Emailing Large Attachments in Outlook

Files over 2 megabytes in size are too large for email. While this was a strict limit in the past, a person can get away with emails over 2mg in size, with current technology. Yet, email is not intended to get clogged up with enormous downloads like that.

The alternative is to upload a large file to the OneDrive Attachment folder and email an attached cloud file. That means, a secure "alias" file is attached to the email; the recipient clicks on the file and can download the secure file from OneDrive. This effectively stores the attachment on OneDrive, rather than on the email itself. The procedure requires only a little more preparation than attaching the large file straight to the email.

Purpose: To avoid sending email attachments larger than 2mg, outlook can cooperate with the OneDrive to provide the attachment.

Log in to your Microsoft Outlook account. In the top left corner of the interface, click on the  button to open a drop down selection of Microsoft products.
Click on the OneDrive link.
Once OneDrive loads, a selection of files will appear. This picture portrays the files in a "Tiles" format--one of four ways to present your OneDrive storage library. If you use a "List" or "Compact List" or "Photo" format then what you see on your screen will be different. Find the Email Attachments folder. Double-click the folder.
The folder will open and present the available files according to the format you are using. Click on the Upload button to open a dropdown menu. Click on the Files option to upload a file to your OneDrive.
Your Mac Finder window will open. Your PC Windows Explorer window will open. Navigate your computer's files to find the file you wish to upload. In this picture, the file is called "upload2onedrive." Click the Choose button.
A notification window will appear in the top right corner of your interface. The notification identifies the number of files that are Uploading. You can watch the progress of the uploads by clicking on the small notification window.
When the upload is complete, you will see another notification window that identifies the number of files that are Uploaded.
Click on the application menu again. Click on Outlook to prepare your email.
Click on New Message (not pictured). Click Attach to open the attachment menu. Click on Browse Cloud Locations to search your OneDrive storage for the file.
A OneDrive navigation window will open. Alt 1: Click the radio button to select the file you want to open. Look at the bottom of the navigation window for the Next button. Continue to select radio buttons and click Next until you find your file. Alt 2: To open folders, double click on them. Each double click will open the options within the folder.
When you find the file you seek, you need to select it. As with the previous step, you can either use the radio button or double-click on the file.
Select the Share as a OneDrive -Personal Link option. Caution: Do not click on Attach as a copy; that will attach the file from OneDrive directly to the email.
The download file will appear in the attachments location of the email interface. Proceed with the familiar steps to send an email to your recipient.

All instructions and documentation written by:

Dr. Jason Lawrence, M.S., Ph.D.

Theory and Practice of Professional Communication

Artificial Intelligence writers, Internal Documentation, and Emergent Texts
Visit my Official Blog, my LinkedIn profile, or my Web Page.

Find a School: Southern Connecticut State University

Inserting and Sizing Images in Blackboard

When writing discussion posts, blog posts, wiki entries, etc. in Blackboard, the means of inserting an image is always the same. Yet, the image needs to be sized, in addition to inserted. The result of an unsized image is an image that is bigger than the actual browser window itself. Images must be resized.

Purpose: These instructions will provide the steps for inserting and resizing images in Blackboard.

These instructions will use a discussion forum post. However, the word processing palette is the same for other writing media in Blackboard. If not done already, open the full word processing palette. Select a place to insert an image by either placing the "insertion point" with the curser or highlighting a word.
Look for the Insert Image icon. The icon looks like a sun rising over a mountain. Click the Insert Image icon.
NOTE: The insert button places the image on the document. In this way, the reader can see the image, while reading. Alternatively, the paperclip icon is for attaching files. If you attach a file, you will only generate a link in your text, rather than picturing the image.
When you click on the Insert Image icon, a dialog screen will open. The General tab is the default tab and is where you want to begin.  Locate and click the Browse My Computer button.
A window will open on your computer that will let you search for the image you want to insert. Use your computer's file folder structure to locate the image file. Click on Open to select the image.
The preview of the image will be so enormous that you will not even be able to see what it is. Click on the Appearance tab. The interface will change.
Locate the Dimensions of the image. The dimensions are measured by pixels (or px). The default pixel size of the image will read in this place. The example I am using has a 3264 X 2448 pixel size.
500 is a reasonable pixel width on Blackboard. Type 500 into the width field on the left. The Constrain Proportions button should be checked by default. It MUST be checked for this procedure to work.
Because Constrain Proportions is checked, when you click outside the width dimension field, the height  dimension field will automatically change to the proportional pixel height for you.
On the bottom of the interface's right side, are the Cancel and Insert buttons. Click the Insert button.
A dialog box will open. Blackboard wants to be sure you wish to upload, without an image description. Image description and Title are both fields under the General tab. While they are required for public websites, they are not necessary for classroom discussion posts. Click on the OK button.
The appropriately sized image is not inserted into your Blackboard document, so that all your peers can see.

All instructions and documentation written by:

Dr. Jason Lawrence, M.S., Ph.D.

