• Click on the connections tab
• Click on LAN Settings (in the bottom right)
• Make sure the "Automatically detect settings" box is checked off
• Also be sure to check off "Use automatic configuration script." In the address box, type in: http://resnet.stonybrook.edu/wpad.dat
• Click OK

You should now be able to go to SOLAR (http://www.stonybrook.edu/solarsystem) to find out or change your NetID password

IMPORTANT - After you have registered your computer at https://register.resnet.stonybrook.edu, remember to go back into Internet Explorer and uncheck "Use automatic configuration script."

Common Vista Error Messages

 
Problem: "Access Denied" Error

Solution: In order to successfully run the Client Assessment Tool in Microsoft Vista, a user must right click on the Internet Explorer icon and run the program as an administrator. Failure to do so will lead to an "Access Denied" error dialog box after the installation of the CAT active script.

 
Problem: "Elevation Required" Error

Solution: Go to https://register.resnet.stonybrook.edu/vista.html. You will see a dialog box that says "Opening catexe.exe." Hit Save File. You can save it to your desktop. Go to your desktop and double click "catexe." At the next screen, hit Accept. This will open up the Client Assessment Tool. Click Scan to begin the process.

 
Problem: CAT says you need to update Windows defender dat file on Windows Vista.

Solution: Turn Windows defender on from your Control Panel. Once Windows defender is turned on, click "Check for Updates," then run the CAT scan again.

 
Problem: OneCare Dat file was not found … Unable to Update OneCare … Problem with OneCare AntiVirus

Solution: If you have Windows Live Messenger (MSN Messenger) and have installed the Windows Live Toolbar with the OneCare Advisor, the Client Assessment Tool (CAT) thinks that you have Microsoft OneCare as your AntiVirus program. In order to pass CAT, you must locate the Windows Live Toolbar Options (on the toolbar in Microsoft Internet Explorer) and remove the OneCare check box. If this does not work, you may have to remove Windows Live altogether and reinstall later.

 If you have additional problems, please call (631) 632-9800 or send an e-mail to: DoIT_sscsupport@notes.cc.sunysb.edu

Keep in mind that this is our busiest time of year and you may have to wait in line or leave your computer with us for a period of time. We will do our best to get you up and running as soon as possible.

Attention Students!

Sunday, Jan. 27

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Computer Registration Assistance at the SAC’s Traditions Lounge

Welcome back for the start of the Spring 2008 semester. Client Support and the Division of Information Technology will be here to help make sure your computer is hooked up, registered, and ready to go.

From 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27, staff technicians will be on hand to assist students with registration and wireless issues in the Traditions Lounge, located on the main floor of the Student Activities Center (SAC). The technicians in attendance will do their best to solve your problems and answer any questions you may have. If your computer has other issues that will take longer to attend to, you will be encouraged to bring your machine to the Client Support Drop-in Center, located on the fifth floor of the Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library, Room S-5410. The Drop-in Center will also be open from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27, and will resume regular business hours (Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.) on Jan. 28.

Questions? Call Client Support at 631.632.9800 or submit a help request.

Do you know about UBMicro?

UBMicro is affiliated with the State University of New York at Buffalo and serves as an authorized, higher education reseller of computer products. Having this status enables UBMicro to sell computer hardware and software at educational discounts. Prices are often hundreds of dollars less than local and Internet retailers. SUNY institutions really benefit. In fact, students, faculty and staff at SUNY schools are offered a substantial cost savings when making departmental or personal-use purchases.

For a limited time, Stony Brook faculty and staff can buy Adobe software at student rates for work-at-home use. This is an opportunity to acquire the latest in Adobe software at savings of up to 85% off the commercial price.

The table below offers a comparison of each Creative Suite 3 product (Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.); allowing you to decide which product or package will best suit your needs.

Pricing and ordering information is available at www.ubmicro.buffalo.edu. 

This offer is effective through March 15, 2008.

One of our clients at the Stony Brook Foundation figured out how to customize her toolbars in Microsoft Excel 2007. She didn’t care for the new tabbed ribbon toolbar. She wanted to revert back to the small icons that she was used to working with on a regular basis in Excel 2003.

When you choose to customize your toolbar, you have your favorite tools handy and they take up less room. You don’t waste time trying to figure out where everything is.

We’re showing these steps in Word, but they will work just the same in Excel and the other Office products.

Step 1:  Minimize the ribbon
Right click on the tabbed ribbon toolbar and select "Minimize the Ribbon." You will see it disappear.

Step 2:  Show Quick Access Toolbar
Right click where the toolbar used to be and this time select "Show Quick Access Toolbar Below the Ribbon." You can right click and choose to move your toolbar above or below the Ribbon, it’s up to you.

 
Step 3:  Customize Quick Access Toolbar …
Right click the toolbar a third time and select "Customize Quick Access Toolbar … " 

 
Step 4:  Choose the Tools You Want
You will come to a page with two columns where you can add your favorite tools and commands from a list on the left. There is a drop-down menu above the left column that says "Choose commands from" You can pull down "Popular Commands" or "All Commands." Depending what you choose, you will see a different list of tools. "Popular Commands" will let you select the most popular tools for the program you are in (in this case, Word). "All Commands" will give you a list of commands for every program in the Office suite. Select which one fits your needs and then select the tools/commands you want from the left hand column and hit the "Add" button. You will see that tool/command pop up in the right-hand column. These will eventually be the tools on your customized toolbar. If you accidentally select a tool/command that you don’t want, you can select it from the list on the right and hit the "Remove" button."

