Forum Functions

Procedures for how to: Copy and Paste & Open and Attach Documents

Caution: It is strongly recommended that all attached documents be checked for viruses prior to posting or before opening after being downloaded. Preferred anti-virus software is either Norton or McAfee. The software should be updated monthly.

To Copy and Paste a Document:

Open the MS Word document that will be copied and pasted into the “Forum.”
Go to the Internet, open your browser; log into your course. Go to the “Forum” and select which function is going to be performed, either “Compose Message” or “Reply.”
Select the “Topic” to which the message will be posted and then type the “Subject” of the message.
Minimize the message window
Minimize
Open MS Word and then your document
Place your mouse at the very beginning of the document. Block the document by one of two ways:
- Hold down the “Ctrl key” and then hold down the “A” key
- Left click on the mouse, hold down and drag the mouse to the bottom of the document
Next press the “Ctrl key” and then the “C” key.
Maximize, and then maximize the “Forum” window, which contains the message box.
Place your mouse in the message box. Left click on the mouse so that the cursor is flashing.
Next press the “Ctrl” key and then the “V” key.
Your document will now appear in the message box.
Select Post.
Anytime a message is posted you must select “Update Listing” which is found beside “Compose Message” on the main “Forum” page.

Caution: It is strongly recommended that all attached documents be checked for viruses prior to posting or before opening after being downloaded. Preferred anti-virus software is either Norton or McAfee. The software should be updated monthly

To Attach A Document:

Note: This assumes that MS Word is being used

Type your document in MS Word and process a spell check
Note: The Forum HTML editor provides the ability to perform the spell check function.
Use the formatting tool.
Save the document by selecting the Save In Folder in which the document will be saved, provide it with a File Name and Save as type: use .rtf or Rich Text Format.
Close the document. Using Internet Explorer or Netscape go to Course Access.
After accessing your online course go to the “Forum.” Select the “Topic” in which the message is to be posted.
Select “Compose Message.”
Make sure the correct “Topic” is selected. If not use the drop down arrow to select the correct “Topic.”
Type the heading in the “Subject” line.
In the message box type, or copy and paste, your message.
Below the message box select “Browse”. A window will open to your computer. Find the file that you want to attach, double click on it. The file path and name should now appear in the box beside the Browse.
Select “Attach File”. You should now see the title of your document under the “Browse” box.
Select post to submit your message to the “Forum.”
Anytime a message is posted you must select “Update Listing” which is found beside “Compose Message” on the main “Forum” page.
A paper clip beside a message identifies that there is an attachment.

Caution: It is strongly recommended that all attached documents be checked for viruses prior to posting or before opening after being downloaded. Preferred anti-virus software is either Norton or McAfee. The software should be updated monthly.

To Open an Attachment:

Select the message, with the attachment, that you want to read or select the paper clip.
If the message was selected now select the paper clip.
Click on the radial button so that a dot appears inside of it and then select “Download.”
When the window opens it is suggested that “Save this file to a disk,” or “Save,” is used.
The term disk also means your desktop, hard drive or a floppy disk, whatever is your preference.
A virus check should be performed on all documents that are downloaded prior to opening them.
Notes: Familiarity with file extensions is needed so that the correct software to is used to open the document.
Example: .doc, .rtf are MS Word Documents, .xlc are Excel documents.
With the exception of the main “Forum” page minimize or close each of the windows that have been opened.
On your computer find the document and scan it with your virus protection software to ensure that it does not contain any viruses.
After this step has been completed double click on the document to open it.

Caution: It is strongly recommended that all attached documents be checked for viruses prior to posting or before opening after being downloaded. Preferred anti-virus software is either Norton or McAfee. The software should be updated monthly.

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