Downloading and Installing Software

 

Downloading and Installing Software Copernic for searching your hard drive Firefox 1. Downloading Firefox 2. Extensions and themes for Firefox 3. Time to Reload Firefox 4. The Fun Part of Firefox KeePass and your passwords The Microsoft Office 2007 situation Drafts

 

[version 20080211a]

 

Objective: Reducing installophobia.

Find some useful software that has to be installed, and step through it.  Preferably, without blowing up the computer....

 

I get a lot of requests to install stuff for staff. I really don't mind, but in most cases, you shouldn't need to wait on me. 

 

After all, you managed to get WebShots on without me (which eats up memory like mad, but if you don't mind that... ). 

 

Granted, this can be a daunting task with some programs, but the biggest problem most people have is finding things once they download them, or install them.  Let's see if we can simplify that.

 

* Go to My Computer and open up your C: hard drive.

 

* You should have a folder called atest on all staff PCs.

I make atest the folder which I use for downloading and installing software from the N drive during the initial setup of a staff computer.  You probably have a number of programs there.  Take a look -- some names should be familiar.  Some are zip files, or compressed files in zip format.  Some are not.  Some stay in this folder, and some don't.

 

BTW (By The Way):  my files for this come from the N drive, in the installing directory.  That's a quick place to get a copy of these, if you need one and the web is running slow on downloading it from the original site.

 

* Now, back up to the main C: directory.  The little folder with the up arrow at the top of the window is to go up one level, so you can use that.

 

* Right click and select New and then Folder and create a new folder.  Call it 1downloads.  The 1 at the start makes it list near the top of the list of directories and files, no matter how many you might have, remember?

 

* From now on, whenever you need to download a program to install, just navigate to this directory and put it there.  Let's practice with some useful utitilities.

 

* Oh -- you're worried about installing the wrong thing on your computer?  Click on Start (or use the Windows button),

then All Programs,

then on Accessories,

then on System Tools,

then on System Restore.

 

  System Restore is a neat function that sort of resets your computer back to what it was before you installed that last piece of software.  It won't affect your data, but if you set it as a "fall-back" position, you can always go back to that last point when everything was still working as you expected.  This is a Windows XP or later feature.

 

* Select Create a Restore Point and then name it something like "before installing".  Then click on Next to let it create the restore point, and then Close it.  You can do this anytime before you install a patch or software.  Some installations even do it automatically, but don't count too much on that.

 

* Remember: it's usually safest to exit as many programs as possible when installing anything.  It's best to not have anything else running, unless it is needed as part of the installation process.  In fact, you can start the installation from, say, within Firefox from the Download Status Bar link, and once the first screen is up, close Firefox.

 

Copernic for searching your hard drive

 

Microsoft has a search function, but it's not the fastest on the net, and it tends to be prejudiced against non-Microsoft programs in certain ways.

 

There are several programs that can search your computer, including attached USB Flash drives if you like.  Let's try a well-known (well, to computer people like me, anyway) program.  It's called Copernic, and it's freeware (no charge!).

 

* Click here to send your browser to it.  Note: if that causes you to replace this page, use a right click instead and select Open in New Window (or Tab).

 

* You'll have to click on Download and then again, and then choose the latest version.  I suggest the English version, but if you want French, that's up to you.... just don't come running to me if it can't understand English in your files.

 

* You should get a popup asking where to save the file to.  Do NOT save it to the default (since each download could end up in a different place).

 

* Navigate to your new 1downloads directory by using the  on the toolbar.  Go up to the C:\ drive list of directories, and find your new 1downloads directory and save it there.  Now you can find it again.

 

Of course, if you were using Firefox with the Download Status Bar add-on, you have a link right to the file on your status bar.  (yes, that's a plug -- we'll get to that later).

 

* Open your desktop with the little icon in bottom Task Bar.  If you don't have that, then minimize everything else and get to your desktop.

 

* Use My Computer to open drive C: and open the 1downloads directory.  (After that, you can bring these instructions back up, and then switch between them).

 

* Now, you might find it handy to get to your downloads quickly in the future.  Let's make that easy.  Up in the address bar with the little folder, it should say C:\1downloads.  Click on the folder there and drag it out to your desktop.  That saves more memory than putting every new download on the desktop, but still gives you a quick way to get to them.  It also avoids clutter on your desktop.

