Frequently Asked Questions and New Features

 

Centralized Server Standard Security Features User Dislpay Names Unified Internet Address Attachments Client & Web Access
Disk Space Threaded Messages Staff Who Travel From Site to Site Personal/Global Groups    

New Features in CAB

Centralized Server - Changing Responsibilities of the TLC/Network Manager:

The transition to CAB includes a centralized district-wide server located at ETS instead of individual servers at each location. Due to this, some responsibilities of the TLC/Network Manager will change. TLCs will no longer be responsible for maintaining a mail server including deleting old mail and backing up the data file.


Account Creation
The creation of new accounts will be shared between ETS and TLCs. Initial account creation will be handled centrally by ETS, based on data from the HRMS system.

TLCs will handle interim updates such as the addition of new staff accounts during the school year.


Distribution Lists/Conference Creation
Some distribution lists (similar to global/personal groups) will be replaced with collaboration spaces called Conferences. As a result, distribution lists may not need to be used as heavily. District-wide distribution lists and conferences will be maintained centrally by ETS. For distribution lists and conferences specific to your site, the local TLC will be given the tools and responsibility for setting up and maintaining lists and conferences. This approach allows for each school/department to develop their own conference and resource sharing without requiring a complicated process for approval or set up.


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Standard Security Features:

Auto Logout:
CAB contains a standard security feature that automatically logs out inactive users. When you get logged out, a dialog box will open prompting you to log back in or quit CAB. If you would like to log back in, just enter your password.

Note: Any messages you had open on your desktop or minimized in the Dock will automatically be closed when you get logged out.

Password Expiring:
Another security feature requires users to change their passwords every 45 days. When you change your password write it down and keep it in a safe place. You will get temporarily locked out of the system if you try to enter an incorrect password three times. You will have to wait five minutes before trying to log in again. If you forgot your password you may call the ETS Help Desk at 765-6352. In the future, TLCs may have access to change password for users at their site.

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USER/DISPLAY NAMES


CAB user names are imported from the HRMS system so your email name will be your legal name (the name on your paycheck.) In addition, CAB user names are displayed in the Directory by first name last name. (Example: Robert Smith).

To ensure you are sending mail to the correct person, please note the “Organization” next to the user name, which is the school or department where they are located.

Quarterdeck and Outlook user names are still displayed by last name first name.
(Example: Smith Robert)


Request an Email Name Change:
You may request an email name change under BCPS Resources/Email-Name Change Req.
Under the “Name Change Request” section enter the email name you wish to use.

Example: Robert might wish to change his email name to Bob because that is how he is known in the district.

Only the following characters will be used to compose your email name:

  • Letters (A-Z)
  • Characters comma, period and hyphen (,) (.) (-)
  • Email name must contain some part of your name
    (Example: Robert Smith may wish to use rsmith)
  • No vanity names will be considered

UNIFIED INTERNET EMAIL ADDRESS


All CAB users in the District will now have the same domain name as part of their email address.

Example:
Robert.Smith@browardschools.com

Previously, Quarterdeck and Outlook users had different email addresses depending on the server users were members of.

Verify your email address:
You can verify your email address under BCPS Resources/Your Email Address. A window will open displaying your default Internet email address and the previous email address(es) that you will still be able to receive mail to. You should give out your new email address even though you will still be able to receive mail to your old email address(es).

Request an Internet Email Name Change:
You may request an internet email name change under BCPS Resources/Email-Name Change Req. Under the “Internet Address Change Request” section enter your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices for another email name.

Example: Robert might wish to change his email name to Bob.

Only the following characters will be used to compose your email name:

  • Letters (A-Z)
  • Numbers (0-9)
  • Characters period and hyphen (.) (-)
  • Email name must contain some part of your name (Example: Robert Smith may wish to use rsmith)
  • No vanity names will be considered

Important Note
If you wish to change your email address it should be done before you send an email to anyone “outside” the CAB system (Quarterdeck, Outlook, or an Internet user). If the name is changed after an email is sent “outside” the person receiving will not be able to “reply” to the message and will receive some form of non-delivery message indicating that it is not a valid email address.

