While Dropbox functions as a cross-platform cloud storage service that works with Windows, Mac, Linux, and many mobile devices with a browser, its real strength is in file synchronization, history, and sharing.  As each computer or device onto which you’ve installed Dropbox is used to access your cloud folders, your latest saved revisions to any files will be there, automatically synchronized for you.  If you’re on a public computer, you can still use your Dropbox by logging in on the web interface.  The revision history support also allows for file recovery, so any files you may have deleted or mistakenly altered can be brought back.  This makes it handy for students on the go, because you can’t lose your assignment no matter where you are.  As long as you have access to a device with the program to open, edit, and save the file, you can do your homework.

Another potentially useful feature for students is the ability to create a shared folder with other students using Dropbox, which would allow you to collaborate on a project.  It’ll keep track of the history of any files you might be working on together, enabling more than one person to edit and save files without losing the previous versions.  A quick notification will appear to other users that a change has been made.

The file history is limited to 30 days in the free version of Dropbox and the space allocation is 2GB to start, with up to 8GB possible.  Those users who want more storage (up to 100GB) and extended features can upgrade to a paid version.  If you’d like to learn more about Dropbox and how it works, click below:

Learn More about Dropbox in the Cloud

Using the right program is the first key to achieving the correct file type… The second key is clicking File and Save As (not Save) and selecting the specified file type before naming your file.

Creating .doc or .docx files

For an English class, your instructor may require you to use MS Word for your assignments.  If you don’t have MS Office (which contains Word), you can either go to any Clark computer lab or purchase a student discounted version of MS Office from the Clark College Bookstore.  MS Office is available for both Windows and Mac.  The default for saved files with Word is currently .docx (or .doc in older versions).  For older versions, Microsoft does offer a Compatibility Pack so users can open, edit and save files in the newer format.

If your instructor doesn’t require that you use MS Word and you want to explore another option, you could download and install OpenOffice, a free open source office productivity suite which includes a text editor much like Word.  Be sure to save your work in the file type that your instructor specifies, like .doc (not the default .opt file type of OpenOffice Writer).  A helpful resource for OpenOffice users is their support forum.  OpenOffice is available for many operating systems, including Windows and Mac.  It also contains a useful spreadsheet program for handling .xls and .xlsx files.

Mac users also have the option of using TextEdit, which comes with Mac OS, to save documents as .doc or .docx.  TextEdit offers only basic formatting, however.  For those Mac users who have purchased iWork, Pages will allow you to save documents in most of the common file types by using the export feature in the file menu.

Creating .pdf files

To save your work in a “Portable Document Format” or PDF, Windows users will need to use MS Word to create the file, click Save As and select pdf, if that option is available in your version of Word.

For Mac users, just hit Command and “P” to bring up your print window, click PDF, select Save as PDF and name your file before saving.  The file viewing program, Preview, will also allow Mac users to save documents in a .pdf format.

A free and commonly used program by students running Windows is Adobe Reader, but it is only for reading pdf documents, not editing or creating them. Actually editing a pdf document requires specialty software such as Adobe Acrobat. There is a free open source alternative to Adobe Acrobat, part of the OpenOffice Suite called OpenOffice Draw.  There is also OpenOffice Writer, which like its counterpart MS Word, will allow users to open, create and save files as a .pdf.

Creating .rtf files

Wordpad comes with Windows and will create a .rtf file by default (when clicking Save).

Mac users can use TextEdit, saving your work in the .rtf file format by default (when clicking Save).

Although both of these programs lack the full formatting ability of MS Word, iWork Pages or OpenOffice Writer, they are simple to use, allow some basic formatting, and they come pre-installed on Windows and Mac (you’ll find them in your Accessories or Applications folder).

Final Note…

If you are one of those students sending wps files, you are using an old program called MS Works which is very limited in the file types it’ll produce.  Your instructor will most likely be unable to read your submitted work, as would any potential employer, so it’s in your best interest to find another solution among those mentioned above.  If you need help getting set up, be sure to contact us via Tech Ticket right away.  We’re here to help you succeed!