General FAQ's
What is a Magna Online Seminar?
A Magna Online Seminar is a presentation, conference or workshop that is delivered entirely over the Internet. No telephone connection is needed, and you do not need to download any special software. You simply connect to a private link that will be emailed to you and access the seminar online through your computer.
How does a Magna Online Seminar work?
During a Magna Online Seminar, the presenter speaks on a topic in his or her area of expertise. Magna Online Seminars are presented in a special browser window that features a slide show presentation in one panel and sound and playback controls in another panel. If the seminar is one that includes video, this will be presented in another panel just above the sound and playback controls.
No special software needs to be downloaded to watch a Magna Online Seminar. You simply need a web browser and Windows Media Player, both of which are typically already included on most personal computers (PC's), or can be downloaded from the Internet for free. The seminar can be viewed on a single computer screen or be projected onto a larger one for a group setting.
Click here for a demonstration of how a Magna Online Seminar works: Online Seminar Demo
Click here for a detailed list of minimum requirements: Online Seminar Requirements
How do I ask the presenter questions during a Magna Online Seminar?
You can submit a question at any time during the live seminar by clicking on the "Ask" icon near the top left-hand portion of the computer screen. A separate window (a web form) will pop up on your screen, where you can type in your question. After you click Submit, your question will go to our moderator who will relay questions from participants to the presenter(s) during selected portions of the seminar.
Please note that the "Ask" icon will bring up an email client in place of the web form when the presentation is not live.
How do I advance the slides?
The slides are presented one at a time as the presenter goes through them. They will advance automatically whenever the presenter moves onto the next slide. Copies of the slides are typically included in the printable handouts that are offered with each Magna Online Seminar. While viewing the seminar on CD or on-demand, you do have the ability to skip ahead or go back to previous.
If the slides seem to be stuck, not advancing or are out of sync with the presenter's speech during a live seminar, please try refreshing your browser.
When will I receive the connection instructions/link to handouts?
Three days prior to the Magna Online Seminar you will receive an email from Magna Publications with the link to the online seminar and a link to the presentation handouts. You will also receive an email reminder the morning of the Magna Online Seminar with the same information. Please be sure to enable emails coming in from Magna Publications Customer Service.
I never received the email or any correspondence that contained the information for the online seminar for which I registered - what should I do?
We send all information regarding access to the online seminars and handouts via email. These emails are sent to the email address that was given at the time of registration. If you never received the email at this address, please check your spam or junk mail folder or check with your internal IT staff to see if emails coming from Magna Publications have been blocked or filtered. If you still cannot locate the email, contact Magna Publications Customer Service by email at custserv@magnapubs.com or by phone 1-800-433-0499 or 608-227-8182.
I am not able to participate in the live event. Are there any options to watch a recorded version of the same Magna Online Seminar later?
You can still register for the seminar if you're not available to view it live. Approximately one hour following the close of the live event, the seminar will be available to watch on-demand at any time for the remainder of the day. The recorded version has the added feature of allowing you to rewind/fast forward or skip to certain portions in the recorded program. However, it does not feature the ability to ask questions of the presenter.
You may also purchase the recording of the seminar on CD-ROM and/or in a transcript format. For your convenience, visit our online catalog or just search for the seminar by title.
How many people from my institution can participate?
Magna Online Seminar registration fees are priced per internet connection to the private seminar link, not per person. That means one PC can be connected to the seminar, but an unlimited number of people can gather together and participate using that single connection. Many users purchase a single connection and view the seminar on a large screen using a video projector.
We do offer substantial discounts for multiple connections, which is a great way for staff at different campuses or locations to participate without having to travel. If you have additional sites that would like to register for the same program, please contact custserv@magnapubs.com for prices and options.
May I give the Web link of the Magna Online Seminar to a colleague for viewing from a different location?
No, the link to a Magna Online Seminar cannot be shared or used more than once, as it is sold as a single connection. Once you connect to the presentation via the private link, no one else can use that link to connect to the presentation from a different computer.
Can I relay or "conference in" the Magna Online Seminar to other sites?
Each registration to a Magna Online Seminar constitutes one location where it can be viewed by as many people as can be accommodated there. Any recording, relaying, or other retransmitting of an audio/web seminar is prohibited.
Can I record the live presentation of the Magna Online Seminar?
Due to copyright laws, recording the presentation is not allowed. We do offer the program on CD for purchase once the seminar is concluded. If you participate in the live seminar, we offer the CD to participants at a greatly reduced discount. There is an order form in the handouts you receive three days prior to the seminar to order the CD at the discounted rate.
I will have more than one person viewing the Magna Online Seminar - can I photocopy the handout for the other participants?
You are allowed to make as many photocopies of seminar handouts as you need for other participants.
Do you have transcripts of Magna Online Seminars?
Yes, we create print transcripts of all Magna Online seminars. They are usually available and shipped 10-14 days after the live seminar is held.
