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Announcements

Acrobat Reader 2.0 available on campus

Acrobat Reader, the document viewer introduced to campus last fall, has been updated. The Reader allows you to view and print documents in Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF) with their original fonts and graphics intact. PDF is a "cross-platform" standard, which means PDF files can be created on one platform, such as Windows, and read on another, such as Macintosh. Mosaic and other World-Wide Web browsers can be configured to launch the Reader automatically when you select a PDF file on the Internet.

A variety of documents in PDF format are already available on campus (try the URLS below), and Almanac expects to test a PDF version later this spring.

http://www.upenn.edu/pennprintout
http://www.upenn.edu/passport/Passport.html
ftp://ftp.upenn.edu/doc/internet_tipsheets
http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/compinfo.html 
http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/ 

You can download the Macintosh and Windows versions of Acrobat Reader 2.0, together with installation and Mosaic configuration instructions, from the mac and pc directories on the server ftp.upenn.edu, or you can request a disk copy from the Computing Resource Center on Locust Walk. To obtain the disk copy, you must provide one unformatted high-density disk. Additional information about Acrobat, as well as versions for DOS and Solaris, can be found on the vendor's server (http://www.adobe.com).

Computer Connection's online newsletter debut

Connections, the Computer Connection's new monthly electronic newsletter is now available in PennInfo (keyword "connection"). The January debut issue announced that customers could send e-mail to CCX@a1.benhur for answers about pricing and product availability. Also announced was an updated version of the software list that they maintain on PennInfo. If you are looking online for the latest pricing information, you'll be pleased to find that the information in PennInfo is being kept rather current.

Internet software tip sheets

If you have an office or dorm Ethernet connection or are accessing the network from home using a high-speed modem and PPP or SLIP software, check out the newly released Internet tip sheet collections for Macintosh and Windows.

The Macintosh collection covers Mosaic (WWW browser), Fetch (FTP file transfer), NewsWatcher (news reader), NCSA Telnet, downloading Library records using MicroPhone, and Whois (e-mail address directory).

The Windows collection covers Mosaic (WWW browser), WS-FTP (FTP file transfer), Trumpet (news reader), Host Presenter (telnet access), downloading Library records using Kermit, and Whois (e-mail address directory).

Printed copies are available at the CRC, and electronic versions are on the server ftp.upenn.edu. The electronic versions are in PDF format, and require Acrobat Reader software (see Acrobat announcement). The URL for the tip sheets is ftp://ftp.upenn.edu/doc/internet_tipsheets.

Wiring your home

Data Communications and Computing Services (DCCS) advice for home builders and renovators adding data cabling to enable future networking capabilities is as follows:

• Assume you'll want some device - phone, computer, television/VCR - in every room.
• Install plenty of electrical outlets.
• Install jacks (or wall plates) for voice/data/video wherever devices might be used.
• Connect all jacks to a master wiring closet (presumably in the basement), using a "home run" scheme in which each jack has a unique cable connecting it to the closet.
• For data and voice communication, use category 5 unshielded twisted pair (UTP) copper wire (keep under 90M length); DCCS foresees no need for fiber to desktops any time soon.
• For cable TV, run thin coax cable.
• Run a pull string to each location, so you can add wiring easily in the future.
• Look for a wiring contractor familiar with EIA/TIA 568 (our preferred industry standard for wiring).

For details on DCCS's campus wiring standard, see the "wire pulls" section of the 1994 ResNet Request for Quotations, http://nextb.dccs.upenn.edu/resnet/chapter-3.html

University policy on unauthorized copying of copyrighted software

The University of Pennsylvania does not condone or tolerate the unauthorized copying of licensed computer software by staff, faculty, or students. The University shall adhere to its contractual responsibilities and shall comply with all copyright laws, and expects all members of the University community to do so as well. Members of the University community who violate this policy may be subject to discipline through standard University procedures. An individual or University department engaged in the unauthorized copying or use of software may also face civil suit, criminal charges, and/or penalties and fines. Subject to the facts and circumstances of each case, such individuals or departments shall be solely responsible for their defense and any resulting liability.

The above policy, adopted in August 1992, is republished as a reminder to the University community. If you have questions about this policy, please contact Dave Millar, University Information Security Officer, at 898-2172.