Iowa IDEA Supported Browsers and Settings Updated 2/9/2009

Transcription

1 Iowa IDEA Supported Browsers and Settings Updated 2/9/2009 The Iowa IDEA applications are supported on the following platforms and browsers: Macintosh OS 10.4 with Firefox Versions 3.0 and newer Windows XP and Vista (At this time, Windows 7 has been released, but we have not tested this new operating system. We would not expect any major issues to occur, as the browser provides the interaction with the servers.) o Internet Explorer 7.x and 8.x o Firefox 3.0 and newer The following items must have their settings modified for the browsers to operate effectively on all systems: Printing o Page margins o Header/Footer control o Print Background & Images o Shrink to fit page width New window tab control Cache Control Cookie Control Popup Windows Auto-complete Forms (IE only) Load Images Automatically (FF only) JavaScript Firefox for Windows Page 2 Firefox for Macintosh Page 6 Internet Explorer 8.x Page 10 Internet Explorer 7.x Page 16 1

2 Firefox 3.x for Windows Printing From the File. Dropdown menu, select 'Page Setup'. On the Format Options tab: Check 'Shrink to fit Page Width' Check 'Print Background (colors & images) On the Margins & Header/Footer tab: Set all margins to.5" or less, depending upon what your printer will accept. This may take some experimentation to find the minimum margin allowed. Set all Header & Footer content options to 'Blank'. This will prevent the date, web page URL, page number, etc from printing at the top and bottom of your printed pages. 2

3 New window Tab control From the Tools dropdown menu select 'Options'. On the Options screen, select 'Tabs'. If the box for 'Open new windows in a new tab instead' is checked, it must be unchecked to navigate properly within the IDEA applications. 3

4 Popup Windows, Load Images and Java Control On the Options screen, click on 'Content'. On the Content screen, all checkboxes on this screen should be checked. For pop up window control, the 'Block pop-up windows' box should be checked and an allowed site entry made for iep.aeaims.org as shown below. Use the 'Exceptions' button, and then you must type in the site address (iep.aeaims.org) or copy and paste from the URL of the login page. Next, click on 'Allow' to add our site on the list of sites permitted to utilize popup windows. In the Web IEP application, all Banks and the Print Menu utilize pop-up windows. Load Images Automatically The 'Load images automatically' checkbox should be checked. If you wish to not allow 'Load images automatically' (indicated by unchecking this box), you will also need to enter an 'Exception' allowed site for iep.aeaims.org or you will not see navigation buttons in the IEP application. Enable JavaScript and Java JavaScript is used extensively on any page where date calculations occur, such as Page A and the EDW. These two boxes must be checked. 4

5 Cache Control For the IowaIDEA application, caching is an 'undesirable' browser feature. Your cache settings control the 'storing' of pages you have accessed previously, so your browser doesn't need to download a previously accessed page every time you navigate to that page. We don't want that to happen because anytime you save a page (Page A, Page B, etc.) we want that 'new' data to reappear should you go back to that page. So we need to control what gets cached and what doesn't get cached. There are many options available to control cache in Firefox 3. The primary choices we want to control are Cache and Cookies. To get the desired options, we need to set FF to 'Use custom settings for history'. For cookie control, you have an option to a) check 'Accept cookies from sites', which will accept cookies from every site you browse to, or b) not check 'Accept cookies from sites' and enter an 'Exception' for iep.aeaims.org to allow just our site to store a cookie on your computer. Our IowaIDEA cookie stores the last district and building you accessed and some other information used to assist your navigation within the application. For cache control we recommend checking the 'Clear history when Firefox closes' and then use the 'Settings' button to refine what happens when you exit Firefox. On the 'Settings for Clearing History' window, make sure 'Cookies' is unchecked and 'Cache' is checked. 5

6 Firefox 3.x for Macintosh Printing From the File. Dropdown menu, select 'Print'. This brings up the Print dialogue box shown below. Select the 'Firefox' options from the scrollable drop list. Check 'Shrink to fit Page Width' Check 'Print Background Colors' Check 'Print Background Images' Set all Header and Footer options to '(Blank)' Click the 'Preview' button to save your changes. You may close the preview when it appears. 6

7 New window Tab control From the Firefox menu at the top of your screen, select 'Preferences'. The preferences window will appear with buttons on the top to select the setting group. Click on the 'Tabs' button.. On the Tabs screen, the box for 'Open new windows in a new tab instead' is checked, it must be unchecked to navigate properly within the IDEA applications. Popup Windows, Load Images and Java Control 7

