The Exchange Team has been busy making a number of changes to the Exchange to improve usability to apply fixes.

Content tools have been simplified

We have simplified the number of content tools now provided on the Exchange. Web Resources, Classic Forums, and Uploaded Files are now all presented as Single Pages. Uploaded Files and Classic Forums have not been supported since version 2 of the Exchange.

To create a page which only provides a link to an external web site (previously known as a Web resource):

1. Create a Single page.
2. Include a description of the site linked to in the Body field.
3. At the External Website Links field, add the name of the website and its web address.
4. Construct Categories and add Free Tags if required. Completing Free Tags allows the search engine to find your page more easily.
5. Complete any other required fields and click Save.

To upload a file to the Exchange:

1. Create a Single page.
2. Include a description of the uploaded file in the Body field.
3. At the Uploaded files(s) field, add Browse for the file and click the Attach button.
4. Construct Categories and add Free Tags if required. Completing Free Tags allows the search engine to find your page more easily
5. Complete any other fields and click Save.

To enable a discussion around a particular topic:

Publish a Single page or Blog post and encourage those interested to make Comments. Comments are available from a link in the page footer.

Fixes

Fixes have been made to the display of a member’s organisation.

Please let us know what you think.

Managing your contributions to the Exchange

You now have another way of managing your contributions using the Content Management Filter (CMF). In myExchange, go to myProfile. The CMF link will appear in the submenu at the top right of the myProfile screen. Use the CMF to view your contributions. You may filter by status, title date created , content type and more.

Changes to logging in

You can now log in using the email address that you supplied when becoming an Exchange member. You can still login using your current username if you wish.

Broken links

Over the past two months we have done a lot of work repairing broken links on the Exchange. Hopefully you will not find any, but if you do, please let us know using the myFeedback box in the left sidebar.

Let us know what you think about these updates or if you would like to see any other features added to the Exchange.

Trish

Over the coming months, the ALTC Exchange team will be conducting a number of short (one minute) surveys. We want to know what features you would like to see developed on the Exchange.

Our first survey

Would you like us to implement a simple chat (instant messaging) service on the Exchange? This would enable you to chat with Colleagues and may assist you in your collaborative work.

You need to be logged into the Exchange to complete the survey question. Your answers will be anonymous.

Last day: 29 December 2009

Click to enter survey

If you would like to add additional comments, please use the myFeedback form in the left sidebar of the Exchange or make a comment on this blog.

Many thanks for participating. Your answers will help us to be more responsive to your requirements.

Trish

ALTC Exchange will be unavailable between 5PM and 6PM Thurdsay 3rd, December 2009 for routine updates.

Updates to the Exchange

Recent updates to the Exchange allow the following features:

• An entire book can now be exported as a PDF. Use the PDF icon in the page footer when browsing the first page/index page of the book.    The PDF has a table of contents and a title page. It looks great!
• There is now auto complete when you enter search terms into the Search box.
• Attachments to a web page are now listed one per line making them easier to identify.
• Find out what other members are doing on the Exchange. When browsing a members profile, you can now browse their contributions. See the Browse menu on the left sidebar.
• When browsing MyExchange, You can now click more on ‘Members with similar interests’ and ‘Members from your organisation’ to see a longer list.

Please let us know what you think

Shared editing is available for the following contribution tools on the Exchange: Book, Single page and Web Resource. Previously shared editing could only be enabled for members of the group in which the Book, Single page or Web Resource was located. It is now possible to share editing with a selection of your colleagues as well. This means that shared editing of documents is not confined only to members of a group.

The creator of a page may enable Shared editing only after a page has already been created.

1. View the document you wish to enable shared editing on.
2. Go to Modify page in the Submenu and scroll to the Shared editing options to select group members and/or Colleagues to share the editing with.

Shared editing may be removed by the page creator at any time.

Detailed instructions are provided in the Help FAQ at How do i make a wiki (or enable shared editing)?

We hope that this assists you all with your collaborative work.

Please note that the Exchange will be unavailable on Wednesday 23 September from 10am to 10:30 AEST due to essential maintenance.

The ALTC site (www.altc.edu.au) will be unavailable between 9:30 and 10am AEST. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any queries regarding this downtime please email support.

The ALTC Exchange will also be unavailable for a short time on Wednesday 30 September. We will inform you of times closer to the event.

Thanks for your understanding.

The ALTC Exchange Team

Please note that the ALTC Exchange will be unavailable on Tuesday 15 September from 6pm to 8pm AEST due to essential maintenance.

The ALTC site (www.atlc.edu.au) will also be unavailable at these times. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any queries regarding this downtime please email support.

Regards
The ALTC Exchange Team

Since the release of Exchange version 2, a concerted effort has been made to prepare an extensive range of Help FAQs.  Work is continuing and will also include the production of short Help videos.

Help links are found in the header and footer of the site.

Help FAQs are now searchable and search results also display FAQs for related questions.

If additional assistance is required, a link is provided on the Help page to email our online support service.

We welcome feedback about these FAQs.  Please let us know if there are any areas you feel still require a FAQ.

Problems with the display of the calendar in Safari and Chrome browsers is known and is currently being worked on.

The mySettings link available in the submenu below mySettings in myExchange does not link to settings.  The link is currently being repaired.

Please give us feedback or report any issues using the myFeedback tool which is displayed on all pages of the Exchange.