COX INTRANET

Web FAQ's

General Web Site Questions On-Line Course Materials Folder Questions Web Mail Questions
Faculty Web Page Questions  Selecting Photos
  
Password Protection    

General Web Site Questions

Q: I've seen a problem on a web page and want to report it.  How do I do that?

A: Please fill out the form located here.  This will give us the necessary information to find and fix the problem.

Q: I don't see the navigation bar on the left side of the page.  What do I do now?

A: First off, visit www.adobe.com and download the Flash Player and install it.  Be sure that you have Javascript enabled.  If you're still having problems, send a ticket to support@mail.cox.smu.edu.  There are browser settings in different browsers that can turn viewing Flash off.  Our helpdesk can help you figure out what those are.

Q: I want to add an event to the Cox calendar. How do I do that?

A: First you'll need to have an account.  Send and email to support@mail.cox.smu.edu to request that a calendar be set up for you.  We'll send you back a user name and password.  Once you get your user name and password, just follow the directions in this document to add events to the calendar.

Q:I'd like to be able to make my Word document or Excel spreadsheet into a PDF for use on the web site. How do I do that?

A: There is a free plug-in called Primo PDF that will let you do this.

On-Line Course Materials Folder Questions

Uploading Files

Q: I'm a new faculty member and I need an account to load my on line couse materials.

A: Send an email to support@mail.cox.smu.edu and request an account.  BE SURE THAT THIS FORM HAS BEEN FILLED OUT FIRST.  The directions for using your account are in this document

Q: I've got my account, where do I get the browser plug in that I need to upload files? OR I'm not at my usual computer.  Where do I get the browser plug in that I need?

A: You can get the plug in from http://www.java.com. Just click on the bright green "Download Now" button.

Q: How do I upload my course materials on the faculty course page? 

A:  Please follow the directions in this document.

Q: That works great for a few files, but I need to load a lot of files. How do I do that?

A: Most professors find that loading one or two files at a time is all they need. If you load large numbers of files on a frequent basis, we'll help you set that up. Send a ticket to support@mail.cox.smu.edu and we can make the necessary adjustments to your account as well as provide you with the client software you need.  You will also want to become very familiar with our Unix FAQ's.

Creating, Deleting, Moving & Renaming Files/Folders

Q: I got my things uploaded,but now I want to delete them.  How do I do that? 

A:  If you are using the File Manager Interface:

  1. Navigate to the file(s) that you want to delete.
  2. Click on the file(s) to high-light.
  3. Click on the big red X that says delete in the top menu.
  4. You will get a pop up box asking you to confirm the action.  Click on the big green check mark that says "Delete" and you're done.
Note:  You can delete multiple files by using SHIFT-click or CTRL-click to high-light multiple files.  If you delete a folder it will remove ALL the contents as well as the folder.

Q: I got my things uploaded,but now I want to rename them.  How do I do that? 

A:  If you are using the File Manager Interface:

  1. Navigate to the file that you want to rename.
  2. Click on the icon that says "Rename".
  3. You will get a pop up box with the old file name.  Please be sure to look at this and make sure that you've selected the right file.
  4. Type the new file name in "New Name:" and click on the big green check mark. 

Q: I got my things uploaded,but they didn't go where I wanted them  How do I do that? 

A:  If you are using the File Manager Interface:

  1. Navigate to the files that you want to move.
  2. Click on the file(s) to high-light them.
  3. Click on the "Cut" Icon
  4. Navigate to the correct location for your files.
  5. Click on the "Paste" icon.

Q: How do I add folders to my course materials?

A: If you are using the "File Manager" icon in the new interface, click on the button that says "New" and has a picture of a folder in it.  Type in the name and click on the big green check mark that says "Create".

If you are using the "Upload & Download" icon in the new interface, please follow the directions in this document.

Password Protection

Q:  I want to password protect a folder  What do I do?

A:  Just follow these steps to add a user name and password to any folder.
  1. Log in to the web based interface.
  2. Click on "Others" across the top menu
  3. Click on the "Protected Web Directories" Icon
  4. Click on "Add protection for a new directory" at the top of the page.
  5. This will take you to a new page.  Look for "Directory Path" and click on the button (...) next to it.
  6. This will open a pop up where you can browse for the folder you want to protect.  Please note that the folder must already exist.  If you want to password protect a new folder, you'll have to create the folder first.
  7. The only other thing that you have to set on this page is the "Authentication Realm".  You can set this to anything you like. 
  8. Click "Create" at the bottom of the page. 
  9. You will be taken to a screen that lists all of your protected directories.  The one that you just created will usually be at the very bottom of this list.
  10. Scroll until you find it and click on "Create User" that's next to newly protected directory.
  11. Click on "Add a new user".
  12. Put in the user name and password that you want people to use to see your files.  NOTE:  This should not, under any circumstances, be the user name and password you use to log in. 
  13. Click on "Create" and you're done. 
  14. Be sure to browse your folder to make sure that it works as you wish. 
NOTE:  Password protection only works on entire folders.  If you want to protect a single file, you will need to create a special folder, put the file in that special folder, and then password protect that folder.