 

Now you have a link to that folder, and can go directly to it whenever you need to.

 

  BTW (By The Way): this works for other directories (including the N drive!) and web sites, too, if you drag them out to the desktop from your open file window or the browser's address bar.

 

It should say something like "Shortcut to 1downloads file" with a little file folder.

 

* Find the file that says copernicdesktopsearch2.exe.  Be sure you have everything closed except your browser and the 1downloads window.

 

* Click in the box to accept the license.  No, nobody else reads those things either.  Even the clause about your first-born child, and eternal torture of your soul in the flames of...  actually, they could write anything in there, couldn't they?  But courts don't enforce these, for that very reason.  (That, and the child-custody issues.)

 

* Unless you have a problem with it, it's usually best to let the program install where it wants to.  Accept the installation folder.

 

* Unless you have specific reasons to make changes, accept the Typical Configuration.  There are times to change this, but not now.

 

* Wow!  Opened the program AND opened a browser window.  Don't worry.  The program is preparing to index your hard drive, as the web site says. 

* Look, down in the system tray!  It's ... a new icon: and a blank that says "copernic".  You can type something to search in the blank, or click on this icon to bring up Copernic, but right now, just switch to it since it's already open and see Copernic's full screen.

 

* The Options for Copernic, as they usually are in programs, can be found under the Tools drop-down menu.  Click on Integration and, if you don't like the blank taking up all that room in the Task Bar, just uncheck the Show the Deskbar box.  Then you'll just have the little icon in the system tray, which is usually enough.  You can click on that to bring up the Copernic window and enter your search.

 

Copernic can search files from non-Microsoft programs (such as WordPerfect, which is another reason I like it).  It can search not just file names, but inside many types of files.  That's handy if you need to find the letter you wrote about so-and-so, and can't remember where it is or what you named it.  What's more, Copernic will use the slow periods on your computer to index the files, and keep the index up to date.

 

If you shut down your computer, Copernic will wait and pick up later.  No problem.  Just give it time, and Copernic will enable to you to go searching through your documents and files.  Yes, you'll find a lot more than you expected, but that's keyword searching for you.

 

Copernic is called a utility program, just a generally useful program that is not tied to any other software.

 

Firefox

 

Yes, I'm going to make you get Firefox, at least as an example, because you will get practice in installing AND customizing it.

But don't worry -- I'll even give you a link to how to make it look like IE, if you just can't stand the difference.

 

If you're already using Firefox, or have an older version, this won't hurt.

 

To define our terms: 

In March 1998, Netscape released most of the program code for the Netscape suite under a free software/open source license. The application developed from this was named Mozilla, as this was the codename of the original Netscape Navigator.  The Mozilla Foundation went on developing this open source code to create Firefox.

 

There is no longer a "Mozilla" browser under that name. "SeaMonkey" is the all-in-one internet application suite formerly known as the "Mozilla Application Suite", containing a web browser, a mail and newsgroups client, an HTML editor, web development tools, and an IRC chat client in a single software package.  So, no more references to "Mozilla" browser when you mean Firefox, just to keep it clear.  Unless, of course, you mean SeaMonkey.

 

Netscape is still produced, but since the company was bought by AOL, it is considered an AOL product.

 

BTW: there are lots of other browsers out there.  I'm not making you use any of those, like Opera, or Safari (which is for Apple and later Windows). Appreciate it!

 

1. Downloading Firefox

 

* Click here to get the latest version of Firefox (even if you already have Firefox, you can update it -- if it's the same version, it still won't hurt).  Save the file to your 1downloads directory.

 

* Go to your 1downloads directory and click on the file.  Just follow the steps.  Accept the defaults.

 

* When you have Firefox open (if you didn't have it before or don't have the home page you want), use Tools and Options to make adjustments.

 

* Set your preferred home page.  The Main tab has the home page setting.

 

* Wait, Firefox doesn't have Java included in the file.  We need to get that, too.  Click here to download Java from Sun Microsystems.  Install it.

 

What is Java, anyway?  Take it from Sun, who invented it: "Java allows you to play online games, chat with people around the world, calculate your mortgage interest, and view images in 3D. These applications, written in the Java programming language and access from your browser, are called "applets". Corporations also use Java applets for intranet applications and other e-business solutions."  We use it for a number of functions in our catalog and databases.

