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Faculty and Staff FAQs - Software
What Software programs are available for free to Columbia Medical Center Faculty and Staff?
Columbia Medical Center has licenses for:
as well as other programs. When your affiliation with Columbia ends, you are no
longer covered under the university license and must uninstall any of these programs from your personal computer(s).
Where can I take classes to learn software programs?
Our Computer Training page has current information on available software and computer classes. Online courses on various programs are also available at Columbia's Learning and Development site; see the Online Learning and Classroom Learning links under the heading on the right column of their webpage. |
Why can't I view streaming video via QuickTime?
Firewalls on your own computer and the CUMC network can block streaming video in QuickTime if the program hasn't been configured
properly. For instructions on changing QuickTime's settings to allow streaming video through these firewalls, please see CNMTL's page at:
http://ccnmtl.columbia.edu/projects/video/windows_firewall/
SAS and SPSS FAQs
Where can I purchase SPSS or SAS?
You must first fill out the online form to purchase SPSS or
SAS - please review all information on the licensing and policy pages that precede the forms. Refunds cannot be given once your order has been placed.
If you are purchasing a new license, after submitting the form you can pick up your license and any purchased software at the CUMC IT Service Desk on the 2nd floor of the
Hammer Building during their hours of operation. Anyone purchasing a renewal license by FAS account can automatically download the license as soon as the form is submitted, and will not need to pick up a license in person.
Please be sure to read all of the licensing policies for these
programs thoroughly or call the Service Desk at extension
5-Help, option 5, with any specific questions.
What is the difference between SPSS and SAS?
Both programs offer slightly different components and features for statistical data analysis. These differences may not matter, or may depend on the type of data and research you will be doing. It is best to consult with others in your department or program to see what they typically use, or visit the SPSS and SAS vendor web sites for detailed information.
Please keep in mind that the Service Desk only offers a specific bundle of components for either software program; current information can be found on the individual licensing pages: SAS or SPSS. It may be possible to purchase additional components and add-ons directly from the vendor, please contact them directly for details.
Macintosh users: SAS does not run natively on Mac OS 10, the SAS company advises Mac users to install Boot Camp/Windows in order to run SAS on a Macintosh computer. SPSS does offer versions that run on Mac OS 10.4 (Tiger) and 10.5 (Leopard).
In general, most people seem to stick with the statistical program that they first began using, without needing to change to a different program even if their data analysis needs change.
How do I know what kind of license to order or whether I need an installation kit?
Please check ALL of the following to help you determine what to order, whether for SAS or SPSS:
- Verify that your computer's operating system and hardware are compatible with the version you will be ordering - refunds will not be given after your order is placed under any circumstances.
Licenses will only work on matching versions of SAS and SPSS, i.e. purchasing a license for version 9.2 will not work if your computer has version 9.1.3 installed on it. Please see the SAS and SPSS web sites for compatibility information, or contact the vendor directly if you need further assistance.
- If your computer already has an expired version installed and you wish to just continue running this same version, you must purchase a renewal license for the same version currently on your computer. NOTE: the Service Desk can only provide the two most recent versions for licensing. If you are running an older version you must upgrade to one of the available versions. This entails purchasing an installation kit and a new license.
- If you would like to install on a computer that does not currently have the program, you must purchase a new license AND an installation kit.
- One installation kit may be used to install on multiple computers, however you must purchase the appropriate number of licenses to cover each installation.
- If you would like to upgrade the version that is currently running on your computer, you must purchase a new license AND an installation kit.
After ordering, how do I receive my license?
- If you have ordered a new license, you must come in to the CUMC IT Service Desk to sign it. This can be done by either the person who submitted the online order form, or the person that was designated in the "Picked up by (if not licensee):" field at the bottom of the form. The license will then be emailed to the licensee only. We are not able to email the license to anyone else due to licensing regulations.
- If you have ordered a renewal license and are paying by check or cash (SAS orders only - SPSS must be paid by FAS account number), you must come into the CUMC IT Service Desk to sign the license and pay. This can be done by either the person who submitted the online order form, or the person that was designated in the "Picked up by (if not licensee):" field at the bottom of the form. The license will then be emailed to the licensee only. We are not able to email the license to anyone else due to licensing regulations.
- If you have ordered a renewal license and are paying by FAS account number, you may download your license online after submitting the online form. An electronic signature/agreement is given when completing the process online, and web pages will step you through the process of downloading. If you experience problems during the download please contact the Service Desk at 5-Help, option 5, or email 5help@columbia.edu. NOTE: downloading is disabled approximately a month prior to the license's end date. If you wish to purchase a license that will run for less than this time, you must order online and come to the Service Desk to pick up as noted above.
What is the software license period? Why does it end on a set date, regardless of when I purchased and installed it?
