Q: Can I use Bridge pages to edit another website?
A: Yes and no. You can direct a page from another site to a Bridge page and edit it as expected. Or you can map a domain to a Bridge site (if appropriate), for example www.pandapaspond.org maps to a Bridge site.
Q: I tried to open the Full Editor, and I got an error message that certain Java files could not be found. I have Java WebStart loaded, and it worked before. What could be wrong?
A: This could be the result of several issues:
Sometimes some temporary Internet files or cookies can cause problems with Java WebStart loading. Try going to Tools>Internet Options>Temporary Internet Files>Delete Files (and/or Delete Cookies). Then restart the browser and try again.
Sometimes the application (Java WebStart) fails to get properly associated with the .jnlp extention, so when you click on "Full Editor" to load WebStart, your computer does not know which application to try to open. Instructions for checking and correcting the file extension association for Java WebStart are located here
If your computer is behind a network or personal firewall, then WebStart might not be able to connect to the server. Instructions on connecting through a firewall are located here
Q: What happens if I forget my password?
A: Go here. Enter your user id and a new password will be emailed to you. If you encounter any problems, contact isenhour@vt.edu.
Q: How do I log out of TeacherBridge?
A: If you are in the Full Editor, simply close all of the Full Editor windows (Exploring, User, and any other objects). To close Explorer, you can choose File>Quit from the menu.
For the Web Editor, simply close all of the browser windows. This will close any login sessions. There is also a link in the lower right to logout or login from using Web browser. This is convenient when using discussion or other tools requireing login where other users follow on the same computer.
Q: How do I get started editing or creating my web pages?
A: There are multiple ways to edit and create web pages and online tools depending on your needs:
In the bottom right corner of Teacher Bridge web pages are two links:
The "Web Editor" is for basic editing with any standard Web Browser and for use with slow computers and connections.
The "Full Editor" requires installation of Java WebStart. The "Full Editor" provides a wider range of functions, but it also requires more processing and network access.
Q: How do I chat with someone else who is online?
A: Using the chat tools in the "Full Editor" or the "Web Editor."
In the "Full Editor," you are provided window with a list of "Users." In the "Users" window, double click on the name of the user you wish to chat with.
In the "Web Editor", you must link to a chat object that has been added. Each chat object has a corresponding URL and can be accessed using a Web browser or "live" with the Full Editor, or both. Changes made in both cases are integrated. The Web browser view of the chat objects will "refresh" every few seconds, so the messages do not get displayed as quickly as in the Full Editor.
Q: How do view the changes I made to a Web page?
A: Open the page in a Web Browser.
In the "Full Editor", you can double click on the blue URL in the bottom left corner of the editing window for a page or choose "File>Open in web browser" from the object file menu.
In the "Web Editor", the page will load when you click "Save". Once a page is created, edited, then saved, it can be linked (or a page can be created as a link by placing stars around a new page name). Note that all objects (such as web pages) in a site or folder are listed and can be accessed using the "Site contents" link in the lower left of a page in that folder or site. If the page is in a sub-folder, then you can navigate to that folder by clicking on the appropriate "directory" in the Site contents listing.
Q: What kinds of computers can TeacherBridge be used on?
A: The Web Editor can be used from most any web browser on any computer connected to the Internet. The Full Editor requires Java WebStart.
Q:What is Java WebStart, why do I need it, and where can I get it?
A: Java WebStart is an application that helps run Internet programs. Click here to find out if you need to install it and how to do it.
Q: How can I access TeacherBridge from behind a firewall?
A: Click here to learn more about network and personal firewalls and Java WebStart.
Q: What do I do if I cannot remember my password?
A: You can reset your password at http://teacherbridge.cs.vt.edu/reset-password. That will email you a new auto-generated password, and then you can change your password to something easy to remember.
Q: How can a colleague get an account on the system?
A: Email Dan to get an account and space, or you can set up a "guest account" object in one of your own folders for colleagues to share and use (see glossar).
Q: How can I set up accounts for my students?
A: There is an object called "Accounts Object" in the "Advanced" category where you add objects. In the Full Editor, you choose "File>Add To...>Advanced>Accounts Object" where there are some basic instructions listed. Please ask if you have problems or questions. You can add an accounts object in the Web editor, but you cannot configure it for use using your web browser.
A: An object is generally a piece of software or tool. In the Bridge system, it is a special sort of Internet tool used in the collaborative system. An object can contain other objects, and objects share certain properties. An object can be thought of as a kind of specialized container that can be moved around, copied, and configured with permissions, name, URL address, and etc.
Q: What kinds of objects are available?
A: Web Pages, Drawings, Chats, Data Tables, Discussion Forums, Web Counters, Calendars, Math Formulas, Function Graphs, Object Albums, Random Object Displays, Collaborative Workspaces, Cyber Discussions (MOO), Collaborative Local Maps, Guest Accounts Objects, Presentation Tools, Navigable Object Sets, and some experimental objects under development.
