Mechanical Engineering

BP Computer Laboratory Information - Welcome

We hope that you find the new systems to be productive and enjoyable to use. We will keep this page updated with frequently asked questions (FAQ's) and with announcements from the lab. Please check back from time to time to keep updated.

User Profiles: Your user profile will not be saved when you log off. This means that any work you save to the desktop, the "User" folder, or the local drive WILL NOT BE SAVED. We recommended that you work out of “Documents” until you have finished your session in the lab, then copy your data files to your home drive or a USB flash drive before you log off.

Account/Storage Access: Your account storage is now provided by the University system. Your storage is now the same 500 MB that you access from any open-access lab.

Microsoft Office Macro Security: To aid in preventing malicious code on your account, macro security has been set to the default (High) for all Microsoft Applications. When starting Office applications you must acknowledge the macro warning and enable macros for the session.

FORTRAN: *Note* - To compile and run a FORTRAN file, it must be located in a writeable directory; this means it should be located in the Documents folder or on your nt(continuum)(H:) drive. Open LF Console Prompt (located under Start->All Programs->Lahey Fujitsu Fortran Express v7.1). Move to the directory the file is located in (by either using the cd command or typing in the root drive, such as H:). To compile the program, type "LF95 filename", without quotes and where filename is the name of the file to be compiled. After the file has compiled, it can be run by typing in the file name and pressing enter.

As an example, there is a demo file located at C:\LF9571\Examples\demo.f90. Copy and paste this file to your nt(continuum)(H:) drive. Open up an LF Console Prompt and type the following statements pressing ENTER at the end of each line:

    • H:
    • LF95 demo
    • demo

Scanning Services: Scanning services are available at the help desk. Please see a lab assistant for assistance.

Printing: The default printer has been set to the Microsoft XPS Document Writer. This will write your work to an XPS file. This default printer has been assigned to ensure that you select the correct printer and job before it is submitted to a physical printer to prevent wasted toner and paper.

Available Printers:

  • Undergraduate Lab
    • Monochrome: Ricoh Aficio MP 1350 PCL6 (room 325)
    • Color: Xerox Phaser 7300DX (room 325)
    • Plotter: HP DesignJet 4500ps HP-GL/2 (room 325)

Print Charges:

  • Monochrome: $0.08 per page
  • Color: $1.00 per page
  • Plots: $1.00 per sheet

The print allocation is $60.00 per person, per semester. This allocation does not come from any fee that you paid, it is simply a way to keep track of print charges. When you run out of print funds, no additional funds will be made until the start of the next semester.

Laboratory Rules and Regulations:

  • No food or tobacco products are allowed in the lab. Drinks make be brought into and consumed in the lab, but only if the drink container has a cap/lid to prevent spills. Drinks must not be left on desks or near equipment. Clean up before you leave.

  • Maintain a harassment free environment. Individuals may consider behavior harassment if (1) the behavior is unwelcome; and (2) the behavior interferes with your ability, or the ability of others to work or study; and (3) the behavior creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

  • All computer software is the property of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. Software piracy is a federal criminal offense and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

  • No one is allowed to install software for personal, instructional, or evaluation purposes. Software is defined as commercial, freeware, or shareware.

  • The "locking" of workstations is not permitted for time periods greater than ten minutes.

  • Upon exiting the lab, clean your work area and push chair(s) under desk(s).

  • In the event of a fire alarm, everyone must immediately exit the building and remain outside the building until the alarm stops sounding.