 

2. Extensions and themes for Firefox

 

Oh, we're not nearly done yet.  Let's improve Firefox with some add-ons.  (The fun part comes after this, honest.)

 

Update Notifier

 

* Click here for Update Notifier.  This will keep track of updates and automatically check each time you open Firefox to see if Firefox or any extensions or themes need an update.  Then it lets you know before it loads Firefox, so you get that out of the way without having to load, update, and then reload.

 

* Click on the Install Now button.

 

*    Wait -- you probably have a banner at the top of your Firefox that says Firefox didn't allow this to happen.  That's a security precaution so not just anything can change Firefox (unlike some of the junk that hijacks IE).  Click on the part that gives you options, and tell Firefox to add this site to the list of those allowed to make changes.

 

* Now, try the Install Now button again.  This time, you get a popup, and notice the little countdown in the button at the bottom before it darkens up to say Install.

 

* Click on the Install button.

 

* Now you have a list of your extensions popup, and the new extension is shown.  You are told it will be installed completely when you next reload Firefox.  BUT -- you can do more than one extension at a session, before you reload.

 

ForecastFox

 

* Let's start with weather.  Click on Forecastfox to go to the Addons page for it.

 

* Click on the Install button and follow the same procedure as you just did.  This time, since you already approved this site for installations, you should be able to just download without having to do it twice.

 

* Same end result: you are told it will be installed when you reboot.  But instead, you continue.

 

 IE Tab

 

* There are some sites that have used Microsoft's non-standard code that only works with Internet Explorer.  Get around that by clicking here to get

IE Tab which lets you use IE's features inside Firefox without switching, in many cases.  Same procedure to install.

 

Download Statusbar

 

* If you ever download anything, from software, a Word doc or a PDF, to pictures or software, this will come in very handy.

Click Download Statusbar to get this device to display on your Firefox statusbar (the bottom bar) to show your progress in downloading something.

 

Tab Mix Plus

 

* Click here for this utility that helps you with the Firefox tab setup and gives you some extended features.

 

L2

 

* This is a  non-Mozilla add-on, so you'll get the same warning popup about Firefox not allowing it to load.  Again, just click on the warning bar and tell it to allow this addon, and then try again.

 

This is an example of a program written to run under another program that runs under Firefox. 

 

* First, you'll need to load a special program that just allows you to run other programs, so click here for Greasemonkey.  Install it.

 

* Now click here for the L2 addon and follow the instructions to load.

 

Firedoodle

 

* Here's a good one for doing instructions, if you need it: Firedoodle allows you to mark up a web page as if it were on a whiteboard -- draw arrows, circle important information, etc.  You can save it, too, if you like.  Again, you'll need to give permission to load this one from a new source.

 

Foxmarks

* This is optional but very useful, especially if you use more than one computer but need your bookmarks up-to-date on all of them.  Load Foxmarks Bookmark Synchronizer.  This will keep a set of your Firefox bookmarks online and any time you load Firefox, it will help keep that set updated.  Then Firefox automagically copies the latest version to whichever computer you use.  It will ask you to log in when you first load Firefox.

 

3. Time to Reload Firefox

 

* Now, you can reload Firefox.  Close it and open it up again.

 

* You'll get some opening messages from certain programs.  Once you configure these, you'll never have to do it again (unless you need weather for a different place, or you prefer different settings), or the computer forgets your login.

 

Yes, I know you don't do this with IE.  But then, you don't have these features with IE either (and if you get IE7, you get to configure those features.  So get used to it.  You don't have to do it that often.).

 

* Forecastfox wants some specifics about where you live and where you want it to appear. 

 

• Put in your zip code (for home or the campus, or someplace you're going to be traveling soon) and I suggest placing it on the main-menubar toolbar (this is the top line just under the blue banner, and you don't use that space for much else anyway). 
• For Current Conditions, Today's Forecast, and Extended Forecast, I like the Icon and Label choice, but you can experiment and see what you prefer.  Choose how many days in the future you want to see the forecast.  You can see both day and night, too, if you like.
• You can also load another icon pack (different symbols for the weather), if you like.

