You may not have enough time during the organized lab time to finish this exercise. You will need to go to the U.C. user room at another time to finish it.
To become acquainted with Windows and the on-line class materials.
Comment: The UC open lab computers have Windows NT and Office 97. NT looks very much like Windows 95.
Step 1. Make sure that you know how to use the Windows interface. For example, start Excel and then close it. Work with the interface as needed until you feel comfortable.
Step 2. Start Notepad, a simple editor program. Method: Click on the "Start" button. Find "Programs" and then move right and find "Accessories" and then move right again and find "Notepad" and then click the left mouse button. You can close Notepad when you are done experimenting with it.
Step 3. Start the Windows NT Explorer. It is an alternative to the "My Computer" desk top icon which gives a different view of files and directories as well as more options. Method: Click on the "Start" button. You may find Windows NT Explorer on the Start menu. If not, find "Programs" and move right and find "Windows NT Explorer" and click the mouse button. Work with the interface a bit by selecting a directory on the left and a subdirectory or file on the right. After you are comfortable with the Windows NT Explorer, close its window.
Step 4. Open the calculator. (It is in the "Accessories" group with Notepad.) (If needed,) switch to the scientific calculator (select "Scientific" from the "View" menu). Recall that computers work in binary using zeros and ones. Determine the binary representation of 200 by entering the decimal number 200 into the calculator and clicking "bin" (for binary). Record the value by opening Notepad and typing the value as the answer to Part I step 4. Then type the binary number 1100100. Then convert the number to decimal by selecting "dec". Record your answer in Notepad. This time, leave Notepad open so you can use it in Part II.
Step 1. Find the Netscape or Netscape Communicator icon and double click on it. It is an icon on the desktop of the UC computers.
Step 2. View the class home page. One of several methods: Type the URL for the class's home page http://www.cs.plu.edu/courses/csce115/spring00/home.html in the location box near the top of the Netscape window. (Remember that capitalization is important in some URL's including those on www.cs.plu.edu and www.plu.edu.) Other alternatives: Type in the URL for the Computer Science Department (http://www.cs.plu.edu/) or for your instructor's home page (http://www.plu.edu/~brinkje/) and follow links to the class page.
Step 3. Find "Syllabus" on the left and click on it.
Step 4. Type or copy the URL of the syllabus in Notepad as the answer to Part II step 4.
Step 5. After viewing the syllabus, click the "Back" button to return to the class home page.
Step 6. If necessary, scroll down the home page until you find "Downloadable file directory" and click on it.
Step 7. If necessary, scroll down the directory until you find the "lab6.xls" file and click on it. You may be given the choice of saving the file or opening it. If so, open it. Notice that Excel starts with the file open in it. You can close Excel. Alternatively if you are only asked where to save the file, you can save it and then open Excel and then open the file. Return to the class home page in Netscape.
Step 8. On one of the class pages, click on "Homework" in the left column. From the Netscape menu items, select "File | Print" and click "OK" to print the file. Alternative: click the "Print" button. Print one copy of the assignment for each member of the group plus one extra copy to turn in with the lab.
Step 9. Type or copy the URL of the "hwk.html" file into Notepad as the answer to Part II step 9.
Step 10. Click the "Back" button as needed to return the class page. Click on Lab 1. Type or copy the URL of the lab into Notepad.
Step 11. Scroll down to find Part II, Step 2 and click on a hyperlink. Record what happens in Notepad as the answer to Part II step11.
Step 12. Click on the location box and and type the URL you wrote down in step 4. Press return. Observe the syllabus reappears. In practice, you can find files on the Web by typing the URL of the file or by following a sequence of hyperlinks to the file.
Step 13. Treasure hunt: As the answer to Part II step 13, find the course number(s) of the other class(es) taught by your instructor.
Step 14. Treasure hunt: When is Lab 2 due? Record your answer for Part II step 14.
Step 15. Treasure hunt: Starting at the class home page, find the document WastingTime.htm. As the answer to Part II step 15, record your favorite two ways to waste time while creating spreadsheets.
Make sure that Notepad includes the group members' names and "Lab 1" on the top of the page and clearly labeled answers for Part I step 4, and Part II steps 4, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15. Print copies for each member of the group and one additional copy to turn in. Staple this page on top of one copy of the first homework page. Turn in one copy per group. Each member of the group should keep a copy for future use.
For more information, contact James Brink
brinkje@plu.edu
Last Updated: 2/3/2000