What's New in PAWS

Did you know that you now have three options for resetting your NSID password if you forget it?

We all have a lot of passwords in our lives. Students are no exception, and their university NSID is high on the list of passwords they don’t want to be without. Until recently, password resets have required the assistance of someone at the ITS Help Desk. Now you can store three types of information with the university that will allow you to reset your own password should you lose or forget it: 1) an alternate (non-U of S) email address, 2) a set of secret questions, and 3) a cell number. The last is the university’s newest addition to its growing suite of mobile-friendly options—allowing you to receive a password reset code anywhere, anytime, even on the go.

It’s easy to change or update your password reset and notifications information; simply click the “Mobile” link at the bottom of the Announcements channel on your PAWS home page, then add your choice of information in the appropriate fields. If you ever forget your NSID password, click the “Forgot your password?” link on the PAWS login page. With stored reset information, getting back in to PAWS won’t be a hassle at all.

As always, you can get help with anything PAWS related by contacting the ITS Help Desk. We welcome your feedback, so please send us your comments or suggestions.

Posted by PAWS Content and Communications at 01:35 PM | Permalink

Exciting news! PAWS now offers a new way to communicate and receive important university information.

Communicators across campus, have, until now, been able to target specific groups of people on campus via either the Announcements channel on the PAWS Home tab or via email. Now, thanks to a collaborative effort with Student Computing, announcers also have the option to send time-sensitive, high priority information via text message through the PAWS Announcements system.

But U of S text messages are a two-way street. You may choose to receive, or not receive, announcement texts. Only those who opt-in will get U of S Announcement texts sent to their cell phones or other mobile devices.

To opt-in, click the “Mobile” icon at the bottom left of your Announcements channel on the PAWS Home tab. A separate window will open, where you can specify your operator and enter your cell number.

You'll still receive important information in your Announcements channel in PAWS and via email. If you sign up for text messages, you may also receive especially timely information – short notice changes, campus hazards or significant closures (spills, construction), or other unpredictable events that may affect groups of people at the university – via text. It's yet another way to stay informed about what’s happening at the U of S.

If you've got questions about PAWS announcements via text message, you may wish to read the text-messaging-specific FAQs. As always, you can get help with anything PAWS related by contacting the ITS Help Desk. We welcome your feedback, so please send us your comments or suggestions.

Posted by PAWS Content and Communications at 11:53 AM | Permalink

The snow is gone, the roads are (slowly) being swept of last winter's gravel and dust, and spring is in the air. Now how about a little of our own spring cleaning?

On May 20, 2009, the university will remove old events from PAWS calendars with end dates prior to June 1, 2007. While this particular purge is being done as part of the preparations for a major version upgrade we intend to make it a practice going forward to retain PAWS calendar data for a two-year period. It'll feel good to sweep out that old data and make room for new events.

"But wait! Will this affect other data in PAWS? What about my email? What about course files?"

This particular purge will only affect your PAWS calendar data. PAWS email will not be affected. PAWS courses are already only stored for two years after the course has ended, so if you know you'll need materials from a course for more than two years you should save a backup copy (on your hard or storage device, or in one of the file storage areas in your My Files channel, such as Folder or Cabinet).

What if I need a record of my old PAWS calendar events? Can I back up my calendar data?

If you'd like a record of calendar events more than two years old, you must back up your calendar data (before May 20). Instructions in the PAWS FAQs will help you do this. You may also re-import the data to your calendar if required using the FAQ instructions, but please do not re-import the data until after May 20, 2009.

I synchronize my PDA with Calendar. Will these old events be removed from my PDA as well as from PAWS?

Depending on sync settings, users who synchronize their PAWS calendar data to a PDA will likely note that such data is also removed from their PDA. If you back up your calendar data and re-import the events after the May 20 purge, they will reappear in your PDA when you synchronize it with PAWS.

So, out with the old and in with the new! As always, you can get help with anything PAWS related by contacting the ITS Help Desk. We welcome your feedback, so please send us your comments or suggestions.

Posted by PAWS Content and Communications at 10:35 AM | Permalink

We've been testing a new look and feel for PAWS over the past month. Everyone with an account in PAWS was invited to try it and provide feedback, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Thank you for all your feedback -- both the encouraging, "This looks great!" kind and the constructive criticism, which helped us make a few changes to things such as font sizes before moving the new PAWS into production.

