Getting+Started

Welcome to your first step in becoming part of ABschools!

As always, you have two options:

Option 1: Click here to download a great PDF complete with table of contents, step-by-step instructions and helpful pictures.

Option 2: Read below for easy step-by-step instructions for those of you who are more familiar with Gmail and its workings!

**Quick Guide: Getting Started with ABSchools** **1. Log into ABSchools and Accept Terms of Use**
 * Enter mail.abschools.org in your web browser and enter your user name and initial password. The initial password was included in the **Welcome to ABSchools** email
 * Scroll to the bottom of the page, through the Terms of Use, and type the characters in the security box to accept the terms and continue logging into your account.

**2. Change your password**
 * You will be prompted to change your password as soon as you are logged into Google for the first time.

**3. Welcome to your ABSchools account!**
 * The ABSchools mail window is like your FirstClass desktop. This is where you will read, respond to, compose, and organize your email.

**4. Clear Your Inbox (Note: you only have to do this once)** Check your messages. You may have FirstClass conference messages in your Inbox, and y ou’ll want to move those messages and start with a clean Inbox!
 * Check the box and click on the drop-down arrow above the mail in your Inbox, and choose **All.**
 * Click on the link that allows you to choose **all** of the conversations (a.k.a., messages) in your Inbox, not just the ones that display on the page.
 * Click on the drop-down arrow next to **Move to** and choose the appropriate label.
 * Click OK to acknowledge the warning, if needed.
 * Notice that your Inbox is cleaned up, and those messages now appear in the right place.

**5. Create a Filter for FirstClass Conference Messages**
 * Creating a filter will ensure that your ABRHS messages in FirstClass won’t end up in your Inbox
 * in the future.
 * Click on the **Create a Filter** button at the top of the Inbox
 * Enter abrhs @ abschools . org in the **From** box, and then click **Next Step**.
 * Follow these steps to create the filter:
 * 1) Check the **Skip the Inbox** box.
 * 2) Check the **Apply the label** box**.**
 * 3) Choose **ABRHS** from the drop-down list next to **Apply the label**.
 * 4) Click on **Create Filter**.

**6. Redirect Your FirstClass Messages** **//THIS STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT!//** You will still receive mail in your FirstClass mailbox from people who are not using their new ABSchools account. Redirecting your FirstClass mail to your ABSchools account allows you to read your FirstClass mail without having to log into FirstClass.
 * Open FirstClass and go to Edit>Preferences
 * Click on the Messaging tab
 * Enter your new ABSchools email address in the box, and make sure that the forward message box is set to REDIRECT, not Forward.
 * Click OK to save the changes.

**7. Congratulations!** You’re ready to start using your ABSchools.org account. Be sure to contact a member of the ABRHS Google Go-To Team if you have questions.

**A note of caution for Internet Explorer Users…** Google applications run best on Google’s web browser called Chrome. Google Apps will also run well on Firefox, or on Safari (Mac).

If you are currently using Internet Explorer and you notice issues when sharing documents, consider switching to Chrome.

ABRSD EdTech Dept.2Last Modified: 06/12/11