Questions for Sassy

Dear Sassy: I see that you are now LIVE on the computer services homepage, but I don't know how to submit questions without using email. If there is a way to submit a question directly from the computer services homepage listing your blog, then please let me know.
~Got More Questions...

Dear Got More: Yeah! Sassy is on the Computer Services website. Thanks for noticing! You have made a very valid point. It is a little tricky to contact Sassy so... Sassy has added a link under her picture on her blog so you can send in your questions. You can also click on her picture - that will also send her an email. Keep your questions coming!

Disk Defragment

Dear Sassy: I ran disk defragment on my computer last night. When it was finished, a message said there were 5 immovable files that could not be defragmented. What does this mean? How do I fix this problem?
~Still Fragmented

Dear Still: Sassy is sooo glad that you are running the Disk Defrag! Plus you remembered that it is a long process and ran it at night - great job! Let me start off by explaining a little about the defrag process... See the graphic below? Hypnotizing isn't it? The first image is a fragmented machine, steps are taken to move related files (or parts of files) so that they aren't separated. The ending image is a defragmented machine. Those are the basic steps to "defragging."

Sometimes files just can't be moved - like system files. These files can be moved but that is way above and beyond Sassy and really for our purposes these files can stay where they are.

Email ID

Dear Sassy: When I open up an email to send to you I begin to type in your Email ID (aledge) but aander pops up. How can I get correct that? Plus I have a whole lot more email ID's pop up that I don't ever use - can I get rid of those?
~Name Change

Dear Name: Great question! Sassy has a lot of those email ID's pop up on her machine - they can be quite annoying can't they? So let's get rid of them, this will also "fix" aander. Open up a new email and begin to type my user id. After inputting an "a" a list should appear. Use your keyboard arrow keys to highlight those you wish to delete from this list. (Note - You are not deleting them from your Contacts) Now click delete on your keyboard. This will remove those entries that are invalid or just cluttering up your system. Now after you have removed aander - type in aledge and send me an email. Next time you want to send me an email type in aledge in your email ID and my name will pop up.

Spam in my Email

Dear Sassy: I have been having problems with spam in my email. Normally it is one or two a day but this morning I had over 30 spam email messages in my inbox. Yikes! What is going on?
~Not so Spamalicious

Dear Spamalicious: Wow! That is a lot of spam! Let's see if Sassy can help with this problem. Sassy made a few phone calls to computer services to obtain their expert opinion. They state that the spam blocker is still active and if you are receiving spam to forward the spam to spam@lsuhsc.edu. Sassy's two cents - during disaster periods spam blocking is not high priority so keep that in mind.

Let's make sure that we our settings are right... Open Outlook, click on Tools > Email Accounts > View or Change existing email accounts > Next > Change. Make sure that the Use Cached Exchange Mode is checked and click Finish. If you made any changes you will need to close Outlook and reopen to activate the changes.

Sharing distribution lists

Dear Sassy: How do I share a distribution list? I have got a huge list in my contacts that I would like to pass along to my colleagues. Surely we do not have to enter in the entire list by hand - right?
~Trying to distribute my distribution list

Dear Trying: Oh my heavens no! There is a much easier way to share your distribution list! Ok, open up Outlook, click on File > New Mail Message. This will open up a new message. Click on the little down arrow by the paperclip and select Item. Navigate to your Contacts, select the distribution list you would like to share and click Ok. Finish your email message and send. Now, for the recepient of the distribution list instructions are also available on Sassy's blog.

New stationery in email

Dear Sassy: I would like to have a new stationery for my emails. I have created a template that I would like to use. I've also seen ones on microsoft.com that I would like to download and use as well. I have noticed that there are some ones already on my computer but I would like something new. Is this possible?
~Stationless

Dear Stationless: This is a technologically advanced question. Good job in keeping up with trends! Ok, so you have created a new stationery - most stationerys are either html or image based - and you want to have it in your email. Or you have downloaded a stationery from microsoft.com that you would like to use. First we need to save it in the appropriate place: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Stationery. Once it is saved we can then use it in our emails.

