Virtual Computing Lab: Using SPSS SPSS is one of the most widely used programs for statistical analysis in social science. The Virtual Computer Lab (VCL) allows faculty and students to use software applications remotely without having to download software onto a personal computer. AU VCL Support is available Monday-Thursday day 9.30am-8pm, Friday 9.30am-7pm, and Saturday 12 pm-7pm in person at Hurst Hall, Room 203; via e-mail: vcl@american.edu; telephone: 202-885-3862; chat room; or Skype: ctrl_rsg Objective This course is designed to give a basic understanding of how to use SPSS in virtual desktop environment. Learning Outcomes 1. Accessing Virtual Computing Lab 2. Opening SPSS 3. Loading and Saving Data and Output Accessing Virtual Computing Lab (VCL) To log in to virtual desktop we recommend you use Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 9 or higher, or Safari as these do not require any configuration. 1. Please go to www.american.edu/vcl and use the log-in button
2. At the next screen enter your AU username and password and click OK. 3. Once you have logged in, you will see the following screen, leave all options at default settings and click Connect. You should be getting logged into a Windows 7 desktop. Last Updated 10/05/12 2
PLEASE BE PATIENT, log-in process could take between one and two minutes depending on your connectivity. Wait until you are either logged in or get an error message. Do not simply close the web browser, do not use Refresh button, or back error. If you get an error message, note what it is and promptly report it to the support team. Opening and Closing SPSS Once in the virtual desktop, you can open SPSS either by using the shortcut icon located on the taskbar (in the bottom left side corner of the screen), or by clicking on Start > All Programs > IBM Statistics SPSS. In Windows environment please be careful not to confuse the virtual desktop window and taskbar with your regular desktop window and taskbar as they will appear stacked on top of each other. Loading and Saving Data To get and save data please use the shared J: and the personal G: drives. You can view and access these drives by double-clicking on the Computer icon in the top left corner on the virtual desktop. Please note that you should not save anything to the desktop or anywhere else on the virtual computer that you are connected to. The files you save or changes you make will be discarded upon logout. If you need to save any files, please save to a flash drive or your network G:\drive. Your network drives (G:\, J:\) are mapped and accessible under My Computer on the virtual desktop. 1 For more information on network drives visit the following site: http://www.american.edu/oit/network/au-network-drives.cfm Please contact the IT Help Desk at 202-885-2550, email helpdesk@american.edu, or IM AskAmericanUHelp if you have any questions on network drive access. 1 Note: You can save, read and edit your own files on your private network G:\ drive. You can only read saved files by your professor from the shared J:\CLASSES drive. Last Updated 10/05/12 3
To open data from G:\ or J:\ drive from SPSS, go to File > Open > Look In > Select either the J: or the G: drive, depending on where the data you want to use is stored. If your data is not on one of the network drives, there is another alternative you e- mail. In this case, you should send the data you need to your e-mail account beforehand. Provided that this is done, you can check your e-mail in VCL using Internet Explorer (shortcut on the taskbar or through Start menu). Download the files you want and save them properly onto your G: drive (again, you cannot save anything on the J: drive). Once you have accomplished this, you can access the data using SPSS by referring to the above described steps. Exporting your output To export outputs, go to File > Export. A dialog box pops up. Specify the type of output you want to export from the Export drop-down menu. Specify your file destination and name in the File Name box. Specify your file type from the File Type drop-down menu. You can export the outputs in Html, Text, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint format. Then click OK. If you only want one or two tables or charts, you can select them in the output viewer and press CTRL+C You can then paste these into a word processor. If you re doing this in MS Office you will want to use Paste Special You will want to paste your table as an Enhanced Metafile. This will paste your tables into your document in an aesthetically pleasing and readable manner As before, save any file to your G:\ drive. Printing output and Accessing Network Drives off-campus 1. Open a Web browser. 2. Go to https://mynet.american.edu 3. You will be prompted to login using your my.american.edu USER NAME and PASSWORD. Last Updated 10/05/12 4
4. You will see the following screen with all of the network drives that you have rights to access: Updating Your Files 1. To see the contents of your G drive, open the Home@AU folder. 2. In order to edit a file, you have to download and save it on the local computer by double-clicking on the desired file. 3. Select the option to SAVE the file to the Desktop. 4. Open the downloaded file in the appropriate program and make the desired changes. Remember: you will be editing a local copy of the file, not the actual file on your network drive. 5. SAVE the file and close it. 6. To upload the edited file to the network drive, click the FILE link and select UPLOAD, as shown below. Last Updated 10/05/12 5
7. You may be prompted to disable your Pop-up Blocker for the site, by selecting ALLOW FOR THIS SITE. 8. The Upload File dialog box will open. Click the BROWSE button and select the desired file. 9. If additional files are to be uploaded, click the plus (+) button next to the browse button and select more files. 10. Then, click the UPLOAD button. 11. When finished, click the LOGOUT button,, or close your Web browser. Last Updated 10/05/12 6