English Composition 1
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Using WebBoard: Downloading and Saving Files
Some assignments for English Composition 1 Online require that you download word-processing files from WebBoard, rename the files, and then save the files to disk or to your computer's hard drive.
The first step to downloading a file is locating where that file has been posted in WebBoard.
For this example, imagine that you have been asked to read and critique a draft of Lisa Simpson's Essay 1. After clicking on the plus sign to expand the topic list under "Essay 1 Drafts for Peer Critique," you see that Lisa has posted a message. Next to the message title is a tiny paperclip icon, indicating that the message includes an attached file. Simply click on the topic title to access the message with the attached file.
After clicking on the topic name, the message will open in the right side of the WebBoard screen (below). The link to the attached file you need to download appears in the message. The file for this example is named "Essay_1.RTF."
Click on the name of the file to begin the downloading process. After you click on the name of the file, you will see a message box open on your screen (below).
The security warning indicates the possibility of computer viruses that can be transmitted as you download a file that has been uploaded from another computer. This box pops up each time that you try to download a file. It does not indicate that a virus has been detected in the file you are attempting to download.
Everyone in the class needs to avoid the possible transmission of computer viruses. If you think that your computer may contain a virus, make sure to eliminate this problem before uploading any files. Otherwise, the virus could be spread to the computers of other class members.
You have the option to open the file or to save it to disk or your hard drive. If you check the "Save" option, you will see the "Save As" box, skipping the next step explained below. However, if you check "Open," your word-processing program will load and the file will open on your screen (below).
In the example above, the computer detected that the file is a Rich Text Format file, so the computer automatically loaded Microsoft Word to read a file of that format.
As you try to open a file, you may get the message that you need to select the appropriate application to open it. If this occurs, you should choose whatever word-processing program you use to create Rich Text Format file.
Once the file opens, you can click on the small square icon in the upper right of the word-processing screen to maximize that screen.
The next step is to save the file to your own computer.
Your word-processing program will have a "Save As" option. With the downloaded file on your screen, choose "Save As" from the "File" menu in your word processor.
You will then see a "Save As" box on your screen. Click the arrow next to the "Save in" box to select where you would like to save the file.
After you have chosen where you would like to save the file, you can rename the file to make it easy to identify when you search for that file later, or you can leave the name as is. By default, the "Save as type" should indicate "Rich Text Format" (or RTF). If it does not, you should choose "Rich Text Format" (or RTF) as the type of file. If "All Files" is the only file format option under "Save as type," then the file should be saved by default in its original format, which should be Rich Text Format.
After choosing the place to save your file, the name of the file, and the file's format, click on "save" to save the file. Because you will download many word-processing files for the course, you should try to save all of these files in the same place, making it easy for you to manage and find the files.
The file now should be saved to your computer or disk. You may need to work on this file later and then upload it to WebBoard, so remember where you saved it.
Note: The instructions above for downloading and saving a file refer to this process in Internet Explorer with Microsoft Word 2000. However, if you use a different Web browser or a different word-processing program, the procedure should be just about the same as that explained above.