Attachments in CAB:

When you open an attachment in CAB it is not automatically saved to your hard drive.
You may choose to View a document (open it without permanently saving it) or Download a document (save as to a specified location on your hard drive). In both cases, the file that is stored in your Mailbox (on the CAB server) will be maintained unless you explicitly delete that message.

You may wish to create a folder on your hard drive called “Attachments” and save all attachments in this folder. If you don’t save an attachment to your hard drive it will be deleted once the email is deleted.

Client and Web Access:

CAB can be accessed through the client installed on a computer or through the web using a browser such as Netscape or Internet Explorer. Since all email messages are stored on the server you will have access to mailbox and “sent” mail. There are no local folders stored on individual computers like in Quarterdeck.
Using Web Access
Web access is convenient if you need to check your mail and you are not at your location. The CAB client may not be installed on all computers but most computers have a browser installed.
Web access can also be used if you would like to check you mail from home or during a TDA and the CAB client is not installed on that computer. If you are not connected to the District’s network, you will need an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to access the web.
Intranet - webcab and click on the Login Icon
Internet – webcab.browardschools.com and click on the Login Icon.

Disk Space Limit:

To ensure that CAB resources are shared appropriately, each user is allocated up to 50 MB of storage space on the server to send and receive messages and attachments.
If you reach your disk space limit you will be notified with a pop-up message and will be prevented from creating new messages until you have cleared content from your mailbox to drop below the limit. Incoming messages will continue to arrive until you reach 2 times your allocated limit.
At any time, you can check your current Disk Space in BCPS Resources/Disk Space. A dialog box will open and display your current disk space used. You may want to check this weekly so you do not exceed your limit.
Suggestion:
Maintain the size of your mailbox daily/weekly by deleting unnecessary messages. Do not let your mailbox get to the limit or you may not be able to send mail while you wait for “trash collection” at 3:00 am to delete mailbox messages.

Threaded Messages:

CAB is unlike other email systems where users are presented with an “Inbox” or “Mailbox” that holds messages sent to users and a “Sent Mail” folder that holds message sent by users. The reason for the single container for all mail is that it provides the user with a single, unified location for all their communication. It also allows messages to be threaded based on the subject line. This way, an entire discussion can easily be recalled and reviewed. Many web Forums (discussion groups) are set up this way.
For more details regarding managing your mailbox use the CAB “Help” menu.

Staff Who Travel From Site to Site:

Since CAB uses TCP/IP and QD uses AppleTalk, when users go to another site with their laptop and try to access their CAB account it will not work. Users will need an IP address for that specific site. (This issue is similar to any other application that uses TCP/IP ex: Netscape. You must have an IP address for the router you are using.)
This will affect staff who travel from school to school such as area social workers, psychologists etc.

Personal/Global Groups:

As you migrate to CAB and your QD and/or Outlook accounts are removed, your account/name will also automatically be removed from any personal/global groups.
Once you have gone to training and are using your new CAB account:
Please notify co-workers that may have you in a personal group and TLCs who manage global groups on servers that your new CAB account needs to be added back into the group.

We need to use this procedure until the CAB migration is completed and conferences and distribution lists can be set up.

Preferences: Creating a Signature File:

    Select "Edit / Preferences" from the menu bar  -  
    Tip: OSX users - Select "First Class/Preferences" from the menu bar
    Select the "Messaging" tab
    Select the  "Signature" tab
    Type in your "Signature" text in the box provided
    Check the "automatically add signature to new messages"  if you want this option. 
    Select "Apply"
    Or, you can add your "signature file" to messages manually,  by selecting "Edit/Insert Signature File" from your mailbox view.
For additional information on this topic, please visit the online "Help" feature in CAB

Preferences: Out of Office Message:

    Select "Edit / Preferences" from the menu bar 
    Tip:  OSX users - Select "First Class/Preferences" from the menu bar
    Select the "Messaging" tab
    Select the "Mail Rules" tab
    Type in your "Out of Office" text in the "Reply Text" box
    Select "Yes" from the "Automatically reply to" pull-down for both "Local and Internet Mail"
    Tip: Until, we are all migrated to CAB, Quarterdeck and Outlook users are considered as "Internet Mail"
**NEVER, SELECT " DELETE SILENTLY" from the "Junk Mail Handling" pull-down**
For additional on this topic, please visit the online "Help" feature in CAB