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Using the Freedman Center Lab

Assistance for in-person use of the Freedman Center technology lab

Accessing Adobe, ArcGIS, Autodesk, Ollama, Etc.

Software with an asterisk (*) on the software lists requires an additional step to access the first time a CWRU network ID holder uses a lab computer. Community patrons do not need to follow these instructions. Jump to assistance for:

Need help? Use the contact information in the left-hand navigation to locate support staff or chat with a librarian on Ask KSL. 

Adobe Creative Cloud 

Computers in the Freedman Center have paid Adobe licenses, meaning there is no cost to use Adobe on our machines. Adobe requires a free Creative Cloud account to use their software. There is no need to have a paid license with these accounts or start a free trial. 

The first time you use Adobe on a Freedman Center computer, follow these instructions:

  1. Double-click “Adobe Creative Cloud" on the desktop, or launch it or any Adobe program (Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.) from the Start menu. 
  2. Adobe will prompt you to sign into your Adobe Creative Cloud account. For easiest usage, log in with your CWRU Network ID (abc123 rather than first.last), which will send you to the CWRU single-sign on (SSO) page. However, you can use any Adobe account you like. 
  3. After a successful sign in, the program will launch. 

If you have issues signing in, Adobe's help page is the best resource. You may be occasionally asked to sign in again by the programs. Use the same log-in information if this occurs. 

ArcGIS Pro 

ArcGIS Pro is available through a university subscription to all users within CWRU. Your CWRU credentials become your ArcGIS account. 

To get started, double-click “ArcGIS Pro" on the desktop or launch it from the Start menu. 

If this blue SSO box appears:

screenshot of ArcGIS sign-in that shows a blue button that reads "CWRU SSO Login"

Click the button, and you will be directed to CWRU's single sign-on (SSO) system to log in with your CWRU network ID and passphrase. If this is your first time signing into ArcGIS Online, your account will automatically be created using these credentials. This should complete the authorization process. If needed, restart ArcGIS Pro to ensure the licensing changes have taken effect.

If you are having issues signing into the SSO, [U]Tech's help page is the best resource. 

If the blue SSO box does not appear

You will need to set up the CWRU single sign-on (SSO) option. After setting this up, you will be able to click the SSO button without additional steps each time you log into the machine. 

screenshot of ArcGIS sign-in that shows 'cwru' typed into URL box and "remember" box checked

  1. Choose to sign into ArcGIS Online via your ArcGIS Organization's URL.
  2. Enter "CWRU" into the URL so that the full address reads "cwru.maps.arcgis.com", click the "Remember this URL" box, and click "Continue" to proceed. 
  3. Click the "CWRU SSO Login" option, and complete signing in with your CWRU Network ID and passphrase. If this is your first time signing into ArcGIS Online, your account will automatically be created using these credentials. 

screenshot of ArcGIS sign-in that shows a blue button that reads "CWRU SSO Login"

This should complete the authorization process. If needed, restart ArcGIS Pro to ensure the licensing changes have taken effect. 

If you are having issues signing into the SSO, [U]Tech's help page is the best resource. 

Autodesk Programs 

These instructions apply to the following software packages: 3DS Max, AutoCAD, Fusion with FeatureCAM, Inventor Professional, Maya, MotionBuilder, Mudbox, Netfabb Premium, ReCap Pro, and Revit. These programs are free to use for students and educators but must be licensed by each user. The first time you set the program up on a Freedman Center computer, follow these instructions:

  1. Launch the Autodesk program you want to use from the Start menu. Autodesk will launch a browser asking you to sign in. 
    • Note: the first time you launch an Autodesk program, it can take up to 5 minutes to fully load; subsequent uses will be quicker

If you already have an account with an educational license

If you are a student who was assigned a "seat" or license from a professor for a course, you likely have your license activated under the same credentials as your CWRU Network ID. 

  1. Log in using your credentials. Autodesk uses two-factor authentication, so you will need access to the email you used to log into the machine.
  2. Once you are logged in, the program should activate the license and be usable. If it is not, go to the products page and choose the program you would like to use to activate it within your license. 
  3. If something is not working as designed, log out of your account and close all programs. Then reboot them, log in, and try again. 

If you do NOT have an account with an educational license

You need to create an account and request the license. Autodesk offers free one-year licenses to students and educators; there is no cost associated with this process. Here is a step-by-step process to create the account for students and here are instructions for educators. It is important that you use a .edu email address like your CWRU email. Autodesk often has a delay in approving educational licenses. It is highly recommended that you begin this process before coming to the lab. After you are notified via email from Autodesk that you are approved for an educational license, do the following:

  1. Log in using your credentials. Autodesk uses two-factor authentication, so you will need access to the email you used to log into the machine.
  2. Once you are logged in, the program should activate the license and be usable. If it is not, go to the products page and choose the program you would like to use to activate it within your license. 
  3. If something is not working as designed, log out of your account and close all programs. Then reboot them, log in, and try again. 

If you do not have an Autodesk license but need the program immediately

Staff can assist in a few ways:

  1. Log in as a community user. To get the username and password, speak with Service Center or Freedman Center staff.
  2. Speak with Freedman Center staff (during staffed hours) to see if we have a seat we can assign you.
  3. Activate a 30-day free trial on your account. We do not recommend this route because you only get one trial per email.

Ollama 

Ollama is licensed by user, so users must add it from the Company Portal. The first time you set up the program on a Freedman Center computer, follow these instructions:

  1. Go to Start and open Company Portal
  2. Using the Apps sidebar or "Search Apps" in the navigation, search for Ollama
  3. Download Ollama to the machine.

Tableau Reader

Tableau Reader requires a free account to use its software. The first time you log into a computer, you will be asked to fill out the following information to register the product. Subsequent log-ins will not require this.

 a screenshot of a tableau log-in screen

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