   

 * For Tab Links Plus, you can go to the Firefox Tools dropdown menu and open Tab Links Plus from there, if it doesn't offer a popup for you before that.

 

• Links tab: I like to have the first two open in a new tab, allow resized popups, check both boxes, and force links to other sites to open.  I leave the last box blank, though.
• Events tab: Under Tab Opening I like to have all the Open Tabs From boxes checked.  Under Tab Focus I like to have all the top section boxes checked.

 

* IE Tab options allows you to set certain sites to work using IE's software engine inside Firefox.  This is where you'll list the sites as you find them.  Do this once when you find a troublesome IE-only site, and you'll probably never have to bother specifying it again.

 

* Update Notifier needs setting. Again, the Tools dropdown menu, Add-ons, select Update Notifier.

 

• Under the General tab, check all the boxes
• Under the Toolbar tab, under Statusbar, check the box and leave it Always last.
• Under Notifications tab, check  Display alerts.

 

* Firedoodle has it's own demo and instructions on how to use it (check the web page where you got it), as well as a toolbar that appears.  You can remove the toolbar when you don't need it by going under the View dropdown menu, Toolbars, and unchecking the DSG Highlighter toolbar.  I think this is a neat little add-on for marking up pages.  You could use this to add arrows and such when doing a demo -- just turn on the DSG toolbar and have it ready to go.

 

* For the L2 add-on, go to our catalog and search a popular book (hint: it must have an ISBN on the public display).  Notice the odd little popup you get for L2?  It's a box with a shaded L2 inside, a plus and an X to close it.  Click on the + plus.  You can link right to Amazon with that, get a cover view, bib information, pricing.  Handy way to see what reviewers thought about it, if the reviews are listed there.  Click on the X to close it.

 

4. The Fun Part of Firefox

 

Under the Tools dropdown menu, you have Add-ons.  At the top of the Add-ons box, you have the Extensions which are the Add-ons we've done up to this point, and you also have the Themes.  Let's change the look of Firefox.

 

* Click on the Themes choice, and you get a left box list that shows only the default theme, and a right box that says "No Theme Selected".  Below that box is a link saying "Get Themes".  Click on that.

 

* Now you can play a bit.  Look at some of the themes.  Bear in mind that not all themes work with every version of Firefox.  Themes are pretty much a voluntary bit of art, and artists don't always manage to keep up with their work (and not everybody graduates at the top of their programming class).

 

       There's Red Cats (blue flavor) for the cat lovers, and myFireFox which looks like IE (see, I told you that you could make it look like IE!) and lots of others.  I use Metal Lion Brushed iCe Chrome at my desk, and Walnut at home.  Pick several and load them.  I don't guarantee any one will work, but try another.  Read the information -- some of them don't work with version 2.0.0.x, and some comments mention bugs which may or may not matter to a feature you like.

 

* Now, restart Firefox.  Go to the Themes again and pick one to use (c'mon -- at least one!).  You'll probably have to reload Firefox to finish installing it.

 

One warning: some themes are not too reliable.  You might find some that don't work at all.  Others may not work well with certain of the special add-ons you've installed.  Try different ones until you find one you'd like to work with for a while.  You can always change it later.  New themes are being developed all the time.  Tina probably tries the Harley-Davidson one, Dianne might use a Halloween one at the proper time, etc.

 

Oh, all right.  Here's another way to make Firefox look like Internet Explorer .

 

KeePass and your passwords

 

Every day we seem to get more passwords for stuff.  But, if you leave them in emails and other files on your computer, malware (malicious programs) may steal them and do all sorts of nasty stuff, including getting you fired!  Oh, and LOTS of crackers know how to get the passwords you told your browser to "save" for you (especially on IE).  Not very secure, right?

 

Now, you can get something that only works with your browser, for web sites (Roboform is one popular program) but be able to use it ONLY for web sites,

OR you can get something that will work with any Windows program that requires a login (once Windows is up and running, that is).

 

Let's get something that will keep track of your passwords, (here and at home, if you like).  I keep one group of passwords on my computer at work, and another group for my personal stuff at home.  You can even put this on a USB drive, if you like.

 

This is freeware (you don't have to pay, but you can donate if you like).

 

* Click here for the download page.  Which version should you choose?

