Logging into the AP Server

From your web browser, log into the AP Server. You may also have to include the IP address of your AP Server, depending on your configuration

(Ex. http://199.199.199.0/AP Server).
Enter your name and password when prompted.

1st Time Users: You may be prompted to change your password on initial login. In future logins, you will use the new password.
Time Out Disconnect - If no action is performed after a 30 minute period, you will be automatically logged off. The next action you perform will result in an error message and you must log in again.

Logging Off the AP Server
Click Log off at the top of the Controls menu. You should quit the Web Browser application as well.



Changing Your Password

When you log on for the first time, use the password assigned to you by the System Administrator. Afterwards, you can change the password anytime you like, if you have the user rights to do so.

  1. Under the Controls/Edit menu, click Password. The Set Password window appears.
  2. Enter your current password in the top box, then enter the new password (min. 4 chars.) into the middle (New) and bottom (Confirm) boxes.
  3. Click Save to save the new password, or Cancel to keep the old password.

Setting Preferences

Each user has a set of preferences used when searching, displaying or downloading news objects. Click Preferences in the Controls frame to set your user preferences
If needed, System Administrators can configure preferences for Users and Groups, or allow users to set their own preferences.
Setting Default Search Preferences
  • Enable Auto Update - Click to automatically perform a search every minute using the current search criteria and display the latest results. See Auto Update
  • View Mode - Click to select how search results are displayed. For more information, See Displaying Search Results.
  • Object Label - Select the name that appears under a Search Results Thumbnail or Mixed view photo. Choices are ObjectName, Headline or Transmission Reference Number.
  • Startup Search Mode - Click to select the search interface (Advanced or Simple) to use when you log into the AP Server.
  • Default Simple Search - You can select a Saved Search to be performed every time you log into the AP Server (Startup Search Mode - Simple). Saved Searches created for you by the System Administrator will also appear here.
  • Default Advanced Search - You can select a Saved Search to be performed every time this user logs into the AP Server (Startup Search Mode - Advanced). Saved Searches created for you by the System Administrator will also appear here.

Note: After making changes to the Default Search Preferences, you must log off and log in again for the changes to take effect.


Setting Download Preferences

  • Default Download Location - Enter the path to a folder on your computer that will be the default folder for downloads if no other specific folder is selected. If no Default Download Location is entered, downloaded files go to the C:/My Documents folder. (Mac - Look in the Web Browser application folder)
    If this download location is changed via the "Save All To..." button, the new location will used as the default location for subsequent downloads in the same session.
  • Enable Download Diagnostics - Click to view status reports when downloading objects.
  • Use Simple Download - (Mac Only) - Select to enable Drag & Drop downloading of individual components. If unchecked, a Java applet is used. Some versions of Netscape Communicator may quit when using the Java applet. In this case, use Simple Download.
  • Always prompt for components to download - When selected, you will always be prompted to choose the individual components every time you download an object.
  • Components to Download - These are the four components that make up a News object. Not all of these will be available for all objects:
    • Thumbnail - a 128 x 128 pixel mini version of the full size object.
    • Preview - A 512 x 512 pixel version of the original Hi-res image.
    • IPTC text - The textual information embedded into the object.
    • Source/HI_RES - The high-resolution, full size image from the database.
  • Download File Name Options
    You can customize the filename of a downloaded object to suit your needs. The filename is divided into three sections: Prefix, Main and Suffix. You can select to place any of the following object parameters in any of the three positions:
    • Nothing - The section is not used.
    • User Name - The User who downloaded the object.
    • Arrival Date - The date the object arrived into the AP Server NT database.
    • Current Date - Todays date.
    • Object Name - The name of the object as shown in the IPTC header.
    • Trans. Ref. - The Transmission Reference No. used to track the object.
    • Headline - The IPTC Headline Field text.

    More about Filenames:
    1. A unique number is added to the end of the filename for file individuality.
    2. The computer you are using also affects the downloaded file name.
    On a Macintosh, the entire filename is limited to 32 characters. Any extra characters are lost. On a Windows PC, the entire filename is displayed.
    3. When the files are downloaded:

    • The word mini is added before the preview filename
    • The word micro is added before the thumbnail filename.
    • The IPTC text file is identified by the .XML suffix.
    • The main Hi_res/Source image has no extra prefix or suffix.
Note:

Changes to the Default Download Preferences require you to log off and log in again for the changes to take effect.


Saving your Preferences

Press the Save Changes button. These settings will be applied to your account.
If you have made a mistake, press Reset to set all preferences to their default positions.

To discard any changes you have made, press Cancel.


Related Help Topics:
Working with Ads Working with Graphics Working with Photos
The Main Screen Uploading Files Searching For Files
Setting Preferences Downloading Files IPTC Header Codes