POLARIS INSTALLATION

Transcription

1 POLARIS INSTALLATION BELS runs the Polaris 4.1 Integrated Library System (ILS)- the same system as BCCLS. BELS users will connect to Polaris via a terminal server using Remote Desktop Connection (RDC). Polaris is compatible with computers using Windows or Apple operating systems. If you are using Linux, Polaris compatibility will depend on your computer s willingness to run RDC. Downloading Remote Desktop Connection Utility Windows users will not need to download Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) because it comes standard on all Windows machines. The only way RDC would not be available on a Windows computer would be if the program or start menu shortcut were deleted. If using an Apple computer, you will most likely need to download RDC by going here: Click on Download in order to download the installer to your computer or to run the installer immediately. Restart your computer once installation has been completed. Note: It might not be possible for you to download and/or install RDC due to administrative protections that your IT Department has in place. If you encounter any problems during this process, please contact your IT Department. Page 7 of 138

2 Remote Desktop Connection Login- Windows Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) is usually found under the Accessories folder in the Start Menu. Once you have found it, click on it. A window should now pop up (see right): Click on Options << in the bottom-right corner in order to expand the window and give yourself more options. Your window should now resemble the screenshot to the right. Page 8 of 138

3 It is now time to begin filling in our credentials. Step 1: Type ts01.bccls.org into the field next to Computer:. Please note that the computer name is case sensitive. Step 2: Enter your username into the field next to User name:. Each username will be BCCLS\BELSxx. xx will be a number which is unique to each workstation. The example to the right shows BCCLS\BELS01. Please note that the username is case sensitive, and you should be sure to use the \ character and NOT the / character. The correct character is typically located above the Enter or Return key on your keyboard. Step 3: Make sure to tick the checkbox next to Allow me to save credentials. If it is already checked, then you do not need to do anything. If it is not checked, click on it in order for a checkmark to appear. By ticking this box, you will not need to type in all these credentials each time you login to RDC. Step 4: Click Connect at the corner in the bottom-left. After clicking Connect, you should now be brought to a window asking for a password. The appearance of this screen will vary depending upon the version of RDC installed on your computer. The username should already be shown, but the password field will be blank. Enter your password in the field next to Password:. Please note that passwords are case sensitive and are unique to each username. Make sure to tick the checkbox next to Remember my password. If it is already checked, then you do not need to do anything. If it is not checked, click on it in order for a checkmark to appear. When finished, clock OK. If a message similar to what you see to the right pops up, click Yes. Page 9 of 138

4 Tip: Want an RDC icon on your desktop in order to avoid constantly going into the Start Menu? Simply find RDC in the Start Menu, right-click on it, and click Copy. Then right-click on your Desktop and click Paste. You should now have an RDC icon on your desktop. You should now be viewing a screen which looks something like this: If you are, congratulations! You have successfully connected to the terminal server via RDC. Notice that the task bar at the bottom of the screen does not show other programs (Outlook, Word, Internet Explorer, etc.) you may be running at the same time. In order to minimize this screen, simply move your mouse to the top edge of the screen in the middle and a small menu should appear which will give you the option to minimize, tile, or close the RDC session. If you minimize or tile RDC, you will not end your session and you can return to it later. We will now pause in order to document how Apple users get to this point. Remote Desktop Connection Login- Apple After installing Remote Desktop Connection (RDC), the icon should now be located within the Dock at the bottom of your screen: The icon you are looking for appears to be a monitor with a Windows symbol in the middle of it (third from the right, above). Click on this icon to run RDC. After the RDC window appears, click on the RDC drop-down menu in the upper-left corner of your screen. Then click on Preferences. Page 10 of 138

5 You should now see the preferences window. It is now time to begin filling in our credentials. Step 1: Enter your username into the field next to User name:. Each username will be BELSxx. xx will be a number which is unique to each workstation. The example to the right shows BELS01. Please note that the username is case sensitive Step 2: Enter your password in the field next to Password:. Please note that passwords are case sensitive and are unique to each username. Step 3: Enter BCCLS in the field next to Domain:. Please note that this field is case sensitive. Step 4: Make sure to tick the checkbox next to Add user information to your keychain and Reconnect automatically if disconnected. If they are both already checked, then you do not need to do anything. If either is not checked, click on them in order for a checkmark to appear. By ticking these boxes, you will not need to type in all these credentials each time you login to RDC. Step 5: Close this window by clicking the icon which looks like a red circle in the upper-left corner of the window. You should now be brought back to the main RDC window. Once here, type ts01.bccls.org into the field next to Computer:. Please note that the computer name is case sensitive. Then click Connect. If a message similar to what you see to the right pops up, simply click Connect. Page 11 of 138

6 You should now be viewing a screen which looks something like this: If you are, congratulations! You have successfully connected to the terminal server via RDC. Unlike the PC version of RDC, the Apple version will not fill your entire screen, which may make it easier to tell what is going on with the rest of your computer. The normal red, yellow, and green icon will be in the upper-left corner of the window. If you minimize or tile RDC, you will not end your session and you can return to it later. When you close RDC for the first time, you should get the message to the right. If you were able to login successfully, click Save in order to let the computer remember your credentials, which will allow you to forget them. Your Computer s Name Your computer s name is required to be submitted to the BELS Office in order for you to logon to Polaris. This is a form of authentication which ensures that only certain computers are able to access Polaris. The simplest method to discovering your computer name is to login to RDC and then double click on the Polaris Production icon located on the desktop (see right). When the login screen pops up, click Cancel. The Polaris menu bar will remain up, but you will not be able to access any of the main features until you login. Not to worry. Page 12 of 138

7 Next, click on the Help drop-down menu and then click About Polaris. The About Polaris window should now pop up. Click on the hyperlink which reads PROD/POLARIS (right next to Application Server: ). The information we seek is toward the bottom of the window and to the right of where you see Workstation Name. The example to the right has a computer name of BELS. Once you have your computer name, it to the BELS Office. Be sure to explicitly state if there are any spaces, underscores, dashes, or any other special characters in the name, as well as stating which letters are capitalized and which are not. The computer name listed in the administrative system at the BELS Office must match your computer s name exactly at all times. If the computer name changes at any time, repeat these steps and report any changes to the BELS Office. Page 13 of 138

8 Polaris Login Each school has their own unique Polaris username and password. These sets of usernames and passwords are used for different logons, including BELS Gmail and Simply Reports. A complete listing of BELS usernames are listed in one of the manual s glossaries. If you are using multiple computers to login to Polaris simultaneously, the Polaris username and password are the same for each machine. It is the Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) username and password which is different for each computer. Once logged in through RDC, double click on the Polaris Production icon located on the desktop (see right). The domain will automatically read BCCLS and the username will most likely be set as the username you used to login to RDC (such as BELS01 ). Delete whatever is in the Name: field and type your true Polaris username into the field next to Name: and your password in the field next to Password: Then click OK. Please note that the password is case sensitive. If you encounter an error message after clicking OK, take a screenshot of the error and send it to the BELS Help desk. Please contact the BELS Office if you have any question related to usernames or passwords. You will know you have logged in successfully when the Polaris toolbar s icons are not grayed out: Congratulations! You have successfully logged into the Polaris ILS 4.1. Logging Off Before leaving for the day, always close your session(s) of Polaris. Overnight maintenance can be adversely affected if iterations of Polaris remain open all night. Page 14 of 138