Last updated on August 8, 2000
Department of History
Tennessee Technological University
Box 5064
Cookeville, TN 38505
(931) 372-3332
For comments or suggestions, contact preagan@tntech.edu
[Note: this tour assumes the user is logged on to the computer at
Tennessee Technological University. For visitors, you may want
to keep certain things in mind that may be different for your
system. First, each system's initial prompt has a different
symbol, so when you read "at the $ prompt..." you should
substitute "at the initial system prompt..." (whatever that is
for your system). Second, the WWW files section refers to
material that can be accessed by pointing your browser to
http://www.tntech.edu/history/
Check with your system help people to find out how to use your
local browser before using the section below on the World Wide
Web]
click on Gemini icon and log in using your username and password
at $ prompt, type MAIL
at MAIL> type MAIL
to mail message off campus, at To: type IN%"full Internet address"
full Internet address is abc3456@tntech.edu
to mail message on campus, at To: type abc3456
at Subject: type brief description of what post is about
at blank screen type your message
when done with message, type:
your name
your Internet address [abc3456@tntech.edu]
When using EVE text editor:
to save/send message and exit, hit PF4 (- key to upper right on IBM-compatible pc's, * key to upper right on Macintoshes), then type EXIT
to exit without saving/sending message, hit PF4 key, then type QUIT
to receive e-mail give your Internet address only to those you want to hear from
full Internet address [abc3456@tntech.edu] for those off campus short Internet address [abc3456] for those on campus
at MAIL prompt; type DIR to see list of messages
at MAIL promptt; type READ # of message you want to read
to delete after reading, press D key
to save, type EXTRACT [filename.ext]
to delete later, type DEL #a or #a-#z of message(s) you want to delete to fully erase deleted messages, type PURGE #a or #a-#z to delete
after reading a message, if you want to save it as a file, type EXTRACT filename.ext [whatever name you want file to have]
once you have read an e-mail message, if you want to reply, type REPLY which will bring up the text editor
write out your reply, sign with your name an full Internet address
When using EVE text editor:
to save/send reply and exit, hit PF4 (- key to upper right on IBM-compatible pc's, * key to upper right on Macintoshes), then type EXIT
to exit without sending reply, hit PF4 key, then type QUIT
you must use PURGE regularly to avoid exceeding your account limit
at MAIL> type PURGE
wait for "n message(s) deleted" notice to appear
without leaving MAIL> type COMPRESS
wait until scrolling messages finish and return you to MAIL>
leave MAIL by typing EXIT
at $ prompt, type DEL [.MAIL]MAIL.OLD; to save space
DO NOT TYPE DEL [.MAIL]MAIL.MAI; (You will not be able to use MAIL)
to forward on campus, at $ prompt type FORWARD [filename.ext], then at To: type abc3456 [address of person on campus to receive file]
to forward off campus, at MAIL> type MAIL [filename.ext], then fill in the To: and Subject: areas with full Internet address and subject
Computers hooked into the Internet system can use hypertext capabilities to manipulate electronic text, graphical images, and sounds. At present, Tennessee Tech connections can only take advantage of the text portion of the World Wide Web (WWW) through the LYNX application software when dialing in from dorms or off campus. To fully use the graphical image capabilities of the WWW, log on to your account in one of the on campus computer labs to use the Netscape navigator web browser.
The World Wide Web is another way of using the information available in computers and computer systems around the world in a format that is easy to use, learn, and manipulate. To start the system, at the opening Windows meny, click on the NETSCAPE icon (it looks like an old time ship's wheel with spokes) and give the system time to load. You will see the Tennessee Tech home page when the software is fully loaded.
To access the Tennessee Tech History web site from the TTU home page, click on the title Departments (under Academics and Research), then click on History (under College of Arts and Sciences). Be sure to read the material on History 201-202 under Studying and Teaching History. Over the course of the semester, take some time to check out different parts of the History site including the section on History as a Career which has links that will allow you to learn how to conduct job searches in any subject area on the Internet.