The home page has several, but you should probably use 1.09 rather than the ones labeled "alpha" or "beta" -- those are still experimental.

 

* Click on the KeePass 1.09 (Windows Installer EXE) to download it to your c:\1downloads directory.  (If you prefer to put it on a USB drive, then you can use this, or the one for the PortableApps menu -- if you already have that on your USB drive -- or the U3 drive versions, as needed.)

For a USB drive, download it directly to the USB drive.

 

If you like, you can also get a version for the USB drive that works with the PortableApps suite menu, or one that works with U3 USB drives.

 

* Install Keepass.  Just follow the instructions and select the defaults.

 

* Now, dig out those postits and emails and whatnot that hold your logins and passwords.  You're going to set up Keepass and enter them.  The one for this wiki, for example.

 

* Start Keepass.  When you begin, you haven't set a password for it, so it starts up without that the first time.  You get the mostly blank window.

 

* Click on the white page icon to start a new file.

 

* Now is the most crucial part.  Select a good password, at least 8 letters and numbers long, that you can remember.

The first 3 words of your favorite song followed by the digits of your junior high locker combination number, or whatever.  Just be sure you can always remember it, and that THIS one is not easy to crack.  It will protect all the others from now on, and is the only one you have to remember (lose this one and you're toast).

 

* Check Use password and key file and put it on the drive you select (either c:\ for your computer's hard drive, or on the USB drive).

 

REMEMBER: the next computer you use a USB drive on, it might use a different letter for the same USB drive, so you have to select the current letter drive for the USB drive if that's where Keepass keeps the password and key file.

The file is called pwsafe.key and is encrypted heavily.  A cracker should have a better chance of getting hit by a meteor than cracking this, with current technology, as long as you gave it a good password.

 

* You are asked to repeat the password (just as a precaution).  Enter it again.

 

* Okay, now you get the Get random data for key generation window. 

(You don't really need it, but this is another way to generate a key.  On the left, you can move the mouse around and have a key generated (click on Use mouse as random source button), or on the right, you can just type random stuff in.  Do one or the other (I like the mouse!).)

 

* Click OK.

 

Now you're back out at the main window again.

On the left, you have categories of records.  Under General, you have Windows, Network, Internet, Email, Homebanking, and Databases.

 

* Under Tools drop-down menu, select Options.

 

* The first tab is Security. 

I usually have the "Lock workspace when minimizing the main window" checked at work.

However, at home I leave it unchecked (who else might sit down at my computer while it's running, is the question you need to ask here).

 

* The next tab is Interface (GUI) and I check all the boxes.  I also go down to the every second row has a different background color option and choose a light color.  This will make it easier to follow across the lines later (much like a spreadsheet).

 

* Skip Files tab and move on to Memory and check the first box for Timed .

 

* On the Setup tab, you can associate the password key file if you like.  This is optional.

 

* On the Advanced tab, you have some choices.  I check under Start and Exit the Remember last opened file, the Automatically open, and Automatically save boxes.   Under Advanced, I check Automatically generate random password, but you might want to wait to do that until you enter all your existing passwords.  After that, you can have Keepass generate any new ones you need, or go back to those web sites and change to more secure ones.

 

* When done, click on OK and get back to the main screen for Keepass. 

 

* Click on Internet and get out one of your logins.

 

* On the gold key with the green arrow icon, click that and get the Add Entry window.

 

* The Title is whatever will remind you what this password is for.

 

* The user name is the login name the site uses for you.  On some sites, this might be your email address.

 

* The url is the web URL for the web site's login page.

 

* If you checked Automatically generate random password, you already have a good password in place.  If you just see a row of asterisks, go to the View drop-down menu, and uncheck the Hide options.

 

WARNING ON PASSWORDS: I've found it is easy to confuse 1, lower case L, capital and even lower case i, when you print these out.  If you see any of  these characters in the password generated, change them to something else, or make them capital L or some other letter or digit.  It's just as secure. 

 

Notice the color bar for Quality is well into the green on generated passwords.   Try to use passwords that at least start the green in the bar when possible.  You can shorten the supplied password if you like, but try to have at least a bit of green showing at the far right of the color bar.  Since you don't have to remember this, you don't have to worry that it doesn't remind you of anything, and will be almost impossible to remember.  THAT'S THE POINT.  Keepass is going to remember it for you.