So, open up Outlook and click Actions > New Mail Message Using > More Stationery. Scroll down to select your new stationery. Once you have done this your new stationery will now appear in the drop down menu and you will not need the More Stationery - unless you want to change your stationery.

New Print Station

Dear Sassy: I have noticed that we have a new print station in the small lab. How does it work? Can we print from the small lab to the large lab and vice versa?
~More Printing

Dear More: Grand observation on your part! Yes, we now have printers in both labs. We have had printing in both labs previously but now we have separate printers for each lab. This means while students are deep in training in the large lab, patrons can still print. Currently each lab can only print to their respective printer. So patrons in the large lab can only print to the printer in the large lab ~ same goes for the small lab. The new system set up in the small lab is just like to the one in the large lab and also uses the GoPrint software. Currently the touch screen monitor is not a touch screen but the mouse and keyboard are available, and the monitor should be operational soon.

Wordperfect Files

Dear Sassy: I have a document in Wordperfect that I would like to start editing in Word. Is this even possible? These are two entirely different programs.
~Creating a new newsletter

Dear Creating: Most certainly you can edit your Wordperfect file in Word! First, your file needs to be converted so that the Word program can read your Wordperfect file. One way to do that is to open up your file in Wordperfect. Click File > Save As and change the File Type to MS Word. Now you should be able to open your document in Word. Another way to convert your file is to install the converter. After you have installed the converter open up Word and your original document. At that time your document will be converted from Wordperfect to Word. Here is the official word from Microsoft.

VPN vs. Library Proxy Server

Dear Sassy: I know there are two ways (VPN and Library's Proxy Server) to access Library resources from home but I never really understood the difference between the two. Which one should we direct patrons to use?
~VPN vs. Proxy

Dear VPN: This is a very timely question! Our campus now has the VPN software available as a download (versus having to go to computer services and get a disk) all you need is your LSUMC-MASTER username and password (the same one for your email). When you download, there will be some certificate error pages - just accept them, this is a trusted source.

Using the VPN software enables patrons access to some of the clinical applications while the Library's proxy server does not, but both allow access to the Library's resources. Now that the VPN is available online it is best to direct everyone to the download instead of the Proxy server. In fact, the freshman all ready have the VPN client installed on their machines.

Email Rules and Alerts

Dear Sassy: I receive a lot of email from a listserv. Is there any way to have it go directly into one of my personal folders? That way it doesn't count against my allotment on the server.
~I'm running out of space!

Dear Running: Sassy feels your pain. Sassy just went through all her email yesterday moving items from the Inbox to Personal Folders. Quite a lengthy process. But there is an easier way. Open up Outlook > Tools > Rules and Alerts. This will open up a new window where you can create specific Rules to fit your fancy. If you have any problems please ask.

January 7, 2008

Dear Sassy: On my home computer I have Norton anti-virus program that I run. Do I also need to run SpyBot as well?
~I Just Wanna be Safe

Dear Safe: With all the different programs and technical catch phrases it is hard to know really what we need on our computers. Spybot helps to eliminate spyware. Spyware's purpose is to transmit our information to others without our knowledge. Not a good thing! The anti-virus software (Norton, McAfee) is just that - it eliminates viruses from our computers. Spybot is free and is a valuable addition to the anti-virus program that you already use. Sassy's recommendation is to use both Spybot and an anti-virus program just to be safe.

January 3, 2008

Dear Sassy: The e-announcements has a message that offers to install 2007 word office suite of software. Is this something reference librarians should take advantage of? Will our computers run this upgraded software?
~To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade

Dear Upgrade: Sassy had to do a little research to see if our machines could handle the 2007 MS Office package and Sassy is sad to report that most of our machines do not meet the minimum requirements for 2007. Sassy does have a converter package that would be good to have installed on your computer. This converter will allow you to open 2007 files using your current Office package. A few of the librarians have received .docx (2007) files and have needed the converter to open the files. Let Sassy know if you would like the converter placed on your computer. Incidentally, all the computers in the labs and in the reference area have the 2007 converter installed.