ISG Blog

Yesterday we told you about how you could use the TSA.Red WiFi network that is available at THQ. It is also available in at Southern DHQ and Booth College of Mission. We intend to move more sites to the solution because it really enables the kind of connectivity needed for us to focus on our mission.

Today we're going to look at the conditions of using TSA.Red. While there is an element that they're stating the obvious, it is really important to us given the reputation of The Salvation Army and our need to protect it as it is only the goodwill associated with it that generates income.

What follows are the conditions of using the TSA.Red WiFi connection. We think these are the kind of conditions you should have in place if your internet connection is being used by non-TSA staff and/or machines. Feel free to reuse this in your centre, but remember if you join the recommended Territorial WiFi network then you will automatically get TSA.Red (along with networks for TSA devices).  

If you choose to continue, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use. If you disagree with any part of these terms and conditions, you may not continue. Terms of use:

• Your use of any information or materials on sites you access is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable.
• You agree that, though this portal, you will not perform any of the following acts:
  • Attempt to access devices or resources to which you have no explicit, legitimate rights
  • Copy, reproduce, or transmit any copyrighted files or information other than in accordance with the requirements and allowances of the copyright holder
  • Launch network attacks of any kind including port scans, DoS/DDoS, packet floods, replays or injections, session hijacking or interception, or other such activity with malicious intent
  • Transmit malicious software such as viruses, Trojan horses, and worms
  • Surreptitiously install software or make configuration changes to any device or application, by means of the installation or execution of key loggers, registry keys, or other executable or active application or script
• You agree that you will use the access provided here responsibly and with full regard to the safety, security, and privacy of all other users, devices, and resources.
• You agree that you will be mindful of the cultural sensitivities of others while using this portal so as not to provoke reaction or offense, and that you will not intentionally access pornographic, graphically violent, hateful, or other offensive material (as deemed by us) regardless of others´ sensitivities.
• You understand that we reserve the right to log or monitor traffic to ensure that these terms are being followed.
• You understand that unauthorized use of resources through this portal may give rise to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offense.

Are you going to be visiting THQ and do you require WiFi access? Well that is covered thanks to the solution we have in place. The wireless network TSA.Red is available to the whosoever. It does have a password (that changes every week) but anyone who at THQ can provide that for you. Alternatively you can get the password if you have a mobile device with data (e.g. a smartphone). 

Getting the Password: Go to support.sarmy.net.nz and logon with your normal credentials. Then click on the WiFi icon along the top. You will then see the screen below (the exact format will depend on the size screen of the device you're using - e.g. the picture we have us from a smartphone)

When connecting to TSA.Red you will need to enter the password you just discovered (the one in the screnshot is no longer valid - it changes every week)! Following this you should be prompted to login (how this happens will depend on the device you have). However you can force it by opening up your browser and trying to go to any website. 

You need to agree to the conditions of using TSA.Red WiFi. This is an important step because the reputation of The Salvation Army is on the line when you're using one of our connections. The conditions are intended to protect us and your machine so please pay attention and be beyond reproach in the sites you visit and the activities you undertake while online. 

Once you've clicked on the Accept button you will see the following screen: 

Now you can use the connection to get on with caring for people, transforming lives, and reforming society. 

Sometimes when you have a document (or a spreadsheet or presentation) you want to send it to people as a PDF. This is helpful because it means it is in a read-only format and typically has a smaller file size. Given the prevalence of PDF as a standard format for exchanging files many applications let you save or export the file as a PDF.

Microsoft Office does exactly this and without needing any extra software you can create a PDF file. Whether it is a document, spreadsheet, or presentation you can in a couple of quick clicks get yourself a PDF file. There are two ways to achieve this:

File Export: From the File menu click on the export option (in some versions of Office this option is called save & send. This will provide a couple of options for your file, one of which is PDF file. 

File Save: When you save a file in Microsoft Office you can choose the file format. This enables you to save in numerous formats (Office 97, plain text, etc). Simply select PDF then finish saving as per usual. NB: If you've already saved your file as a document then you will need to use the Save As option.

Today we're sharing another podcast. However this is a specific episode that talks about work and how much we actually get done given the number of digital distractions that exist. It is a really interesting question to consider especially given our mission and desire to do more in order for people to be cared for, lives to be transformed, and society reformed. 

Follow this link to the episode The Guardian Tech Weekly podcast. From the link you can listen online, download an MP3 of the episode, or subscribe the the podcast.

Today we're sharing another tip related to Google Sheets. We see lots of people using spreadsheets to stay organised and track various items and tasks related to the mission of The Salvation Army.

As with all things Google Drive and Google Apps related you can share your information with another user. This removes the need to send email attachments and then juggle multiple versions as people edit and update files. 

Sometimes spreadsheets contain more information than someone actually needs. Which is why it would be great if you could share just one tab of a Google Sheet with a person. Well you can! Watch this short video to learn how:

Staying with Google Sheets today we're sharing a tip that makes using it quick and easy. Remember that you can access Sheets from any computer with a browser, and from your phone with the app (just ensure you use your @salvationarmy.org.nz account so your data is protected).

