Using the CIS lab and class website

Computers

The Santa Rosa and Petaluma computer labs have both Dell Windows computers and Macintosh G5s. It is recommended that you use USB Flash drives if you need to transfer files between school and home — you can also use RW CDs and Zip drives.

Lab hours and phone numbers are found at the department website.

Using the timekeeper

Everyone must log in on the timekeeper when using the SRJC computerlab. The only exception is the scheduled lab for CIS 73.41B. When you arrive in the lab, go to the timekeeper and identify yourself with your student ID. Make sure to log out when you leave, also. Santa Rosa students should put their receipt in the box to be a part of the drawing each month for prizes.

Downloading class files from the web

There are two types of linked documents on the class website: PDF instructional handouts and native files used in lab assignments. PDF files are recognized by most browsers and automatically displayed. Some labs require that you download files to complete the assignment, such as a native Illustrator document that needs to be modified, or graphic/text files that are placed into an InDesign document. Illustrator, InDesign, text and graphic files are not usually recognized by browser plug-ins and require special procedures for downloading.

Accessing PDF files

My instructional handouts are creating using InDesign and then converted into PDF files. The PDF files can be viewed and printed at any computer using Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat. The PDF file does not require the InDesign program which created the document, special fonts or linked graphics to be installed. Your weekly lab handouts will be available in PDF format on the class web page.

Click on the link for the PDF file, which should automatically open the document using Adobe Reader or Acrobat from within your browser. If your browser is not configured for PDF files, you can save the file using the down method above and open it using Reader/Acrobat. Once opened, you can read, print, and save the PDF file.

Downloading and opening a graphic, native Illustrator or InDesign file:

1. Locate the link at the classwebsite.
2. Mac: control + mouse click on the link (use the control key, not the apple/command key)
   PC: right click on the link
3. When a menu appears on the screen, choose the option to save the link to disk. Depending on your browser, this will be a menu option like Save Link Target As, Download Link to Disk, or Download Linked File As.
4. Choose a location to save your InDesign document, such as your hard drive.
5. Macintosh users using Safari may have to eliminate the bogus .txt extension that Safari adds and change the extension at the end of the filename, such as .ai for Illustrator files, or .indd for InDesign files.
6. PC users may find that native Illustrator files (.ai) import as a PDF or with a .ps extension. They should import into InDesign with no problem, or you can open the .pdf or .ps file in Illustrator and File..Save As a native Illustrator document.
7. Start Adobe InDesign if you downloaded a native .indd or .indt file and File..Open the document.
8. If you downloaded a graphic for use in InDesign, start a new document and File..Place to import the graphic. Illustrator students (especially on the PC) may find that downloaded native files are in a PDF or .ps file format. Don't worry! Follow step 3 above to open the file and then File..Save As to create a native Illustrator document.

Getting class files from the Maggini server (advanced InDesign students)

To access class files using the Santa Rosa computer lab, you will need to first log in to access the data server that holds these files. A desktop server icon will appear for Macintosh users and Windows users will access the H: drive for class lab and demo files. Copy the desired files to your storage media.

• Double-click on the Maggini server logon icon In the dialog box
• Enter the user name of the class (CIS73_41 for all InDesign classes)
• Click OK -- there is no password Double click on the following folders
• Navigate to the Class Data Files
  
• Copy the file(s)

Using the color printers in the lab

Labs must to be printed in color. Each computer lab has a color PostScript printer connected to a dedicated Macintosh or PC which is used for printing high quality files. The CIS lab color laser printer is to be used for class work only. There is also a wide-format Epson printer for class use.

The $3 printing fee paid during class registration entitles the student to a punch card for 12 color pages of print in the CIS lab. Additional punch cards can be purchased as needed. Help save paper and limit the number of hard copies you print.

Each time you print a page, one punch will be recorded on your punch card. If you need a new printer card, you can purchase another $3 card. In Santa Rosa, the print card can be purchased from the lab assistant and in Petaluma the card can be purchased from the Admissions & Records department. Plan on spending about 5-10 minutes per page (even if you think it will take less time) when printing in color. Any raster graphic images should be in 150-200 dpi resolution to coordinate with the color printers.

Before you go to the printing station, make sure that all last-minute changes are done and that you have a final version ready to print. Create a PDF file which does not require linked graphics or any special fonts you used to create your document. Follow these instructions:

• At your computer, save a second copy of your document as a PDF file using the File..Save As (Illustrator) or File..Export (InDesign) menu command
• The PDF should be saved to your to storage media (USB drive) choosing the Preset quality of High Quality Print
• At the printing station, start Adobe Acrobat
• File..Open your PDF file
• File..Print the document
  Students using a high volume of transparency or gradients, or generating a high volume of anchor points with Illustrator filter/effects should click on the File..Print Advanced button and choose the Print as Image button — otherwise our limited PostScript printer may take over 15 minutes to print your output to the dismay of other students waiting to print
• Remember to remove your storage media and take it with you