Tag Archives: software

Adobe Creative Cloud 2018 Now Available

We are pleased to let you know that the Adobe Creative Cloud 2018 suite is now available for installation on eligible computers.

Current Adobe users will need to remove older application versions from their college computers first, then install the new 2018 versions to maintain compatibility with our labs and other colleagues.  To simplify this upgrade process, self service options are available for both Mac and Windows college-owned machines.

Here are the upgrade steps for college-owned computers:

Windows:

  1. Review details about how to use the self service website.
  2. Login at http://go.middlebury.edu/kss, then click the blue Want Software? button.
  3. Click the link for Install CCUninstaller to remove all older Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
  4. Confirm that Device to install software on shows your computer’s Midd sticker #, then click the Install button.
  5. This will bring you to a download history page.  Please wait at least 10 minutes, then check the Programs list from your the start menu to see if the Adobe apps are gone.
  6. Reboot your computer.
  7. Login again at http://go.middlebury.edu/kss, click Want Software?, then click the link for Install Adobe Photoshop (or Indesign or Illustrator).  Allow at least 15 minutes for the install to begin.

Mac:

Important:  Macs require El Capitan OS (10.11) or greater to install Adobe’s CC 2018 suite!

  1. Review details about how to find and use the Self Service utility.
  2. Save a copy of the Plug-ins folder from your computer’s Application folder (e.g., /Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2017/Plug-ins/) in advance, as the upgrade process may remove existing ones.
  3. Launch the Self Service utility.
  4. Click Featured in the right-hand pane.
  5. Click the Uninstall button to run Adobe CC Uninstall – through 2017.0 to remove all older Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
  6. Your computer should reboot automatically after the older Adobe software has been removed.
  7. Launch Self Service once again, then return to Featured.
  8. Click Install to run the Adobe 2018 application installers you need.  Important Note:  Adobe Acrobat DC will need to be re-installed if you had it before; it is available through Self Service as well.

Feel free to contact the Helpdesk during our open hours if you have questions or encounter any issues during your upgrade process.

Adobe Creative Cloud 2017 Now Available

Since the release of the new Adobe Creative Cloud 2017 suite, there have been many requests to install it on college-owned computers and in the public labs for teaching.  We are pleased to let you know that it is now available.

Current Adobe users will need to remove older application versions from their college computers first, then install the new 2017 versions to maintain compatibility with our labs and other colleagues.  To simplify this upgrade process, self service options are now available for both Mac and Windows college-owned machines.

Here are the upgrade steps for college-owned computers:

Windows:

  1. Review details about how to use the self service website.
  2. Login at http://go.middlebury.edu/kss, click Want Software?, then click the link for Install CCUninstaller to remove all older Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
  3. Reboot your computer.
  4. Login again at http://go.middlebury.edu/kss, click Want Software?, then click the link for Install Adobe Photoshop (Indesign or Illustrator).  Allow at least 15 minutes for the install to begin.

Mac:

  1. Review details about how to find and use the Self Service utility.
  2. Copy the Plug-ins folder from your computer’s Application folder (e.g., /Applications/Adobe Photoshop CC 2015/Plug-ins/) in advance, as the upgrade process may remove existing ones.
  3. Launch the Service Service utility.
  4. In the search field (top right), type 2017, then press Return to show the new offerings.
  5. Click the Install button to run Adobe CC Uninstall – through 2017.0 to remove all older Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
  6. Reboot your computer.
  7. Launch Self Service once again, then search for 2017.
  8. Click Install to run the application installers you need.

Notes:  Adobe Acrobat DC will need to be re-installed if you had it before; it is available through Self Service as well.

Feel free to contact the Helpdesk during our open hours if you happen to hit any road bumps.

Free Microsoft Office for Home Computers

MS Office LogoITS is pleased to announce that we are now licensed to provide currently employed faculty and staff with Microsoft Office, free of charge, for use on home computers.   We have a new portal page where you can login and download Microsoft Office.

For more information and links to the MS Office download sites, visit  http://go.middlebury.edu/getoffice.   Follow the instructions to complete the download then install the Office products.  If you have any problems, please contact the Helpdesk by creating a ticket http://go.middlebury.edu/whd.

Scrivener: Software for Writers Workshop

Write Your Thesis with Scrivener
Library Workshop
Wednesday, April 29th
4:30-5:30pm
Register

library workshopAre you working on a large writing project? Scrivener can help! Scrivener is a software program that breaks down your writing into manageable “chunks,” and brings your research and writing together into a single conceptual workspace.

The library will offer a Scrivener workshop on April 29th at 4:30p.m. Participants will learn how to create a new writing project, how to import existing work, and how to outline, research, and write with Scrivener’s unique features. This workshop is aimed at thesis writers but is open to all members of the College community. For more information on Scrivener and to sign up for the workshop, visit go.middlebury.edu/scrivener.

Sophos Deployment

Last month we began the campus rollout of Sophos Anti-virus, which is replacing the Symantec package we have been using for the past several years. We have deployed this anti-virus solution to many Windows based systems across campus. At this point we will continue the deployment to all faculty and staff Windows and Macintosh computers.

For Windows systems this will be delivered across our network using the same mechanism that manages our Windows workstations. To facilitate this deployment we need to ask that all Windows systems be turned off on Friday nights and powered back up on Monday mornings for the next several weekends. The install packages will be pushed across the network when the system is powered back on Monday morning starting March 19th.

If you should need your system over the weekend and you are off campus there will be no impact to this update. It will resume on Monday as scheduled. If you need your computer and are connected to the campus network (other than through the VPN) you will receive the update when you power your computer on.

For the deployment of Sophos to Macintosh computers we will be leveraging a utility called Casper. Casper will allow us to seamlessly remove Symantec and install Sophos. To ensure that Sophos will be successfully installed on your Macintosh system, please install Casper prior to March 16th. For instructions on obtaining Casper please see the Casper installation page at http://go/getcasper. Please note that Casper is licensed for Middlebury-owned systems only.

For information on Sophos please see the FAQ at http://go/sophos. This will answer many questions you may have and should address any issues you may encounter. Prior to the date your system is scheduled for the Sophos install please do the following:

  • Complete any software installs you may have pending, including any Windows Updates.
  • For Macintosh computers, confirm that you have the Self Service application installed in the Application Utility
  • Disable any additional firewalls you may have added beyond the operating system specific firewall. Please note, this is not referring to anti-virus such as Symantec but rather products such as SonicWall.
  • Shut down your system the Friday before the install so that it receives the scheduled install when it powers up on Monday morning.
  • Shut down your system on Monday night (after the scheduled install has occurred).

For faculty and staff who wish to install Sophos on one of their own personal systems, Middlebury is licensed for one copy per employee for home use. To download a copy for your home system please visit the Sophos FAQ at http://go/sophos .

For additional information please see http://go/sophos

 

 

New Access to Software

Over the next few weeks I will be working on consolidating all of the software installers that are currently on the college servers into a new server folder structure.  All software installers that we have in electronic version will be on middfiles\Software2 and then once the permissions are in place will rename the folder to middfiles\Software.   Duplicating all software in the Software2 folder allows us to keep the current structure in place until the new one is complete.

This new structure will allow granting of access to installers to those who need them, reducing the need for LIS staff to perform installations for our entire community.  It will also give us a central storage location for the college software.  Remember that we will have both folders (Software2 & Software) for a short time to make sure everyone has what they need.   I hope to have this in place by Sept 17th.  Please let me know if you have any questions on this process.

Lisa Terrier
Senior Technology Specialist