The new PAWS has a new look and a few new easy-to-use features:

- Drag and drop functionality (The ability to click and drag your channels and tabs.)
- "Add stuff" channel browser (Easy to navigate menu of available channels.)
- Up-front layout options (Links and icons that easily allow you to change your layout without going to another page.)
- Countdown dates feature (Shows the number of days until important campus events and deadlines.)

If you’d like more information about the new PAWS while you’re exploring it, the Help icon at the top right corner in PAWS has a “How do I…” page about customizing your layout and content.

So, the new PAWS is now just… PAWS. Log in and try it for yourself. We welcome feedback about anything PAWS related. Send us your comments by clicking on the Feedback link at the bottom of the PAWS login page.

Posted by PAWS Content and Communications at 09:00 AM | Permalink

We're working on a new look and feel for PAWS -- and we could use your help. Next time you log in to PAWS, give the new interface a try by clicking on the "Try the new PAWS" link on the login page. We hope you'll like the updated look. More importantly, we hope you'll like the new easy-to-use features that help you make the most of PAWS.

Many PAWS users will jump right in and start using new features that they recognize from other sites -- the ability to drag and drop content, for example. If it just feels a little different but you can't quite put your finger on it, here's some of what you'll see in the new PAWS.

- Drag and drop functionality (The ability to click and drag your channels and tabs. Move them where you want!)
- "Add stuff" channel browser (List of available channels by category. Yes... you can click and drag them into your layout.)
- Up-front layout options (Links and icons that easily allow you to change your layout without going to another page.)
- Countdown dates feature (Shows the number of days until important campus events and deadlines.)

If you’d like more information about the new PAWS while you’re exploring it, the Help icon at the top right corner in PAWS has a “How do I…” page about customizing your layout and content. We don’t think you’ll need it. Really, it’s that easy.

We’re continually striving to improve PAWS -- but we can’t do it without you. Give the new look and feel a try and tell us what you think. We welcome feedback about anything PAWS related.

Posted by PAWS Content and Communications at 08:00 AM | Permalink

We heard you! And so, to improve service and provide better support for all PAWS users, we have changed our regular monthly maintenance schedule which affects access to PAWS. It will now take place later in the evening -- from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. -- on the second Wednesday of each month.

The new maintenance schedule goes into effect on Wednesday, March 12th so PAWS will be unavailable that night from 10:00 p.m. until 2:00 a.m. on March 13th. And, depending on how quickly things go each month, there's always the chance that PAWS could be back up even earlier than that.

We'll continue to give you advance notice of our monthly downtimes in the Scheduled Maintenance section of the PAWS login screen. We'll also flag a final reminder -- in red text -- on the PAWS login screen in the days immediately prior to each scheduled maintenance.

This monthly maintenance work is necessary for us to continue improving security and overall stability for PAWS -- which in turn means better service and overall support for you, our PAWS users. We thank you for your patience -- and hope you'll find the later maintenance times more convenient.

Posted by PAWS Content and Communications at 12:46 PM | Permalink

PAWS supports the correct use of copyrighted materials -- and we've now made it easy for you to get all the copyright advice you need.

Wherever you can post photos or files in your PAWS Course Homepages or PAWS Groups, you'll now see a reminder about copyright -- with a link to the new U of S Copyright Management website.

Basically, as the U of S Copyright Management website explains in more detail, copyright simply means the right to copy. As the author or creator of a file or photo, you automatically have the right to decide how, when and where it can be used. However, if you're not the creator of the file, you'll need to obtain permission to use it.

So, if you're not the creator or author of the material you wish to post on PAWS, simply click on the "copyright clearance" link we've provided to find out how to get permission to post it.

The U of S Copyright Management website contains a list of Frequently Asked Questions and other helpful information -- as well as a full list of the copyright specialists on campus who can help you secure any and all necessary permissions.

Help us keep PAWS copyright correct!

Posted by PAWS Content and Communications at 02:51 PM | Permalink

Starting this October, PAWS will begin "pausing" for regular monthly upgrades and maintenance to improve security, stability and overall PAWS performance. PAWS will be unavailable at these times.

The first scheduled maintenance will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 10th from 6:00 p.m. and until 10:00 p.m. (although we’ll be back up sooner if at all possible!)

