Preparing Your Computer

The Para eLink has been tested on Macintosh and IBM compatible computers. However, each computer has a unique set of variables. We have tried to accommodate as many configurations as possible. In preparing this site for a wide and unknown set of computers, using the recommended settings will give you the best experience.

Computer Display Settings

The Web pages in this site are optimized for a minimum screen resolution of 800 x 600 on a 15" monitor. If you have a lower resolution, some pages will need to be scrolled horizontally. If you have a larger monitor, great! The content will stretch to fit your screen.

Technical requirements for using the Para eLink are that you have:

1. Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2. A Web browser and Internet connection.
3. A printer.

Getting Adobe Acrobat Reader

Many documents in this site are available only in Adobe Acrobat format (pdf). To view or print pdf files, you must have Adobe Acrobat or the Acrobat Reader (version 3 or higher) installed on your computer. If you do not have Acrobat Reader installed, you can get a free version from Adobe. Use the Get Acrobat Reader link below to download the program from their Web site.

Accessing pdf Worksheets

Depending on your computer's configuration, the procedure for getting a worksheet will differ. Sometimes a pdf (Adobe Acrobat file) opens up directly in the browser, sometimes clicking a link opens the Adobe Acrobat program, and sometimes a dialog box appears asking if you want to Open or Save the pdf file.

Recommended Browsers

Using a recommended browser is essential because it ensures that you access all the features of the training as they are intended to be used. Although you may use early version 4 of Internet Explorer and Netscape, we recommend the following:

• Netscape 6 or higher
• Internet Explorer 5 or higher

If you would like to upgrade your browser, they are are freely available for download from Netscape and Microsoft.

Browser Settings

You may need to change browser settings for text size, JavaScript, and/or cache files. JavaScript must be enabled. If it is not, you won't be able to use the interactive activities or the quizzes. The cache—temporary Internet files stored on your computer—must be set to reload every time you view a page.

Listed below, you will find specific instructions for increasing/decreasing text size, enabling JavaScript, and changing the cache setting.

To Change the Text Size Displayed in a Web Browser

1. For Internet Explorer and Netscape (on both Macs and PCs), open the View menu.
   The pictures in the table below show the View menu options you will see in the different browsers.
2. Make the appropriate selection to either increase or decrease the text size.

PC: Internet Explorer (all versions)	Macintosh: Internet Explorer 5
Macintosh and PC: Netscape 4.x (Navigator and Communicator)	PC: Netscape 6 (not yet recommended)

To Enable JavaScript in Internet Explorer

1. Choose Tools, Internet Options.
   The Internet Options dialog box opens.
   
2. Choose the Security tab.
3. Click the Custom Level button.
   The Security Settings dialog box opens.
4. Scroll down to Active Scripting.
5. Ensure that the radio button next to Enable is selected.
6. Choose OK to close the Security Settings dialog box.
   (Choose Yes to accept the changes, if the Warning! dialog box appears.)
7. Choose OK to close the Internet Options dialog box.

To Enable JavaScript in Netscape

1. Choose Edit, Preferences.
   The Preferences dialog box opens.
2. Click the Advanced, in the Category pane (on the left).
3. Select Cache.
4. Ensure that the box next to Enable JavaScript is checked.
5. Choose OK to close the Preferences dialog box.

To Set the Cache to Always Reload in Netscape

1. Choose Edit, Preferences.
   The Preferences dialog box opens.
2. Click the + sign next to Advanced, in the Category pane (on the left).
   More options appear.
3. Select Cache.
4. In Document in cache is compared to document on network area, ensure that the radio button next to Every Time is selected.
5. Choose OK to close the Preferences dialog box.

To Set the Cache to Always Reload in Internet Explorer

1. Choose Tools, Internet Options.
   The Internet Options dialog box opens.
2. Choose the General tab.
3. Click the Settings button in the Temporary Internet files area.
   The Settings dialog box opens.
4. Under Check for newer versions of stored pages, ensure that the radio button next to Every visit to the page is selected.
5. Choose OK to close the Settings dialog box.
6. Choose OK to close the Internet Options dialog box.

The Para eLink is sponsored by the Minnesota Paraprofessional Consortium, in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education, located at the Institute on Community Integration in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota.

E-mail us with questions and comments about this site.

© 2001-2007 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
This page last modified
URL
Online Privacy Statement