Software

Software for Students

The Data Center offers the Students of the University of Mainz the possibility to use a broad selection of softwares free of charge in the pool rooms of the ZDV. Employees and students can also access all programs available via → AppV/ZDVApps (including the statistical software SPSS) from their private computer, from home or from the WLAN at the university via a → remote desktop connection.

 

Employees and Students of the Universitymedicine (UM) please inquire at the Service Center IT of the UM for comparable offers.

  1. Software offers for Students
  2. Microsoft Office365 ProPlus
    1. Installing Microsoft Office 365
  3. Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching (former: Microsoft Imagine)
  4. Citavi
    1. Reference
    2. You want to work with Citavi 6 for the first time ?
    3. You want to change from an older Citavi Version to Citavi 6?
    4. You still want to work with Citavi 5?
    5. Problems with your Registration and Log in ?
    6. Citavi Introductioncourses
  5. Endnote

Software offers for Students

The following offers are available for students of the University of Mainz:

Microsoft Office365 ProPlus

The campus contract concluded by the ZDV for the University of Mainz makes it possible to provide Office 365 free of charge to members (students and employees) of the university.

💡 Please note that we cannot support all products included in the package. You can find extensive documentation on MS Teams here.

This is the locally installable version of Office. Files can be stored locally on the computer as always, even if cloud storage (OneDrive) is offered.

However, it is not possible to select only individual programs from the Office package. The offer is valid for installation on up to 5 devices, Windows or Apple, including mobile devices (including Android).

The condition for using Office 365 is an active account (for employees or students) of Mainz University. To verify this, you will be asked at regular intervals (monthly) to verify your eligibility via login.

If your account expires (e.g. because you are exmatriculated or have finished your studies), your Office license expires at the same time. From this point on, you can only use your Office installation to view your documents, but you can no longer make any changes to it.

Installing Microsoft Office 365

Note: Execute the following steps on the device on which you want to install office!

1. Open the Website → https://portal.office.com/. Log in with your Universitys Email. If your Email causes an Error try username@uni-mainz.de; only the username and without "students".

2. You will beredirected the Uni-Mainz loggin page.

3. After the log in you will reach the downloading page.
4. On the downloading page you can choose between the 32-Bit and the 64-Bit-Version and change the language of the programm to be installed.
5. After clicking on Install you kann download the installation package.

Notes on the Installation under Windows you can find → here.  (german only)
Notes on the Installation under Mac you can find →  here. (german only)

Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching (former: Microsoft Imagine)

Microsoft offers under the Name of 'Azure Dev Tools for Teaching', former: Microsoft Imagine) additional Software products for the use of private computers  for members of some Majors of the Departments 02, 03, 04, 07, 08, 09 and 10. More informations are on this Website from Microsoft.

Please note that this is not an offer from the ZDV which is why we can perform no support regarding this.

Citavi

Citavi is a literature management program for Microsoft Windows. It is developed by the company Swiss Academic Software, based in Wädenswil near Zurich, and is based on the .NET software platform.

The ZDV has concluded a new campus license of the literature and knowledge management software Citavi together with the University Library for the University of Mainz. The lease has been extended and runs until 31.12.2023.

Eligible for use are employees with an active contract in the University's Human Resources Department, as well as enrolled students of the University. It does not apply to visiting scholars, guest lecturers, guest auditors, and members of external institutions, such as the Leibniz Institute for European History (IEG).

Citavi licenses are person-based and not computer-based. According to the license agreement, you can therefore work with the same Citavi license on both your office and home computers.

With the help of Citavi you can comfortably manage literature under Windows, you can e.g. create bibliographies or automated bibliographies in publications and easily import data from the catalog and database of the university library. A special feature of Citavi is that it offers additional functions for knowledge organization and task planning.
Several thousand citation styles are available in Citavi for literature references.
Citavi can be linked to word processing programs such as Word and Libre Office Writer. Together with the University Library, the ZDV has concluded a campus license of the Citavi literature and knowledge management software for the University of Mainz.

  1. Software offers for Students

Reference

As ZDV-App: You can assign Citavi over → ZDV-Apps  on computers within the domain uni-mainz.

For Compzters outside of said domain, so your own PC, you, as an employee or students, can use the Campus licence.

You want to work with Citavi 6 for the first time ?

  1. Install Citvi 6 for Windows. You will receive the installation file under http://www.citavi.com/download 
  2. Open with your JGU account a Citavi account under http://www.citavi.com/uni-mainz
  3. In your Citavi Account chosse a password Citavi Account
  4. Start Citavi an log in with your Email adress and your new password. Citavi takes over the licence data.

