Contents

How to Launch Palisade Applications
Browser and Network Requirements
FAQ
Getting Help

 

How to Launch Palisade applications

1. Visit nuworkspace.northwestern.edu. We recommend using Google Chrome.
   
   
2. Click on "NUworkspace Login" to access Apporto.
   
   
3. Select "Login" and enter your NetID and password to sign in, if prompted.
   
   
4. Use the search function or navigate to the Palisade application (@Risk, Evolver, NeuralTools, PrecisionTree, StatTools and TopRank), then click on "Launch". NOTE: If you are taking a course that requires Palisade and you are unable to locate the launcher, please send an email to kis@kellogg.northwestern.edu to request access.
   
   
5. Wait for a few moments for your virtual Windows desktop session to launch, then Excel will open and load the Palisade add-in app within Excel.
   NOTE: Sessions may take 30 seconds to fully load initially.
   
   
6. When you are finished, please log out of the Apporto session by clicking on "Start," then "Account," and finally "Sign out." Then, close your Apporto session browser tab.
   IMPORTANT: Signing out of your session is critical - Remember to log off from your session when finished promptly and avoid leaving sessions running unnecessarily as this impacts platform performance and software availability for other users.

Browser and Network Requirements

• Google Chrome is the recommended browser for Apporto.  
• A reliable internet connection is important for optimal performance in Apporto. A minimum network speed of 10 Mbps (megabits per second) is recommended for both download and upload. Using a higher-speed network will provide better overall performance. Learn more here.
  
  • University Faculty, Students, Staff, and visitors should use the eduroam wireless network while on campus for best performance. 
  • The Guest-Northwestern wireless network is not recommended. Bandwidth on this network is restricted, which will degrade performance and user experience.

Apporto Usage Best Practices

1. Connect to the eduroam WiFi network while on campus for best performance. Do not use the Guest-Northwestern wireless network as it will provide for a slower, unstable Apporto connection.
2. Go to https://northwestern.apporto.com/ and launch the @Risk app, not Excel.
3. If you encounter an issue with application launch or loading or experience session errors, close your active sessions and the browser tab. Return to the Apporto app store page and relaunch the application.
4. Avoid starting multiple Apporto application sessions simultaneously; launch a single session only. This will cause performance issues.
5. Log off from your session when finished promptly and avoid leaving sessions running unnecessarily, as this impacts platform performance and software availability for other users. To sign out of your session, select the Windows Start menu > User Account icon > Sign out, then close your browser tab.
6. Familiarize yourself with the FAQ and Getting Help information.

FAQ

Q: What is NUworkspace?
A: NUworkspace leverages the Apporto secure cloud-based platform to offer users a Windows virtual desktop with a suite of software applications for University work. Its purpose is to provide eligible faculty, students, and staff with access to programs that are not available on their current desktop or laptop computers. For more information, go to nuworkspace.northwestern.edu.

Q: How do I use Apporto?
A: For a demo and overview of features, watch the Getting Started with Apporto video tutorial.

Q: What applications are available?
A: Apporto offers a Windows Virtual Desktop environment that includes many software titles.

• Kellogg offers the Palisade Decision Tools Suite applications via NUworkspace to eligible Kellogg Faculty and Students. These applications include @Risk, Evolver, NeuralTools, PrecisionTree, StatTools and TopRank.
• After selecting any Apporto App Store application, users have access to other available software including the Microsoft Office Suite and other core software, in every virtual desktop session.
• For a complete list of special software titles available, see the List of NUworkspace Available Software.

Q: How do I access and save files?
A: You can access cloud storage services (like OneDrive, Google Drive or DropBox) to edit or save files. You can also transfer working files between the virtual desktop and your local computer.

• See Mounting a Cloud Drive for instruction to connect Apporto to your cloud service account or the Mounting a Cloud Drive video tutorial.
• See Uploading and Downloading Files for instructions on transferring files between Apporto and your computer or the Uploading Files video tutorial.

Q: How do I copy and paste?
A:  You can copy and paste content from your computer to the Apporto desktop or vica versa. See Apporto Copy and Pasting.

Q: How do I print?
A: You can print files used within Apporto using your computer or directly within your virtual desktop session using the KPrint Web Portal.

• Printing a File using your computer
• Printing a File using KPrint Web Print

Q: What do I do if I experience an issue with my session?
A: Close the application in use and relaunch the application using the desktop shortcut. If you continue to have application issues or experience other issues with your session, log out of your Apporto session by clicking on "Start," then "Account," and finally "Sign out." Close the browser tab. It is important to avoid running multiple sessions simultaneously as this degrades performance. From the Apporto App Sore, launch the application again to initiate a new session. See the Getting Help section below if you have further issues to request support.

Q: What do I do if I cannot log in to NUworkspace?
A: There are different steps to take:

• A valid NetID and NetID password are required. Make sure your NetID password is not expired. See: Northwestern NetID Services.
• The Apporto platform auto-deprovisions accounts when there has been no login for 8 months as part of a system cleanup process. Accounts in this status receive a notification requiring login within 30 days to keep the account active. If you attempt to log in and receive a notification to contact your IT department, your Apporto user account has been deprovisioned due to lack of use.  Contact Apporto Support via support@apporto.com to request that your account be reprovisioned.

Q: What if I select the @Risk Apporto Store App Launcher and Excel does not open with @Risk loaded or I close Excel during my session? 
A: If the @Risk tab is not available in the Excel ribbon or you close Excel during your session, reopen Excel with @Risk using the @Risk desktop shortcut for @Risk to be available. Afterwards, you can open existing files using the Excel File menu, selecting "Open". If @Risk, is still unavailable within your session, log out of the session and relaunch the @Risk app to load a new session.

Q: What do I do if Excel becomes unresponsive while running my @Risk model?
A: There are different steps to take:

• If freezing occurs when you initiate a specific model, try to recreate the issue with a simpler model to isolate the problem. If the simpler model works fine, there may be a problem with the specific model you were running.
• If your model freezes near completion, see Palisade's recommendation for handling: https://kb.palisade.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=1624

Q: How long do NUworkspace Virtual Desktop Sessions Last?
A: Virtual desktop sessions are available as needed. NUworkspace is a shared resource at Northwestern, so please sign out promptly when finished to free up platform resources for other users. Do not leave virtual desktop sessions idle. NOTE: sessions will disconnect automatically after 1 hour of inactivity (no Apporto interface usage). To sign out from your session, select the Windows Start menu > User Account icon > Sign out, then close your browser tab. To sign out of NUworkspace, select your university email address (top right) from the account menu options, then select Logout.

Q: Need troubleshooting help?
A: For self-help and solutions to common questions, please review the Apporto Troubleshooting User Guide.

 

Getting Help

For general questions about NUworkspace or if you are in a course that requires Palisade and you do not have access to Palisade Decision Tools Suite applications in NUworkspace, contact KIS via kis@kellogg.northwestern.edu.

For technical issues during NUworkspace Apporto virtual desktop sessions or problems with applications used within sessions, contact Apporto Support via support@apporto.com. When submitting a request to Apporto support, please include the following to help them resolve your request quickly:

• The steps taken that produce the issue
• The time that you experienced the issue
• Screen capture of the issue and any errors 
• Copy and paste the full session URL from your browser

For guides and self-help documentation for @Risk or other DecisionTools applications, visit the Palisade Help Resources page.

To submit a Palisade support ticket requesting assistance with Palisade application specific questions or application issues, email Palisades support via: support@palisade.com.