ITEC 120 LAB 1 Back to Lab index page

Lab must be completed and reviewed by Peer Instructor on Tuesday, Aug 26 during lab class and no later than the first 10 minutes of lab class on Thurs, Aug 28.

Description

In this first lab you'll learn to log on using your RU userid and password, map a virtual drive to your userid and create and save a file using the PFE editor.

Task 1 - Starting machines in the Unix lab in Windows mode.

The machines in the Unix lab (DAVIS Hall - 225) may be running the Linux Operating System (Unix-like). To run in Windows mode the machines have to be rebooted. Please do not reboot the machines by turning the power off and back on. Please log on to the machine in Linux mode (using your regular e-mail username and password), and type reboot at the command prompt. Or, hit Ctrl Alt Del. You will then be able to choose which operating system you would like.

Task 2 - Log On.

Log on to a machine in the lab by entering your RU userid and password at the provided login window. If you have problems with your userid or password, let us know -- Bruce Deel (Systems Administrator) will be available to help.

If your RU password is still your six digit student ID you need to change this. You can change your password by logging into the RU portal at https://www.portal.radford.edu/ and clicking on the "change your password" link on the left side of the screen.

Task 3 - Mapping a virtual disk drive

Check to see if your have a drive mapped to H: (your home direactory). Everyone's H: drive should automatically be mapped.

If not, it is possible to map it yourself:.
-- Double Click on the My Computer Icon
-- Select the Tools/Map Network Drive Option under the Menu
-- In the Window for Drive: Enter H:
-- for Folder: Enter "\\home\userid" (enter your RU userid)
-- click on Finish -- your network drive should now be mapped to your account

Create a folder on your network drive named "ITEC120" (this is where you should store all your work for this class)

Task 4 - Using the editor to create and save a file.

Start the Programmer's File Editor (PFE)
-- from the START menu select Programs
-- select Radford University Course Software
-- select CIST
-- select PFE
-- PFE32

Now the PFE editor should be open on the desk top. From the file menu select NEW to create a new file.

Type a couple of paragraphs about yourself using the editor. Notice how the PFE is different from a word processor. (How?)
Save the file to your newly created ITEC120 folder, using the File SAVE menu selection, make sure to specify the correct folder on your H: drive before typing in the name for your file of lab1.txt.

Whenever you open the PFE editor first, using the start menu, the default SAVE directory will be on the hard drive of the machine (in Docs). This sometimes causes students to save different versions of their programs in different places (on their H: drive, and on the C: drive). To prevent yourself from saving stuff on the C: drive, open the PFE by double clicking an already created file in your ITEC120 folder on your H: drive. (Do that now.) Now, when you save your file, it will automatically save to the place where you opened it from, your ITEC120 folder on your H: drive.

Windows File Extensions Headache

By default Windows will hide file extensions for known file types.  As a result a file that looks like it has the name lab1 may really be named lab1.txt
As a result students often hand-in files with names such as:
lab1.txt.txt
lab1.txt.doc

When what the instructor requested was lab1.txt
 
To be sure you are viewing all file extensions:
-- double click on the MY COMPUTER icon
-- choose TOOLS --> FOLDER OPTIONS from the pull down menu
-- select the VIEW TAB
-- UNcheck the box that says "hide file extensions for know file types"

Completion Requirements

Once you've completed the lab, you should show the Peer Instructor lab1.txt, (this name exactly - file names are case sensitive) in your ITEC120 folder on your H: drive. Double click the file to open it in the PFE.