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Informatics 2A: How to set up and use the newsgroup

(adapted from Inf1: Newsgroups)

The Inf2a newsgroup will be used as the means to support students on questions, dealing with misconceptions, assignment issues, organisational issues, etc. It is your responsibility to read it regularly. Also, please send any general questions you have regarding the course to the newsgroup and not to the lecturers or TAs. Exceptions include questions which require you to reveal (part of) your answer to an assignment and questions on issues which only affect you personally, or any other questions you feel are inappropriate for the newsgroup.

HOW to configure it?

1. You are free to use any newsreader of your choice. There is one in the mozilla web browser available on DICE (go to window menu -> mail & newsgroups). If you ARE familiar with newsreaders, the server is [ newsread.ed.ac.uk ] and the newsgroup is [ eduni.inf.course.inf2a ]. If you ARE NOT familiar with newsreaders follow the next steps...
2. You will need to create and account and specify the news server, this has to be set to the news server newsread.ed.ac.uk (you may have this already set by default: if you see an icon with this server's name (newsread.ed.ac.uk), just move to the next step)
3. Subscribe to the newsgroup eduni.inf.course.inf2a (follow steps 3.1 to 3.6 below)
   1. To do this, if you are in mozilla, you'll have to click on the icon with the server's name (newsread.ed.ac.uk) and choose from the right-hand side panel (of the same window) the option "Manage Account Subscriptions"
   2. This will open a new window. Go to the icon with the text "eduni" and expand it - click on the "+" sign. If you can't see the icon, try choosing "Refresh"
   3. Go to eduni.inf and expand it (same way).If you can't see the icon, try choosing "Refresh"
   4. Go to eduni.inf.course and expand it. If you can't see the icon, try choosing "Refresh"
   5. Now, you will be able to see eduni.inf.course.inf2a. Click on this icon and then choose the option "Subscribe" from the button-panel at the top-right corner of the same window. Once subscription is done you should see a checkmark to the right of the newsgroups names.
   6. Choose "OK"
4. Now you should be able to see the newsgroup under the newsread.ed.ac.uk server (in the main window). Click on it and select the option "Get new messages" (top-left button in top panel). You should get at least one message. This is how you will check for new messages from the group.
5. To post a new message, simply choose the option "Create new message" (from the top panel, second option from left to right) making sure you have previously clicked on the newsgroups name: this will automatically add the newsgroup name as the recipient for your message.

If you are taking Inf2c, Setting up eduni.inf.course.inf2c is just the same.

If you have any questions about setting up or using the inf2a newsgroups, please contact one of the Teaching Assistants.