MAP 2480 - Biocalculus Lab

Getting Started

Instructions for Computers with Microsoft Word 2003

1. Log onto your FSU computer account.
• For this course you will use your FSUID computer account provided by FSU.
• For any FSU TEC computer, press the keys CTRL-ALT-DELETE to get the login screen.
• You use your FSUID to log onto the computer. Your FSUID is the username you use to access BlackBoard and other secure applications on the FSU web site.
• Once you are logged on, you can find the rest of this document online on BlackBoard
• Start up an internet browser such as Firefox or Internet Explorer or Netscape (it may start up automatically when you log in). The icon should be located on your desktop, or under the Start -> Programs menu in the bottom left hand corner.
2. Saving files.
• Files can be temporarily saved to your My Documents folder. However, as soon as you log off, all files will be deleted!.
• It is recommended that when you are finished working on your files, you save any files to a floppy disk or a thumb/flash drive. Alternatively, you can upload your files to the Dropbox on the Blackboard Course web site.
• If you need to meet with an instructor/lab assistant outside of class, please bring a copy of your files with you to the meeting.
3. This course and your FSU email and computing practices.
• Forwarding your FSU email to another email account.
1. This course requires you to read your FSU email as the instructor will contact you through your FSU email address. If you prefer to receive your email at another email address (such as yahoo or hotmail), you can forward your FSU email to the desired address.
2. Instructions on forwarding your FSU email are at http://www.ucs.fsu.edu/docs/forward.html#forward
3. Excuses of missing class information because you did not read your FSU email will NOT be accepted.
• Students are responsible for being familiar with computer account guidelines and policies, and using acceptable computing etiquette. See FSU Computing Policies for more information. Please pay attention to the following:
1. No food or drink is allowed in the computer labs.
2. University IT resources, including email and web pages may not be used for personal financial or commericial purposes, including advertisements.
4. The course web site: log onto BlackBoard to get to the course web site.
• Go to the BlackBoard web site which is http://campus.fsu.edu/webapps/login
• Log onto the BlackBoard web site using your FSUID.
• Under My Courses, click on the link for this course - Biocalc Computer Lab
5. Download this week's lab module.
• Make sure you are logged into the course web site as described in step 4 above.
• From the menu on the left hand side, click on the link for Lab Assignments.
• Click on the link for Introductory Lab.
• Download this week's lab module by using the right mouse button and clicking on the file lab_intro.doc.
• Then click on Save Link As. It is recommended that you save this file to some external media, or save it temporarily to your My Documents -> MATLAB folder. See the information given in step 2 above.
• Similarly download any other files required for the lab.
6. Setting up Microsoft Word.
• THESE STEPS MUST ONLY BE DONE IF YOUR INSTRUCTOR INDICATES SO!
  If you ever experience problems regarding macros or auto formating in Microsoft Word, then you will also have to carry out these steps.
• Start up Microsoft Word by clicking on Start -> Programs -> Microsoft Office -> Microsoft Office Word 2003.
• Setting MACROS in Microsoft Word.
  (Note: if you receive the warning in Microsoft Word saying "The macros in this project are disabled" click OK to remove the warning and then follow the next steps.)
1. Click on the Tools menu button button and then click on the Macro -> Security button.
2. Select the security option that says "Low option".
3. Click OK.
• Setting the AutoFormat feature in Microsoft Word.
1. Click on the Format menu button and then click on the AutoFormat button.
2. Click on the Options button at the bottom of the pop-up menu.
3. Make sure the tab selected is AutoFormat As You Type. Unclick/uncheck all the options. (Note: this tab is not the same as the AutoFormat tab!)
4. Click OK, and then click OK again to close all the AutoFormat windows.
• Exit out of Microsoft Word.
7. Setting up MATLAB with Microsoft Word – the Notebook feature.
• THESE STEPS MUST BE DONE EACH TIME YOU LOG ONTO A COMPUTER!
• Computer labs will be carried out using the software MATLAB.
• Start MATLAB by clicking on the Start -> Programs -> MATLAB -> R2007a -> MATLAB R2007a icon.
• We call >> the MATLAB prompt.
• At the MATLAB command prompt type:
  notebook –setup
• You will be prompted to choose your version of Microsoft Word - press 3 for Microsoft Word 2002 (XP).
• You may then be prompted for the location of the file normal.dot. If so, then do the following:
1. Press any key to continue to open up a file browser. Use the browser to search for this file. It should be located on your My Documents folder.
2. Once you select the file, click on Open to continue. If you get any errors in MATLAB regarding the Notebook setup, you can ignore them.
• Exit out of MATLAB.
• The Notebook feature is now ready to use. Start up Microsoft Word and MATLAB by opening the intro_lab.doc file you downloaded in step 6 and saved. You should now see a Notebook menu in Microsoft Word. (Note: you will only see the Notebook menu if you open a MATLAB Notebook file, such as the one you downloaded in step 6).
• In the MATLAB program, change the current directory on the menu bar to be the directory where you are going to download your files. This should be the drive of your external media or your My Documents -> MATLAB folder. You can use the icon with the 3 dots (...) to open up a browser to select the appropriate directory.
8. Working with MATLAB and Microsoft Word.
• Lab modules will usually be Microsoft WORD documents (*.doc); they may also be MATLAB "M"-files (*.m).
• If the lab module you downloaded is a Microsoft WORD document, then it is a MATLAB Notebook file. You can open the lab simply by clicking on the document.
• Follow the directions in the handout MATLAB Notebook for Microsoft Word for directions on how to work with MATLAB Notebooks.
• If the lab module you downloaded is a MATLAB "M"-file, in the MATLAB program, click on the File -> Open button and select the filename you downloaded in the previous step.
• Remember to Log Off at the end of each class. From the Start menu, click Log Off.
9. Working on the Labs.
• The instructor will discuss some introductory material and then work through parts of the lab with the class. There will be other teaching/lab assistants available to help with any problems.
• There will be a number of problems or projects which you will also have to work on that you will be required to hand in. These solutions must be organized in the form of a lab report that
1. describes what you are doing,
2. includes your results including graphs, equations or other useful material, and
3. includes a discussion or interpretation of what your results mean.
• Your lab report needs to be typed and will contain your written solutions, results and graphs. You will likely use Microsoft Word to type up your report and import your graphical results. Additionally, you may need to hand in a MATLAB M-file which contains the MATLAB commands you used to generate your results.
• Make sure the content of your report contains your name and student id.
10. Handing in your lab report.
• Print out a copy of your lab report and hand it in the following lab period. Labs are due at the beginning of class. Late reports will not be accepted.
• Make sure the content of your report contains your name and student id.
• You must save all your files before logging out. Either save your files to your external media or upload them to the Dropbox on the BlackBoard course website.
11. Getting ready for the next lab: reading material and homework.
• A few days before the class meets there will be reading material and a homework assignment posted on the class web site for the upcoming lab.
• You are required to read this material before coming to the next lab class.
• The homework is due by the start of the next class and is based on the reading material for the new lab and on the material from the previous lab.
12. Other course resources.
• All course materials will be posted on the course web site. Check the areas of Syllabus and Staff Information for specific information about the course and the instructors.
• Regularly check the Course Library link for more information and resources that might also help you.
• Post tips or questions that the entire class can use on the class on the Discussion Board link.

---

Copyright 2008 by Monica K. Hurdal. All rights reserved.