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Frequently Asked Web Questions

What application should I use to create web pages?

We recommend Adobe Contribute for most users and Adobe Dreamweaver if you need to administrate whole sites or if you work with html code. Please contact Software services 360-650-3159 for licenses for these items.

Who can I contact if I have a web-related question?

If you have a question which isn't answered in this FAQ document, call the Help Desk at 360-650-3333 or visit them in 123 Haggard Hall.

Are there web classes or training sessions available?

ATUS offers workshops on Dreamweaver and on Contribute at the Student Technology Center. Additional courses are sometimes offered through the University's Extended Programs. Students, Faculty and Staff are all welcome to take courses at the STC.

Visit http://training.wwu.edu for more information

Who can create web pages at Western Washington University and how do I get started?

All faculty, staff, and students have web space allocated for their use. Please see MyWeb for more information.

Departments that wish to start a new web site should contact WebHelp for instructions or fill out this online form.

Who do I contact if I find an error in Western's web site?

Before reporting errors, please check to see who operates the web site in question. On many sites, a contact e-mail address is listed at the bottom of the page. If you can't determine the author of the page, please use our online form to report the error, or send the page address (URL) from the browser address bar and a description of the problem to WebHelp. We will attempt to forward your message to the appropriate party.

What computer systems support web pages, and what restrictions apply?

Personal web pages (MyWeb) for students, faculty, and staff are stored on your U drive. See MyWeb for more information.

Departments and Departmental Centers or Labs can publish web pages on Ra which is tailored to provide simple access for Windows users.

Dynamic Web - neither Ra nor MyWeb support server code environments such as PHP, ASP, or .NET, however we will be announcing new dynamic web capabilities during the 2009-2010 school year.

Please see Servers or contact WebHelp for more information.

What is "Samba"?

Not a dance step, "Samba" is an application that allows Windows or Mac users to access a directory on a UNIX machine as a networked drive. This is most commonly used to grant access to our web server, Ra.

When a user needs access to change a web site they use the New Website Request form. Using their universal username we then give the user a "Samba share" linking their username with the particular directory or "share" on the server. Once this access is granted the user maps a network drive to \\ra.cc.wwu.edu\sharename, which creates "drag-and-drop" access to their website on Ra. Note that "sharename" is the same as the http://www.wwu.edu/sharename that is part of the address of the website.

Why do I need a Titan account to get access to Ra?

Because that's the way our servers work! Titan and Ra have the same authentication process. To get a Titan account go to the esign form and fill it in carefully with these answers:
Yes
Faculty (or Staff)
Need Titan Account or modem pool access
then skip the Computer Account Context Changes
First drop down choose : Titan

And then all your personal info at the bottom of the page.

Can I put a counter on my webpages to find out how many visitors I have?

Sure - there are lots of free ones available. Go here to get instructions for one we recommend.