While the optimal choice for converting documents to PDFs as well as editing them would be Adobe Acrobat, there are other options available. If a file is a Microsoft Office document and it needs to be converted into PDF (grant applications for example), it can be done by going to File, Save as, then scrolling to PDF. This option is available in Microsoft Office versions 2010 and 2013. For the 2007 version a plugin is available as well. Files that are created in OpenOffice or LibreOffice also have the Save as PDF option available.

One alternative to Adobe Acrobat is Foxit Reader. This software is able to convert your document to PDF as well as annotate it. While there is no option to merge or split the document, Foxit Reader allows you to edit the document by adding text, signatures and notes. To convert a document to PDF, open it with Foxit Reader, then click Save as and scroll down to PDF. While Foxit Reader is a very good alternative for converting files into PDFs, pdfcreator is another alternative. Pdfcreator allows you to create PDFs as well, but the options to edit, merge the files is only available in either the Pro version or as a separate module.

If annotation is needed, the alternative programs usually include this option. Foxit Reader includes options to highlight, strike out, and add notes to the PDF document.  Although Adobe Reader also comes with the option to annotate documents, only the paid version (Acrobat Pro) allows you to create PDF files as well.  Although there are websites that will convert your documents into PDF, this is not advisable as many websites store your files for a certain amount of time before deleting them. Some websites also do not notify you of how they handle your files in their terms of services or private policies. 

Links

Foxit Reader:

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/Secure_PDF_Reader/

Microsoft Office 2007 PDF Plugin:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=9943

LibreOffice:

https://www.libreoffice.org/

Quick Facts on Backing up an Apple Machine 

Time Machine:  Creates a backup on an external hard drive.

Setting up Time Machine/Restoring your backup

Another Tutorial: 

Download the Time Machine Editor here, so you can set the default backup time. 

Alternatives to Time Machine

LabView is a campus site license.  Click the image below to view the walkthrough PDF of the installation process. 

Browsing through the different cloud services offered, the important thing to keep in mind is whether the data is stored in the U.S, storage size, and whether the researcher’s intellectual property is protected. Looking at five cloud providers (Amazon, Google, Dropbox, Box.com, and OneDrive) we see that all providers aim to protect your intellectual property. However, they will always grant themselves rights to your property to the “extent necessary to provide the service” which usually means the rights to host your files.

Next is the issue of storage size.

• Google Drive - Unlimited storage between Email and Drive.
• Microsoft’s OneDrive - currently at a 25GB storage quota with unlimited coming soon.
• The other services offer the standard 5-15GB of personal storage.

Regarding export control, personal accounts with OneDrive, Google Drive, and Amazon Cloud do not guarantee that the information is stored in the U.S. The only two services that guarantee that are Box.com and DropBox. Dropbox uses Amazon’s cloud storage system S3 whose regions are in the U.S. Box.com states in their Terms of Service that your data is stored in the U.S.

Your Rights in the Cloud

Usually cloud providers will give you full rights to your files, granted they are not violating DMCA policies. However OneDrive takes a harsher stance and reserves the right to take down anything that they feel necessary without notice or reason.

Data Breach in the Cloud:

Security breaches can be a major concern in the cloud. For example, NASDAQ servers were breached in 2010, having their sensitive data spied on. When putting your information on the cloud, be wary of the consequences when the data is compromised.

Outages can also be problematic. If a server goes down in a cloud storage center, the data might not be recoverable as has happened to major cloud companies in the past. If uptime is important for your files, keep that in mind when looking for cloud providers.

“Simply put: don't put anything in the cloud that you would not want anyone else seeing.”

Questions Researchers should ask:

• Is my data stored in the U.S? (Export Control)
• Is my intellectual property protected?
• What is the size of the cloud drive? Upload limit?
• What platforms can access the cloud?
• Does it come with an editor?
• Is my data encrypted?
• Does placing my data in the cloud violate any HIPPA/FERPA/Federal/State regulations?

Moving Through the Sections

Click the Save and next button to navigate to the next section in your data management plan. To navigate to other sections of your data management plan, use the section links in left hand column of your screen. Simply click on the section you wish to go to, and you will be taken to that section of your plan. Reminder: as you input text in the box, it is automatically saved. You can also use the Save button (located at the bottom of the text box) to save your text at any time. Each section of the plan is numbered, and a check mark will appear beside each section you have completed.

