The Advice List (4/6/10 edit)

General:

1. DO NOT SAVE your projects to your computer (unless it's YOUR computer!). Save to a flash/thumb drive.
2. If you don't have a flash/thumb drive - go get one NOW. You'll need it. Go to Target or a dollar store or Walmart and get a real cheap (i.e. small) one. They are available all over creation online.
3. BACKUP EVERYTHING. Emailing the files to yourself (especially webmail - yahoo, gmail, hotmail) is a cheap way to backup stuff. Stash it in a folder in your email client.
4. Grades - the online gradebooks in myITlab are only used for getting your scores. Download the Excel workbook provided and type in your numbers to see where you stand.
5. I often put comments in myITlab about your grade. Click on the grade in the gradebook to see them.
6. USE THE FACEBOOK group to complain - ask questions - etc. If you aren't a member, go join. You MUST be in the "Mercer" network in order to see it. Click on your name at the top to see what networks you're in.
7. These projects take LONGER THAN YOU THINK. Don't wait until 2 days before to start. Best process:
   Chapter 1: myITlab training.
   myITlab test.
   Capstone project.
   Then Chapter 2, etc.
8. On the "Outside miniprojects" make sure you read and follow the directions, especially in terms of what you are to submit. You WILL lose points if you don't follow the instructions!

Blackboard: (used some semesters, but not all)
When submitting a project, if you don't see the little "computer" icon that lets you upload a file, then there is a problem with java. Some suggestions:

1. Quit everything else other than your web browser.
2. Reboot.
3. Update your system.
4. Completely shutdown your machine and try again.

If your machine is being particularly difficult, email the file(s) to my Mercer account - but included a note explaining what you're sending and why). If you can get it to submit later, great! If not, I'll know you submitted it in time, and will just grade the emailed version.


myITlab Tests & Such:

1. On occasion you'll get an error when trying to download a capstone project file (something to the effect of "file does not exist"). This means the website and your machine are aruging [specifically, your java installation is either out of date or has gone insane]. Quit out of Internet Explorer, and try again. If that doesn't work, reboot. if THAT doesn't wortk, contact tech support (or ask me in class).
2. When taking a test, if you have an incorrect answer - RESET. It keeps the software sane.
3. READ the instructions carefully. An extra space in an answer means it's incorrect - it's a stupid computer, after all!

Powerpoint:

1. When the myITlab exam asks you to move a graphic to a particular spot (2 inches from the left, for example), USE NUMBERS. Don't try to drag it into place - the thing is much too persnickety for that to work well.
2. myITlab exam 1, last question. It asks you to have Excel show your formulas instead of teh results (which normally can be done with a keyboard shortcut). myITlab doesn't like the keyboard shortcut - press the ribbon button instead. 
3. On the test question that wants you to resize a graphic - Call up the dialog that lets you resize/position a graphic. You'll be changing the width and height, but there's a catch:
   Change the width, click the height box.
   You should see the graphic change.
   Change the height, THEN CLICK IN THE WIDTH BOX.
   The graphic should again change - only then click the OK(?) button.
4. PPT Capstone 3 calls for a specific smart art. Sadly, the name has been changed. You can find it at Relationship-->Target List in the smart art collection
5. When the instructions call for "3D Style 6" - select a 3D style of your choice. They aren't numbered anymore. Bottom line - I want to know if YOU know how to make it 3D.

Access:

1. Capstones - DO NOT click the file to download (you'll likely get a "file does not exist" error, or it will create other problems). RIGHT-CLICK and save the file to your flash drive.
2. When you open an Access database, the system creates a "lock" file - extension .laccdb. THIS IS NOT THE PROJECT! Do not submit that file! To minimize confusion, quit out of the database before submitting the file.
3. Capstone 4:
   A) Do not set the report up to automatically adjust fields to fit everything on one page.
   B) Once you go to wide column format and look at the report on two pages, you will see the check amount waaaay over on the far right.
   C) As far as the style, the capstone specifies "Corporate", which no longer exists. Select a style (such as "Office" or "Northwind") that has Title in the sample screen, on the left. (Some styles don't).
   D) You have to resize things in DESIGN/LAYOUT VIEW to get everything back onto one page.
   E) As far as the moving of the CheckDate, click on the CheckDate field in layout view, right click the mouse, and at the bottom of the dropdown menu there is an option to "reorder" things and move them up or down.
   F) One of the instructions says to make the SSN field narrower. The problem is that you can't see the SS number as it is. Make it so that you can see the ENTIRE SSN for each employee.
   G) Move everything around so it all fits on one page - you'll have to do that manually.

Word

1. One of the capstone projects asks for a footer in "Page X of Y" format. This is NOT a separate format that's automatically done. You set the footer at the correct tab stop, type in the word "Page", insert the page number, type in the word "of" then insert the number of pages in the document.
2. Subdocuments: myItlab does NOT do a great job of explaining these. There are a TON of websites that do an excellent job, however. I STRONGLY suggest you google up one of them. Remember how to search intelligently?

Word Capstone Projects Concept List

These are things you should pay special attention to as you run through the myITlab material. This info is also posted in Blackboard - inside the "Class PPTs" folder.

Capstone 1
1. Autotext
2. Margins – settings
3. Horizontal line
4. Centering Horizontally / Vertically
5. Page numbers in footer
6. Find / Replace
7. Spell / Grammar check

Capstone 2
1. Font / Size / Style
2. Format Painter
3. Tabs – modifying, setting
4. Line Spacing
5. Border / Shading
6. Breaks – Page, Section, Column
7. AUTO Table of Contents
8. Index Entry

Capstone 3
1. Tables – column/row insert/delete/move
2. WordArt – create, edit
3. Functions in table (sum, etc)
4. Format pattern

Capstone 4
1. Track Changes
2. Audio Comment
3. Reject/Accept Changes
4. Compare/Combine
5. Insert Subdocument
6. Hyperlink

Word assignments & Misc notes

Thursday I'll be doing the final "parts and pieces" presentation. Hopefully Thursday the 2nd "outside" project will be be posted on Blackboard as well. The third will follow later on this month - and if you were in class today you know what that one will be.

myITlab Word exams are due on Fri 12/5 at 10:59 pm (NOTE THE TIME CHANGE). Save yourself some headaches - get 'em done early.

Access Capstone last minute note

#1) As stated in class numerous times, AND in the blog - add a new warranty order with your name on it even though there's already one there. That means there will be THREE in the DB, not two.

If you resubmit, change the filename so I'll know which one to look at.

I haven't seen any obvious issues with Capstone #2. I'll add another entry if I see anything consistent for #3 and #4.

Access Capstone #4

Some Tips from the Access Master (which would NOT be your instructor!):

1. Do not set the report up to automatically adjust fields to fit everything on one page
2. Once you go to wide column format and look at the report on two pages, you will see the check amount on the far right.
3. You have to resize things in DESIGN VIEW to get everything back onto one page.
4. As far as the moving of the CheckDate, click on the CheckDate field in layout view, right click the mouse, and at the bottom of the dropdown menu there is an option to "reorder" things and move them up or down.