To access a menu of class web pages, please use the course home page found at http://www.chems.msu.edu/php/classes_index.php. The remainder of this page is for instructors to use in establishing and maintaining a course page

To log in to create/edit pages, click here.

ESTABLISHING A COURSE DIRECTORY
Upon your request, the webmaster will provide a directory for your course. The directory is frequently of the format </egr/sites/www.chems.msu.edu/htdocs/classes/<semester>/<course>>, where <semester> indicates the semester, e.g. f04, and <course> is the course number, e.g. 250. In the case of multiple course sections taught by different instructors, the webmaster may append something to the course number. Substitute your directory where you see the variable <$your_directory> below.

SETTING UP A COURSE PAGE
After the webmaster has set up a course directory, you should upload the content that you want to furnish to students. We recommend that you create html or pdf files rather than uploading Microsoft Word documents. Microsoft Word documents may not display properly on non-PC platforms, if at all. Be careful with use of Microsoft Word to create html files. We have reports that the output is not always compatible with non-PC browsers. Be sure and check the output on multiple platforms it that aspect is important.

CREATING HTML FILES
You do NOT need to know how to create html files in order to create a class page on the department site. Use the link above to log into the database system, and you will be able to use a web interface to create a simple course page.

We recommend that you avoid using WORD to create web pages. We have reports that the HTML generated is not always compatible on non-PC platforms, or for browsers other than IE.

To create reliable simple html files use a basic editor like Mozilla Composer. Another simple editor is Frontpage Express, available as part of IE download. (I can't seem to find it on the Microsoft Web site, except as part of an IE download). These editors are free, and DECS can make sure you have it installed. (Note that Frontpage Express is NOT the same as Frontpage.) If you would like to purchase a html editor, we would recommend Macromedia Dreamweaver.

TO CREATE PDF FILES
PDF files are a convenient way to distribute documents on the web. They are created with Adobe Acrobat. You do not need your own copy of Adobe Acrobat, you can print a postscript file to your desktop, and then use the DECS converter.

SENDING YOUR FILES TO THE DIRECTORY
Naming files. Don't use spaces in the names of your files because Netscape and IE interpret them differently!

The easiest way to send files to the directory is to map the drive from your computer. If you can't map the drive for some reason, or are working from home, you can send the files by SFTP on a PC, or by fetch on a MAC. Click here for SFTP instructions.

FIXING PERMISSIONS AFTER UPLOAD
IMPORTANT: Following sftp transfer of the files, the files may not have correct permissions to be viewed and maintained on the site. You will need to SSH to scully or mulder and then run fixclass.

CREATING A COURSE PAGE
Log into the database by and on your menu you will find a menu to create the actual page by filling in a form.

TROUBLESHOOTING AND FAQ
"I can't view the files from the web browser, but I know they were uploaded."
If you get a file permission error when trying to view files that you know have been transferred, it is probably because you forgot to run fixclass on the directory after sending by ftp.

"Students using Internet Explorer can view the files, but those using Netscape report broken links."
Internet Explorer recognizes spaces in file names, but Netscape does not. If you use spaces in file names, replace spaces with "%20" in the link to the file. (i.e. "http://file%20name.pdf" instead of "http://file name.pdf"). It is best to avoid spaces in file names.

"I am trying to upload files, but getting permission denied."
If the UNIX machine refuses to accept your files, you might not have permission to upload files. Permission needs to be set only one time for faculty or TAs, but since TAs change constantly we need to add and remove TAs each semester. The instructor should e-mail the webmaster listed below.

"When I run fixclass, I get a bunch of messages about files I don't own."
This is common if you have a TA and instructor sharing the upload duties. The files are owned by the person who uploads. Fixclass is trying to change properties of all files in the directory. It will execute properly on only the files owned by the person logged in. It is not possible to run the command on files owned by someone else.

"I transferred a text or html file and now when I view it in notepad it has a bunch of black squares."
This is an indication that you forgot to transfer the text file in ASCII mode. (Note that html pages are text!) I currently do not know how to fix this easily except to transfer it again from a backup copy.

For more help or clarifications, contact the webmaster. The instructions and FAQ will be constantly refined based on your questions.