Category: Web

Online Access to your Files on the Loyola Network

Online Access to your Files on the Loyola Network

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Loyola faculty and staff are able to store files on Loyola’s network; users have access to a private (U:) drive and some departments may have a shared directory.  You can get to the network from any campus computer; however what if you are off-campus and need to access your files?  With DocXchanger, Loyola users can simply and securely access their files located on Loyola’s network, from any Internet location.  DocXchanger may be accessed via a Web interface or by downloading a Windows client. With this service, users also have the capability to share their files with external (non-Loyola) affiliates.

Note: You will need to have your Loyola user ID set‐up to work with this application; please refer to the DocXchanger Access Instructions or contact the IT HelpDesk for more information.

Keep in mind that DocXchanger only provides access to files stored on Loyola’s network.  If you need remote access to any files or applications on your Loyola desktop computer, you will need to request access to Loyola’s Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Edit your Google Documents Offline

Edit your Google Documents Offline

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You may already be using the online word processor Google Docs to create and store documents online for free, publish them in multiple formats and access them anywhere and anytime you can connect to the Internet. If you are unfamiliar with Google Docs, you can check out a previous Loyola Tech Tip to learn about the benefits of using this fabulous tool. The greatest advantage of using Google Docs is that you can login from any computer to edit your documents. However, if you lose your internet connection and need access to a crucial file, you will be out of luck. That is unless you install Google’s Gears, an open source browser extension that enables Web applications to run offline.

Enabling Google Docs Offline

Once you download and follow the installation instructions from the Gears Home Page , you will be prompted to restart your Web browser. When you reopen your browser, sign into Google Docs and click on the Offline link.

offline.png

You will be prompted with instructions to synchronize your documents. Once your documents are synched, you will notice a green checkmark status indicator next to your user name in the upper right hand corner. The status indicator will turn gray when you are working offline. If you login to Google Docs without an internet connection you will be able to edit any of your word processing documents or view your spreadsheets. At this time, you cannot create new documents when you are working offline. Keep in mind that you’ll need to install Gears on each computer that you would like to sync your Google Docs with (i.e. your laptop and your desktop). You should only enable the Google Docs offline feature on your personal computer, not a shared computer. Gears is also compatible with Google Reader, which enables you to access your Web feeds offline as well.

Further Reading:

Google Gears Help Center

Private Web Browsing

Private Web Browsing

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When you surf the Internet, your Web browser stores various information from the websites you visit on your local hard drive. While the storage of Web browsing information may be convenient on your personal computer, if you use a shared computer you may not want to leave a trail of all of the websites you visit. An individual that uses a shared computer after you do may view your browsing history and if you didn’t securely log out of your email, online banking, or a shopping website, a malicious user could potentially access one of your accounts.

If you are using one of the computer labs at Loyola, the browsing history is automatically cleared each time you log out. However, if you are using a shared computer elsewhere on campus or other public locations it is a good idea to get in the habit of clearing your browsing history, especially when you access secure data.  The caveat of relying on clearing your browsing history is that you have to remember to do it.

If you use Firefox (3.5 and later), you have the option to activate a Private Browsing feature before you start surfing the Web.  Private Browsing prevents Firefox from retaining information about the sites you have visited on the computer you are using.  To use Private Browsing in Firefox, click on Start Private Browsing from the Tools menu.  Visit Firefox’s Private Browsing page to learn more.  Safari and Internet Explorer 8 also have similar private browsing options.

Easily Create and Share Diagrams with Webspiration

Easily Create and Share Diagrams with Webspiration

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1X1With Webspiration, you can easily create a visual map that will help you organize concepts, plans and ideas. Webspiration is a useful tool for students to brainstorm ideas and make connections between concepts. Faculty and staff can also benefit from creating diagrams to assist with project management and planning. With a free Webspiration account, you can collaborate and share diagrams with anyone by simply sending an invite.

The benefit of using Webspiration is the incredibly user-friendly graphic interface; you can quickly develop and connect your ideas without having to spend a lot of time to get a professional-looking diagram. Also, because your documents are stored online, you can access them anytime, anywhere.

Inspiration

Getting Started

First, you’ll need to set up your free account and login. You’ll initially be taken to the Launch Page, where you can click on the Launch Inspiration button to start a new document. From the Launch Page, you can also access the Help Center for Getting Started documentation and the Learning Library, which contains resources and tips for using Webspiration.

Inspiration Software

Webspiration is also available as desktop application for Mac and PC calledInspiration. With Inspiration, you have the benefit of working from your hard drive, instead of working online. Inspiration is available for purchase and there is also a downloadable free 30-day trial.