Instructions for USC Online Directory

Table of Contents
[ Searching ] [ Field Reference ] [ Wildcards ] [ Registering Your Email Address ]
[ Applying for an Alias ] [ Policy on Alias Form ] [ Configuring Your Browser ]

Please also check our Frequently Asked Questions for answers to some common questions.

Searching

1. Simple Search allows you to search for a person or organization by name. See the Name Field reference below for more information on how to compose the name field.
2. Advanced Search allows you to search on any combinations of fields including name, department, phone number, email address, and others. All of the available fields are described in the Field Reference below.

In addition, if you have a mail client that supports the PH protocol, the the directory can be accessed on the standard PH port (105) on the host web.csd.sc.edu. Eudora is an example of a mail client that supports this feature.

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Field Reference

• Name - The name of the person or organization.
  Instructions:
  • Names should be separated with spaces not commas.
  • The order and case of names does not matter. For example, all of the following will return the same results:
    • john smith
    • smith john
    • John Smith
  • Names must match exactly. For example "chris smith" will not find "Christoper Smith". To match partial names wildcards may be used.
• Email - Email address of a person or organization.
  Instructions:
  • Email address are of the form: somename@machine.sc.edu
  • Wildcards may be used.
• Alias - The registered email alias of a person or organization.
  Instructions:
  • Alias are of the form: alias (Note: There is no sc.edu following the alias.
  • Wildcards may be used.
• Phone - The full phone number of a person or organization.
  Instructions:
  • Full phone numbers are of the form: (803) 777-7777
  • Wildcards may be used.
• Fax - The fax number of a person or organization.
  Instructions:
  • Fax numbers are of the form: (803) 777-7777
  • Wildcards may be used.
• Campus - The USC campus on which a person or organization is located.
  Instructions:
  • Selected using a list which contains all of the campus of the University of South Carolina.
• Division - The division that oversees a faculty or staff member's department.
  Instructions:
  • Currently selected using a list which contains all of the unique divisions in the phonebook.
• Department - A faculty or staff members current department.
  Instructions:
  • Currently selected using a list which contains all of the unique departments in the phonebook.
• School - The school or college that a student is currently enrolled in.
  Instructions:
  • Currently selected using a list which contains all of the unique school in the phonebook.
  • This information can be somewhat out of date if a student has changed their course of study.
• Major - The major of a student.
  Instructions:
  • Currently selected using a list which contains all of the unique degree in the phonebook.
  • This information can be somewhat out of date if a student has changed their course of study.
• Degree - The degree a student is pursuing.
  Instructions:
  • Currently selected using a list which contains all of the unique degree in the phonebook.
  • This information can be somewhat out of date if a student has changed their course of study.

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Wildcards

1. An asterisk (*) will match any number of characters (including none) in the search string. For example:
   

          wa*      matches all names starting with "wa"
          jo*n     matches names like "jon", "john", "joan", "johnson"
          

2. A question mark (?) will match any single character in the search string. For example:
   

          jo?n     matches names like "john", "joan", but not "jon" or "johnson"
          

3. Brackets ([]) match any letters listed between them. For example:
   

          jo[ah]n  matches only the names "joan" and "john"

*son    is not a legal search and will return an error.

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Registering your Email address in the Directory

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Applying for an Alias

The alias may be used as an alternate email address like Smith-John@sc.edu. Mail received at this address will be forwarded to your registered email address.

Why apply for an Alias?

• It provides an address that is a recognizble form of the user's name. For example John.Smith@sc.edu versues c0001@vm.sc.edu
• It is easier to read and remember.
• It looks good on your business cards. (And you won't have to change your cards if your email address changes)
• Finally, if your email address ever changes (i.e. switching departments, etc.), you can simply update it in the directory and mail to your alias will be routed to your new email address.

The alias must be derived from your name. Some examples of valid aliases are as follows:

    Smith-John  or  John.Smith  or   JSmith  or   Smith  or  John

If you apply for an alias and it is rejected, you may send a message to POSTMAST@UNIVSCVM.CSD.SC.EDU and appeal the rejection. The official university policy on aliases is as follows.

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Policy on Alias Form

It is clearly derived from the requester's name or a conventional diminutive or nickname associated with the user's name.

In order to prevent arbitrary value judgments from being required, no exceptions will be considered. Nicknames, no matter how long used or how common, may not be used unless they are commonly associated with the name(s).

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Browser Mail Configuration

If you are unsure of how to set the configuration, please contact your network administrator or call the Computer Services Help Desk at 777-1800.

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