General Questions about Concord Consortium Software

1. What kinds of software are available?
   
   
2. What are the system requirements?
   
   
3. Why can I run this at home but not at school using the same or similar computer?
   
   
4. Why does my screen sometimes look funny, like part of it is remembering the last page it was on?
   
   
5. How might internet content filtering cause problems for me?
   
   
6. What if I want to run your software in a multi-user environment?
   
   

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1. What kinds of software are available?

The Concord Consortium creates software that falls into two broad categories:

1. Web based: Flash, VRML, and html.
   
   
2. Java based: applications written in Java
   
   
   • Molecular Workbench
     
     
   • Pedagogia
     
     
   • PDB Molecular Viewer
     
     

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   2. What are the system requirements?

   Each piece of software has its own requirements. Most of our software will run on both Windows and Mac OS X.

   Some web based software requires web browsers with the Macromedia Flash plugin (http://macromedia.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash). One requires a VRML plugin (http://www.parallelgraphics.com/products/cortona/).

   The Java based software requires a minimum of Java version 1.4. However, it is recommended that you install the latest possible version available. Some activities may also require Quicktime for Java.

   For Windows:

   • To get the latest version of Java go to -> http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp
     
     
   • To get the latest version of Quicktime for Java go to -> http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/ and make sure that you choose a "Custom" installation which will allow you to check that Quicktime for Java will be installed.
     
     

   For Mac OS X:

   • Both Java and Quicktime can be updated by going to Software Update in your System Preferences.
     
     

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   3. Why can I run this at home but not at school using the same or similar computer?

   The most likely issue is that your school has set up a security system that is preventing you from either installing or running the software.

   The problem is likely to be related to Java Web Start and/or our software trying to access files over the internet through your proxy server and/or firewall. See the questions about using Java Web Start here -> http://molo.concord.org/faq/2.html

   The other likely problem is that your organization may be using internet filtering software which is blocking some of the files from our server. Make sure the internet filtering software allows all files from the "concord.org" domain to pass through unfiltered. See the FAQ on internet filtering -> http://molo.concord.org/faq/1.html#6

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   4. Why does my screen sometimes look funny, like part of it is remembering the last page it was on?

   This occasionally happens on OS X. Often minimizing and bringing the window back can get rid of this glitch. To minimize a window click on the yellow button at the upper left corner of the frame. To bring it back click on it in the dock.

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   5. How might internet content filtering cause problems for me?

   Several of our Java based applications access files on our servers via the internet. Updates to the software and activities may be downloaded during runtime.

   Your filtering software should allow all files from "concord.org" to be downloaded. If your filtering software filters out types of files by their file extensions, you need to allow the following file types to pass through: mml, gbl, cml, jpg, gif, jar.

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   6. What if I want to run your software in a multi-user environment?

   The easiest way to make sure the software will be available is to create a generic user (ex. CC User) and install all of our software in a user directory stored on the local hard drive. Then all users wanting to run Concord Consortium software can log in as this local generic user.

   The other option is to set up a common folder (ex. CC Software) that allows all users to write to it. Our Java based software needs to cache some files, so it must be stored in a folder which is write accessible to the current user. By setting up a universally accessible folder and installing our software there, all users will be able to access it and run it. However, you may also have to set up Java Web Start to use a common cache folder as well. See the FAQ about using Java Web Start in multi-user environments here -> http://molo.concord.org/faq/2.html#13

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