This document provides instructions for using various features of the Virtual Doc platform, including: 1. Logging in, changing passwords, and editing user profiles. 2. Creating and writing blog posts, and importing blog content. 3. Creating and joining groups to facilitate discussions.

1. Virtual Doc - How to
Logging into the Virtual Doc! 1
Changing passwords! 1
User profile! 2
Editing your profile! 2
Adding / changing your profile Picture! 3
Editing your Profile! 4
Your Personal Blog! 5
Creating a Personal Blog! 5
Writing a blogpost! 5
Viewing your blog! 7
Changing your blogʼs template! 7
Importing the content of your personal blog into your Virtual Doc web
presence! 8
Groups! 8
Creating a Group! 9
Joining a Group! 9
Logging into the Virtual Doc
Go to http://virtual-doc.salford.ac.uk/
Type the provided user name and password on to the respective fields (top left-hand corner)
This step will give you access to the collective spaces (groups), as well as to your personal profile page.
Changing passwords
Once you are logged in, go to “My Account” (the menu on the top of the page), select ‘Settings” and then
click ‘General’.
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2. You will be taken to your ‘Personal Space’
Change the password by typing your new password twice. Remember to ‘Save Changes’
User profile
Every user will have a profile page where he/she can provide relevant information about his/her research.
Editing your profile
Go to “My Account” (the menu on the top of the page), select ‘Profile’ and click on ‘Edit Profile’
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3. You will be taken to a new page, where you can add information to the fields available. Only the filled out
sections will be displayed on your public profile.
Make sure to provide as much information as possible in order to help others identify your research
interests and research areas.
N.B: agreement with the Virtual Doc terms of use is a mandatory filed. Please make sure to signal your
choice.
Remember to click ‘Save Changes’ to publish your profile.
Adding / changing your profile Picture
Go to “My Account” (the menu on the top of the page), select ‘Profile’ and click on ‘change avatar’
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4. You will be taken to a new page, where you will be able to upload a new picture.
Click ‘Browse’, select a picture from your hard drive, and then click ‘Upload Image’.
Editing your Profile
Go to “My Account” (the menu on the top of the page), select ‘Profile’ and click on ‘Edit Profile’.
You will be taken to a new page, where you can add information to the fields available.
Click ‘Save Changes’ to publish your profile.
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5. Your Personal Blog
As a member of the Virtual Doc space you will be able to create a personal blog.
Creating a Personal Blog
Go to “My Blogs” (the menu on the top of the page), and click ‘Create a Blog’.
You will be asked to add information regarding your future blog.
Type the relevant information to the field boxes and click ‘Create Blog’ to activate it:
Blog Name: that will be the web address (url) of your blog. Choose something short and user lower
cases. [Please notice that this cannot be changed once the blog has been created]
Blog Title - this is the title that will appear on the top of the blog. This can be changed at any time,
through your blog’s dashboard
N.B: Regrading Privacy of your blog, you can chose “not to have it appear in search engines like
Google and Technorati”. Yet, if you decide for this option, please be aware that your blog will not
appear on the network’s blog directory nor will it be included in your profile.
Writing a blogpost
Go to “My Blogs” (the menu on the top of the page), select your ‘Blog’s Title’ (in case you have more
than one blog), and click ‘Dashboard’
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6. This step will take you to the backend of your blog. It should look similar to the image below.
To write a new post (text), click On ‘Post’, on the left hand side menu, and then on “Add New’
The ‘add new post’ page should look like this:
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7. The ‘Add New Post’ page features two main text boxes, where you will be asked to:
•Type the title of your post in the top text box;
•Type your text.
Tip: Preferably write your text in a word document and copy and paste it on to the main ‘text box’, as not
to lose your text in case something fails while saving it.
Once, you have written your text, hit the blue ‘Publish’ button on the right hand side frame to publish your
post.
NB: Posts are usually described with relevant tags (keywords) and categories (themes). Tags are a kind of
micro meta-data used to describe the content of your blog posts. They are quite important in the online
publishing world as they improve the “searchability” of your content, both within and beyond your Social
Network Site presence. Tags and Categories can be added while you are in ‘edit mode’.
Tags and categories text boxes can be found right below the blue ‘Publish’ post button
Viewing your blog
To view your blog, go to “My Account” (the menu on the top of the page), and click on ‘Blogs’.
It will take you to your personal page inside the Virtual Doc Site where your blogs are lists (provided you
didn’t made the blog private).
Changing your blogʼs template
Go to “My Blogs” (the menu on the top of the page), select your ‘Blog’s Title’, and click on ‘Dashboard’
Click on ‘Appearance’, on the left hand side menu, and then on “Themes’. After identifying the theme you
want to use for your personal blog. Click ‘Activate”. It will update the ‘looks’ of your blog.
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8. Importing the content of your personal blog into your Virtual Doc web presence
This option is useful for those who already keep a personal blog and intend to use it as part of their PhD
documented process. It will allow bloggers to automatically ‘replicate’ their blogs posts in the Virtual Doc
Space.
NB: you will need to create a blog in the Virtual Doc before activating this option.
To activate this feature, go to “My Blogs” (the menu on the top of the page), and click ‘Dashboard’ [the
menu that appears after you hover your mouse on your username/ blog.
Once in the ‘dashboard’ scroll down until you see the ‘Syndication’ menu on the left hand side frame. The
menu will expand. Click on Syndication and the following screen will appear. Copy and paste your blog’s
URL on to the text box and click ‘Add’
Enhanced Syndication features can also be activated in the Syndication menu, which can be found in your
‘Dashboard’
Groups
In the Virtual Doc you will be able to ‘Create’ and ‘Join’ existing groups.
The group feature is useful if you want to join or create thematic discussions. There will also be generic
groups such as Salford PGRs and the Library which we encourage you to join.
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9. Creating a Group
Go to the “Community” tab on the Virtual Doc main page, and select ‘Groups” from the drop down
menu. You will be take to a new screen where all existing groups are listed. You will also be able to create
a new one using the ‘Create a Group’
This step will take you to a new page, where you will be able to set up a new group by:
1. Naming it and describing its purpose;
2. Defining its privacy settings, enabling the discussion forum and/or a wall for
comments by its members;
3.
Creating a group blog (please notice this is optional – only use this feature if
considered relevant to the activity of the target group)
4. Uploading a ‘Group Avatar’ (=an image identifying the group) [Please respect copyright]
5. Inviting new members to the group (Optional)
The group will feature on the Groups’ list of the Virtual Doc. It will also be listed on your profile page,
under the option ‘My groups’ too.
N.B.: although we have no objections to members creating groups, make sure to manage the groups you
create. Don’t create groups just to test the software. Use this feature to develop groups of interest and
enhance people’s learning experiences. Group Administrators are ask to take Group moderation
responsibility, i.e., facilitate dialogue, set activities, etc.
Joining a Group
To join a Group, simply browse through the ‘Group List’, using the ‘Community’ tab >> on the Virtual
Doc’s homepage.
This step will take you to a new page, where all the existing groups in the Virtual Doc are listed.
After identifying the groups you would like to join, click ‘Join Group’.
N.B: You need to be logged in to join a group.
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10. Created by
Cristina Costa for the Research and Graduate College
University of Salford, UK
Last updated: Monday, 13 September 2010
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