8 Click on 'Content' at the top. On the Content screen, all checkboxes on this screen should be checked. For pop up window control, the 'Block pop-up windows' box should be checked and an allowed site entry made for iep.aeaims.org entered. Use the 'Exceptions' button, and then you must type in 'iep.aeaims.org' or copy and paste from the URL of the login page. Next, click on 'Allow' to add our site on the list of sites permitted to utilize popup windows and 'Close'. In the Web IEP application, all Banking 'B' buttons and the Print Menu utilize pop-up windows. Load Images Automatically The 'Load images automatically' checkbox should be checked. If you wish to not allow 'Load images automatically' (indicated by unchecking this box), you will also need to enter an 'Exception' allowed site for iep.aeaims.org or you will not see navigation buttons in the IEP application. Enable JavaScript and Java JavaScript is used extensively on any page where date calculations occur, such as Page A and the EDW. These two boxes must be checked. Cache Control For the IowaIDEA application, caching is an 'undesirable' browser feature. Your cache settings control the 'storing' of pages you have accessed previously, so your browser doesn't need to download a previously accessed page every time you navigate to that page. We don't want that to happen because anytime you save a page (Page A, Page B, etc.) we want that 'new' data to reappear should you go back to that page. So we need to control what gets cached and what doesn't get cached. 8

9 There are many options available for control in Firefox 3. The primary choices we want to control are Cache and Cookies. To get the desired options, we need to set FF to 'Use custom settings for history', pictured above. For cookie control, you have an option to a) check 'Accept cookies from sites', which will accept cookies from every site you browse to, or b) not check 'Accept cookies from sites' and enter an 'Exception' for iep.aeaims.org to allow just our site to store a cookie on your computer. Our IowaIDEA cookie stores the last district and building you accessed and some other information used to assist your navigation within the application. For cache control we recommend checking the 'Clear history when Firefox closes', pictured above, and then use the 'Settings' button to refine what happens when you exit Firefox. On the 'Settings for Clearing History' window, pictured below, make sure 'Cookies' is unchecked and 'Cache' is checked. 9

10 Internet Explorer 8.x Printing From the File. dropdown menu, select 'Page Setup'. On the Page Setup screen: Check 'Print Background Colors and Images' Check 'Enable Shrink-to-Fit' Set all margins to the minimum allowed. If you enter 0.0 for all margins, the browser will set them to the minimum margins your selected printer will accept. You may need to adjust these margin settings after printing a few IEP pages. Set all Header & Footer content options to 'Empty'. This will prevent the date, web page URL, page number, etc from printing at the top and bottom of your printed pages. 10

11 New window Tab control From the Tools dropdown menu select 'Internet Options'. On the Internet Options screen, click on the 'General' tab. Click on the 'Tabs - Settings' button, indicated below. On the Tabbed Browsing Settings screen, we are only concerned about the items indicated by the red outline. Set these items as indicated in the picture below. This will allow the Web IEP to utilize Tabs appropriately. Click 'OK' after you have correctly set these options. 11

12 Cache Control Settings The cache control settings are also on the General tab. For the IowaIDEA application, caching is an 'undesirable' browser feature. Your cache settings control the 'storing' of pages you have accessed previously, so you don't need to download a previously accessed page every time you access that page. We don't want that to happen because anytime you save a page (Page A, Page B, etc.) we want that 'new' data to reappear should you go back to that page. So we need to control what gets cached and what doesn't get cached. Click on the 'Settings' button for 'Browsing History'. On the Temporary Internet Files screen, make sure the 'Every time I visit the webpage' option is selected. Then select 'OK'. This will force a new page to be collected from the server instead of a cached page from your computer. We would also recommend that you check the box for 'Delete browsing history on exit' on the General tab. This will remove existing cached pages from your computer. 12

13 Other related cached items are also controlled from the General tab by checking the box for 'Delete browsing history on exit' and then clicking on the 'Delete' button to bring up the 'Delete Browsing History' settings screen. We recommend setting these options as displayed in the picture below. We want 'Cookies' unchecked so that your settings for the Web IDEA applications are not erased. This cookie stores the record of the last District and Building you accessed as well as some other user specific settings you have chosen. 13

14 Popup Windows, On the Internet Options screen, click on Privacy tab. For pop up window control, we recommend the 'Turn on Pop-up Blocker' box should be checked and an allowed site entry made for iep.aeaims.org as shown below. Use the 'Settings' button, and then you must type in the site or copy and paste from the URL of the login page. Next, click on 'Add' to add our site on the list of sites permitted to utilize popup windows. All Banks and the Print Menu utilize pop-up windows. 'Add-on' utilities or tool bars, such as Google, FunWebProducts, Yahoo and others may also have their own settings for Pop-up window control. The presence of these third party add-ons complicates pop-up window management. You may need to consult your local technology coordinator if you have these settings pictured above properly set and you are not able to see the Web IEP Print Menu or access your Banks of stored data. The first place to look would be any 'add-on' toolbar and the pop-up window settings for that 'add-on'. 14

