FirstClass on the Web

Logging in and logging out

To log in:

1. Open your Web browser and go to this address: https://firstclass.wellesley.edu
2. On the introductory page click Login.
3. Enter your FirstClass username and password. Click Login.

1. Click Logout at the top of the menu on any page
2. Exit from your browser and close all browser windows. From the menu choose File > Exit on a Windows computer. On a Macintosh choose Quit in the Safari menu or the menu for the browser application you are using.
   

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Menu

The menu on the left is similar to the top menu in the client version of FirstClass. The list changes depending on what is currently open (desktop, mailbox, message, etc.) but the menu always begins with Logout and ends with Help.

The tools in this menu operate on whatever window is currently open (not an item that is selected/highlighted). Click once on menu items to use them.

The toolbar

The toolbar is seen across the top of the list/message area when you have your desktop, a conference, or a folder open. It includes tools that can be used with selected items. For example, select a message then click the Delete icon. Select multiple items by holding down the CTRL key (APPLE key on a Mac) while clicking. Hold down the SHIFT key while clicking to select a range of adjacent items.

	Move/Copy/Link
	Delete
	Undelete
	Set Color
	Rename
	Mark as Read/Unread
	History
	Properties or Get Info
	Add to Desktop

Opening your desktop

Click Desktop above the toolbar. Note that this area always contains a list showing you what level you are at in the conferences or folders. You can click on any conference or folder name to jump there directly.

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Reading messages

Opening a message

Double-click a message to open it. The menu for the open message offers several options, including Delete, Reply, Forward and History. If the open message was sent by you, you will also see an Unsend option on the menu.

Opening and saving attachments

If your message includes attachments, the file names will be listed in the Attachments: section of the message header. Click once on the file name. Some graphics and text files will open in a browser window. For other types of files such as Microsoft Word files, you will be asked whether you want to save the file or open it. If you choose to save the file, click Save and navigate to the location on your computer or disk where you want to keep the file. If you choose to open the file, click Open. your computer will attempt to match the file type with a program on your computer. You may be asked to choose a program for the file. If you can't open the attached file at all or don't know what program in which to open this file type, save the file and try contacting the sender for more information.

Sorting a list

Click a column name at the top of the list. (For example, to sort messages alphabetically by sender's name, click the column header Name.

 

Sending messages

If you are looking at your desktop or a list of messages, the menu will include a Create: pull-down list from which you can choose New Message.

Enter the FirstClass name or Internet e-mail address of the person you are sending to in the To: field, then click the Add button next to the To: field. If you enter a partial FirstClass name, FirstClass will present you with a list of matching choices. In this list, click the checkbox next to your selection(s) then click Select. Each name you add will have a trash can icon next to it. This does not mean that it was deleted; it is a remove button that you can click to remove the name.

Enter any additional names in the To:, CC:, or BCC: fields, clicking Add after each. You can continue to add names to the header before sending the message. To remove any name, click the delete icon next to it.

To attach a file to the message, click Browse in the Attachments: field. Navigate to the file that you would like to attach and click Open. The attachment's location will appear in the Attachments: field of the message window. Click the Attach button to attach this file. It's name will appear in the yellow area of the header next to Attachments:. To remove any attachment, click its delete icon.

Complete the message by typing the subject and the message body.

When you are ready to send your message you can either click Send or save it in your mailbox to send later by clicking Save.

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Deleting and undeleting

Deleting

Select one or more items to be deleted, then click Delete on the toolbar. Be sure you have selected only the item(s) that you intend to delete.

Deleting message(s) - When you click the Delete button, the selected message(s) will immediately vanish from the screen (they are moved to the Trash Can, see below).

If you delete an item and later want to retrieve it, you may be able to do so. Deleted items will remain in your account until the nightly system audit process permanently purges them from the server. (The system audit process begins at about 3:00 AM and continues for several hours to work through each account and conference.) If an item has not yet been purged you should be able to view the deleted item and then undelete it. If your deleted item does not appear in your trash can, it cannot be retrieved. There are two methods for undeleting

Undeleting from your trash can

1. Open your desktop .
2. Double-click your trash can to open it. Deleted items from your mailbox, your folders and your desktop will appear, each with a small trash can icon next to it, indicating that it is deleted.
3. Click the trash can icon next to the items you want to undelete. The trash can will go away.
4. Undeleted items will return to the location where they had been before deletion, but you will not find them there until you logout and log back in to FirstClass.

Undeleting from the location of the deleted item

1. If you know that the item you want to undelete was in your mailbox or a particular folder, open that location.
2. Click Show Deleted in the menu. Each deleted item will appear among the rest of the items but with a will will icon next to it . (If you don't see Show Deleted in the menu, use the navigation pane to find your mailbox or the folder where the deleted item had been. Then click that mailbox or folder so that its contents are visible in the reading pane. You should now see Show Deleted in the menu.)
3. Select the item that you wish to undelete. Clicking on the previously deleted item will automatically undelete the item in your mailbox.
4. If you would like to undelete several items at once, use the shift key or the control key on PC's to highlight all the items that you would like to undelete. Click Undelete on the toolbar.
5. Click Hide Deleted on the menu to hide all deleted items again.

