Students and faculty can access the WebCT program through web browsers such as Netscape or Internet Explorer. Most of the WebCT software you will use resides on a WebCT server (a central host computer). However, you will also use other applications that reside on your own computer, such as word processing or presentation programs. When working with WebCT, it is important to know the file name extensions of the documents and images that you save.

The following are recommendations for your computer settings which will optimize the effects of WebCT in your browsers, and allow you to view file name extensions.

Browsers

WebCT is a robust platform that relies heavily on available browsers to view the HTML pages you create. The two most common browsers are Netscape® Communicator and Microsoft® Internet Explorer. As the technologies for these browsers evolve, the interaction with clients such as WebCT changes. Consequently, we must exhaustively test each new release of browser software before making recommendations for using WebCT with it. Browser information is updated regularly in the Browser Tuneup of WebCT's support pages as new releases are evaluated for performance with WebCT. It is critically important that students and designers configure their browsers to allow interaction with WebCT in order to truly benefit from the online experience.

For WebCT courses using WebCT version 3.8, we recommend that the following operating systems be used with the associated browser versions:

• Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP
  • Netscape 4.76, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, and 6.2.3
  • Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher (except 5.5 Service Pack 1), including 6.0
  • AOL 7.0 (Note: AOL 7.0 does not function with Chat/Whiteboard)
• Mac OS 9.x
  • Netscape 4.76, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, and 6.2.3
  • Internet Explorer 5.x
  • AOL 5.0
• Mac OSX 10.1
  • Netscape 4.76, 6.2.1, 6.2.2, and 6.2.3
  • Internet Explorer 5.x
  • AOL 5.0

Web Links

The WebCT Browser Tune-Up tests your browsers for various multimedia plugins such as RealAudio, Shockwave, Flash and Acrobat. Instructions for setting browsers for optimum usage within WebCT are available there as well. This site is updated as new information becomes available.

For AOL Users:

If you use America Online (AOL) for Web access, you will need the AOL version 4.0 or higher client and the Internet Explorer 5.0 browser. Do not use earlier versions of the AOL client with earlier versions of Internet Explorer, as you will have difficulty accessing many of WebCT features.

For best results:

• Connect to the Internet using AOL version 4.0 or higher
• Open a private chat within AOL (this allows the AOL client to remain open, without asking if you wish to disconnect while minimized)
• Minimize AOL
• Launch a recommended browser

Browser Settings

For all browsers, JavaScript™ must be enabled. To use Chat and Whiteboard, Java must also be enabled.

• Netscape Communicator
  • Enable Java and JavaScript
    • Select Edit > Preferences
    • Select Advanced
    • Mark Enable Java and Enable JavaScript with a checkmark
    • Click OK
  • Set Cache to always reload page
    • Click the + sign next to Advanced to see more options
    • Select Cache
    • Select the Every Time radio button at the bottom
    • Click OK.
• Internet Explorer
  • Enable Java and JavaScript
    • Go to the Browser Tuneup page and locate the link to Prepare Your Browser Settings for WebCT and perform the Test for Java under the Enable Java setting. Follow the directions to install the JVM Plug-in if your system fails the test.
    • Select Tools > Internet Options
    • Select the Advanced tab
    • Locate Microsoft VM
    • Mark Java console enabled and Java logging enabled with a checkmark
    • Click OK
    • Restart your computer if you checked Java console enabled
  • Set Cache to always reload page
    • Select the General tab
    • Select Temporary Internet Files > Settings
    • Select the Every Visit to the Page radio button
    • Click OK
  • Turn off anonymous logon
    • Select Tools > Internet Options
    • Select the Security tab
    • Select Custom Level
    • Scroll down to User Authentication settings
    • Select the Automatic logon only in Intranet zone radio button (Make sure the Anonymous logon button is NOT selected)
    • Click OK

  File Name Extensions

  A file name extension is an addition to the file name in a suffix of the form ".xxx" where "xxx" represents an abbreviation of the format used to create it. The file name extension allows a file's format to be described as part of its name so that users can quickly understand the type of file it is without having to open or try to use it. The file name extension also helps an application program recognize whether a file is a workable file type.

  Since files are exchanged among users of WebCT, it is important to include the file name extensions, so that applications on your local computer can recognize them and open them.

  Macintosh operating systems do not use file name extensions, so they must be added manually.

  Windows operating systems can be configured to display the file name extensions whenever a file is opened, saved or transported.

  Make File Name Extensions Visible

  • Windows 95/98/2000/ME/XP
    • Open folder options setting by selecting Settings > Folder Options or Settings > Control Panel > Folder Options from the Start Menu
    • Select the View tab
    • Locate the Files and Folders options settings and deselect the Hide file extensions for known file types option
    • Click OK
  • Windows NT
    • Open the system control panel by selecting Settings > Control Panel from the Start Menu
    • Select View from the top menu bar and drag down to Options
    • Select the View tab
    • Deselect Hide file extensions for known file types
    • Click OK
  • Macintosh
    • Since Macintosh software does not use file extensions, it is important to name files with the appropriate file extensions when saving them.