What is your cancellation policy?
All cancellations need to be submitted to Magna Publications in writing or by email to custserv@magnapubs.com. Up until tne week prior to the Magna Online Seminar, you may cancel your registration and receive a refund, minus a cancellation fee of $25.00. If you cancel your registration less than one week prior to the scheduled seminar date, you will be charged the full registration fee.
What if I need to submit my order in hard copy (to accompany a purchase order, for example)?
We do accept bill-me orders and institutional purchase orders for Magna Online seminar registrations. You can print our downloadable PDF order form, and fill in the date and title of the online seminar(s) in which you would like to participate. Then complete the registration and payment information and fax or email it back to us as directed on the form. Download the seminar registration form to order on paper.
Do you offer Continuing Education Credits for Magna Online Seminars?
At this time we do not offer any Continuing Education Credits for any of our programs. If you would like to see CEU's offered for future programs, please include your comments in the electronic evaluation you will receive shortly after the program, or email your comments to onlineseminars@magnapubs.com.
Technical FAQ's
What technology do I need to view a Magna Online Seminar?
- Broadband Internet connection, at least 256 Kbps.
- Either Internet Explorer or Firefox; the browser must have the Windows Media Player (9) plugin installed.
- Sound card with speakers.
- Projector if you will be viewing the program as a group.
We recommend that you test one of the Magna Online Seminar demonstration links, preferably using the same PC and equipment that you will be using for the live event.
For a Magna Online Seminar with Video Demo, click here.
For a Magna Online Seminar without Video Demo, click here.
Specific Requirements:
| Operating System | Browser | Media Player |
| Windows 2000 or newer |
| Windows Media Player 9+ |
| Mac OSX 10.4.8+ |
| Silverlight 1.0 (viewers will be prompted when viewing) |
I am having audio and/or video playback issues. What can I do to resolve this?
Please check that you meet the minimum requirements, including having bandwidth speed of at least 256 Kbps.
If you can't hear the audio, make sure your computer's speakers are properly connected, turned on, and not muted. Also verify that your PC's volume control is turned up (typically, this is found in the system tray in the bottom right corner of the Windows task bar or under Control Panel > Sound).
If you are still having playback issues, you can also try adjusting the streaming protocol settings in Media Player:
- Open Windows Media Player and click Tools/Options.
- Go to the PLAYER tab and be sure "Connect to Internet" is marked with a check.
- Go to NETWORK tab, and under the heading "Streaming Protocols", be sure all of the boxes EXCEPT the box that says UDP are marked with a check.
- Close out of Media Player and re-connect to the presentation link (you may have to exit your browser first before the changes take effect).
Please note: if you are uncomfortable making these changes, or are unauthorized to do so, please consult with your IT staff before attempting to change these settings.
For IT staff: Please ensure the following ports are open for the Windows Media stream:
- UDP: 554, 5005
- TCP: 554
- HTTP: 80
I am using a Mac, and I meet the requirements for playing a Magna Online Seminar, but it still does not work. What else can I do?
It is likely that your computer has the Flip4Mac Windows Media component for QuickTime installed. This interferes with the Media Player plug-in that is required to play a Magna Online Seminar. To disable the Flip4Mac plug-in:
- Click your desktop, and select Apple > System Preferences to open the Mac System Preferences.
- Click Flip4Mac WMV under Other.
- On the Plug-in tab, clear the "Use Flip4Mac WMV Internet Plug-in" checkbox.
- Exit the dialog to save your changes.
- Try to play a presentation. You may have to re-launch your browser for the change to take effect.
CD FAQ's
What do I need to view the recorded presentation on CD?
The recorded presentation on CD has the same requirements as viewing a live seminar online with one exception: you do not need an internet connection, but you do need a CD-ROM drive.
Please note: at this time, the recorded presentation on CD does not work in a Mac environment. Click here to view the requirements for a live Magna Online Seminar.
How do I play the Magna Online Seminar on CD?
After you have loaded the CD into your drive, Windows will open a window with several options. Please choose the option "Open Folder to View Files". If your PC does not bring up this window, you will need to go to My Computer and double-click on your CD drive in the list. In the next window that opens, double-click on the "Launch Presentation" file to play the presentation. This will open the presentation and slides in a web browser. If you wish to print the handouts, please double-click on the "Handouts" file to view the PDF (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
Can I make copies of a Magna Online Seminar CD?
Because of copyright laws, creating and distributing copies of CDs is not allowed, even for internal use. If you need additional copies of a specific title, contact custserv@magnapubs.com for a reduced rate on additional copies, or to purchase a Campus Access License for that title.
Can I place the Magna Online Seminar CD on reserve in our library?
Yes, it would be within copyright guidelines to have the CD on reserve in your library. The CD, like any of our newsletters or books, can be routed or placed in a central location for others to use. Duplication is not permitted. As the purchaser of the CD, you probably want to add something to the jacket to make it known that others cannot duplicate it.
