FAQ

Q: What do I need to bring to the lab?

A: Most cases nothing. Protofab carries and provides common consumables free of charge. To be      sure, list all Bom items and supplies needed for your project in the SOW. Facility management   will let you know if any item is not available for use.

Q: How do I get my files from the Protofab computers?

A: You can download them from Protofiles SFTP server. Files sync up every hour unless you run the “Sync to Protofiles” script. New folders sync up at midnight. For details follow the steps below.

a.      Log into Signupmokey

b.     Go to Files>Request Login Credentials

c.      You will receive an email with instructions including file names.

Q: What programs are recommended for file transfer?

A: Filezilla, WinSCP, and Cyberduck are good options.

Q: Why can’t I connect to Protofiles FTP server?

A: You may be blocked either due to wrong password attempts or too many fast connection attempts       that looks like a DDOS attack. This may happen when you try to download many files at once. Email Protofab-IT@oasis.ucsb.edu and request an unblock. Notes:

• Turn off any "Retry X number of times" options. WinSCP, in particular (and maybe Filezilla), DEFAULTS to use an unlimited number of connections - so the first time you try to download many files at the same time you will likely get blocked. WinSCP has TWO settings you need to reduce - one under the Bookmark/Connection settings, the other in the main Program settings or options. Look carefully for anything that would allow multiple connections or multiple retries and reduce/disable them.

• CyberDuck has multiple Preferences Settings that you need to change. In Preferences:

-Transfers > General > Transfer Files: Open Single Connection

-Connection > UNckeck[ ] Repeat failed network tasks

Q: Can I add equipment reservations to an online calendar?

A: Yes. Log into Signupmonkey and on the “Future Reservations” , click on the “iCalendar”, and add the *.ics file to your personal calendar.

           Also, to get a URL for accessing reservation data using a program, you can simply copy the URL to the *.ics iCal file mentioned above. This URL contains encrypted login info, so returns the *.ics file without requiring the GUI login form. You can get such a URL of your own future reservations as mentioned above. You can also get a custom search (for example all the future/past reservations   from your research group/company) from the "Search" section of Signup Monkey. The results page    of any search includes a link at the top for the corresponding iCal file - copy that URL to use in your program/scripts.

Q: What are those “A” or “Rx” indicators on recipe tables?

A: Those refer to “Available” or “Rankx”, e.g., R1 means done once where Protofab has not verified the recipe. Contact the equipment owner for more information regarding history of the recipe.

Q: How do I edit a page?

A: When logged in, simply click edit on desired page. Visual Editor is the recommended method.   Please note that users are allowed to edit certain pages. See Editing Tutorials for details.

Q: How do I keep my edit if “Something Went Wrong” pops up?

A: DO NOT CLOSE your edited page. You were logged out. Follow below steps:

1.    Hit "Resume editing" on the edited page, to close the "Save Page" dialogue.

2.    Open a new web browser window.

3.    Login to the ProtoWiki on that window. On your edited page, click “Save Page” again, dismiss the error and click “Try Again” a few times if needed. Resume your revision.

Q: Why aren’t my edits showing up?

A: They will be after the approval by Protofab staff.