Q: How can I add an object?
A: There are several ways to add and edit objects depending on your needs.
Web Editor:
Using Site contents, go to the folder / site where you want the object, then click on "Site contents" link in the lower left of the page. At the bottom of the Site contents page, there is a pull-down menu with a list of objects, a form to name the object, and a button to "add" once the object is chosen and named.
Using Web Editor to add a new web page, you can simply go to the page from which you want to link the new page, click on "Web Editor" (lower right), then type the name you wish for the new page between starts (see notes in lower portion of Web Editor page), then click "Save". This will create a button that you can click to finish adding the page.
In the Full Editor, you choose "Edit>Temporary Admin Tools>New" and a pop-menu with a list of all the objects available will pop up. When you choose one of the objects, that object will be added to your Folder Contents.
Q:Where should I add objects or pages?
A: Objects can only be added to folders where you have "write" permissions. Make sure you have your user folder or project folder open before attempting to add an object. Objects are added to whatever folder is open.
Q:How can I see old versions of an object?
A: The "History" of an object can be accessed AND copied from several places:
Web: From the page in question, or from the "Site contents" of the folder where the object resides, click on the "History" link. This will display a list of saved versions of the page or object.
Full Editor: Open the object in question ("File>Open in Editor" or double-click in Folder Contents of the Exploring Window). Once the Editor window is open, choose "File>Version History" and you will be able to choose what version of the object to view.
Q: How do I limit who can see or modify objects I create?
A: In the Full Editor, first click on the object in question to highlight it then choose "File>Edit Permissions". You can set three levels of permission: Read, Write, and Permissions Change. For each level, you can set the permission to be one of the following:
Same as container: Uses same permissions set for folder where it resides.
Only by myself: Private only to you.
Only by myself and: A list of specific users plus yourself.
Anybody except guests: Any user with an account.
Anybody: Use with caution. Setting write permission to "Anybody" means that anyone with a web browser on the Internet can edit that object or page! This can be dangerous. Trust me.
Q: How do edit a web page?
A: Like other objects, there are multiple ways to access a web page for editing.
Web:
From any Bridge web page: click on "Web Editor", edit in the form provided, then click the "save" button. If you are viewing in another browser, you might need to refresh the browser to see the changes you made.
Using Site contents: navigate to the folder / site where the page or object resides. When you click on the Site contents link (lower left of a Bridge page), the page will display a list of objects/pages in that folder. Adjacent to the name, there will be several links. The "Web Editor" link will open that page for editing in your Web browser. Note that you can also delete, rename, or open the Full Editor from Site contents list as well as upload and add objects (at bottom).
Full Editor: There is a link in the bottom right of your web browser to open the Full Editor (Java WebStart interface for Bridge) from any page the YOU have permission to edit. When you launch the Full Editor from a page, it will open in an editable window for that page. All changes are automatically saved in the Full Editor.
Q: How do I format things like backround and text color of pages in a Bridge site?
A: There are several ways to apply standard formatting to individual pages or an entire folder.
Sites (folders) have the option of adding a "Web Site Template" object that provides a wide variety of formatting options that will apply to all pages in that folder. This includes ways to set background images or color, default text font, color, sidebars, header, footer, and more.
In the absence of a Web Site Template, you can use standart HTML tags to format background color, picture, and text color. Style sheeds (.css) are becoming popular these days and should work as expected in Bridge sites. I've used them without problems.
Q: How can I count how many times a web page is accessed?
A: You can add a "Web Counter" object to the page. You should probably rename the object once added to the folder, then open the Web Counter object in the Full Editor. The first time you open the object, it will ask whether you want it to count all hits OR just those from users that are logged in to the system (authenticated). Once open, you can set options.
Q: How do I edit a calendar?
A: Like other objcts, there are multiple ways to access a calendar for editing.
Web:
Once a calendar is created (like any other object), navigate to the calendar, then click the "Web Editor" link.
Using Site contents: navigate to the folder / site where the calendar object resides. When you click on the Site contents link (lower left of a Bridge page), the page will display a list of objects/pages in that folder. Adjacent to the name, there will be several links. The "Web Editor" link will open that object (calendar) for editing in your Web browser. Note that you can also delete, rename, or open the Full Editor from Site contents list as well as upload and add objects (at bottom).
To Edit an existing event, use the pull-down menu at the top of the page to choose the event day, the click "Edit events on this date" button.
To add a new event, use the form and menus on the web editor page of the calendar.
Full Editor:
There is a link in the bottom right of your web browser to open the Full Editor (Java WebStart interface for Bridge) from any page the YOU have permission to edit. When you launch the Full Editor from a page, it will open in an editable window for that page. All changes are automatically saved in the Full Editor.