Note: Those videos are helpful the get instructed → http://www.citavi.com/citavi-6-kennenlernen
You will find a short introduction in the users manual: Citavi 6 Manual

You want to change from an older Citavi Version to Citavi 6?

  1. Inform yourself about new developments and changes under http://www.citavi.com/download
  2. Inform yourself about the upgrade process Citavi 6 Manual
  3. Intsall Citavi 6. You can get the instalation data under http://www.citavi.com/download
  4. Open with your JGU account under http://www.citavi.com/uni-mainz  a Citavi account.
  5. In your Citavi account please choose a password Citavi Account
  6. Start Citavi and log in with your email address and your new password. Citavi takes over the licence data from your old account.

You still want to work with Citavi 5?

  1. Install Citavi 5. You can get the installation data under Download | Citavi - Reference Management and Knowledge Organization
  2. Ope with your JGU account under http://www.citavi.com/uni-mainz a Citavi account.
  3. Request a licence key for Citavi 5: Download | Citavi - Reference Management and Knowledge Organization You can find a detailed instruction here: Citavi Support (English)
  4. Copy from your Citavi Account the licence data.
  5. Start Ciavi and click on 'enter licence data'. With the licence key the free version from the campus lease will be changed to the full version.

Note: For introduction videos are helpful:  www.citavi.com/citavi-5-kennenlernen
In the users manual you will also find a short introduction Citavi Manual.

Problems with your Registration and Log in ?

According to the provider there are currently problems with the registration and log in of Citavi 6. On their Website is a collection to different scenaries: Citavi Support (English)

Citavi Introductioncourses

The Universitys library regulary offers Intruductioncourses for use of Citavi.

If you have any other questions do not hesitate to contact us, per Email to software@uni-mainz.de.

Endnote

Further informations you can find here:
https://www.ub.uni-mainz.de/de/faq#literaturverwaltung-citavi-endnote-

For students as well as employees of the Universitymedicine the department offers EndNote licences. The department library of the Universitymedicine supports you with courses and consulting regarding the application of EndNote. You can find all informations under :

https://www.ub.uni-mainz.de/endnote-universitaetsmedizin

 

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ZDV-Apps

In the following text you will learn:
... how you, as an employee, can use the software provided by the ZDV on your workstation computer or on domain notebooks, what you have to take into account and how you can solve any problems that occur.
... how you as a student can use the software provided by the ZDV on PCs in the public PC pools and when using the remote desktop servers.
The programs from the ZDV apps cannot be installed on private PCs. Neither is it possible to use them on Apple devices.
There are special features to note for some ZDV apps. You can find notes on this → on this page.

AppV 5

Most of the software offered at JGU is provided in the form of virtualized applications.
This means that software is assigned to individual users instead of installing the software on a specific computer. In this way, the software is available individually and independently of the computer on all desktops, notebooks and also on the terminal servers. Another advantage is that several versions of a program can be used in parallel. In addition, software updates can be loaded without restarting the computer.
The application virtualization solution used by ZDV is based on Microsoft AppV 5. AppV stands for 'Microsoft Application Virtualization'.
Note: AppV 5 is supported from Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2.

apps.zdv.uni-mainz.de - Select Software and assign

To select which programs you can use with your JGU account so that they appear in your Start menu and you can work with them, access the following page in an Internet browser:

ZDV Apps (uni-mainz.de)

The displayed page consists of the navigation and filter elements in the upper part, followed by two adjacent areas:

In the left part of the page (My Applications) you will see all applications that are already assigned to your JGU account - that is, all programs that you can already use on your PC. Some of them are assigned automatically - even if you have never assigned yourself a program, some will be displayed here.

In the right part of the page (All available applications), all available programs are listed, sorted alphabetically by name. You can search for a specific program using the search (above the table on the right), or view all programs assigned to a specific keyword in the list of categories.

Most of the programs displayed are available either through free licenses or campus licenses; however, some programs require a separate license to be purchased before they may be used. Such programs are marked with a key symbol. You acquire the license for them (as a JGU employee) via the → Zentrum für Datenverarbeitung: Web-Shop (uni-mainz.de)

To use a program, assign it to your JGU account:
Find the program you want in the Available Applications list, highlight it (mouse click), and then click the left arrow in the middle of the page. The application will then be displayed in the left pane.

Applications that require their own license are marked with a !; they are on a waiting list and cannot be used until the license has been confirmed (notes on this can be found below under → point 7).
To display the programs in the Windows Start menu as well, click the Synchronize Start Menu button at the top left of the page and wait until the progress bar at the bottom right has disappeared again.
Alternatively, the Start menu is also synchronized when you log off from the computer and then log on again.

