Office

Marking a Sender as Safe in Outlook Web (OWA)

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

Do you get an e-mail message from someone and see that it has been going to Spam/Junk? Would you prefer to have it stay in your inbox? We need to mark the sender as safe. While there are multiple ways, here is one:

  • Find the message from someone you would like to mark as safe.
  • Find the e-mail address in the message preview and drag your mouse over it to select the full address.
  • Copy the address (or write it down with pen and paper for later recall).
  • Find and click the Settings button, located at the top-right corner of the screen.

    Outlook Settings Cog

  • Type the word block in the settings input box and then click the Blocked Senders and Domains search result that appears.

    OWA Junk Block Search

  • Find the section called Safe Senders and Domains and click the + Add button. An input box will appear.
  • Paste the address you copied earlier (or type it manually, if you simply wrote it down).
  • Press the Enter key on your keyboard.
  • Click the Save button at the bottom-right corner of the window.

Getting Started with a New County Account

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

Were you just assigned a new MCG account? The following TechTips/links may help you:

If you have any questions or need troubleshooting, please submit a Technology Service Request (TSR) and someone from FRS Technology will contact you.

Adding an Alternate E-Mail Address or Cell Number for MFA

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

Do you prefer not to use your MFA key fob when you need to access county e-mail or ePortal? You may opt to use a personal e-mail address or cell number to receive a multi-factor authentication code.

  • Log into ePortal.
  • Hover over the words AccessMCG Self-Service, located at the top-right corner of the screen.
    AccessMCG Menu Link
  • Choose Manage Account.
  • Log into ePortal again, as prompted.
  • Find and click Setup Alternate Phone/Email/App Contacts.
    MFA Option to Add E-Mail or Phone
  • Input an MFA code, if you receive one to an existing (pre-setup) location.
  • Add your personal e-mail address and/or cell phone number. When you add one, click the Save button and input the code that is sent to that location, to finalize the connection between ePortal and the account/device.
  • Click the Continue button.
  • Click the Logout link at the bottom of the list of links.

Choosing Where (and Where Not) to Send Your MFA Code for Office and ePortal

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

When you go to log into ePortal or Office, are you getting a code for multi-factor authentication (MFA) in too many places? Do you prefer to change where it’s going now?

Go to ePortal (either by direct link or via Quicklinks).

Click the My Account button and log in as directed. (Key in the MFA code you receive.)

My Account Button

 

 

Find and click Select Multi-Factor Authentication Options link in the list.

Select MFA Options Link

 

 

 

Key in the MFA code that the system sends you.

Check or uncheck boxes to set your preferences as to where you would like to receive MFA codes from the county and click the Save MFA Options button.

Save MFA Options button

 

 

Log out of ePortal when you are finished.

Using a Token or Fob for Multi-Factor Authentication

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

Have you opted to use a token or fob for multi-factor authentication? Assuming you already have filled out the tech service request (TSR) and have been notified by your battalion chief that it is ready for you, here are the instructions for use.

Background: A key fob is a small device that is about two inches in length and an inch wide. The device generates a password, which you will use in place of a text to your cell phone or message to your e-mail account for multi-factor authentication in Montgomery County systems. Remember, this key fob is assigned to you and will not work for anyone else’s account. Likewise, secure it and do not lose it, which would defeat the purpose of needing a second login code to keep others out of your accounts.

MFA Key Fob

 

 

 

 

Use:

  • Log into ePortal or Office 365. You will be promoted for a code.
  • Press the white button on the left side of the key fob and note the six-digit code that appears.
  • Enter the code into your MFA screen to be granted access.

    (Note: The code will be good for about 30 seconds before a new code is generated and displayed on the screen.)

Setting up your MCGOV E-Mail Account on Your iPhone

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

iPhone

  • Go to Settings and choose Mail.
  • Click Accounts.
  • Click Add Account.
  • Choose Microsoft Exchange and input your e-mail address where indicated.
  • Add MCGOV as the description and click the Next link (at the top-right corner).
  • Note that a pop-up will appear, asking if you want to configure manually or sign in directly. Choose Sign In.
  • Wait for the screen to verify your account and then you will see the MCG login screen.
  • Change the top line to your username from your email address. Your MCGOV username is your Windows username followed by @montgomerycountymd.gov. (For example, Michael Johnson’s username might be johnsm2@montgomerycountymd.gov.)
  • Input the MFA security code where prompted, which would have just been sent to you and ensure that the box is checked.
  • Click the Verify Code button.
  • Select which facets of Outlook you would like to include (Mail, Contacts, Calendars, Reminders and/or Notes).
  • Click the Save link at the top-right corner.

 

Adding a Resource Mailbox in Outlook Desktop

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

Were you recently granted access to a resource mailbox in Outlook? Are you using Outlook Desktop? If both are true, this message is for you.

  • Open Outlook Desktop.
  • Find and right-click your name in the folder list on the left side of the screen.
  • Choose Data File Properties.
  • Click the Advanced button.
  • Click the Advanced tab.
  • Click the Add button.
  • Type the name of your resource mailbox and then click the three successive OK buttons.
  • Find the new mailbox in your folder list. (As an outline, it will be even with your name, but likely pretty far down the pane.)
  • See if you can expand the item (using the > symbol). If you cannot, your rights need to be adjusted at the server level.

Setting up Rules in Outlook Desktop

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

Getting flooded with messages that you don’t want and all have a common theme (from the same person, the same subject, etc.)? Outlook enables you to set up a rule to clean it all up in one fell swoop.

  • Right-click one of the messages.
  • Select Rules and then Create Rules.
  • Click Advanced Options in the dialog box that pops up. The advanced options will give you more control with your rule than just the few options first presented.
  • Choose a condition, such as the subject containing certain text. (Since you right-clicked a specific message, the sender and subject should appear in the options from which you’ll choose.)
  • Click the Next button.
  • Choose what you want to do with the message, such as delete it. (If you just want to file the messages away and read them at a later time, choose to move the message into a folder.) Click the Next button to continue.
  • Add any exceptions (although this is rare).
  • Specify a name for the rule. This takes the theory that you may have several rules as time goes by and naming a rule with something obvious means you won’t need to go into the rule details to determine why you created it in the first place.
  • Click the Run this rule now on messages already in the inbox checkbox. This is crucial for cleanup when you have been plagued by a lot of messages for which you are writing a rule.

Enabling Visio to Open FRS Stencils (Shapes)

Posted on by Jeff Feiertag

Visio 2013, be default, will block the FRS Stencils/Shapes (which include gas, electric, connections, north arrow and more) since they were created in much older versions of the program. Follow these steps to tell Visio they are acceptable files to open. (Note: This must be done within the profile of anyone who logs in to use Visio for mapping, not just once per computer.)

  • Run Visio.
  • Click Blank Drawing and click the Create button.
  • Access the File tab and click Options at the bottom of the left-hand navigation.
  • Click Trust Center at the bottom of the left-hand navigation on the pop-up window.
  • Click the Trust Center Settings button on the right side of the pop-up window.
  • Click File Block Settings on the left side navigation.
  • Uncheck the boxes for all three rows. (A checked box means Visio should block it, not unblock it.)
  • Click the two OK buttons.