 
Step 5:  Hit OK and begin using your new toolbar
When you are satisfied with your list of tools/commands, hit OK and begin using your new toolbar. If you ever want the tabbed ribbon toolbar back, just right click on your customized toolbar and deselect "Minimize the Ribbon."

MySBfiles is 500 MB of file storage offered to each Stony Brook student and employee. It makes working in different locations easier.

Students can work on a paper in their dorm room late at night, save it to their MySBfiles, then go to a SINC Site the next day before class and print out the paper from their MySBfiles. Instructors who teach in classrooms or lecture halls which are equipped with computers and Internet access can pull their PowerPoint presentations or class notes up from their MySBfiles instead of taking a laptop or a USB key with them to class.

Benefits to using MySBfiles:

• Files are accessible on any machine with a web browser from on or off campus.
• Files are protected by AntiVirus software.
• Files are stored on university servers, so they are not affected if your machine crashes or is stolen. Files are backed up at regular intervals and can be easily recovered.
• Personal Web pages can be hosted in MySBfiles.

For those of you who haven’t taken advantage of this perk yet, more information can be found at the MySBfiles information page.

For those of you who do use MySBfiles regularly, let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

Are you trying to register your computer on Stony Brook’s residential network, but having trouble? Here is a list of the most common registration problems Client Support has seen from students in the past week and some possible solutions. Some of the problems have to do with the Client Assessment Tool (CAT), some have to do with Vista, and some are related to the Internet Explorer browser.

Problem:  CAT tells you that you need to install the latest Microsoft updates, but you can’t get to the Microsoft site to access them.
Solution: Before going to Microsoft for updates or SOLAR to set your NetID password, you MUST do the following:

• In Internet Explorer, go to the top and click on Tools
• Select Internet Options
• Click on the connections tab
• Click on LAN Settings (in the bottom right)
• The Local Area Network (LAN) Settings dialog box will open. Click "Use automatic configuration script." In the address box, type in:  http://resnet.stonybrook.edu/wpad.dat
• Click OK
• You should now be able to go to Microsoft for updates or to SOLAR

View the screen shots for this procedure

 
Problem:  "Can’t Write to Log" Error
Solution: Close out of Internet Explorer and run the Client Assessment Tool (CAT) again.

 
Vista - Common Error Messages

Problem:  "Access Denied" Error
Solution:  In order to successfully run the Client Assessment Tool in Microsoft Vista, a user must right click on the Internet Explorer icon and run the program as an administrator. Failure to do so will lead to an "Access Denied" error dialog box after the installation of the CAT active script.

Problem:  "Elevation Required" Error
Solution:  Go to https://register.resnet.stonybrook.edu/vista.html. You will see a dialog box that says "Opening catexe.exe." Hit Save File. You can save it to your desktop. Go to your desktop and double click "catexe." At the next screen, hit Accept. This will open up the Client Assessment Tool. Click Scan to begin the process.

Problem:  "OneCare Dat file was not found … Unable to Update OneCare … Problem with OneCare AntiVirus"
Solution:  If you have Windows Live Messenger (MSN messenger) and have installed the Windows Live Toolbar with the OneCare Advisor, the Client Assessment Tool (CAT) thinks that you have Microsoft OneCare as your AntiVirus program. In order to pass CAT, you must locate the Windows Live Toolbar Options (on the toolbar in Microsoft Internet Explorer) and remove the OneCare check box. See the screen shots for this procedure. If this does not work, you may have to remove Windows Live altogether and reinstall later.

If you have additional problems, please call (631) 632-9800. Please keep in mind that this is our busiest time of year. We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible. You can also send an email to:  DoIT_sscsupport@notes.cc.sunysb.edu

Diana Voss from Teaching, Learning + Technology (TLT) has created a blog dedicated to Blackboard. 

We’ve just added it to our Blogroll.

The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) is gearing up for the start of the 2007-08 school year. This week, volunteers from each of the six departments that comprise DoIT gathered for a "working breakfast" to review course material that will be presented to more than 2,600 students in 120 sections of Freshman Seminar 101, a mandatory technology orientation class for SB freshmen.

Organizing this large initiative is Tara Burst-Mazovec and her colleagues in Teaching, Learning + Technology. Tara reached out to other employees within DoIT and asked for assistance in leading the classes. She got great response and will now be able to cover all 120 sections of the seminar which spans a full month from the start of September to the first week in October. Each class will run between 40 and 50 minutes in length. CIO Rich Reeder is even going to teach some sections.

Freshman Seminar 101 introduces students to:

• SOLAR and all its capabilities
• Student Email
• SINC Sites
• Microsoft Campus Agreement
• MSDNAA
• Purchasing a Computer Using Their Educational Discount
• MySBfiles (formerly known as the SB Drive)
• Blackboard