========================= SSCC News, February, 1999 ========================= Inside this issue... SSCC Training Schedule for Spring Semester VMS Transition Issues: Alternatives to VMS Mail Phone Numbers Changing for WiscWorld Dial Pool New Software and Software Updates Installing Software on Wincenter Servers PC Availability in Social Science Building ------------------------------------------ SSCC Training Schedule for Spring Semester ------------------------------------------ This semester and summer we will be concentrating our training efforts on transitioning VMSers, whether it be to networked PCs, UNIX, or a combination of both. All SSCC training sessions require preregistration. If less than three people have preregistered for a course one week prior to its start date, the class may be canceled. To preregister for a class, either send mail to SSCCLASS indicating which class(es) you plan to attend or register through SSCC's web page form (www.ssc.wisc.edu/Sscc/Training/trainreg.htm) You will be reminded about your preregistration through e-mail a day or two before the class begins. NOTE THAT WE HAVE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL "INTRO TO UNIX" SESSION DUE TO HIGH DEMAND. THE SESSION IS 2/25 FROM 1-3. Date Time Topic Room Instruct. ---- ---- ----- ---- --------- 2/8,10 12-1 Getting Started w/ STATA on UNIX (2 sessions) 2470 McDermott 2/11 1-2 Accessing/Utilizing Resources on the PC LAN 4452 Brauer 2/17 1-2 Alternatives to VMS Email 4452 Flory 2/18 1:2:30 Using the EUDORA Mailer from your PC 3218 Wald 2/23 2:30-4 Using Netscape Messenger Mailer (PC or UNIX) 7413 Flory 2/25 1-3 Intro to UNIX using VMS Conversion Tools 2470 Rodriguez 2/26 11-12 Transferring VMS SAS/SPSS Data to UNIX 4452 Hayes 2/TBA 9-10 AMOS for Structural Equation Models: A Demo 6102 Hayes 3/1 1-2 Running SAS on UNIX (for VMS SAS users) 2470 McDermott 3/3 1-2 Running SPSS on UNIX (for VMS SPSS users) 2470 McDermott 3/16 2:30-4 Using the PINE Mailer on UNIX 2470 Wald 3/17 1-2 Moving Data on Off-line Media to other Media 4411 Flory 3/23 2:30-4 Getting Started with ACCESS 3218 Brauer 3/24 11-12:30 Running GAUSS Jobs on UNIX 4452 Vanness/ Rodriguez Note: Any session scheduled in 2470, 7413, or 3218 (SSML) is "hands-on". Descriptions for each of the training sessions listed above may be found in SSCC's web page (https://www.ssc.wisc.edu/Sscc/Training/trains99.htm). ----------------------------------------------- VMS Transition Issues: Alternatives to VMS Mail ----------------------------------------------- We have approximately 1250 VMS accounts. About 1000 of these accounts are "inactive" (haven't been logged into this academic year) and have been disabled. Of the approximately 250 "active" accounts, over half are NOT currently forwarding their mail to UNIX. If you are one of these 150 or so users, please note that mail will no longer be available on VMS after August 24, 1999. Sometime before then you need to transfer your mail to UNIX and either learn a UNIX mailer or (preferably) learn a PC mailer. SSCC staff would like to help you with this transition. You can set up an appointment with Consultant and we will work through this transition with you. (Just don't wait until the last minute!) If you want to make this transition on your own, we are offering several e-mail related training sessions (see offerings above). There are also two SSCC Publications: "Alternatives to VMS Email" (SSCC Pub #1-9) and "Converting VMS Mail for another Mailer" (SSCC Pub #1-3). Both handouts are available from Consultant or on-line at https://www.ssc.wisc.edu/Sscc/Vax/doc.htm. ---------------------------------------------- Phone Numbers Changing for WiscWorld Dial Pool ---------------------------------------------- DoIT is introducing a number of improvements to the WiscWorld dial pool that have implications for you. Two major changes are: o The addition of a 1152-line 56k pool o The changeover from analog to digital service Regardless of the speed of your modem or the version of WiscWorld you use, you need to change the phone number that your modem dials to connect to the University. The question is when to make the change. The old numbers will go out of service March 1st. The new numbers are: 661-0326 for 56k modems, four-hour use (available now) 661-0323 for 33.6k or less modems, four hour use (being tested, will be available 2/9) 661-0322 for 33.6k or less modems, 10-minute express use (being tested, will be available 2/9) If you have a 56k modem, you'll find instructions on how to change your dial-in number at: http://www.wisc.edu/helpdesk/dialin/56kdial.html. If you have a 14.4, 28.8, or 36.6 modem, change your dial-in number starting February 9th following the instructions found at: http://www.wisc.edu/helpdesk/dialin/36kdial.html. Details on improvements to the WiscWorld dial pool can be found at http://www.wisc.edu/doit under the item, "Important news about your WiscWorld dial-in connection." --------------------------------- New Software and Software Updates --------------------------------- We have added or are about to add new software and update software on UNIX and WinCenter. Stata will be upgraded to version 6 on UNIX during this Wednesday morning's downtime. We anticipate adding a trial version of WordPerfect version 8 to UNIX later this month. On WinCenter, we have added three new software packages: MPLUS, LISREL and EQS. All three are structural equation modeling programs. MPLUS is a "second-generation" rewrite of the older LISCOMP program. In addition to this new software, STATA was upgraded to version 6 and STAT/TRANSFER was upgraded to version 5 on WinCenter. SSCC has a building-wide site license for STAT/TRANSFER so if you would like a copy for your PC in the Social Science Building or you need to upgrade your copy to version 5, make a request to Consultant. STAT/TRANSFER can transfer data between many commonly used statistical programs and databases. ---------------------------------------- Installing Software on Wincenter Servers ---------------------------------------- Please refrain from installing any software on the Wincenter Servers. This includes installing application files to your mapped network drives in the hopes of running those programs within a Wincenter session. Installing unauthorized software can manipulate critical system files causing other programs to stop functioning or behave improperly. Use only the software that has been preinstalled by the SSCC. Updates to existing software will be applied as soon as possible provided it passes preliminary tests. As an example, a user recently installed Adobe Acrobat 3.02 (3.01 is currently on Wincenter) to his or her Unix home directory and then ran the program from WinCenter. This caused some entries in the Wincenter registry to be changed. These changes affected the ActiveX/OLE plug-in controls within Internet Explorer prohibiting WinCenter users from viewing PDF files in an Internet Explorer window. This problem has been fixed. ------------------------------------------ PC Availability in Social Science Building ------------------------------------------ Users occasionally ask us where they can go to upload files on a floppy disk they have or where they can go to work on a PC. There are several options in the Social Science Building. There is a PC in both SSCC user rooms and the Computer I/O Room that can transfer files using FTP. The PC in the I/O Room can also be used to scan documents or backup files on 4mm dat tapes. The PC in the 7413 user room can also be used to back up files on CD or rmm dat tapes. If you need to use a PC to run software not available on WinCenter, try visiting the SSML lab in 3218 Social Science. They have a wealth of software including the Corel WordPerfect Suite and graphics software like Image Composer and Harvard Graphics.