Tech Notes/Instructions

Important -- install the lesson files as described below on a Windows PC having at least 64 MB of memory.

Please be sure to download and test your file by running the visitlocal.bat batch file (details described below, see #4) at least a day before the training session. You may also preview the lesson in this "visitlocal" mode. If you have any technical difficulties please contact us before the session so that we can troubleshoot any problems beforehand rather than holding up other offices during the 90 minute scheduled teletraining session time.

Please call in about 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the teletraining start time. The phone number to dial into is (877) 460-7566. After you've dialed the number enter the passcode: 190471

You may hear music until the instructor joins the call. If you hear a busy signal when trying to call the number try dialing 10-10-222 877-460-7566 then enter the passcode above.

Part One: Download & Install the VISITview File

In order to install this lesson, you will need to create a new directory on your hard drive, download a compressed file into this directory, and then uncompress this file in order to extract the data and program files. The particular drive or directory name does not matter. You may include multiple directories under a top directory called "\visit" if you wish.

To get and install the VISITview lesson files:

  1. Create a directory on your computer to hold this lesson. For example, open a Command Prompt window and type:

    cd \
    mkdir visit
    cd visit
    mkdir float
    cd float

    You can also create this new directory using the Windows Explorer or My Computer.

    If your office is only interested on one version of the teletraining, you might want to create the c:\visit\float directory as shown above. However, if your office will be participating in both versions of the sessions, you will need two directories— c:\visit\float1 and c:\visit\float2

  2. Get the ZIP file (it is about 10 MB in size) by pointing your Web browser to one of the download sites listed here and saving the file in the directory you created in step 1:

     
    Date Available
    Primary Server
    Backup Server
    FLOAT Version I
    16 July
    float1.zip
    FLOAT Version II
    18 July
    float2.zip

    NOTE: You must have a ZIP file utility installed on your PC in order to extract these files. You may download and install an evaluation version of WinZip® if you don't have it already.

  3. Be sure to put the ZIP file into the same directory that you created in step 1.

  4. To extract all the image and program files, simply extract the ZIP file by opening My Computer or Windows Explorer and double-clicking on the filename. Follow your program's directions to extract the files to the correct directory.

Part Two: Test the VISITview Presentation

  1. Open the "Display" Control Panel and make sure your Settings for the Desktop Area is 800 by 600 pixels or greater

  2. Click on the visit.bat file from My Computer or Windows Explorer.
    Alternatively, you could open a Command Prompt window, and type:

    cd \visit\float
    visit.bat

  3. A "ViewClient" window should appear, with a large red triangular cursor. If a VISIT server is actively hosting a session, then you will also see images in the ViewClient window.

  4. You can also test the lesson locally by running "visitlocal.bat" (located in the same directory). This will allow you to examine the lesson slides and test the animations, without the presence of an Instructor or an external VISIT server connection.

  5. On the day of the lesson, we will use the "visit.bat" file to connect to an external VISIT server, and an Instructor will lead the presentation. When/if asked for a response from a dialog box that states "Please enter a user ID", just enter your 3-letter office identifier, and click on the "Submit" button.

  6. Be sure to quit all other active applications, and disable any screen savers that are running BEFORE the teletraining session starts. During the teletraining session remember to have your conference call phone on MUTE (not HOLD -- HOLD may force the other offices to listen to your local NWR messages).Remember to take the phoe off "mute" before speaking.

In the Command Prompt window where you entered the visit command, you will see various communications messages appearing; for the most part, you may ignore these. However, if a "Communications problem - restart" message appears (and lesson pages are not advancing correctly), you will need to Quit the ViewClient application (by clicking on the "X" icon in the upper right corner), and restart the ViewClient application by entering the "visit" command in the Command Prompt window.

If you have any questions, please contact

  • Last Updated 23 July 2001

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