Please note that both user names and passwords are  CaSe SeNsItIvE.  FINA3320 is NOT the same as fina3320 or Fina3320. 

Q:  I want to change my user name and/or password on one of my folders.  What do I do?

A:  Just follow these steps to remove a user name and password.

  1. Log in to the web based interface.
  2. Click on "Others" across the top menu
  3. Click on the "Protected Web Directories" Icon
  4. Scroll down until you find the directory you want to change the user name and/or password for.
  5. Click on the user name.
  6. If you want to change the username, edit it in the "Username" field.
  7. Leave "Enabled" set to "Yes"
  8. If you want to change the password, select "Set to" and type in the new password in the box.
  9. Click on "Save".
  10. Be sure to browse your folder and make sure that it works as you wish.

Please note that both user names and passwords are  CaSe SeNsItIvE.  FINA3320 is NOT the same as fina3320 or Fina3320. 

Q:  I want to remove my user name and password from my folder  What do I do?

A:  Just follow these steps to remove a user name and password
  1. Log in to the web based interface.
  2. Click on "Others" across the top menu
  3. Click on the "Protected Web Directories" Icon
  4. Scroll down until you find the directory you want to remove the password from
  5. Click on the file path of the directory
  6. Click on the delete button at the bottom
Q:  My folder used to be password protected, but now it's not.  What happened?

A:  Most likely your folder got deleted and recreated at some point.  If you delete the folder the password protection on that folder is also deleted.  If you recreate the folder, you must recreate the password protection.
Q:  I'm trying to password protect something, but I keep getting an error message that says "No such file or directory".  What's wrong?

A:  You have to create the folder before you can add password protection to it.  Don't worry, you can leave it empty until you get the password in place.  
Q:  I password protected my folder and I can't see it any more!  What happened?

A:  The lastest security update to our web server has caused the folders to become hidden when they are password protected.  You can still get to them, provided you know the name of the folder and have a valid user name/password combo.  Unfortunately, there isn't much we can do about this until the folks who write the webserver software release a patch to fix it. 

If you really want to list the contents of the directory, you can add a file that lists them out.  Just copy the HTML below into Notepad (not Word or Wordpad) and edit it.  Be sure that your folder names in the A href statements match (case, spacing, etc.) the folders that you created.  Save the file as index.html or rename it index.html once it's uploaded and you're done. 

<html>
<head>
</head>
<body>

<a href="/myfirstfolder">myfirstfolder</a><br>
<a href="/mysecondfolder">mysecondfolder</a><br>

</body>
</html>

For example, if you have a folder called FINA3320, your a href statement would look like this. 

<a href="/FINA3320">FINA3320</a><br>

Please note that it is CaSe SeNsItIvE.  FINA3320 is NOT the same as fina3320 or Fina3320. 

If you don't think you can manage it, send a ticket to support@mail.cox.smu.edu and we'll upload one for you

Other Questions

Q:  I'm getting emails about my Disk Quota from portal4.  What happened?

A: When we moved to the new server, we have the same space alottments we had on the old server.  The old server wasn't capable of sending out a warning message when your quota limit was approaching.  It would simply not let you upload files.  The new server sends out warning emails so that you can go delete some old items or request additional space.

Q:  I've uploaded files but I don't see them.  What happened?

A: First off, please make sure that you're looking in the right place.  All of the faculty web page URL's have changed recently.  All of the professors URL's are now in the following format http://firstinitallastname.cox.smu.edu.  For example, Amit Basu's on line course materials are now located at http://abasu.cox.smu.edu. 

Secondly, be sure that they are not in a password protected folder.  The lastest security update to our web server has caused the folders to become hidden when they are password protected.  You can still get to them, provided you know the name of the folder and have a valid user name/password combo.  Unfortunately, there isn't much we can do about this until the folks who write the webserver release the patch.

Thirdly, be sure that you placed them in the public_html directory.  If you placed them anywhere but in that directory, the web server will not be able to show them. 

Q:  I uploaded a file, but when I type in the URL to check it, I get a 404 or "File not found" error message.  What happened?