Resource Links

Resource links located in the right-hand column of each section of the DMP interface, offers a series of available links that will assist in the creation of your personal data management plan. Each link opens in a new window. You will have access to both institution-specific resources (dependent upon what institution you are partnered with), as well as general resources.

Editing Features

The text box offers a few editing features (located above the text entry box): bold, italic, underline, strikeout, superscript, subscript, find, replace, spell check, cut, copy, paste, undo, redo, bullet lists, link and unlink. As you input text in the box, it is automatically saved. You can also use the Save button (located at the bottom of the text box) to save your text at any time.

Help Text

Help text is offered for each section. It appears above the text entry box. The Help box defaults to the smallest size, but if you'd like to see more help text, you can select the medium box size option. If you'd like to see all of the help text available, click full. Select small to return the Help box to its default size.  Use the information in the Help box and the questions within the box, to develop your responses to that specific requirement (section).

Edit an Existing Plan 

Once you have begun a plan, you will have the option to edit it. From the My Data Management Plans Page (found by clicking My Plans on the top navigation bar), you will see a list of existing plans. To edit an existing plan, click [edit]. This will send you to the Plan description page of your plan. From here, on the left-side, click on whichever section of the plan you are interested in editing.

Export a Plan

There are two ways to export your plan:

1. After completing the final section for your specific grant, press Save and next. Your data management plan is displayed. At the top of this page, you have the option to export your plan as "Plain Text" or as "Rich Text" (which can be used in Microsoft Word). To export your plan, choose your format and then click the Export button. This will save the plan you have just generated to your computer.
2. There is an export feature available from the My Plans page. Locate the plan you wish to export, select whether you would like to export your plan to a plain text or a rich text file, and then click the Export button. This will save the plan to your computer.

Sharing a Plan

The DMPTool allows you to share, via a web link, your data management plan. The shared plan will be a PDF version of your plan. Only those with the link will be able to view your plan. They will not be able to edit your version of the plan. To share a plan, and create a web link, click [share] under the plan you wish to share. An active URL, link, will appear. You can send the link to those you wish to view your plan. You can stop sharing your plan by selecting [retract].

MatLab tutorials are available directly from the Mathworks website itself. Although the full tutorial set can be purchased, most of the basic tutorials for MatLab and Simulink are available freely for students and faculty (Academic use only) with a registered account on their website.  Particularly beneficial are the MatLab and Simulink tutorials totaling around two hours each. However other tutorials include Signal Processing, Control Systems and Computational Mathematics. Likewise if visual learning is preferred, Mathworks also has their own YouTube channel which contains videos on MatLab, Simulink as well as modeling, and graphing with this software.

There is also a crash course for MatLab from a North Carolina State University Professor, which gives a general introduction on MatLab showing how to enter data, program with MatLab and solve mathematical problems.  With regards to engineering, the University of Michigan provides numerous control tutorials. Rutgers also provides online PowerPoint slides and videos as an introduction to both MatLab and Psychtoolbox, which is a collection of MatLab/GNU/Octave functions used for vision research.  

References:

MatLab course available from their own website: mathworks.com, Price: Free for students and faculty (Registration required),

• http://www.mathworks.com/academia/student_center/tutorials/index.html?s_tid=acmain_lrn_tut

Full MatLab fundamentals course costs $200
Mathworks has videos on YouTube for MatLab: 

• https://www.youtube.com/user/MATLAB

Crash course in MatLab:

• http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mahaider/RTM_Matlab_Intro.pdf

Control tutorials for MatLab (Engineering):

• http://ctms.engin.umich.edu/CTMS/index.php?aux=Home

MatLab for Linear Algebra:

• http://www.mathematics.jhu.edu/matlab/Default.htm

MatLab tutorial from Rutgers:

• http://ruccs.rutgers.edu/matlab_course/course_materials.php

MatLab tutorial from Eindhoven University of Technology:

• http://www.imc.tue.nl/

Stony Brook University Library provides research guides that can be found at http://guides.library.stonybrook.edu/