Both SAS and SPSS companies have a set license period for their software that allows it to run during a specific time frame each year:
- SAS - September 1st through August 31st
- SPSS - July 30th to July 29th
The software will stop running at the end of its license period regardless of the purchase or installation date. Another license must be purchased to keep using the software. The periods are set by the SAS and SPSS companies and cannot be changed or prorated.
Can I get a refund for my license or order?
Refunds cannot be given under any circumstances after the order is placed. This is stated in multiple places on the SAS and SPSS Licensing information pages, the Licensing Policy page, and on the order forms themselves. We are not able to give refunds due to licensing contracts with the vendors. It is your responsibility to verify that you are ordering the correct license for your computer(s). You can contact the CUMC IT Service Desk, or the SPSS and SAS companies directly with any questions prior to ordering. The Service Desk is not able to verify version compatibility with your computer.
What are the available versions and cost?
Please see the licensing information pages: SAS and SPSS.
When are the next year's licenses made available?
We try to have the following year's licenses available the month prior to the end of the current license period. CUIT at Morningside initiates the site license purchase for Columbia each year, we receive notice on when these are available to sell to the CUMC community via CUIT - if you are CUMC faculty, staff or student you must purchase your license through the CUMC IT Service Desk to receive the Columbia site license discount. The Licensing pages are updated on our web site as soon as new licenses or versions are available.
Why can't the CUMC IT Service Desk assist me with troubleshooting SAS and SPSS?
Staff at the Service Desk must stay current on a wide variety of applications and resources that are in use by the CUMC community, however the SAS and SPSS programs are used in many different ways and are so complex that it can be difficult to provide support even when someone is well versed on using the programs. SAS and SPSS both provide excellent technical support for their software, and it is possible to contact them directly to receive troubleshooting assistance:
If you have questions about ordering or installing your license, please do contact us at extension 5-Help, option 5 or email 5help@columbia.edu.
Office 2007 FAQs
How can I install Office 2007? CUMC has a site license that covers Medical Center students as well as faculty and staff of most departments. Please see the Software Downloads page or use your UNI and password to log in at the Microsoft download page. Any faculty or staff that are not able to log in should contact their Department Administrator to verify that the department is participating in the site license.
Please note that these are large files and may take a while to download to your computer. |
Should I Upgrade to Office 2007?
There are a number of things to take into consideration when upgrading, most importantly the system requirements to verify that your computer will be able to use Office 2007. It's also best to run Windows Update before installing, to make sure that your computer has all of the latest Microsoft patches.
You should allow yourself a little time to get used to the new layout and features, and check for backwards compatibility if you'll be sending Office 2007 files regularly to others that may not be upgrading. There are workarounds to most issues with backwards compatibility at this point, but if you work with an Access database that is used by others as well it is best to consult with your IT support staff prior to upgrading.
How can I open files created with Office 2007 on an older version of Office? Office 2007 creates XML based files by default, which cannot be opened in earlier versions of Office. As a quick work-around, you can use "Save As" option in Office 2007: select the multicolored Office icon in the upper left corner of the program, then "Save As" -> "97-2003" option. If you'd like it to save this way by default, select the Office icon and "Options" in the lower right corner of the window that appears, then "Save" from the list on the left, and change the "Save files in this format" drop down menu to the "97-2003" option.
Windows computers that have not upgraded can install the Microsoft Compatibility pack to allow them to open the XML based files, however any formatting or features that are only available in 2007 will be lost. Please visit http://www.microsoft.com/downloads and search for "compatibility pack".
Macintosh computers can try Microsoft's free converter at http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads.aspx, please look for the link to the Microsoft Office Open XML File Format Converter. There is also a free document conversion utility available at http://docx-converter.com.
Is there training available for Office 2007? Online training for Office 2007 is can is available on Microsoft's training page: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training. Here you can find tutorials for all of the programs, and take them at your own pace.
How can I quickly find a command or menu option I used in Office 2003 in my Office 2007 version?
Microsoft's web site has an interactive guide that lets you view the 2003 version of an Office program, select a command or option you used to use, and then show you how to select the same option within the 2007 version: Microsoft's Guide to the 2007 Office system user interface
What's new in Office 2007?
The primary change with Microsoft's latest release is the Ribbon, graphical user interface that replaces the tool and menu bars:
The "File" menu option from older versions is essentially replaced by the Office button, circled in purple above. Other menu options are now tabs rather than drop down menus. The Ribbon offers available options within the program in an easy to navigate, tabbed browser-like bar, rather than a hierarchical set of options. It is more intuitive for those not already familiar with Office programs, however it will take some getting used to for those who have used past versions of regularly.
How can I quickly find a command or menu option I used in Office 2003 in my Office 2007 version?
Microsoft's web site has an interactive guide that lets you view the 2003 version of an Office program, select a command or option you used to use, and then show you how to select the same option within the 2007 version: Microsoft's Guide to the 2007 Office system user interface
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Last updated 8/04/2009
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