If you have any questions you would like answered please mail project staff via the Feedback link in the blue navigation strip above.
The site is designed to suit the most common modern screen sizes, if your computer displays the web pages with large text and images the most likely problem is that the monitor screen size will be set to a low value. You change this in <control panels> in both Microsoft and Apple computers. I would recommend minimum 832 x 624 or preferably 1024 x 768.
The site is best viewed using Explorer versions 4.5 - 5.0 or Netscape 6.0. Other versions may display text at a non standard size which will affect the formatting of the whole page. Both Microsoft and Netscape browsers provide options to alter the size at which text is displayed. If you have this problem look under the view menu (Explorer - text zoom, Netscape - text size) and select a more suitable text resolution - if you see the text as too large choose a value below 100%, if you see the text as too small choose a value over 100%.
If using a recent version of Internet Explorer as a browser you can click on the little icon on the left below the toolbars ( looks like a left pointing arrow and some vertical lines in I.E. 5) this temporarily hides the toolbars and gives you a larger readable area. With a bit of fiddling about you can resize the navigation frame (the one with all the green buttons at the top ) to make more of the bottom frame visible- click and drag upwards from just below the navigation frame where the right hand scroll bar ends.
Project description - Chestnet.net, SpRITE, Conferencing what are they?
A. The Project provides three interrelated environments.
Past phases of the project have generated a range of learning resources in the form of tutorials, quizzes, articles, links to to other medical web sites, etc. A selection of these are now available to SpRs and site visitors via the navigation buttons in the top frame of the Chestnet browser window.
The SpRITE web site is only open to respiratory SpRs and consultants, it is used to present resources generated by SpRs and Consultants in the form of articles and case histories. We will also be presenting new quizzes and tutorials with a high level of interactivity in time for our full launch in January 2001.
The First Class Client Software provides each user with their own personal desktop supported by a well structured and logical mail system in conjunction with a conferencing facility operating with an inbuilt multi window interface. This environment is well suited to synchronous or asynchronous collaborative activities - discussions, file sharing, shared interest groups etc.
Conferences are really communal mailboxes, they can be used for active discussion or to store online resources. It is not unusual for conferences to have few contributors but many readers. Conferences can be public or private, public conferences are available to everyone on the intranet, private conferences are available only to specified users. This allows a degree of privacy for groups of users working on sensitive material. The onscreen help menu is always available on or off-line and provides well indexed and clearly explained assistance for most FirstClass queries, it also covers some aspects of using a browser to navigate the FirstClass environment.
There are two ways to access the conferences;
However you choose to log on your sari Desktop contains icons of your mailbox and several conferences. Click on an icon to access that conference. A conference is a communally accessible mailbox and can be used for sharing resources, hosting online discussions, remote collaborative research etc. At present the conferences are not really being used, although I feel they offer a lot of potential in that they could provide a venue for discussing/disseminating latest clinical practice or research data and findings on an international basis. A brief description of some online procedures appears lower down this page.
Notes on viewing the SpRITE FirstClass conferencing environment with a browser.
Browsers in general open files (web pages) sequentially in one window by default. This linear approach can make navigating the FC conferencing environment cumbersome. You may find your self several pages away from your desktop and having to return to it regularly via the Go command then waiting for your desktop to reopen each time before you can explore different conferences.
Using the 'Open link in new window' facility can reduce the time you spend waiting for windows to open. For example if you want to read you mail open your mailbox then right click (Mac click and hold) a message and select 'Open link in new window' . When you have read the message close it and your mailbox will still be open ready for you to access another message. When you first log on you will see your desktop, if you want to read your mail and visit conferences keeping your desktop open and exploring using this technique will to some extent mimic the FirstClass navigation system.
The internet project will enable geographically remote SpRs to communicate at leisure and share learning experiences and research findings. You will be encouraged to actively participate in online discussions and given the opportunity to become involved in the creation of online resources.
Most formats of attached files (word, excel, AppleWorks, jpeg, gif, etc.) can be viewed online with the relevant software opening automatically when the view file command is executed. Alternatively you can easily download files into your computer for off line use.
If you access a conference regularly you might find it easier to have it on your FirstClass desktop especially if you are using a browser. To place a copy of a conference on your desktop log on via First Class - highlight but don't open the desired conference, choose >File > Add >Add to Desktop. This will place a copy of the conference on your desktop.
Accessing web sites when using FirstClass
First Class messages automatically recognise and create links from url text strings (http://www...........) - If you log on using FirstClass Client clicking on blue underlined text in a First Class message will start your browser and open the relevant link.
If you want to mail the url of a web site to a friend copy it from your browser and paste it into the message or write it out as it appears in the address field of your browser it will be made live once you post the message.
If you are using FirstClass you can see who else is logged on by using the who's online function under the conferencing menu. Clicking on a name in the who is online? directory will bring up the resume for that person (if they have filled it in!!).
Each user can create a personal resume within FirstClass. Go to >File.>Open>Resume. This will bring up a dialogue box where you can fill in your personal details such as your location, research interests etc. Clicking on a name in a message or in the who's online directory will open the users resume. This allows you to find out who everyone is and identify members with similar interests / experiences.
Making your own resume - To create your own resume select File>Open>Resume. There are spaces for you to include a picture, your name and your resume. Useful information to include in your resume would be your current location, how long you have been on the course, your research interests, interesting cases you are working with etc.
This is located under >File.>Open>Private Chat and allows you to invite other logged on users to a live chat - can involve two or multiple users - try it and see!
You can create a signature file and either have it automatically added to all of your mail or added by clicking on an icon. The signature option is available via the messaging tab through Edit > Properties or Edit >Preferences depending on which operating system you are using. You can modify many of the other FirstClass features through this interface.
The Attach File facility allows you to send files in any format along with your-mail messages.
To attach a file to a message so that you can send the file to a conference or another user: 1 Create a new message as usual. 2 Choose File > Attach File. 3 Choose the file you want to attach to your message. If you or recipients of the message use a modem, consider compressing a large file before attaching it. Compressed files often transfer faster, reducing the length of phone calls, and take up less space on the server. 4 Click Open. The file transfer to the server begins. When the file transfer is complete, the file appears in the Attachments section of the message envelope. Before the file transfer is complete, you can interrupt it by clicking Cancel in the Upload dialogue box. The file transfer can be resumed at any time until you send the message. Shortcut: Drag a file to the message envelope to attach it. You can attach multiple files simultaneously using this shortcut.
Multiple user editable documents
In addition to the usual e-mail message format, FC offers optional, easy to use, multiple user, editable documents. These allow any user to read and add text to the same message, consequently a discussion can take place on one page rather than being spread through a line of threaded mail messages.
Q 3. Can I create my own web site on my SpRITE account?
A. All project members can create their own mini web site by storing html files in their home page folder. The home page folder is not automatically placed on your desktop, Select File>Open>Home Page and the folder will be placed on your desktop. In brief you need to create a home page document in html format with the name yourfirstname space yourlastname.index.html. For example my home page file would be called Ian Tindal.index.html. Your index.html file will become your web site home page and will have the url http://www.chestnet.net/~first name_last name/
If you want to have multiple pages on your site edit and store them in one folder (directory) called <Home Page> anywhere in your PC. When you upload them to your online home page folder any links between pages will then retain the same relative file path.
No need to use FTP to upload your web files ; just drag them from your hard drive into your home page folder and wait for the file transfer box to close before disconnecting. Our Server does not have unlimited capacity so please limit your web site to less than 5 Mb.
Several common software packages will allow you to save documents as html files (e.g. Word, AppleWorks, Netscape Communicator) and provide good basic editing facilities.