You'll never have to type in a login for most uses again.  You just remember your opening Windows login, and the one password for Keepass.

 

* If you already have a password for a web site, enter that instead of the generated password.  Look at the color bar and see how strong it is.  (Probably not very! That's normal, though.  Next time you go to that site, however, you might let Keepass generate a new password for you and change to that instead.)

 

* Once you enter the information and your current login and password into the Add Entry window, you click OK to close it, and then go up to the blue diskette icon to save it.  Normally, you save the file to the root directory on your c:\ drive, unless you are saving to a USB drive version -- then save it onto that USB drive.  You'll also want to save a copy of this to your directory on the N: drive later, just in case.

 

If you like, you can add categories to break the supplied ones down even more, or handle different things.

 

VERY IMPORTANT: you can print out your logins and passwords any time you want, as a backup.  Check the instructions in KeepPass and it will create a view like a web page (but only visible to you) in your browser.  Then you can print that, and keep it someplace very secure.  It's a good precaution to take.

 

Let's try one for a sample and use the del.icio.us bookmarks for the Library - staff should use the section 1 information in the wikiwords file on the N drive.  [this is available only for Boreham Library staff; all others will just have to make up their own sample!]

 

Now, save it by clicking OK.

 

  Now comes the cute part.

 

* Click on the del.icio.us password to highlight it.

 

* Right-click on it and choose Open URL.

 

Hey, you're at the library's del.icio.us site (more about that later in the coursework!).

 

* At the upper right, one of the selections is Login so click on that.

 

* Now click in the username box to get the cursor there.

 

* Now switch to Keepass (just alt/tab to switch from program to program).

 

* Now right-click and select Perform Auto-Type.  The user name and password is filled in for you, and the Enter key is pressed, all automagically.

 

And now you're logged in to our Social Bookmarks site.  (Again -- we'll come back to this in another lesson.)  You can logoff whenever you're done looking around.

 

This works with IE, Firefox, and all sorts of programs needing logins in Windows: LionsLink, Banner, whatever.

 

But -- what if you lose your file, or your USB drive? 

 

* Before that can happen, and EVERY TIME YOU CHANGE OR ADD A PASSWORD, go to the File dropdown menu and select Print Preview.

 

* Check the boxes for Password Groups, Title, User Name, Password, Notes and click OK.

 

* Keepass opens up in your default browser with a display of all your vital information.  Print this off and keep it someplace safe, EVERY TIME YOU CHANGE OR ADD A PASSWORD.  Now you have paper backup of your file.

 

You can do this at home, too.  It's freeware.   The link is also on our Computer Helpers page under Passwords Software & Links .

 

* VERY IMPORTANT: click on the blue diskette to SAVE your data EVERY time you create or change a password.

 

* Save a copy to your directory on the N: drive.  On the top bar, click on File, then Export to, then select KeePass database.  You can name it anything you like.  Remember to do this again every time you change/add/delete passwords and you'll be protected that way too.

 

* Now, copy the pwsafe.key file from your computer to the N: drive also.  You only need to do that once, unless you change your master KeePass password. 

 

From any computer with KeePass installed, you can get the file of passwords from the N: drive, using the pwsafe.key file there for the password protection.  Nobody, even the campus computer staff, can get into that file without your password.

 

The Microsoft Office 2007 situation

Okay, now you're ready for something a little tougher, right?  Don't all hold up your hands at once....

 

You may not need this on your computer here, since we're supposed to have it on all of these already, but you might need it at home, and you should know how to help students with something like this.  This is entirely Microsoft's fault, people -- not mine!

 

One of the objections to proprietary formats (such as Microsoft uses: doc, xsl, ppt, and so forth) for public documents i(such as ones on the web, or in archives) is that the company can change them anytime it wants, and the old formats may or may not be compatible with the new software. 

This is why some states are considering using the non-proprietary Open Document Format (ODF) for public documents, which is more stable and is only changed with wide agreement by many users, and some backwards compatibility is more likely to be maintained.   (Microsoft is fighting this, as you can imagine!)  The European Union is going ahead with the ODF formats instead of Microsoft's formats.

 

Also, anyone using OpenOffice might save in one of these ODF formats by mistake.  It's the default format.

