Message of the Day (MOTD) enables you to monitor the latest news regarding central computing facilities and the campus networks.

Install MOTD    Using MOTD    Configure MOTD   

How to subscribe to MOTD RSS news feed     MOTD RSS

Message of The Day

• runs all the time on your PC
• monitors the central message server maintained by ISS
• notifies you in a configurable way when it changes
• displays the new MOTD text

MOTD is installed on ISS lab PCs and can be used straight away (see below). On other networked PCs, the program has to be installed.

Installation of MOTD is very simple.

After you have installed it, MOTD will start running, and thereafter it will run automatically whenever you start Windows. By default, whenever the centrally-held message changes, the program icon will move to alert you to open the MOTD window and read it. Optionally, you can configure the program with the Preferences command on the Options menu to pop up automatically when the message changes, or alert you by playing a sound file.

MOTD will run under

• Windows XP/Vista/7 - recommended
• Windows 2000 - legacy

Installing MOTD 

Please follow the installation instructions below exactly; do not attempt to vary them by connecting a drive to the network path.

Installing on Windows:

1. Click on the 'Start' button, then click on 'Run' option - see 'Run' dialog.
2. In the 'Open' box type:

\\lancs\software\free\software\uol\motd\4.12.028\Message of the Day.msi  

3. click OK.
4. click 'Start' button then 'Programs' option, then 'Startup' option then 'Message of the day' option - see MOTD start.

MOTD will start automatically from now on.

Using MOTD 

When running, MOTD does not appear as an item on the taskbar. Instead, a small yellow icon is placed in the notification area, which is at the right hand side of the taskbar and looks like this:

A single mouse click on the yellow 'M' icon will open the MOTD window.

Configuring MOTD  

If you are using your computer to give a presentation, it is very annoying if MOTD pops-up. It is possible to inhibit the pop-up.

1. click on the small 'M' icon in the system tray at the bottom right of your screen - see MOTD appear.
2. click on 'View' menu then 'Options' option - see dialog.
3. click on the Accessibility tab.
4. ensure that the 'Use the large alert window to notify me of changes' is not selected.
5. click OK.
6. close the MOTD window

Unless the PC you are configuring is commonly used for presentations - re-enable to pop-up after the presentation by running through the above instructions and reversing the option change. MOTD is used to distribute important information.

RSS Feed 

MOTD is available as an RSS Feed. Assuming that you have a news reader e.g. the Google news reader, to view subscribe to MOTD:

 subscribe to MOTD - click on the link to subcribe to the MOTD RSS feed

Or:

1. start your preferred browser.
2. in the address line type: http://motd.lancs.ac.uk/rss then press Enter - see the MOTD news feed and a method of subscribing.
3. follow instructions.

Alternatively, use the 'Add Feed' feature of your 'news' application and type in the above link.

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