Creating mailbox folders

1. Open your mailbox.
2. In the menu, from the Create: pull-down list choose New Folder. A window will appear with a name field.
3. Type a name for the folder in the Enter name: field.
4. Click OK. The folder will appear in your mailbox.
5. To move messages or other folders into your folder, see the section in this document called Moving items.

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Moving items

This feature allows you to move one or more items to another location. It is normally used for moving e-mail messages into folders within your mailbox.

1. Select each item you want to move. You may select several by holding down the CTRL key while clicking.
2. Click Move on the toolbar. A window will open with the selected item(s) on the left and possible destinations on the right.
3. Click the destination of your choice then click Move.

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Mailbox Rules

Before you create a mailbox rule, be sure that you are familiar with the issues and procedures for using rules. For more information, see the page on Mailbox Rules.

1. Open your desktop.
2. In the menu, click Preferences.
3. Click the plus sign next to Messaging.
4. In the Mail Rules form, click the icon next to Mailbox Rules.
5. Create a rule in the same way that you would do using the client version of FirstClass.
6. Click Save.

Contacts

You can define names for individuals or distribution lists of addresses and save these in your Contacts folder. After they are defined, they will be visible in your FirstClass Directory and you can address messages using these names.

Creating a new contact:

1. Open your Contacts folder.
2. In the menu, from the Create: pull-down list choose New Contact. on the menu. A window will appear with a name field.
3. In the form that appears, enter a name for this contact.
4. In the Work Email or Home Email field, enter either the FirstClass name for this person or a valid Internet address. If you enter two email addresses, messages addressed to this contact will be sent to both.
5. In the Notes section, the Quick Name field is the name you will you when addressing a message from FirstClass. By default it will be the first and last name you entered, but you can change this.
6. Enter as much other information about this person as you choose.
7. Click Save when you are finished.

Creating a mail list:

1. Open your Contacts folder.
2. In the menu, from the Create: pull-down list choose New Mail List. on the menu. A window will appear with a name field.
3. In the Members: field, enter either FirstClass names or valid Internet addresses, clicking Add after each one. Each entry will appear on the list. To remove any name click the delete icon next to it.
4. Click Save when you are finished.

Editing a contact entry:

1. Double-click Contacts Folder on the menu. Your contacts will appear in a list.
2. Double-click any entry you want to edit. The current information will appear with an Edit Form button at the top-right.
3. Click the Edit Form button to make changes then click Save.

Deleting a contact entry:

1. Select the contact or mail list to be deleted.
2. Click Delete on the toolbar. Be sure you have selected only the item(s) that you intend to delete.
3. The deleted item(s) will not disappear until you exit this contacts window. The next time you open it, the item(s) will be gone.

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Calendar

For users of the client version of the calendar:

The Web version of the FirstClass calendar feature is very similar to that of the client version, but there are a few key differences. Please note that any changes made in your account for either version will appear in the other. Also note that in the Web version you must click Save for changes to be recorded.

These instructions focus on the differences between the Web and the client versions. You will find more complete information about using the FirstClass calendar feature in the documentation for the client version: FirstClass Calendar.

Opening your Calendar:

To open your calendar, double-click the Calendar icon on your Desktop. If the window is split, the left side is the Today list. You can toggle between showing and hiding the today list by clicking "Show Today List" and "Hide Today List" on the menu, respectively. Besides the Today list, the remaining part of the calendar shows either a month, week or day view. Click a button on the menu to change the view among these three choices.

Depending on the current view type, you can change the visible dates. To scroll through weeks, months or days, use the right and left arrows next to the current dates at the top of the page. To move quickly to specific date, use the pulldown lists then click Go. The screenshot below shows these controls in the Week View.

Permissions:

Open the page for which you want to change properties and click Edit View on the menu. If you do not have permission to change the view properties (a conference where you are not controller) this menu item will not appear.

The first row of the view properties screen lets you select whether you will edit the left, right, top or bottom pane or a column layout. You can also change the type of window split you will see. Be sure that you select the properties of the pane you intend to edit.

Check boxes and choose from pull-down lists for the properties you want then click Save.

1. In the desktop menu, click Preferences to access several settings. (Ignore settings having to do with Paging, and Voice.)
2. Click the plus sign next to the name of the preferences you want to access.
3. Check boxes and choose from pull-down lists for the preferences you want.
4. Click Save.

 

The following functions are available at the top of the Preferences window.

Troubleshooting Web FirstClass

If you need more detailed instructions on any feature, click Help Contents in the menu.

If buttons are not working, you can't change your preferences or you experience other odd behavior, try clearing the web browser's cache as follows:

 

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