Remove Software again

To remove a program that you have assigned to your JGU account, select the program in the left pane (My Applications) and move it by clicking on the right arrow in the middle of the page. Then synchronize the Start menu by clicking the Synchronize Start Menu button at the top left of the page and wait until the progress bar at the bottom right has disappeared again.

Notes on working with a Software from apps.zdv.uni-mainz.de

  • In general, it should be noted that the start of a program sometimes takes a little longer without you seeing anything happen. Therefore, do not click multiple times on the program icon in the start menu. Usually the first click worked, there is just no feedback (hourglass, loading icon ...).
  • The more applications you have assigned to the JGU account, the longer it takes after login until, for example, the AppV 5 applications are available on a remote desktop server (progress bar at the top left or bottom right). Therefore, it is best to assign yourself only programs that you actually use.

AppV and Notebooks

When using a domain notebook in the university network, you can work with the same personal work environment as on your workstation computer. For working with the notebook outside the university network, software can be cached for offline use. To select the programs you want to work with offline, open the Microsoft Application Virtualization Client V5:
Tap the Windows key. Without clicking anywhere else, start typing Microsoft Application Virtualization Client. The program will appear in the list of suggestions:
Click on it to open. The client opens with the overview:
Click Virtual Apps.
Here you will see a list of all the applications assigned to you.
You can select whether a program should also be available offline by clicking on Download - downloaded applications also work off campus, but take up storage space on your notebook.

Restrictions

  • For technical reasons, a Microsoft Office version must currently still be permanently installed on the computer. The older Office versions offered via AppV 5 can be used to edit older documents that may not work properly with newer versions. To be able to work with other applications, the Office version permanently installed on the computer should also be the one you primarily use (in the Start menu: the Microsoft Office folder, without "V5" appended).
  • The use of special drivers (e.g. printer drivers) is not possible via AppV.
  • Some applications do not offer the full functionality via AppV, so that for example certain add-ins and DCOM do not work. OLE can only be used within a package (e.g. Office package).

License required Programms (only for employees)

Some of the programs offered via apps.zdv.uni-mainz.de require a license. Licenses can be purchased via the ZDV-Shop, but also from external providers. It is important that the license is valid for the offered program version.

Asign a License

If you have a license for a program that requires a license, assign the program in question to your JGU account as normal. The overview then displays the information that the program has a pending license and cannot yet be used.
At the same time, you will receive an e-mail containing a link to the license confirmation. If you click on the link, you can confirm in a legally binding way (after logging in with user name and password) that you have purchased the corresponding license and thus release the program for your JGU account:
Put the checkmark in front of the confirmation text. After clicking Send, you will see an overview of the programs you use that require a license. Here you can also withdraw licenses again. All confirmations are logged in a database.

Usagerights of licence required Programms

Programs requiring a license can only be used by employees.
If students are to use programs requiring a license for special tasks, these can be licensed for the students by a staff member if the corresponding licenses are available. To do this, the student (who is to use the program) must assign it to him/herself via ZDV apps, forward the license confirmation email to the staff member responsible, and the staff member must then confirm the license.
Please contact the ZDV hotline if you have any questions.

New Programms of apps.zdv

News per Twitter

The programs provided via ZDV apps are updated regularly. From time to time, new programs are also added to the offer. If you want to stay updated about changes, you can follow zdvapps on Twitter.

Repair of defective applications

If a virtualized program behaves unusually or your personal settings are messed up, you can try to run the repair function.
Open Microsoft Application Virtualization Client V5 (type the Windows key. Without clicking anywhere else, start typing "Microsoft Application Virtualization Client". In the list of suggestions, the program will be displayed, click on it to open it). The client will be displayed:
Open the Virtual Apps tab:
Look for the defective program there and then click Repair below it.
If the repair does not help, try to take away the defective program via apps.zdv.uni-mainz.de and then reassign it.

Reapair start menu

If your Start menu displays apps without icons, or apps that you have already removed continue to be displayed, or other malfunctions with AppV 5 application shortcuts occur, you can repair the Start menu by calling an appropriate script:
Close as many of the currently open AppV 5 applications as possible. Tap the Windows key. Without clicking anywhere, start writing:
Refresh-Links V5
The Refresh-Links V5 button appears in the Start menu:
Click on it. A window with some messages will open while your Start menu is being repaired in the background. Just wait a moment - after the script runs through, close the associated window.
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New Adobe alternative for graphic design, layouts and image editing

Affinity software available for JGU employees and students

Some users will already be familiar with the alternatives to Adobe products from private use: Since January 2022, ZDV has been offering Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer and Affinity Publisher for anyone interested at JGU. You can assign and use the three products yourself in the AppV Self-Service at https://apps.zdv.uni-mainz.de/.