Shortcuts make spreadsheet work a lot easier and there are plenty of great shortcuts available! In Google Sheets, adding a row one at a time can get repetitive. With the right-click drop down menu, you are able to add multiple rows at once.

Watch the video to see this quick tip in action:

Increasingly we're moving to Google Drive for storage of TSA information. In addition to the accessibility it provides, we are able to have a lot more confidence in the security of information. It also makes it easier for you to access your information for anywhere on whatever device you have (and is particularly great from a mobile device)!

Today we're sharing a tip about using Google Drive in the form of a 2 minute video. Google Drive makes sharing information really easy and stops the need to rely on email attachments which can be problematic. 

UPDATE: The original video was taken down for some reason unknown to us. Here is another that is reasonably helpful and just over 5 mins.

It is possible that you will have multiple Google accounts. You DO have an @salvationarmy.org.nz account which is the one that you SHOULD be using for all work related information. However it is possible that you will also have a personal account (most likely an @gmail.com address).

When logging into your Google Drive you may be prompted with the following screen:

If you're about to do some work then you should use the Organizational Google Apps link. This ensures that all of your work related information will stay within an environment that is managed by The Salvation Army (a computer code of conduct requirement).

Tip: If you want to access work and personal information, open an incognito tab in Chrome. This will let you login with a different account and access different data! Alternatively use Chrome for work and a different browser for your personal login.

We already do a lot everyday with Google. Whether it is just a web search, creation of Docs and Sheets, sharing information with Drive, looking up maps, or for personal email and calendar we increasingly use Google services in our everyday lives. Want to do more with Google?

Check out get.google.com/tips for a huge number of tips to make it easier to do the everyday tasks you already do.

Here is a link to some videos that show you how to Google. There is a lot you can do (even more than just a normal Google)! Check out youtube.com/google

It is the video camera that you always have with you, so chances are you've got some video clips on your phone. The trouble is (well for me), that often the video needs to be edited a little to make it more viewable. But how do you that? Is it even possible on your mobile?

Yes it is! Check out Adobe Premiere Clip in the Google Play Store or read more about it in this LifeHacker article. Then make the most of the video clips and remove all the garbage that precedes and sometimes follows the amazing video you captured!

Did you know that using Google Drive with your Salvation Army logon account will give you access to your files anywhere on any device? Google Drive isn't just for the Google Apps files, you can upload any of your existing files then access them from wherever you are. 

At home? No problem ... drive.google.com then your This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and your password and there all files are! On your mobile? Install the Google Drive app (here), login, and find all your files wherever you are!

Want to transfer your files? Go to drive.google.com, signin with your salvationarmy.org.nz account then drag & drop your files into Drive. Tip: Once you have something in DRIVE remove it from your H: drive (or wherever it was). This will save you having 2 versions of files and using the wrong one!

We've talked several times in the past couple of weeks about using your voice and Google Now to get things done with your phone. The following commands are a subset of a list of 70 we found published here. You can look them all up there but here are a few of the most helpful (or our favourites) in no particular order:

• Remind me to [ring the DC] at [5pm]
• Remind me when I get [home / work] to [submit expense claim]
• Wake me up in [5 hours]
• Call [Mark]
• Send [SMS / Email] to [Mark] I'm going to be late for our meeting
• Navigate to [address] 
• Search for [document name] on Drive
• What does the fox say?

We think most of these are fairly self explanatory. If they're not then start Google Now and speak the command to see what happens!

We appreciate that there is still more work for us to do in simplifying how many passwords are required. There is work happening (slowly) in this area and we hope the following steps help you be more successful when changing your password.

The best process to follow is:

1. Within your Lotus Notes client click on File / Security / User Security
2. Click the Change Password button
3. Enter your existing password
4. Enter a new password (twice)
5. Go to support.sarmy.net.nz and (if necessary) login
6. Click on your name (top right corner) and select change password
7. Login with your old password (this is part of the process)
8. Enter a new password

If you are a Webmail user then you can start at step 5!

Now the best part, is if you have forgotten your password you don't actually need to call us! Whenever you see the following logon box (tip: you get it at support.sarmy.net.nz) you can click on the I forgot my password link (circled below):

You will then need to fill in the fields in the screen shot below. HOWEVER before you do that you MUST have entered a mobile phone into your MyDetails. Unfortunately you have to be logged in to do that, so if you've forgotten your password and not registered your mobile this isn't much help to you - sorry!

Assuming you have entered your mobile number (it doesn't have to be an official Salvation Army one), then you will be prompted to enter your email address, manager name, and phone number:

While we hope it is self explanatory to follow you can click on the show instructions message to learn more about the process. When you've entered your details click on the SUBMIT button. If you have entered your details correctly (and by correctly we mean they match what you entered in MyDetails) you will see the below screen:

You will also receive a text message on your mobile phone. The text message contains a unique code that you enter before clicking on the CONFIRM button. If you enter the code correctly then you will be able to choose a new password:

When choosing a new password be aware of the restrictions ... 8 characters long, a letter AND a number, and it CAN'T contain your name as part of the password (so 8bennett8 won't be accepted but 8b3nn3tt8 will).

