The first time you go to AppsAnywhere there are very important steps you need to take:

• Logging in to AppsAnywhere for the first time

Some of the apps in AppsAnywhere will also require you to use other TRU services, like the Global Protect VPN See App delivery methods below for more information. Setting these up in advance is also a good idea:

• Installing and connecting to the Global Protect VPN (Students)
• Installing and connecting to the Global Protect VPN (Faculty and Staff)

The software available in AppsAnywhere is for Windows only. Installing applications with AppsAnywhere on a Mac is not currently supported within TRU's AppsAnywhere service.

AppsAnywhere has many advantages over traditional student computer labs, but with the greater flexibility it provides comes the potential for a much greater variance in individual experience. If AppsAnywhere doesn’t seem to be working well for you, check out resolving (and avoiding) common problems in AppsAnywhere.

Every time you to go AppsAnywhere, the website will validate technical details about your computer including your operating system and resources which it uses to determine the compatibility of available apps with your system.

TRU’s programs are incredibly diverse. The software that the TRU community need to use for their learning, teaching, and research is also incredibly diverse. So diverse, in fact, that no single method of software delivery would work for all applications. AppsAnywhere combines a variety of different software delivery methods into one platform, meaning that it can act as a one-stop shop for TRU's academic software.

Much of the software available through AppsAnywhere is delivered via CloudPaging, software that you will have installed on your computer the first time you use AppsAnywhere. CloudPaging streams the software you need to your computer where it runs on your computer’s own hardware using its processing and resources. Software delivered via CloudPaging usually performs as well as it would if it were installed on a computer in a lab, as long your computer’s hardware is sufficient. 

CloudPaging is not the only delivery method in AppsAnywhere, however. In some cases, you would have a better experience by simply downloading and installing a piece of software yourself. In other cases, depending on the specialized needs of your program, you may need to connect to a piece of software through TRU's Global Protect VPN.  Regardless of the actual method of delivery, you’ll still find all of the software you need in AppsAnywhere and the best delivery method will be highlighted for you there in the tile for each app (described below).

In AppsAnywhere, software is presented as tiles. Use the drop down menu to select an alternative delivery method, if there is one configured for the app.

Clicking on the App Tile gives you access to further details, where you can select a different delivery method or favourite the app.

The different delivery methods available for different apps are indicated by the different delivery method buttons initially visible in the tiles.

Delivery Method	Description
	Launch  The app will be delivered via CloudPaging (as described above). Clicking on a Launch button will open the Cloudpaging Player and start the process of caching the app to make it available for you to use. This takes longer the first time you launch an app (refer to the first launch time estimate in the tile to predict how long). Launching the app again later on the same device is more like launching an app that’s installed locally and is generally very quick, depending on your computer and the size and complexity of the app.
	Launch - Use VPN  The app will be delivered via CloudPaging (as described above), but also that the app has some requirement to connect to the TRU private network, usually in order to check out a license for the software. To successfully launch these apps, connect to the VPN first, and then click the the App Tile button.
	Run Locally  AppsAnywhere has detected that the app is already installed on your computer and is available to run.  Click this to launch the lcoal application
	Download  This method prompts you to download the software for local computer use.
	Visit Website  This is a direct link to a website or service and may not require an app install.
	KB Article can mean different things in different circumstances. In some cases, tiles have been created to help alert you to important TRU tools – like VPN – and clicking the button will take you to the IT Services Portal Knowledge Base article that gives you important information about that tool. In other cases (such as in the case of certain Adobe products), the Knowledge Base article can direct you through the multiple steps you’d need to take in order to download or access restricted software.

As a TRU student or employee, you have access to hundreds of apps in AppsAnywhere. Finding the specific apps you need for your learning, teaching or research shouldn’t be too onerous however, thanks to the excellent search and filtering available within the tool.

Search

If you know the name of the app you need, you can type it into the Search field in the filter bar to quickly find it.

App Lists

Your instructor may provide you with a link to an App List for your course or program. Simply open that link to add the App List to your AppsAnywhere filter. Once you’ve done that, click App Lists in the filter bar and and chose the specific App List you want to view.

Note: You can also create your own App Lists if you wish.

Favourites

Every AppsAnywhere can assemble their own list of favourite apps that they’ll want to return to frequently. To add an app to your Favourites, click the heart icon in the app Tile. The heart icon will change from grey to red and the app will now show up in your Favourites view.

Categories

Some software-intensive program areas have categories associated with them in AppsAnywhere. If your program is one of these, click Categories in the filter bar and choose your program area from the list to see only apps needed for those programs.