As of July 31st 2009 WebCT was no longer be available at Brock University. Learn more about Isaak, Brock University's Sakai-Based LMS here. This wiki is available for others using WebCT Vista & CE versions 6 through 8 but is not maintained by Brock University.

Working With Documents

From WebCT Wiki

<Rating> Was this article useful? 1 Inaccurate 2 Not very useful 3 Satisfactory 4 Insightful 5 Excellent resource </Rating> WebCT will receive and distribute any file format. Issues do arise when students and instructors attempt to access files for which they do not have an installed program to open. Additionally, Microsoft file formats (Word Documents, PowerPoint files, etc) are initially blocked by newer version of Internet Explorer to protect users from potential virus. What follows are some best practices for creating files and viewing them and some tools to help work with less-than-ideal files.

If you would like to know how to allow blocked content please read the article Allowing_Blocked_Downloads.

Contents

[edit] Best Practices

It is on the whole easier to add files to WebCT in a format that all can read without installing additional software, thus if the author of a document can create/convert the file into PDF or RTF reading the file is simplified for others. Plain text files (TXT) and HTML files are also accessible by all, but do not preserve the same level of formatting.

[edit] Finalized Documents - PDF

Whenever possible documents that do not need to be edited by the recipient should be in PDF format. Anyone can create a PDF document for free. Mac users have a PDF menu available whenever they print and Windows users can download a free PDF creater from http://ctlet.brocku.ca/pdf . You can learn more about PDF documents and Making_PDF_documents in this article.

[edit] Documents to be edited - RTF

If the document needs to be edited by the recipient RTF is our recommended format. RTF allows for some formatting, but will not reproduce itself on others computers as well as PDF. RTF's major benefit is that all computers come with a program that can work with RTF files.

[edit] Can't open DOCX

If you have a copy of Office 2007 and you've been told that nobody can open the files you are creating try opening the file again and choose "Save As" from the office logo at the top right and save the file again but change the format option to office 97/2002/XP.

If you have received a DOCX and need to open, please review the free options below.

[edit] Free Windows Software for Working With the Files

[edit] Work With Most Files - DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX, HTML, ODT, PDF, TXT, RTF, WPD**

  • OpenOffice.org - http://OpenOffice.org - Though not as refined as word, this feature-packed software can open most files. This free download is almost 100MB. Having a copy of OpenOffice.org on your computer should ensure that you can open most files. OpenOffice.org is also the best (and perhaps only) free option for MS Word XML/DOCX, Word Perfect WPD files and OpenDocument formated files.

Note ** Reading .WPD files including more than only text isn't possible. Graphics e.g. are not imported. .WPG files are not supported.

[edit] PDF

[edit] OpenDocument ODT

[edit] RTF

  • WordPad - This is free software that comes with every copy of Windows in the Accessories section of the Start menu.

[edit] MS Word DOC

  • WordPad - This is free software that comes with every copy of Windows in the Accessories section of the Start menu. DOC is the default MS Word format for MS Word XP and earlier.

[edit] MS Power Point PPT PPS

[edit] MS OFFICE 2007, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX

  • Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 2007 File Formats

default MS Word format for MS Word XP and earlier. This free compatibility upgrade will allow owners of older version of MS Office to open newer files -- http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466

[edit] Free Mac Software for Working With the Files

[edit] Work With Most Files - DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX, HTML, ODT, PDF, TXT, RTF, WPD

  • NeoOffice - http://neooffice.org - Though not as refined as word, this large download can open and create most files. NeoOffice is also the best (and perhaps only) free option for MS Word XML/DOCX MS PowerPoint PPT/PPS, Word Perfect WPD files and OpenDocument formated files.

[edit] PDF

[edit] RTF

  • TextEdit - This is free software that comes with every copy of OSX in the Applications folder.

[edit] MS Word DOC

  • TextEdit - This is free software that comes with every copy of OSX in the Applications folder. DOC is the default MS Word format for MS Word XP and earlier.

[edit] Free Linux/UNIX/BSD Software for Working With the Files

[edit] Work With Most Files - DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, PPTX, HTML, ODT, PDF, TXT, RTF, WPD**

  • OpenOffice.org - http://OpenOffice.org - Though not as refined as word, this feature-packed software can open most files. This free download is almost 100MB but comes with most distributions. Having a copy of OpenOffice.org on your computer should ensure that you can open most files. OpenOffice.org is also the best (and perhaps only) free option for MS Word XML/DOCX, Word Perfect WPD files and OpenDocument formated files.

Note ** Reading .WPD files including more than only text isn't possible. Graphics e.g. are not imported. .WPG files are not suported.


[edit] Web Based File Conversion

[edit] Apple Pages

  • Apple Pages users: Please note that while pages makes some nicely laid-out files they apparently cannot be E-Mail/Added to WebCT in their native format. You will have to either export them as PDF or MS Word format or archive them before you send them.
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