Application and advantages at a glance

Affinity Designer is a graphic design software that can be used to create graphics as well as mockups for smartphones and the web. It is often used as an alternative to Adobe Illustrator.

Affinity Publisher is software for creating and editing designs and layouts. It can load very large documents—even those with thousands of pages and many gigabytes of linked images—instantly and edit them in real time. There is no longer a limit to the size of documents. It is often used as an alternative to Adobe InDesign.

Affinity Photo is photo editing software. Blending layers runs efficiently and the workflow remains non-destructive. The software is often used as an alternative to Adobe Photoshop.

  • Students can use Affinity products on the Remote Desktop Server
  • If you only need one application, you can assign it individually and thus save storage space compared to Adobe.
  • Files created with Adobe products can be easily opened and edited in Affinity software.

An introductory training course on the three products is planned for the coming semester.

Helpful links


More news from the Data Center → may be found here.

Gitlab

GitLab is a web-based Git repository manager with wiki and issue tracking features.

The Data Center hosts its own GitLab instance for universities of Rhineland-Palatinate at → gitlab.rlp.net.

Documentation on how to use is to be found here: → gitlab.rlp.net/help.

If you have questions or suggestions about this service, you can contact us via email: unix@zdv.uni-mainz.de or via chat: https://mattermost.gitlab.rlp.net/gitlab/channels/town-square.

  1. Courses
  2. Features
  3. Limitations
  4. Login
    1. Git via SSH
    2. Git via HTTPS with Username/Password
  5. Invitations
  6. Login to Mattermost
  7. Usage

Courses

The Unix group regularily offers courses on Git and GitLab!

Features

In addition to GitLab default functionality, we have enabled the following:

  • GitLab Mattermost at mattermost.gitlab.rlp.net
  • GitLab Pages below pages.gitlab.rlp.net
  • GitLab Shared Runner (three instances, using Docker executor in privileged mode) for Continuous Integration and Delivery
  • GitLab Container Registry at registry.gitlab.rlp.net
Documentation on how to use is to be found here: → gitlab.rlp.net/help.

Limitations

By default, every user can create 100 projects with a size of 10 GB each. These limits can be increased individually upon request.

Login

If you are a student/employee at a university in Rhineland-Palatinate, you may use your university credentials to log in. To do so, use the button login.rlp.net in the upper right section on the login screen:

However, the use of the Data Center's GitLab is not restricted to students/employees.
If you do not have a student/employee account, you may register a JGU account and log in with a username and password using the form in the bottom right section on the login screen.

Git via SSH

If you want to push and pull to Git repositories in GitLab via SSH, you need to generate a key pair first.
A tutorial is available at www.en-zdv.uni-mainz.de/ssh-key.

Git via HTTPS with Username/Password

If you want to push and pull to Git repositories in GitLab via HTTPS, you need to be aware of the following:

Invitations

You may also invite other people to your project. Inside your project, click on Settings and on Members:

Then click on Select Members to invite:

If the person you are looking for has signed in before, you will be able to search for their name. Otherwise you need to enter an e-Mail address. This doesn't need to be an e-Mail address of a university. If you choose a non-university address, then the invited person will have to register a JGU account, before they can participate in the project.

Login to Mattermost

Mattermost uses your Gitlab credentials to log in. On your first login you need to authorize Mattermost to use your Gitlab account for authentication.
First you need to establish a connection between Mattermost and Gitlab. The dialogue looks different depending if you clicked an invite link or browsed to the side directly.

if following an invite link
browse to site

GitLab Single Sign-On or GitLab depending how you opened the site.
Log in to Gitlab as described above. After logging in you will be asked to authorize Mattermost to your JGU account.

Click on Authorize you will be logged in and forwarded to Mattermost.

Usage

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Software Center

Some software packages cannot be delivered to your workplace via AppV/ZDV-Apps. These are made available to all legitimate users for installation on domain computers (Windows computers within the domain uni-mainz) via the software center.

In order to install a programme from the software center (independent of the Windows version used): press the Windows key on your keyboard and type in Softwarecenter. If the softwarecenter (desktop app) is shown, click on it.

Next, the window Softwarecenter will open:

Here you may choose the desired software package and then install it on your workplace PC by simply clicking on the button Installieren.
Please pay attention to the different versions listed here.

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Software

Please log in using your JGU account:
Log in
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