BSCW Software: Get to Know It

BSCW Software: Get to Know It

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BSCW software: get to know it!

BSCW (Basic Support for Cooperative Work) enables collaboration over the Web. BSCW is a 'shared workspace' system which supports document upload, event notification, group management and much more.

To access a workspace you only need a standard Web browser.

A brief presentation: BSCW supports synchronous and asynchronous communication with your colleagues through Internet. BSCW is equally adequate for use inside your intranet and your extranet.

ASYNCHRONOUS COOPERATION: BSCW provides a common work area in the Internet, where all users can save, add, edit and download files. That means, that BSCW creates a virtual library with material accessible to all users and flexible to edit and alter.

Extra privileges of BSCW:

  1. Users don’t need to download any software before they enjoy the benefits of BSCW. All they need is an ordinary web browser.
  2. Users can access their common BSCW workspace and download any material from there, exactly like if they were downloading conventional web pages
  3. BSCW keeps users informed about new material

SYNCHRONOUS COOPERATION:

  1. BSCW provides necessary tools for colleagues to organize and schedule their meetings
  2. Virtual meetings

WHAT IT TAKES TO USE BSCW:

  • User needs to have a personal email address
  • User’s P/C needs to support a web browser (internet explorer, Netscape navigator)
  • User needs to register in a central BSCW computer: it is a very simple procedure during which, user fulfils an online form with some of his personal data. (Email required). This form can be found in the following address:

THE WORKSPACE

An essential conception in BSCW is the “work space”, or the file area

  • A specific team of registered users is entitled to enter the workspace and read, edit, alter, move and organize these common files.
  • A register user can be a member of many different teams and have access in many different workspaces.
  • BSCW is based on HTML interaction with the user: every page is divided in three sections, main section, title and footnote. Many parts of every page function as action buttons to help user interact with the files.

An example of a work file follows:

OBJECTS

A variety of objects can be created and be edited in a BSCW workspace.

COMMON OBJECTS IN A WORKSPACE

/ Home folder
/ Folder
/ Document
/ Html
/ Document set
/ url
/ Search result
/ Discussion
/ Shared to many users file
/ Locked object
/ A note is added
/ An evaluation is added
/ New object
/ Changed object
/ Object has been read by more people than the initial author
/ Recent modifications
/ Note
/ Object is been cut and is ready to be pasted
/ Object is been copied and ready to be pasted
/ Object has been pasted in that position
/ Object has been renamed
/ Object is rejected, but still in the recycle bin

PERSONAL AND PUBLIC OBJECTS

In every file page there are the icons of some objects that aim to help user navigate:

/ Home folder
/ Public space: all BSCW files that can be accessed from an anonymous user
/ Clip board: copied objects
/ Waste basket: in BSCW an object can only be permanently deleted by his/her author
/ Address book: contacts with other members
/ Private calendar: timetable with meeting schedule

ACTIONS in workspace

FUNCTION BUTTONS

/ More info
/ Search
/ Add folder
/ Add member
/ Add document
  • You can download a 90 trial of the BSCW from

Connecting with BSCW initial page

If you have your browser to search for:

Then the following window will appear, which asks for user name and password:

That is when the user has to insert his/her personal data, so that he/she will enter the BSCW environment

Example of work file

BSCW command menu

File
New / Document, Folder, URL
Share
Catch up
Info
Search / In BSCW, User, Internet
Edit
Cut
Copy
Delete
Select All
Select None
View
Columns / Shared, Notes, Rating, Owner, Date, Events, Actions
Scale
Sort / By Type, by Date, by Subject, by Author, by Thread
Shortcuts
Messages
Options
Preferences
Details
Communication
Change Password
Default Events
Calendar
Go to
Home
Clipboard
Waste
Calendar
Address Book
Public Space
User Info
Help
Help
FAQ
Index
BSCW
OrbiTeam
About

Creating objects

New objects can be added by using one of the options in the command menu, by pressing the file button, so that the popup menu will appear.

  • You can chose [File  New] and a new object from the following types:
    (Folder | URL | Meeting | Discussion | Search | Document | Project). That way, a new object is immediately created in the central BSCW computer.
  • You chose [File  New  Document] to upload a file from the local work computer to the central BSCW computer.

The two top popular browsers (Netscape Navigator, MS Internet Explorer), support this uploading

Actions in the ticked objects

Over the objects list in a file page, or in the workspace page, there are also action buttons for ticked objects

  • Objects can be ticked, by ticking the checkboxes on the left of the bar.
  • Symbols and are indications showing checking and un-checking objects, in the present file.
  • You chose [Edit  Copy] so that the checked object will be copied in the temporary memory and will be ready to be pasted in any other destination.
  • You chose [Edit  Delete] so that the checked object will be erased from its present position and will be disposed in the recycle bin. From there it can always recover to its previous place. From the recycle bin, only the initial author can permanently delete an item.
  • You chose [Edit  Paste] so that the checked object, (being in that condition from a previous or action) will be pasted in the present work file.
  • Note: Objects creating by you and moved in the temporary memory or in the recycle bin will not be visible to other users.
  • Buttons like send , or rate , activate actions only applicable to some object types.

On the right of every object there is a button that activates a pop-up menu with all available actions for checked object.

For different types of objects, different actions are available.

It is essential to say that every user in BSCW environment has an attribute-role, (e.g “student”). Access rights are based on the attribute-role of each user.

In a file created by you, you may invite new members to whom you will give attribute – roles (e.g student, teacher…). These roles will determine the access rights of each member for each object.

There is a range of set attribute – roles, which can be a helpful start point: workspace manager, owner, group member, and restricted member. You can invent roles that befit your needs. Roles can be altered and distributed else how at any point. It is important to remark that all icons in an object are active, meaning that you receive more information for a team, a note, a rate, when you check the checkbox.

Object actions list

Active relevant help

There is available help in every work file and for every object. In a number of certain applications, you just press the button Help, so that an explanation of the indented action will be displayed.