To add a calendar event in the Full Editor, first open the calendar, then go to the appropriate week or month (tab), then click on the appropriate day, then type the text in the correct time slot or click "new" for a dialog to add an event. Note that standard Bridge tags (like links) work in calendar events too! This is handy for directing users to a particular link at a particular time and date.
Q: How do I format the web view of a calendar (to make it show up as a list, small grid, or large of grid when I embed it in a web page)?
A: In the Full Editor, open the calendar object in question. Choose "Calendar>Set web options", then choose the desired option for embedding and formatting events. You might need to try different options to find one best suited for your needs. Note that you can "embed" a calendar using backslashes around the name of the calendar object, OR you can link directly to the calendar object, or both. These provide different views but the same basic functionality.
Q: How do I use a data table?
A: Like other objects, there are multiple ways to create and edit a data table.
Web:
You can add a data table using "Site contents" just like a web page or other objects. Click on the "Site contents" link on a page in the folder where you want to add the object (or navigate to the folder). At the bottom of the Site contents page, there is a pull-down menu with a list of objects, a form to name the object, and a button to "add" once the object (e.g. data table) is chosen and named.
Like other objects, once the data table is added it can be edited using Site contents: navigate to the folder / site where the object (data table) resides. When you click on the Site contents link (lower left of a Bridge page), the browser will display a list of objects/pages in that folder. Adjacent to the name, there will be several links. The "Web Editor" link will open that object for editing in your Web browser. Note that you can also delete, rename, or open the Full Editor from Site contents list as well as upload and add objects (at bottom).
Full Editor: There is a link in the bottom right of your web browser to open the Full Editor (Java WebStart interface for Bridge) from any page the YOU have permission to edit. When you launch the Full Editor from a page, it will open in an editable window for that object (data table). All changes are automatically saved in the Full Editor.
Q: How can I move data between Excel and a data table?
A: When the data table object is opened in the Full Editor, it will allow you to copy and paste from an excel file into the table (this should work for any tab-delineated text or data).
Q: How can I retrieve the contents of a data table as a text file?
A: When you open the data table in a web browser, it will be rendered as a text file in a table. In addition, like other Bridge objects, if you duplicate and/or rename a Bridge object (web page, data table, etc.) and add one of the standard extensions (such at .txt, .jpg), Bridge will render the content accordingly. This can be very handy when you want, for example, the text of a page to be embedded in a drawing, or when you want the content to rendered as an image for other reasons.
Q: How can I chat with more than one person at a time?
A: Like other Bridge objects, when you create a chat object, the object can be accessed by multiple users as long as the users have permission to "write" to the object. You cannot write to an object that you do not have "read" permission also. Chats opened from the Users Window are slightly different. These are personal or private chats between the two users and only the two users. They can be retrieved in the user's folder in a subfolder named "conferences."
Q: Why do I see old conversations in the chat transcript when I start a chat?
A: Chat dialog remains viewable in the chat object until it is "cleared." Chats can be cleared from the full editor by opening the object, choosing "Chat>Clear chat" from the menu or by right-clicking (or ctrl-click) then choosing "Chat>Clear chat" from the menu . Once cleared, the chat dialog can be retrieved just like version histories with other objects, by opening the object and choosing File>Version history" or by clicking the "history" link associated with the Chat object in a web browser.
Q: How do I clear the chat transcript?
Chats can be cleared from the full editor by opening the object, choosing "Chat>Clear chat" from the menu or by right-clicking (or ctrl-click) then choosing "Chat>Clear chat" from the menu . Once cleared, the chat dialog can be retrieved just like version histories with other objects, by opening the object and choosing File>Version history" or by clicking the "history" link associated with the Chat object in a web browser.
Q: How can I see old transcripts after I've cleared a chat?
A: Once cleared, the chat dialog can be retrieved just like version histories with other objects, by opening the object and choosing File>Version history" or by clicking the "history" link associated with the Chat object in a web browser. Chats can be cleared from the full editor by opening the object, choosing "Chat>Clear chat" from the menu or by right-clicking (or ctrl-click) then choosing "Chat>Clear chat" from the menu .
Q: Can I find conversations that I've had with people without chatting with them?
A: Chats opened with the Users Window are personal or private chats between the two users and only the two users. They can be retrieved in the user's folder in a subfolder named "conferences." Chat occuring in objects added by users can be retrieved just like version histories with other objects, by opening the object and choosing File>Version history" or by clicking the "history" link associated with the Chat object in a web browser. Chat dialog remains viewable in the chat object until it is "cleared."
Q: How can I change how a chat looks on the web?
A: Open the chat object in question in the Full Editor and choose "Chat>Chat configuration." There are several options to set the number of messages displayed and to hide the configuration options from "guests" (students).
Discussions Q: How do I clear old messages from a discussion?
A:
Q: The web browser seems to stay logged in as a particular user after posting to a discussion, which is problematic on a shared machine. How can I prevent this?
A: More FAQs to come...Please send us your own FAQs !!!