Building Stepfamilies That Work © 2008

Download Site

Need help to use this site?  Click this icon -->   to see a video tutorial.

..This page:

• describes the types of files that are stored here, and what you should do with each type,

• offers three different ways to download the files, and

• provides a few technical notes.

You may need to supply your Username and Password several times as you access and download the following materials--unless, when asked, you specify that you want your browser to "remember" them. If you have forgotten your Username and Password, you will need to contact the Stepfamily Foundation of Alberta office [(403) 245-5750] to recover them.

..

Types of Files Stored

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	Surveys:  Two on-line surveys are included. They will tell you a great deal about your stepfamily and its needs. You and your partner should complete both of these surveys--but do them independently. To access either of these surveys, (single left) click their yellow, clipboard icon in the table below. All questions require an answer. Most of them will ask you to select the option that best fits your circumstances. When you have answered all of the questions, click the "Submit" button to forward your answers (electronically) for scoring.
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	Double Icons: All double icons indicate that two copies of the document (that is linked to that icon) need to be printed out--one for you and the other for your partner.
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	Readings: It is not necessary to print out the Readings documents, because you will be able to read them on your computer if you "single-click" on their icon (or title) in the tables below. However, most people do print out all of these documents, and store them in a binder, so they remain conveniently available for reference. Most of the Readings documents are stored as rich text format (.rtf) files and should open in most word processors.
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	Homework: You will need to print out the Homework exercises. Those that appear as a "double document" in the table below (and are also listed in the "Table of Contents" with an asterisk beside their title) must be printed out in duplicate, so you and your partner will each have your own copy. Most of the Homework documents are stored as rich text format (.rtf) files and should open in most word processors when you single-click on them.
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	.pdf files: In compliance with the publishers' requirements, a few of the Homework and Readings documents are stored as portable document (.pdf ) files. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to open and print these files. See the "Technical Notes" section below if you require help with these files.
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	Audio Recordings: You can play the audio files by single, left-clicking their icon in the table below. They should open in your Windows Media Player and start to play very soon after you click on them. However, because they are "streaming audio files", you will not be able to save them to your hard drive. Use the control buttons on your Windows Media Player to stop, start, pause and rewind the recording.
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	Video Recordings: You can play the video files by (single, left-) clicking their icon in the table below. They should open in your Windows Media Player and start to play very soon after you click on them. However, because they are "streaming video files", you will not be able to save them to your hard drive. Use the control buttons on your Windows Media Player to stop, start, pause and rewind the video.
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	Only click the files you wish to read or play once (i.e. "single-click" them). Double-clicking them will open up more than one copy of the file. This may cause your computer to operate very slowly or "freeze".

Option 1)      Graphical Display: The materials for each week of the course are organized into a table with eight rows—one row for each week. The icons that appear within the rows are linked to specific files. Different icons stand for different types of files. For example, a ‘document icon’ will always be linked to a text file. Double-clicking on these icons will open the file for viewing on your computer. Right-clicking, and selecting “Save As” (or “Save Target As”) will allow you to save the document to your hard drive (in a location of your choosing) in a printer-friendly format.

Folder	To View: Single left-click each icon.            To Save: Single right-click each icon and select "Save As" or "Save Target As"
Introduction	Read Me First    Table of Contents Video tutorial on using this download site [This file may take several minutes to begin playing. Its progress is displayed on the bottom left of the viewer that opens.]
Week 1	Readings Resources Survey (SSI)   Homework   [This file may take several minutes to begin playing. Its progress is displayed on the bottom left of the viewer that opens.]
Week 2	Readings    Homework Videos [These files may take several minutes to begin playing. Their progress is displayed on the bottom left of the viewer that opens.]
Week 3	Readings    Survey (SPS)  Homework
Week 4	Readings   Homework
Week 5	Readings      Homework   Audios [These files may take several minutes to begin playing. Their progress is displayed on the bottom left of the viewer that opens.]
Week 6	Readings    Homework    Audios  [This file may take several minutes to begin playing. Its progress is displayed on the bottom left of the viewer that opens.]
Week 7	Readings    Homework
Week 8	Readings   Homework

Option 2)     balance Text Display:  Under this method, the documents also appear in a table that is organized by weeks, but they are listed by title. To view them, click on the title. To download them right click on the title and select "Save As" or "Save Target As". This method is much more useful if you know the title of a file or document you wish to find. 

Option 3)       Zip Folder: Clicking the ‘zipped folder’ icon (to the left) will allow you to download all of the text files (but not video or audio files) in one operation. This method is much faster than the first two, but you will need to ‘extract’ the files from the zipped folder after it is downloaded, and then organize the files it contains on your hard drive so you will be able to find them when you need them. If you are uncomfortable using zipped files, stick with methods 1 or 2 above.

  STEP-BY-STEP DOWNLOADING INSTRUCTIONS:

To Save Files in one folder named BSTW:

You may wish to click here to print out a copy of these instructions, so you have them on hand throughout the download. 

1. Go to your desktop

2. Right click on the desktop (anywhere where there is free space)

3. When the option box pops up, select "New" and then (move across and select) "Folder"

4. This will place a new folder on your desk top called "NEW FOLDER" 

5. (Single) Left click in the text box immediately below the folder icon

6. Select all of the text in the box by dragging the cursor across it.

7. Then rename the folder by typing BSTW. [If you mess up here, work with the right mouse button to select and "Rename" the folder.]

8. Return to the BSTW download page in your browser

9. Right click on the icon, title or zip file you wish to download.

10. Select "Save Target As"

11. Select (save in) the BSTW folder. [You may need to navigate to the BSTW folder in the window at the top of the box.]

12. Left click on "Save" {Repeat for each file you wish to download.]

13. If you then select "Open Folder" you should see the file(s) you just downloaded.

14. Double click on that file to open it up for viewing

 

Please note: You will not be able to save the audio or video files. You must view them on your computer

 

  TECHNICAL NOTES:

• Most of the text documents are stored as rich text format (.rtf) files. These files will open in most word processors.

• Some documents appear as "portable document files" (.pdf). To open them you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If the .pdf files you download do not open when you double click on them, you will need to: 

1. travel to http://www.adobe.com/

2. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (It's free.)

3. Install it.

4. Once Adobe Acrobat Reader is installed on your computer, the .pdf files will open when you double click on them.

(We apologize for any inconvenience this provides. Unfortunately we are obliged to distribute these files in the manner their author requires.)

• The audio and video files should open and play in your (resident) Windows media player.

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All rights reserved. The reproduction, use, distribution or storage or of this work, in whole or in part, by any and all means, without the express written permission of the author, is strictly prohibited.