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Portal FAQ

This FAQ is a list of known problems and user questions regarding  the Lehigh University Portal.  If your question is not answered here, please contact the Portal Training Team at portal@lehigh.edu.

General Questions
Email
Calendar
Groups

General Questions

Q1. Why does a "Browser Unsupported" screen display when I use Mozilla, which is supported at Lehigh? Just which browsers are supported?
A1. The Portal vendor has officially certified

 
Browser PC Mac
Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1 or 5.5 SP2 5.2.2 for OS X
5.1.7 for OS 9
Netscape 7.1 7.1
Mozilla 1.6 1.6
SafariN/A1.1

as browsers to work correctly with the portal. Our experience at Lehigh is that Mozilla also appears to work fine.

The portal uses Cookies, Popup windows, Java and Javascript to work, so if you block or restrict these functions, please add cp0.cc.lehigh.edu to your browsers exception list.

Q2.  What do I do if I get a "security certificate" message?
A2.   Just click on "yes" to continue. See also Question 3.

Q3. The Portal doesn't appear to be using SSL (secure socket layer). Is this a security hole?
A3. SSL is in effect, but runs in the background. It is invoked when needed, such as during login to the Portal, accessing your Banner information, and other sites.

Q4.  Why does the Portal sometimes send me a message that it will log me out, even when I am still using it?
A4.   The Portal  will automatically log off an inactive user after 15 minutes. You can change this setting to suit your needs by clicking on the My Account link in the upper left corner of the Portal page.

Q5.  Why do I have a different set of "tabs" than my friend (office mate, colleague)?
A5.   The initial tabs (and some channels) on your Portal page depend upon your "role" at Lehigh: student (undergraduate or graduate), staff, faculty; college, department, or office.  The idea is to present the information most useful to you at the outset.  It is possible for people to be both staff members and students, for instance, so that one staff member will have a different initial page than another in a similar position.  In addition, users can add/delete tabs and channels to suit their own interests.

Q6.  Why does the Portal not accept my tab preference changes?
A6.   You may be using the browser's back/forward icons, rather than the Portal's, which results in navigational errors.  Remember to use the Portal navigational links!

Q7.  Why can't I correct my mis-spelled name or change my address when I link to Banner?
A7.   This has nothing to do with the Portal.  Because Banner is used for tax and payroll (among other) information, such changes must be carefully reviewed; employee changes are made by Human Resources; student changes are made by the Registrar.

Q8.  Why doesn't the personal bookmark I just added to the MyLehigh tab work?  The link appears to be broken.
A8.  Check the link address.  URLs in the Portal require the "http://" prefix.  If you omitted that from the link, delete the bookmark, then add it anew using the full URL information.

Q9.  Why does the Portal sometimes go to the wrong page?
A9. You may be using the browser's back/forward icons, rather than the Portal's, which results in navigational errors.  Remember to use the Portal navigational links!

Q10.  Will BlackBoard (CourseInfo) be integrated with the Portal.
A10.   Yes! In fact, it is now incorporated into the tab Courses for faculty and students, and on the Employee tab for employees.

Q11.  Is file sharing possible in the Portal Groups?
A11.  Not in this version of the Portal software, but it is coming.

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Email Questions

Q1.  Why do I sometimes get an error message when I'm using the Portal email?
A1.  The error message occurs when you are accessing your email from more than one source.  It's likely that you have your email open in both the Portal and Netscape, for instance.  Close one of the Mail programs.

Q2.  Why doesn't the Portal email system automatically locate Lehigh user names?
A2.   The LDAP (name/account) server is not yet incorporated into the Portal email system; it's coming soon.

Q3.  How do I add the email address in a message directly to my address book?
A3.  Just click on the email address.

Q4.  Can I move my Netscape/Outlook address book into the Portal address Book
A4.  Yes. You will need to export your address book from Netscape/Outlook, and then import into the Portal. For more information on exporting your address book, contact your computing consultant. For information on importing into the Portal address book, reference the Help feature in the Portal.

Q5.  Where are all my email folders?
A5. Click on the triangle icon located to the left of the "Mail" folder name. It may take a second or two, but your folders should then display.You may need to "subscribe" to your mail folders before being able to view these folders through the Portal.

Q6. How do I subscribe to my email folders?
A6. Click on the "Subscribe" link in the folder pane. Then click on each folder you wish to subscribe to. The "P" (private) will be removed from the folder icon next to each folder, thus making it available (subscribed). Folders marked with a "P" are not viewed.

Q7. Can I view my local email through the Portal?
A7. No. Email stored in folders on the Mail server is accessible using the Portal. Locally stored mail (on your hard drive) is not accessible through the Portal.

Q8. Where is my Sent folder?
A8. Depending on which mail programs you use, you may have up to four different sent folders.
Sent folder: mail sent from the within the Portal
mailsent-mail: mail sent using the Network Server
sent-mail: mail sent using IMP
Mail folder > Sent folder: mail sent using Netscape/Mozilla mail

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Calendar Questions

Q1.  The Calendar channel on the MyLehigh tab notifies me when I have a meeting scheduled.  Does it also notify me that I have a "task" due?
A1.   No; there's no mechanism for task reminders.

Q2.  Can I synchronize my PDA with the Portal calendar?
A2.  Yes. Please contact your Computer Consultant for installation of the software.

Q3. Can I use both Portal calendar and Corporate Time calendars?
A3. Yes you can use both, but you won't be able to sync a PDA to both calendars.

Q4. Is Corporate Time Calendar going away (to be replaced with the Portal calendar)?
A4. Not at this time, although long term plans include a unified calendar for the campus.

Q5. When I attempt to schedule an event in my calendar, why can't I see the entire scheduling window?
A5. Check your PC's screen resolution. If it's set for 800 x 600, the scheduling window is too large for the page; try using 1024 x 768.

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Groups Questions

Q1.  I just joined a group; why doesn't the group name appear on my Groups list?
A1.  You actually just requested to join a group.  Your request has gone to the group's moderator.  As soon as the moderator authorizes your membership, the group will appear on your list.

Q2. How do I request a group?
A2. From within the portal, click on the Groups icon (top right). When you see the My Groups page, click on the Create Group tab. Complete the form (you can ignore the Browse Control section) and then click on the Create Group button. You receive an email when your group has been created and is available for use.
PLEASE NOTE: All portal groups must be requested by a faculty or staff member. All other group requests will be denied. It is recommended that departmental groups be opened through a departmental account with administrative rights then being assigned to someone within the department. Student groups are available for organizations  sanctioned by the University and must be requested through the account of the faculty or staff advisor for that organization; administration of the group can then be assigned to members of the organization.

Q3. Are there any limitations on how much information can be stored within a portal group?
A3. Yes - see the Portal Group Limits Documentation for more information.

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Updated 10/4/04