Frequently Asked Questions:

Note: Many of your questions regarding homepage creation may be answered by going to my Web Hints page.

Question: The vax connection in the lab seems a bit flaky at times. Any suggestions?

Answer: Make sure you use the "vax" icon, not telnet. The only other major problem is that the backspace doesn't work as expected. Use "control" and "backspace" at the same time.

Question: How do you ftp?

Answer: I told you in class to go to Run, and then type "ftp cluster. edinboro.edu"

View hints at users.edinboro.edu/quinna/webhints.html (go to Word section).

Question: I don't want my student number posted. Do I have to publish my homepage on Edinboro's server?

Answer: You can obtain service from an external account. Prices are about $10-$20 a month. Some examples are: www.velocity.net, www.erie.net, and www.aol.com.

Question: It's hard to work on my homepage in DH222 by telnet. Are there any other options?

Answer: You can use the lab in DH221. First you have to log onto the LINUX account (use your regular username for your username and password). Then type "telnet cluster.edinboro.edu". This should get you to your vax account.

Another option is to go to Notepad. (Access this by going to Start/ Programs/ Accessories/Notepad.) Type your html code. Save this as a text file or an html file. Then ftp it to your account.
To ftp: Go to Run. Then "ftp cluster.edinboro.edu". Then type your username and password, as prompted. Then type "cd [.www]". Don't type the binary command, because this is text. Then type "put a:\filename.txt" or "put a:\filename.html" or "put a:\filename.htm". (Your "filename" will probably be "home"). When it accepts the ftp, it will provide a paragraph stating this; if it says nothing, it didn't work. Then to get out of the ftp, type "quit."
If you weren't able to ftp the html file (if you did txt instead), then in your vax account, rename it appropriately as follows: type "rename [.www]filename.txt [.www]filename.html". Now, you are done.

Question: Where can I get a TI92 for the best price?

Answer: Call Advantage Marketing at 1-800-937-9777. The price is $169.90. Add $10 for S/H. Their address is 8412 Hedges, Raytown, Missouri, 64138

Question: How can I import a picture or text into my home page?

Answer:
1. FTP it to your vax account
2. insert appropriate html code to the page where you want it

For more detailed instructions:
1. If you have a photograph, scan it, and save it to a disk as a "jpg" file. Once your picture is on a disk in drive a, on the PC, go to "Run" and type "ftp (space) cluster.edinboro.edu". You will be promtped for your username and password. Enter these. Then type "cd (space) [.www]", enter, then "binary", enter, then "put (space) a:\filename.jpg", enter, then "quit". (Your filename may end in "gif" instead of "jpg".)

2. You can follow the html on my page to see how to insert the picture. In general, put this command inside of the brackets you normally use in html: IMG SRC="filename.jpg". If you want to make a fancier border and play around with height or width, see my source code for an example.

Note that you should be able to follow these ftp instructions in order to take anything off of a disk and put it in your www directory of your vax account. For example, you should be able to write your home page in a different editor and then ftp it to your vax account.

Question: How can I save my file on my vax account onto a disk?

Answer: Go into Netscape. When viewing the page, save each page onto a disk as an "filename.htm" file.

Or, follow the above ftp directions, except use "get" instead of "put"... Note that when you ftp a text account, do not use the "binary" command that you would use when "ftp"ing an image.

Question: Since my account may be erased at the end of the semester, how can I save my homepage and send it to my other internet provider (such as aol)?

Answer: Save the pages onto a disk. Then you can ftp from the disk to your service. We will discuss this more at the end of the semester right before your accounts may disappear.

Question: How can I import a background or picture that I see on someone else's page?

IMPORTANT: YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT INFORMATION AND GRAPHICS ON THE WEB MAY BE COPYRIGHTED AND YOU SHOULD NOT IT WITHOUT PERMISSION IF THIS IS THE CASE. ASK THE COMPANY FOR PERMISSION. If you have this permission, you may proceed by clicking the right hand mouse button over the desired background or picture. Save it as a jpg or gif file onto a disk. Ftp it to your vax account, as outlined above. You may want to state that the picture was used with permission of the company.

Question: How do I know if my ftp was successful?

Answer: At the dollar prompt, type "set default [.www]", enter, then "dir". This will report the files in your www directory.

Question: Why do I have so many files in my directory?

Answer: A version is kept for each time you save. To keep only the recent file, at the dollar prompt, type "purge".

Question: How do I access your sketches (for example on the second Sketchpad assignment) from the lab?

Answer: Because Sketchpad is a Windows 3.1 program, you will have to copy it on to a disk first. Under, Programs bring up "NT Explorer". Then access Network Neighborhood, then CSLab Server. Then bring up the sketch under "Quinn's Data" and then drag it to the "A" drive.

Question: How can I get my own copy of the Sketchpad?

Answer: You can download a demo copy off of my technology page. However, this version is very limited, and you can not save or print. You can buy your own copy from KeyPress for about $169. Call 1-800-995-MATH. (Also, you can buy supplementary assignments in geometry, trigonometry, or a variety of other special topics, each for about an additional $40). If we someday get a site license here, you can buy a student edition for about $40 (instead of $169). However, we don't have this yet.

Question: How can I create a distribution list?

Answer: Create a list by typing "edit/edt (filename).dis" at the dollar prompt. Use the usual "c" editor. Put the address of each person you want on your mailing list on a separate line. Save the file in the usual way (control z, exit). When you want to send to everyone, just type "@(filename)" at the "send" prompt.

Question: How do I scan photographs to put on my homepage?

Answer: On our computer, open up Paint Shop. Place picture in scanner upside down right side down. Go to the scanner icon. Hit print preview. Change resolution or colors if necessary to fit onto a disk. Save on your disk. Save it as a JPG file. Then ftp it to your vax account (as outlined above), link it to one of your pages (use the following command inside of brackets: IMG SRC="filename.jpg").

Note that an easier way to do this is go out and take some new pictures and then have them developed somewhere where they will put them on a disk for you. This should cost about $4 extra.