Theory and Practice of Professional Communication

Artificial Intelligence writers, Internal Documentation, and Emergent Texts
Visit my Official Blog, my LinkedIn profile, or my Web Page.

Find a School: Southern Connecticut State University

Finding a Journal by the Name of the Source

In many cases, you want to conduct research and find sources, regardless of the journal name. However, there are cases where you only seek to research a specific journal; alternatively, you might want to make sure that the database you use will include results from a specific journal. These instruction assume that you already logged in to Southern Connecticut State University as a registered student or employee.

Purpose: Find a database that subscribes to a specific research journal for research in that specific journal.

Locate the four tabs at the center of the screen. Each tab searches a different set of resources. Click the Find a Journal tab.
Type the name of the journal in the field. Press the Search button. NOTE: In the example pictured to the right, the newspaper "New York Times" is written. This will be the journal result presented in all the pictures.
A list of search results will appear. Locate the specific search result you expected. Click the online database icon (a laptop image). In cases where there is no Online icon available, you will need to use the other icons for Print or Interlibrary Loan to access your source.
The library pays for access to many databases. Databases have licenses for specific journals. Use the date ranges on the right to choose the database that you need. If you want results for the current year, you should select the database that licenses the "Current" year. Click on the link to the left. In this case, the link is titled New York Times.
The database you selected will open to a specialized page that features the journal you specified. All databases have different methods of navigation and different interface features. Most databases will provide the ability to search within the publication you have specified, as opposed to the database's entire licensed collection. Interfaces vary but you should type your search terms into a search field. Click Submit to review articles.

All instructions and documentation written by:

Dr. Jason Lawrence, M.S., Ph.D.

Theory and Practice of Professional Communication

Artificial Intelligence writers, Internal Documentation, and Emergent Texts
Visit my Official Blog, my LinkedIn profile, or my Web Page.

Find a School: Southern Connecticut State University

Save a Duplicate Word File in OneDrive

While shared documents are designed to track changes and designed to facilitate dozens of editors, it is worth making sure the original copy is readily available. These instructions help you open the original copy and save your own version of the document in the same shared folder.

Purpose: Save As your own version of the document in the same shared folder.

Log in to your Microsoft office account. Click on the grid icon in the upper left corner of the Office browser screen. Click on the OneDrive link from the drop down menu.
Before you select the file you need, you may need to search through your files first. Review the list of folders in your OneDrive storage. Click on the folder you need. Your folder will be titled differently than this example. This example features "316_fall19_studentwork" as the folder.
Review the list of files in your OneDrive storage. Click on the file you need. Your folder will be titled differently than this example. This example features "316_fall19_studentwork" as the folder.
IMPORTANT: Do not alter the original document. Once the file opens, click on the File option from the menu bar.
The interface will change so that there are many File options. Select Save As from the blue column of options. Once you click on Save As, the save options will display. Click on Save As from the new set of options.
A dialogue window will open, with the name of the original file already highlighted.
Use appropriate naming conventions to rename the file as your own copy. Click the Save button at the bottom of the dialogue window.
You will see your own copy of the file listed along with the original in the shared folder.

All instructions and documentation written by:

Dr. Jason Lawrence, M.S., Ph.D.

Theory and Practice of Professional Communication

Artificial Intelligence writers, Internal Documentation, and Emergent Texts
Visit my Official Blog, my LinkedIn profile, or my Web Page.

Find a School: Southern Connecticut State University

Check on Feedback for a Blackboard assignment

After you complete an assignment on Blackboard, you may wish to see any details that your professor has set as "visible." The visibility of assignment details is at the discretion of your professor and you must take that up with him or her. While visibility and the kinds of assignments differ greatly, the following procedure is roughly what you will want to follow.

Purpose: Review answers to an assignment and read any of the instructor's feedback.

Click on the triangle next to your name on the top menu. In this example, the student name is greyed out. A dropdown menu will open. Click on the My Grades icon.
Scroll through the assignment selections to find the assignment you wish to review. The selection will show a highlight as the mouse hovers over it. However, the mouse icon will likely stay an arrow, rather than a finger for a hyperlink.  Regardless of the icon you see, click the selected box anyway.
You will see some data about the selected assignment. Search the screen for the score you earned on the bottom right. If you do not have a score, that means the assignment is not graded and you will not be able to view it. Click on the score to access the assignment details and feedback.
You will see the assignment details. These details are dependent on the information your professor wants you to see, after the submission of an assignment. In this example, the question, submitted answer, and feedback are selected as "visible" by the professor.
Depending on the size of the assignment detail, you may need to scroll down the screen to see the feedback.

All instructions and documentation written by:

Dr. Jason Lawrence, M.S., Ph.D.

Theory and Practice of Professional Communication

Artificial Intelligence writers, Internal Documentation, and Emergent Texts
Visit my Official Blog, my LinkedIn profile, or my Web Page.

Find a School: Southern Connecticut State University