To access the Tennessee Tech History site from an off-campus
site, use the same method with a web browser such as Netscape or
Internet Explorer to point to
http://www.tntech.edu/history/
then use the Down/Up arrow key along with the Enter key or right
arrow key to select your desired entry. When the main screen
comes up, you will see text with one term or terms highlighted by
the cursor. Use the Up/Down cursors to move the highlighted
cursor around among the various terms. When you see a term that
looks useful, press the Enter key or the right arrow key to move
into that menu/directory. Play around with the menu system for a
few minutes until you are comfortable using it, then proceed with
your search. Be sure to read and note the instructions on the
bottom line for various options such as print, download, mail,
and quit. Should you finish a given menu and want to return to
the previous menu, press the left arrow key to go back or up one
menu/directory. To return to even earlier menu(s) keep pressing
the left arrow key until you reach the desired menu. You may find
material that you had not even started looking for that could help
you in one or more of your classes.
File Transfer Protocol is a way to move files from another computer at a remote location to your account.
Most common and useful is called Anonymous FTP
EXAMPLE ONE
Anonymous FTP from National Institute of Health computer
at $ prompt, type FTP FTP.CU.NIH.GOV
Login: type ANONYMOUS
Password: GUEST (usually your Internet address, VISITOR, or ENTER)
remember on most systems, CAPITAL, small, and Mixed case matter!
at command successful, type LS to see directories/files to transfer file to your computer account, type GET TITLE.INTRO this was a text transfer, but some files are binary for binary transfer, you must type BINARY first before transferring to change binary back to text, type ASC
once file is transferred, type EXIT to leave system
You have just transferred a file from WASHINGTON, D.C.!
To look at file, type EVE TITLE.INTRO
that starts EVE text editor and lets you read or edit the file to save file with changes, hit F4 key, then when asked type EXIT to leave file and abandon any changes, hit F4 key, then QUIT
Congratulations! You have transferred an FTP file from a computer in Washington, D.C. to your own TTU account in Cookeville, Tennessee.
TELNET is a way of logging on to remote computers and using their public files. You should remember that most computer systems do not allow anyone without an authorized account onto their system. But there are some systems that allow limited access to public areas. Let's look at an example.
Telnet to HNSource system at University of Kansas
at $ prompt, type TELNET UKANAIX.CC.UKANS.EDU
login: type history OR ex-ussr (for this particular system)
You have made a hypertext connection to HNSource
highlight INDEX OF RESOURCES and press ENTER key
highlight FULL INDEX OF RESOURCES and press ENTER key type / then type Tennessee Tech, then press ENTER key press SHIFT key and A to save as a Bookmark for future use highlight About the History Faculty, then press ENTER key
note information about TTU History faculty names, degrees, areas of specialty, and Internet address for future reference
to leave system, keep pressing left arrow key until back at HNSource press Q [Quit] key, then answer Y [Yes] to get back to $ prompt
It sure would be nice to get to that TTU History Information more easily, no? Well you can through the World Wide Web system!
As you become more experienced on the Internet while "surfing the Net," you may come across items that would be of interest or use to other History students and faculty. Rather than just setting your own personal bookmark, why not help to improve the system for everyone? Send Dr. Reagan an e-mail message at preagan@tntech.edu about the site you have discovered which includes the full address of the site as listed in the address line at the top of your web browser.
If you are using the WWW site, just click on the section which reads, Comments or Suggestions, then enter your message and follow the instructions to send it.
Each time you come across an item of potential interest that might be added to the system, hit the = key, then save, download, or print the information shown. What you see is the URL (the Universal Resource Locator). Send that information to Dr. Patrick Reagan (preagan@tntech.edu) via e-mail or regular (snail) mail. He can then determine how to add the item to the Gopher system.
Now that you have finished your tour of the Internet, you might wish to print, save, or download a copy of this document for your own use. Above all, remember that the computers work for us, not we for them. Relax, take the time to experiment with the various features of the system, learn what you need or want to know one step at a time, and gradually you will become very familiar with an excellent resource for learning, research, and fun.
Last updated on August 8, 2000
Department of History
Go to TTU History Home Page