POES Teletraining
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
877-939-7959. After you've dialed the number enter the passcode: 406335

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 self extracting, compressed file into this directory, and then run 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 on a Windows 95/98/NT system:

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 poes
   cd poes
   
   You can also create this new directory using the Windows Explorer or My Computer.
   
   
2. Get the self-extracting (EXE file) or ZIP file (for non-Windows computers) by inserting the one of the following strings into the location or address bar in your Web browser -->
   
   ftp://ftp.cira.colostate.edu/bikos/visit/intropoes.exe  (login: anonymous)
   
   ftp://ftp.cira.colostate.edu/bikos/visit/intropoes.zip  (login: anonymous)  or
   
   ftp://cedar.ssec.wisc.edu/visit/intropoes.exe  (login: anonymous)
   
   ftp://ftp.comet.ucar.edu/pub/satmet/intropoesaudio.exe  (login: anonymous)
   
   ftp://ftp.comet.ucar.edu/pub/satmet/intropoesaudio.zip  (login: anonymous)
   
   
3. Be sure to put the EXE file into the same directory that you created in step 1.
   
   
4. To extract all the image and program files, simply run the EXE file by either:
   
   opening My Computer or Windows Explorer and clicking on the filename
   
   - or -
   
   opening a Command Prompt window, typing
   
   cd \visit\poes
   
   and then typing:
   
   intropoes.exe

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 filename from My Computer or Windows Explorer.
   Alternatively, you could open a Command Prompt window, and type:
   
   cd \visit\poes
   visit
   
   
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. The session will last about 90 minutes.
   
   
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) unless speaking.

To run this lesson locally (for example, to train others in your office who were unable to attend the group session), open a Command Prompt window and type visitlocal. A ViewClient window will appear which includes additional controls to load Selected lesson pages (or to move to the Next or Previous page).

Note...

If you are using a Unix or Linux system, you will need to install the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) software on your local computer...see the JRE instructions page.

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

• Woody Wang 303.497.8347
  
  
• Patrick Dills 303.497.8339