As a general rule, this maintenance will always occur on the second Wednesday of the month.

To minimize inconvenience, we'll be sure to give you advance notice of the dates and times PAWS will be unavailable by posting this information in the new "Scheduled Maintenance" section of the PAWS login page.

We'll also add a reminder -- in red text -- on our PAWS login page in the days immediately prior to each unavailability.

We've worked hard to keep these dates well away from important academic deadlines and -- to reduce overall service outages -- these upgrades will also coincide with scheduled maintenance for other services such as Cabinet and Folder. (So you don’t get back online with PAWS only to find another has just gone down!)

Basically, as PAWS grows in scope and functionality, so does its need for security and stability. We hope you'll agree that monthly downtimes are well worth the added benefits to you – our PAWS community.

Posted by PAWS Content and Communications at 03:32 PM | Permalink

PAWS fully supports e-mail messages sent in languages other than English and, despite the odd rumour to the contrary, always has. E-mail messages sent via PAWS in French, German, Spanish and other languages appear with properly displayed alternate characters and accents.

So, when it comes to languages, vive la différence! PAWS invites you to send e-mail in multiple languages today. English. Français. Español. Deutsch. And more.

In fact, why don’t we put it this way?

Nous vous invitons à utiliser PAWS pour envoyer des courriels en français.
Außerdem können Sie gern auch deutsche E-Mails per PAWS verschicken.
¡Es también posible enviar correos electrónicos en español a través de PAWS!
我们邀请您通过PAWS发送以中文书写的电子邮件
Мы также приглашаем Вас отправить сообщение на русском языке и нa многиx другиx языках.

And, since PAWS does indeed support alternate language characters, if your e-mail does not appear to be displaying alternate language characters properly in PAWS, it is most likely a result of your computer’s configuration not being properly set for multi-language e-mails.

In that case, please contact the ITS Help Desk by e-mail at help.desk@usask.ca or by phone at 306-966-4817 or 1-800-966-4817 (Toll Free in Canada).

But we ask that queries to the ITS Help Desk be sent in English only, please. :-)

Posted by PAWS Content and Communications at 03:05 PM | Permalink

My Tabs & Channels -- a new link in PAWS located at the top left of your screen below your My Account and Content/Layout links -- allows you to view a map of all of the tabs and channels in your PAWS layout on one screen. My Tabs & Channels is a quick way for you to see your personal PAWS layout. Also, by clicking any channel in that layout view, you’ll go directly to that channel in full-screen view.

Remember, to add and delete channels from your personal layout, click on the Content/Layout link at the top left of your screen when you log in to PAWS. Although PAWS automatically contains certain channels targeted to your role(s) as a student, faculty member, staff member or alumni, the University’s web portal contains many more channels that you may choose to add to your personal layout.

For more assistance with your PAWS layout, click the Help icon at the top right of your screen in PAWS. The General Help Menu contains the topic “Customize Content” under the “How Do I…” link. ITS Training Services also offers free PAWS training courses to students, faculty and staff.

Posted by PAWS Content and Communications at 02:00 PM | Permalink

Your PAWS session timeout is the length of time for which you will remain logged in to PAWS while inactive. You continue to be logged in to PAWS while actively using the portal; some external applications offered via the portal, however, such as the Registration System, do not keep you logged in.

You can now choose your own PAWS session timeout, ranging from 15 to 90 minutes. Students have a default timeout of 60 minutes and employees have a default of 90 minutes, but you may change your timeout from the default to suit your own security comfort level. Here are some examples of why you may wish to shorten or lengthen your timeout:

- you primarily access PAWS from public terminals (at the PAC, Browsers, the Tunnel, Libraries etc.) and want to increase your security in case you forget to log out
- you work in a public space or your computer is easily accessible by others and you want to increase your security in case you forget to lock your computer when you leave your desk
- you have access to confidential data through PAWS and want to increase your overall security
- you only access PAWS from your personal computer in a secure environment and want to reduce the number of "session timeout" reminders you receive while logged in to PAWS

To check or change your PAWS session timeout, click the "My Account" link at the top right of PAWS. You will need to log out and log in each time you change your setting for the changes to take effect.

Posted by PAWS Content and Communications at 02:52 PM | Permalink