A:  Most likely, you have something - file name, folder name, etc. - in the wrong case.  Try "backing up" the URL.  Here's how it works.

You've typed in http://jdoe.cox.smu.edu/myclass/Myfile

Go up to the Address Bar in your browser and put the cursor in at the very end of the URL.  Try backspacing to the next slash (/) and hit enter. 

This is what should be in your address bar now http://jdoe.cox.smu.edu/myclass/

See if you can't see your file now.  If not, keep backing up. 

This is what should be in your address bar now http://jdoe.cox.smu.edu/

If you still get a 404 error message, send an email to support@mail.cox.smu.edu

Q:  I'm trying to change my password, but I keep getting an error message. What do I do?

A: Due to new security requriements at the university level. We have turned on strong passwords.  This means that there are now some basic requirements about passwords, and particularly passwords for services that are exposed to the internet.

  • The password must be at least 8 characters long.
  • It must not be based on a dictionary word.  This means any word you can look up in Websters, Funk & Wagnal's, etc. 
  • It must not be a person's name. 
  • It must include at least one number or special character. Special characters are things like "!, @, #, $" etc. Basically any of things you get when you hit "SHIFT" and one of the number keys across the top of your keyboard.

Tips for having a strong password you can remember:

  • Pick out a phrase that you will be able to recall. For our example, we'll use "I work at Cox and get paid!"
  • Keep the capitalization
  • Change what ever you can into numbers and symbols. "For" would become 4. "to" would become 2.
    • In our example, we change the "at" to an @ and the "and" to &
  • Use the first letter of the phrase
  • Iw@C&gp! becomes your password

Q:  My password is expired. What do I do?

A:  Send a ticket to support@mail.cox.smu.edu and we will reset your password.  You should be getting emails notifying you that your password will expire in 30 days.  The maximum time that a password may be used is 180 days.

NOTE:  You must select a strong password.  The password must be at least 8 characters long and it must not be based on a dictionary word.  If it is, you will get an error message.  We strongly recommend that you use a "special character" in your password. This includes things like "!, @, #, $" etc. Basically any of things you get when you hit "SHIFT" and one ofnumber keys across the top of your keyboard.

Q:  I want to use HTML on my course materials page and I'd like it to look like the new Cox web site.  What do I do?

A:  We only support Dreamweaver (formerly Macromedia and now Adobe).  We highly recommend that you purchase the latest version (8) from Computer Corner, if you plan to do this.  We've got a Dreamweaver Template that you can use to customize the look of your course materials pages, if you choose to do so. 

Adobe's Support Forums  Dreamweaver Documentation   Dreamweaver Community

Faculty Web Page Questions

Q: The links to my course files are not showing up on http://www.cox.smu.edu/academic. What do I do?

A: The class lists for the next semester are built in the current semester so that it will be ready by the start of the semester. Many times when the classes are being added to the system, there is not anything to link to. Since not all professors post on line couse materials for their classes, a link is not added to the class at the time it is created. If this has happened, send an email to support@mail.cox.smu.edu with department (FINA, CISB, etc.), the course number (6271, 3348, etc.) and the link that you want for that class. If the link only applies to specific section numbers, please be sure to specifiy that as well.

Q: My current classes are not showing in my professor page. What do I do?

A: It is extremely likely that your class or classes have not been added to the listing. The official list of classes offered is often not finalized until the beginning of the semester. Send an email to support@mail.cox.smu.edu with the following information - department (ACCT, MKTG, etc), Course Number (6016, 2312, etc.), the days of the week that the class is being taught, what the room number is, and what time(s) the class is being held. Please also include a link to the on line course materials if you wish to have that loaded as well.
Q: I need to update my vita information that appears on http://www.cox.smu.edu/academic/professor.do. What do I do?

A: Please type up what you would like to have changed and put it in a Microsoft Word document and send an email to support@mail.cox.smu.edu.  If you like, you can upload a vita file, we recommend that it be in PDF format, to your private URL and send a request to support asking us to add a link to your full vita. 

Cox Web Mail Questions

Q: I'm having trouble logging in to web mail. What do I do?

A: First, be sure that you are using Cox web mail server and not attempting to log in to the SMU web mail server. Be sure to click the link below and bookmark it in your browser.

In order to access Webmail, you will need to know your Cox username (usually this is your email username like “sjones”, as opposed to your 8-digit campus ID number) and your Cox password.

When you click on the server link below, you will be prompted to enter a properly formatted Cox username and your password. This will require you to place “COX” in front of your username. In the case of a username of “sjones”, a proper signon would look like the following:

 

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS COX WEBMAIL
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