Support Center

<p>Where can I get free software and plug-ins? (Bb - Student)</p><p><span id="bodyfont" style="font-family:Verdana; font-size: 10pt;"><hr /> <div> <ul> <li><small><a style="font-family: Verdana" href="http://www.blackboard.com/docs/documentation.htm?DocID=173003en_US" target="_blank">Blackboard 7.3 - Instructor Manual</a></small> <li><small><a style="font-family: Verdana" href="http://www.blackboard.com/docs/documentation.htm?DocID=173002en_US" target="_blank">Blackboard 7.3 - Student Manual</a></small> <li><small><a style="font-family: Verdana" href="http://learningforlife.fsu.edu/online/usingbb/7.3_addons.cfm" target="_blank">Blackboard 7.3 - New Features</a></small></li> </ul> </div> <hr /> <h2><font size="2">Software Tools (Free) for Viewing Course Materials</font><a name="content"></a></h2> <p><font size="2">Instructors sometimes put materials (assignments, lectures) on their course sites that require you to obtain additional software tools before you can gain access to them.  Here, we describe the most common free tools and where to get them.</font></p> <h3><font size="2">How do I get them?</font></h3> <p><font size="2">First, you must download and install the correct version of the tool for your computer.  Some of the download sites will make this choice for you, but others will require you to indicate Mac vs. Windows, Windows XP vs. Windows Vista, and so on.  <em>Carefully read the instructions for downloading, installing, and testing the tool on the vendor's website.</em></font></p> <h3><font size="2">How do they work?</font></h3> <p><font size="2">Once the tool is operating correctly, visit your course website and access the material that requires the tool.  If you are using Internet Explorer on a Windows computer, the material will usually open up right in the browser window.  With other software and systems, you can expect to see things work a little differently.  A separate program window may open, or you may need to download the material and open it from your computer directly.  <em>Practice using the tool <strong>before</strong> you're in a time crunch!</em></font></p> <h3><font size="2">What if they don't work?</font></h3> <p><font size="2">Check to see if other students are having trouble viewing the materials (often reported in class discussions or emails).  If so, the instructor may be investigating a solution for everyone, and you may wish to wait for an announcement of such.</font></p> <p><font size="2">On the other hand, if you seem to be the only one with the problem, go back to the download site and use the vendor's troubleshooting procedures to test the tool.</font></p> <p><font size="2">If other students are able to view the materials without problems, and you have already run the vendor's troubleshooting procedures without resolving the problem, contact the </font><a href="http://helpdesk.fsu.edu/"><font size="2">Technology Services Helpdesk</font></a><font size="2">.</font></p> <h3><font size="2">Which tool do I need and where is it?</font></h3> <table border="1"> <tbody> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"> <td><strong><font size="2">Tool</font></strong></td> <td><strong><font size="2">Vendor</font></strong></td> <td><strong><font size="2">Used For</font></strong></td> <td><strong><font size="2">Get It!</font></strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2"><strong>Acrobat</strong> reader</font></td> <td><font size="2">Adobe</font></td> <td><font size="2">View and print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files.</font></td> <td><a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html"><font size="2">Download</font></a><font size="2"> </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2"><strong>Flash</strong> and <strong>Shockwave</strong> players</font></td> <td><font size="2">Macromedia</font></td> <td><font size="2">View interactive content, such as presentations and simulations.</font></td> <td><a href="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/alternates/"><font size="2"><a href="http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/alternates/"><a href="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/alternates/"><font size="2">Download </font></a><br /> </a></font></a><font size="2">Note: Select the desired tool on the download page. </font> <p> </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2"><strong>Office</strong> converters and viewers for <em>Excel, PowerPoint, Word</em>, and other products.</font></td> <td><font size="2">Microsoft</font></td> <td><font size="2">View materials stored in .DOC, .PPT, and .XLS formats, among others.</font></td> <td style="height: 54px"><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/Office/000/viewers.asp"><font size="2"><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=CF196DF0-70E5-4595-8A98-370278F40C57&displaylang=en"><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/Office/000/viewers.asp"><font size="2">Download</font></a><br /> </a></font></a><font size="2">Note: Select the desired tool on the download page.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2"><strong>QuickTime</strong> player </font> <p> </p> </td> <td><font size="2">Apple</font></td> <td><font size="2">View video in Apple's QuickTime format and other audio, video, and image formats.</font></td> <td><a href="http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/"><font size="2">Download</font></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2"><strong>RealOne</strong> player </font> <p> </p> </td> <td><font size="2">RealNetworks</font></td> <td><font size="2">Play streaming audio and video content (usually in .RM format).</font></td> <td><a href="http://www.real.com/realoneplayer.html"><font size="2">Download</font></a><br /> <font size="2">Note: Be sure to locate the "Free RealOne Player" link.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td><font size="2"><strong>Windows Media</strong> player</font></td> <td><font size="2">Microsoft</font></td> <td><font size="2">Play video and audio formats.</font></td> <td style="width: 195px; height: 20px"><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp"><font size="2">Download</font></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <h3><font size="2">Do I need to update my Web browser?</font></h3> <p><font size="2">To make sure you have the latest version of your preferred Web browser (the tool you're using to view this page), check your browser's Help menu or the vendor's website for information on updates.</font></p> <h3><font size="2">What if the software tool I need isn't listed here?</font></h3> <p><font size="2">If you do not see the tool you need on this page, contact your instructor for more information. You may need to purchase and install additional software, depending on requirements of the course and instructor.</font></p> <p><font size="2"><strong>Additional free and reduced-cost software solutions</strong> for the FSU community are listed at the </font><a href="http://sl.us.fsu.edu/"><font size="2">User Services Site Licensing website</font></a><font size="2"> and at ACNS's </font><a href="http://gtcr.fsu.edu/#14a"><font size="2">Guide to Computing Resources</font></a><font size="2"> (see the section "Which Software Should I Buy?"). </font></p> </span></p><h3>Alternate Questions/Keywords</h3><p></p><br><br><br><br><a target='_new' href='http://www.parature.com' style='font-family:Verdana;font-size:10px;color:999999;'>Help Desk and Customer Support Software by Parature</a>