Student Technology Support Frequently Asked Questions

• Email
• Wireless/Network
• Microsoft Office
• Graduation

Email

How do I set up Outlook to check my email?

Answer: The current best online instructions on how to set up Outlook to check your UCSF email can be found here.

You can also contact the ILC medical student helpdesk if you have further questions regarding your email or other computing support issues.

Wireless/Network

How do I use the Campus Wireless Network?

Answer: Access to the Campus Wireless Network is enabled by using the Library's Laptop Internet Access Service.

How do I access resources or materials restricted to the UCSF Network (e.g. online journals)?

Answer: Access to the UCSF Network from off-campus is enabled by using the campus' Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution. Your VPN account enables you to securely connect to the UCSF network.

Microsoft Office

I sent someone a Word, Excel of PowerPoint file I created in Office 2007 and they can't open it using an older version of Microsoft Office. What's going on?

Answer: Microsoft Office 2007 uses newer file formats that older versions of Microsoft Office are unable to open.

To fix this Do one or more of the following:

1.  Save and distribute a copy of your document in an older file format.  Saving in an older format might cause certain features in the document to be lost, so if you're not certain about what features shall be lost, keep your original and save a copy.  Example:

a.  Open your document, e.g., Meeting Agenda.docx.
b.  Select File > Save As…. -- the Save As dialog appears.
c.  Specify a new filename such as Meeting Agenda - COPY
d.  In the Save as type picklist, select an older file format.  In this example, select Word 97-2003 Document (*.doc).
e.  Select Save.

2.  If your document recipient uses Windows, ask him or her to install the following software which enables him or her to open the document:

Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats
http://preview.tinyurl.com/y5a879
(microsoft.com)

This software needs to be installed only once.  Afterwards, all documents created in Office 2007 will open successfully in the older version of Office.

3.  If your document recipient uses OS X (Mac), ask him or her to install the following software which enables him or her to convert the document to a format compatible with Office 2004 and Office v.X.  After the document has been converted, the newly converted document can be opened.

Microsoft Office Open XML File Format Converter for Mac
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2s8c6e
(microsoft.com)

This software needs to be installed only once.  Afterwards, all documents converted by the converter will open successfully in the older version of Office.

Graduation

How long will I be able to access my @UCSF email and other things like iROCKET and my VPN account after I graduate?

Answer: Your email, GALEN and VPN account are disabled on September 30th following graduation.

What should I do about my email account? Can I forward email to another account?

Answer: Your @UCSF email account will stop working on September 30th and you are unable to forward email to another account. However you can do the following:

1. Set up a permanent UCSF alumni email address. The new alumni address is a forwarding service that you can point to any other email account that you use regularly. The address will allow you link your professional training to UCSF.
Instructions on establishing a UCSF alumni email address

2. Set an out-of-office or vacation message on your @UCSF email account. In this message place your new or UCSF alumni email address. Make sure to give your frinds and family enough time before September 30th to receive this message.
Instructions for setting an out-of-office/vacation message