Success! 

We strongly recommend that you register your mobile phone into MyDetails. This makes it possible for you to reset your own password at anytime of the day or night including weekends. Changing your password can be done from any machine too! So with Christmas coming it may be good to be prepared to reset your own password because holidays are often the Bermuda Triangle of passwords...

We regularly get asked to give people access to systems and often they already have the access! Can't figure out how to access something you need? Wondering what you actually have access to? We can help you with that through information you already access most days.

There are two ways to view your Links.  Firstly by logging into the Supportal and then clicking the blue ‘chain’ icon shown here:

Secondly, you can access your e-mails via Webmail on any computer that has an internet connection. Head to webmail.sarmy.net.nz, log in and it will open up the Home Page (circled at the top of the screenshot).  Here you will see “My Links” (circled below):

Once you’ve loaded the Links page it gives you many generic and useful links including Citrix, SAMIS and iSG Remote Assistance.  Below these are links specifically for your account:

Click on any of these links and it will open up a web version for you.  Give it a go and see how easy it is!

Increasingly we're able to use our EFTPOS or credit cards to tap and pay. When it works this is a really convenient and fast way to pay and carry on with your day (because paying for things isn't something I look forward to or try and draw out)! However there is the occassional time I forget my wallet which does make paying a little more challenging. Of course I didn't forget my phone (probably because I use it more than I use my wallet)!

Did you know that Semble is a replacement SIM for your phone that lets you tap and pay with just your phone?

It only works on certain handsets, but if you find yourself more often with your phone than your wallet then you may want to consider it as an option. It certainly saved me a few weeks ago when I was out of town without my wallet. Of course I had to check if the places I was going to buy coffee had a tap and pay system before ordering ...

Do you find technology promises a lot but typically you end up feeling frustrated and not helped by IT? When you ask for help do you get more confused? Well maybe this podcast is for you.

Every fortnight another episode looks at how technology is changing our lives and gives you some ideas on how you can make the most of this. For example digital photos ... We've got hundreds, perhaps thousands of the things floating around. But can we actually locate them when we want them? Do we have confidence they won't be lost in some digital disaster caused by a careless swipe of our finger?

Some of the content may be helpful to you personally, and other parts you will undoubtedly want to apply to your work. Either way we hope you will enjoy listening and increase the usefullness of the technology in your life.

Did you know that with information you have stored in Google Drive you can share it directly from Google Drive? There are lots of advantages to sharing information this way. One is not having to attach it to an email. This means you don't have to worry about file size.

Another advantage is you can not only say WHO can access the file, but also how much access they have to the file(s) you're sharing. Start at drive.google.com (using your This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. address to logon), then select the file you want to share. Once selected click on the sharing button (circled below):

You will then have the ability to type in the names of people you want to share the file(s) with. As you type names the system will lookup people who have a salvationarmy.org.nz account. BUT you can also add people who DON'T have a Salvation Army account.

WARNING: Think before sharing externally ... You probably have access to personal information that is sensitive and shouldn't be seen by others. 

By clicking on the Can Edit button you get a dropdown of other permissions. Select what access you want them to have before clicking DONE. This will automatically fire an email off to the person (or people) you've shared with a link so they can get the file. 

This is a much easier way to share information AND leaves you in control of the file(s). At anytime you can revoke someone access meaning they no longer get to look at your files. This is impossible to achieve if you have emailed a file to someone.

Oh and bonus tip, you can do this from your smartphone with the Google Drive app too!

Did you know that THQ has a public WiFi network? What this means is that when you're at THQ you can connect your device to the internet and crack on with your work. It also means that external people can jump on our connection if necessary. The connection is monitored and limited to protect ourselves from misuse and abuse. 

The network (called TSA.Red) does require a password and this changes every week. You can find the password on the Support Portal and once connected you do need to accept the terms & conditions. This is a relatively simply process but does need to be repeated when you connect again.

However, the message today is when you're at THQ you can connect to WiFi. 

Chrome is a browser that is fast. It also can be configured with your @salvationarmy.org.nz account and this means when you logon to any instance of Chrome you get all of your settings and bookmarks! That is a really helpful feature especially seen it is being stored within a Salvation Army environment.

Here are some keyboard shortcuts that you may find useful:

• Ctrl/Cmd + L – highlights text in the address bar
• Ctrl/Cmd + T – open a new tab
• Ctrl/Cmd + W – close current tab
• Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + T – reopen closed tab
• Ctrl + Tab – switch tab one tab to the right
• Ctrl + Shift + Tab – switch tab one tab to the left
• Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + B – toggle the bookmark bar visibility