15 Autocomplete Autocomplete saves entries into specific fields on forms. We need this feature turned off to prevent using previously entered data for one student on a new form for a new student. Click on the Content tab and click on the 'Settings' button for 'Autocomplete'. Uncheck the boxes for 'Forms' and 'Usernames and passwords on forms'. Optionally, you may wish to click on the 'Delete AutoComplete history' button if you are experiencing problems with this feature. Java Control JavaScript is used extensively on any page where date calculations occur, such as Page A and the EDW. The Java settings are buried deep in the security settings of Internet Explorer. For 95% of cases, JavaScipt should work by default. If you get Java or scripting errors, it is most likely due to Java not being installed on your computer. You may need to work with your technology coordinator to download and install Java. The install process will properly configure IE 8 for Java. 15

16 Internet Explorer 7.x Page Setup From the File. dropdown menu, select 'Page Setup'. On the Page Setup screen: Remove all characters in the Header & Footer content. This will prevent the date, web page URL, page number, etc from printing at the top and bottom of your printed pages. Set all margins to the minimum allowed. If you enter 0.0 for all margins, the browser will set them to the minimum margins your selected printer will accept. You may need to adjust these margin settings after printing a few IEP pages. 16

17 New window Tab control From the Tools dropdown menu select 'Internet Options'. On the Internet Options screen, click on the 'General' tab. Click on the 'Tabs - Settings' button, indicated below. On the Tabbed Browsing Settings screen, we are only concerned about the items indicated by the red outline. Set these items as indicated in the picture below. This will allow the Web IEP to utilize Tabs appropriately. Click 'OK' after you have correctly set these options. 17

18 Cache Control Settings The cache control settings are also on the General tab. For the IowaIDEA application, caching is an 'undesirable' browser feature. Your cache settings control the 'storing' of pages you have accessed previously, so you don't need to download a previously accessed page every time you access that page. We don't want that to happen because anytime you save a page (Page A, Page B, etc.) we want that 'new' data to reappear should you go back to that page. So we need to control what gets cached and what doesn't get cached. Click on the 'Settings' button for 'Browsing History'. On the Temporary Internet Files and History Settings screen, make sure the 'Every time I visit the webpage' option is selected. Then select 'OK'. This will force a new page to be collected from the server instead of a cached page from your computer. Click OK to return to the General tab. We would also recommend that you check the 'Delete' button to remove existing cached pages from your computer. 18

19 Autocomplete Autocomplete saves entries into specific fields on forms. We need this feature turned off to prevent using previously entered data for one student on a new form for a new student. Click on the Content tab and click on the 'Settings' button for 'Autocomplete'. Uncheck the boxes for 'Forms' and 'Usernames and passwords on forms'. 19

20 Popup Windows, On the Internet Options screen, click on the Privacy tab. For pop up window control, we recommend the 'Turn on Popup Blocker' box should be checked and an allowed site entry made for iep.aeaims.org as shown below. Use the 'Settings' button, and then you must type in the site or copy and paste from the URL of the login page. Next, click on 'Add' to add our site on the list of sites permitted to utilize popup windows. All Banks and the Print Menu utilize pop-up windows. 'Add-on' utilities or tool bars, such as Google, FunWebProducts, Yahoo and others may also have their own settings for Pop-up window control. The presence of these third party add-ons complicates pop-up window management. You may need to consult your local technology coordinator if you have these settings pictured above properly set and you are not able to see the Web IEP Print Menu or access your Banks of stored data. The first place to look would be any 'add-on' toolbar and the pop-up window settings for that 'add-on'. 20

21 Print Background Colors and Images Click on the 'Advanced' tab on the Internet Options screen. This brings up a long list checkbox options, separated into categories. Find the 'Printing' category, and then check the box for 'Print background colors and images'. This will allow the graphics and checkboxes on your forms to print on your IEP pages. Java Control JavaScript is used extensively on any page where date calculations occur, such as Page A and the EDW. The Java settings are also on the 'Advanced' tab. For 95% of cases, JavaScipt should work by default. If you get Java or scripting errors, it is most likely due to Java not being installed on your computer. You may need to work with your technology coordinator to download and install Java. The install process will properly configure IE 8 for Java. 21