 

(The answer to ODF formats is simple: Just open them in OpenOffice and resave them as Microsoft format files.  I have it on my computer, on the PC behind Diane, and on the middle ref desk upstairs.  Anyone can use it.  Put it on your computer and have it available, if you like.  It's on the Library Software PC, too.)

 

However, Microsoft introduced new formats in Office 2007 for Powerpoint, Excel, and Word.   They have certain advantages, but they are not readable by older versions of Office.  Without help, that is.

 

* I try to keep the Computer Helpers pages updated (despite Microsoft shuffling links constantly!).  Click on Helper to get to the page.  You'll also find a link to the Computer Helpers on the Staffmark page.

 

* Reload the page, just in case, any time you use this page.  You don't want your (usually IE) browser to get lazy and just load an old version from your cache.  You want the latest and greatest, always.

 

* Go down to "Microsoft Office Software and Links" selection and click that.  Then scroll down a bit to the section on Office 2007 and read the paragraph.

 

Microsoft's awkward kludge for being able to convert 2007 formats to the older 2003 version is complicated, at least at this time.  

No, I have no idea why you have to install viewer files even though you already have Office 2003.  Apparently, something in the viewer files is used because it is assumed that if you wanted to use 2007 files, Microsoft would be happy to $ell you a copy of Office 2007.  Can you gue$$ why?

Also, you MUST have an older version of Office (2003 or older) to use it -- it won't let you edit otherwise.

 

You might have to help somebody through it, however, so here goes:

 

(Note: the viewers are on the Library Software CD, but not the compatibility pack software -- refer anybody who wants that to the Computer Helpers blog.

 

* First, USING FIREFOX (a student can use IE but I want you to see how the Firefox works here), download the files for the three viewers from the page. Sorry I can't give you a simpler page, but this is Microsoft's idea.  You have to get the Word 2003, Excel 2003, and PowerPoint 2003 viewers.  Download each and put it in your new 1downloads directory. 

 

  Hey-- it showed up as a download in your statusbar!  That's from the add-on you did earlier.  Put your cursor on it and see the data on it.  If it has one second to download, it's finished.

 

NOTICE on the Word viewer file, you probably get a little countdown and a sliding line going across, since this is a big file and takes a little time to download.  When done, the numbers disappear and just the filename shows.

 

* From each final download screen, you can just back out to the list of viewers again.

 

* Now, LEFT-click on the first download in your status bar, and select Open. 

 

(When doing this with a student, you'll have to make sure where the student downloaded the file, and that can vary all over the place.  It might be in the My Downloads section under My Documents or it might be in the Temp directory if the student didn't specify, so it wouldn't hurt if you had the student create a 1downloads directory and put it there.)

 

* Step through it and install this software.  Hey -- the file disappeared from your status bar.  Well-- after you installed it, you didn't need it any more, did you?  It's still on your computer in 1downloads, but it isn't needed on the Firefox status bar any more.

 

* Continue and install the other viewer files.  If you want to do it as a student might, without Firefox and the Download Status Bar extension, just use My Computer and navigate to the c:\1downloads directory and doubleclick on the files.  Same result, different method.  (But it was easier with Firefox, admit it!)

 

* Now, back to the Computer Helpers page and get the Compatibility software downloaded.  Then install that.  Again, this is a big file and so it takes a bit to download, with the progress numbers and the sliding line going across.  When done, just the name appears.

 

According to Microsoft: "By installing the Compatibility Pack in addition to Microsoft Office 2000, Office XP, or Office 2003, you will be able open, edit, and save files using the  file formats new to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007. The Compatibility Pack can also be used in conjunction with the Microsoft Office Word Viewer 2003, Excel Viewer 2003, and PowerPoint Viewer 2003 to view files saved in these new formats."  The Knowledge Base article is here but for some reason, Microsoft has no direct links to the viewer downloads there, even though you can't get the Compatibility Pack to work without them.  Go figure.

 

Now -- the next time you need to download a file, you know how and where to put it.  If you need to create a special place to put files for, say, a training session, you can create a directory for them separate from the 1downloads directory as well.

 

Of course, that's how it is supposed to work.  We'll have to try it out on a real file to be sure.

 

  Lookin' good!

 

 

 

 

Drafts

 

 

Draft 1

Draft 2