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School of Pharmacy

UCSF School of Pharmacy

Additional Software Requirements Fall 2006

For students entering in other class years, see Additional Software Requirements.

Unless noted otherwise below, the following software is required for all students entering this year, and much of it is provided for free to you on CD-ROM at Orientation.

If you already have the computer you plan to use this fall and you know how to download and install software from the Web, we strongly recommend that you begin these important tasks as soon as possible to enable you to better focus on Orientation activities.

Some of the software downloads below require registration, and some can take a long time to download over a slow connection. If you don't feel like registering, or if you have dialup instead of broadband, you can wait to install much of this software from the CD-ROM you'll receive for free at Orientation.

Software Application

What does it do?

Notes

Windows users must have both of the following browsers:

  • Firefox (latest version)
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 SP2

Mac users must have both of the following browsers:

  • Firefox (latest version)
  • Apple Safari 2

Enables you to view and print web pages.

All are available as free downloads:

Some of our required software or Web sites may be incompatible with your preferred Web browser or operating system. When this happens, you'll need to install a compatible browser and use it only when you need to use that particular software or Web site.

We encourage you to become comfortable using more than one Web browser.

Any one of the following:

  • Adobe Reader 7
  • Adobe Acrobat Standard 7
  • Adobe Acrobat Professional 7

What's the difference?

Enables you to view and print PDF files, which are files that let you view and print a file exactly as the author designed it, without needing to have the same application or fonts used to create the file. Learn more: Adobe Reader.

Adobe Reader is available as a free download:
Download Adobe Reader

Both of the following:

  • Macromedia Flash (latest version)
  • Macromedia Shockwave (latest version)

Enables you to view and interact with multimedia creations.

Both are available as a free download:

Sophos Anti-Virus
(UCSF site license version)

Protects your computer from computer viruses.
  • UCSF provides this software to you at no charge. You'll receive it on CD-ROM at Orientation, so you must wait until then to install it.
  • If you already have anti-virus software on your computer, we recommend that you wait until you have received your software CD-ROM at Orientation to uninstall your current anti-virus software and install Sophos instead. Sophos will protect your computer for your entire stay at UCSF at no charge whereas other anti-virus software applications will require a new subscription each year at about $40 per year.

Any software or hardware firewall

Windows users: We recommend any version of Zone Alarm by Zone Labs.
Mac users: We recommend the firewall included with Mac OS X. Details: Set up a firewall.

Protects your computer from intruders who exploit flaws in your computer's software to create annoyances or to steal or damage your data.

UCSF does not provide this software or hardware for you. Some software firewalls are available for free.
Details: Set up a firewall.

Webroot SpySweeper (Windows only)
(UCSF site license version)

Protects your computer from intruders who exploit flaws in your computer's software to create annoyances or to steal or damage your data.

  • UCSF provides this software to you at no charge. You'll receive it on CD-ROM at Orientation, so you must wait until then to install it.
  • If you already have anti-spyware software on your computer, we recommend that you wait until you have received your software CD-ROM at Orientation to uninstall your current anti-spyware software and install SpySweeper instead.
  • Mac users are not required to have anti-spyware software at this time.

All of the following:

  • QuickTime 7
  • RealOne Player 10
  • Windows Media Player 10 (Windows) or Flip4Mac (Macintosh)

Enables you to play music, video, and other media files.

All are available as free downloads:

Chime 2.6 SP6 (Windows) or
Chime 2.6 SP3 (Macintosh)

Enables you to view 3-D renderings of molecular structures on web pages.

To download: Register at [Chime Registration], then download from [Chime Download] (both links now defunct).

You will need Chime for your Chemistry 111 lab during your first week of classes.

RasMol 2.7.2.1.1 (Windows only)

Enables you to draw 3-D renderings of molecular structures.

To download: Visit RasMol 2.7.2.1.1.

Protein Explorer 2.45 Beta (Windows only)

Enables you to view and explore 3-D renderings of molecular structures.

Details: Protein Explorer.

Questions?

Send e-mail to Web & Data Services Manager Frank Farm at farmf@pharmacy.ucsf.edu.

Go To: Computer Software Requirements or Computer Services or Information for Current Students

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