Tutorial - Subject 01

Accessing the Member Directory and Newsletters

Print out this page[1], (See notes at end), and use it as a reference to guide you through the steps that you will perform on the screen to access these two items.

Step 1: Go to the ARCOA Website by loading your browser and clicking on http://arcoa.org[2]. Click on the 'Communications Center' tab as outlined here in red. If you are not already logged into the Communications Center, then you will be asked for your username and password. All members as of 7/15/2011 have been pre-registered, but may not yet have gotten a password. Contact admin@arcoa.org?Subject=username/password for username and/or password. Enter your first and last names. Your username will be assigned and will use a shortened version of these two. You can enter any string of letters and/or numbers for password. It should be at least 8 characters long. Passwords and distinct usernames are the key to keeping your and other members personal information restricted from view to non-members, so design a password that YOU can remember, but that no one else would be able to guess.

The image shown next is the only thing that is presented to non-members. Members see this image until they login with their username and password.
You may enter your username and password in the fields below the Welcome sign or you may click on 'login' at the upper right of the image. In either case, if you click on the 'Log me on automatically each visit, you won't have to re-enter your username and password on subsequent visits.

The image below is what you see if you click on 'login' at the upper right of the image.

The next image shows the Index page for the Communications. Here are shown the three Forums open to registered and logged in members. 'Members Lists[3] & Newsletters' is the one that this guide is working towards. 'Introduction' is a Forum for providing additional information about the Communications Center. This and 'Discussion Topics' will be explained in another guide.

You click on 'Members Lists & Newsletters' as shown in this image circled in red.

Image #4 is the index page for the 'Members Lists & Newsletters' procedures. We will first click on 'Accessing Members Lists'

Accessing Members Lists

This next image shows a 'Post[4] which includes all of the information needed to access the newsletters.
Note that there are two methods. The first method was the original method. However, it had some drawbacks. Notably, it required an additional fixed username and password, because the objects themselves are stored outside of the Communications Center and do not share the protective capabilities that the CC has. It is slightly less secure, (although not to any significant degree). For these reasons, it is less preferred. If it turns out that everyone can use method 2 which does include CC protection, then we will eliminate the first method. Some people have had some difficulty in using Method 2 and we will not remove Method 1 until we are sure that everyone can do Method 2.

We will first show Method 1. Click on the link http://arcoa.org/MemberLists/index.html as shown in the image below.
Note that the actual Username and Passwords are 'xxx'ed out. This is because this guide itself is accessible through search engines, and thus can be seen by anyone on the internet. Before you click on this link, you will see the actual Username and Password to use.

Having clicked on the link shown on the screen, this Dialog Box will appear and here is where you enter the actual Username and Password. Note that the password will not show in the clear, so you must be very careful that you type it correctly. If these are entered incorrectly, it will continue to ask until you enter it correctly, or press the 'Cancel' button. If you Cancel, then you will get an error message about 'Invalid Authorization'. click on the left-pointing arrow (Back Arrow) at the top of the page to exit from here.

Only the correct Username and Password will get you to the following screen.Note that the image here only shows the top part and doesn't show any actual members' names. On the screen, you will see them all and can switch from alphabetical by first name to alphabetical by last name by clicking on the tabs. (The Green one shows the active list.) Use the Back-arrow, (the left pointing one at the top of the page, (not shown here) to return to the CC. You may have to click on it several times if you have used the tabs to switch lists since by definition the Back-arrow returns you to the last screen you were on.

Referring back to <image 05> This screen shows the result of using Method 2. To have gotten here, you would have clicked on the line in the attachment labeled as MemberLists.pdf. Now click on 'OK' in the Dialog Box to view the Member Lists. It should say 'Adobe Reader'[5] in the 'Open with' field. You can save the lists on your computer by checking the 'Save File' option.

This method does not require username and password, but is presented in a different way. Note that the Tabs are shown differently, but work the same way, and that there are Adobe commands[4] along the top of the page and there is no Back-arrow. To exit from this, click on the [x] at the top right of the page.

Accessing Newsletters

To access Newsletters, using Method 1, referring to <image 04>, you would click on the bottom Topic, 'Accessing Newsletters'. If you are still in the CC, use the Back-Arrow from the post to return to that point.
Accessing the Newsletters follows the exact procedures except that the link, usernames, passwords and filename in the attachment are different.

Having clicked on the link, you will see that there is an intermediate step between the post and actual newsletter. This is an index screen. Currently,there is only the single issue available, so there is only a single entry. Click on it and you will see the Newsletter presentation.

Instead of showing as a complete single issue, this method uses a Photo Gallery to show each individual page.
The small images are not very good as they are reduced pages with mostly text, so it is hard to distinguish one from the other except when there are pictures. However, you will probably want to go through all of the pages, so click on the first one and use the Next and Previous links on each page to go forwards or backwards through each page.
Each page has a 'Index' link which returns you to the main index. Click on the Back-Arrow to return to the Newsletter index and do the same there to return to the CC.

If you had chosen Method 2 instead to see the newsletters, then you would next see the Dialog Box below. It should read 'June2011.pdf' and 'Open with Adobe Reader'. Click on 'OK' to view. Check 'Save File' and click on 'OK' to save a copy on your computer. When more issues become available, the number of the issue as shown in the attachments in <image 06> would be replaced by a link to a menu selection page listing the available choices as was done in Method 1. This Dialog Box would then have come after the selected issue was chosen on the menu page.

Method does not require username and password, but is presented in a different way. Note that there are Adobe commands[4] along the top of the page and there is no Back-arrow. To exit from this, click on the [x] at the top right of the page.

Depending on the settings of your FireFox browser, this screen below can appear prior to the actual display of any of the selected PDF files used in Method 2. If you don't see it, don't worry. It's just for information and not seeing it doesn't affect the display.

Congratulations, You have made it![6] Thank you for your patience.

Notes

If you are printing in black and white, underline or otherwise mark on the printout all of the references mentioned in [2] below so that you can tell what you need to copy to access the links or email addresses.
All links and/or email addresses are shown in blue, (except in these notes where they are black), and can be cut and pasted or typed into your browser to access the referenced item.
The phrase 'Members Lists' is used throughout the Communications Center as a synonym for Member Directory. It emphasizes that there are two different lists, one sorted by last name and one by first. Other informational lists may also be added at a later date
Post means a Message posted by members or Administrators. Posts and reply to posts are what make the CC able to provide information and instruction as well as to carry on conversations. (In the 'Discussion Topics')
Adobe commands will be covered in another guide. If you don't have Adobe Reader, you can download it for free from http://get.adobe.com/reader
If at any point in the sequence, you do not see what is expected, then copy the program below to your computer, save it on your desktop or your 'My Downloads'. Execute it and it will show a hand in the box list at the bottom right. With the incorrect result showing on your screen, click on the 'Prnt Scrn' (Print Screen) key on your keyboard. Click on 'File-->Save the picture' and save it. Send an email to admin@arcoa.org with subject 'Wrong Result' and attach the saved picture. This program is located at http://arcoa.org/Files/Printkey.exe