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Once again this week I had the surprising experience that a client whose web site had just gone live called in a panic, "Everything on the first page is a mess! And somehow the words are misspelled and rearranged. Why did you edit that without telling us?". Since I had done nothing to the pages, I was baffled. I finally realized that they had been viewing the site on a very old browser...one that does not recognize the programming that had been done on their site. Not everyone understands that it's important to upgrade software regularly especially web browsers. This tip is to remind you that you should upgrade your browser regularly, and encourage you try it on your own, even if you have little experience. Nearly every software download site has a page with simple instructions about how to download and how to install the new files. If you are uncertain, that is a good place to start and gain some confidence. When Should You Upgrade? Software version numbering has become fairly standardized. If you use Netscape 2.0, for example, and a version 2.03 comes along, it means only minor changes have occurred that may or may not affect you. If a version 3.0 or 4.0 comes out, that means major changes have occurred, and you should probably upgrade. This often means something as simple as logging in to the software manufacturer's web site and downloading the newer version for free. You can easily find the version you are using of any software program. In Windows programs, just click on Help | About on the software's menu bar. For Apple programs, click on the application, go to File | Get Info. Upgrade your browser as often as a new commercial version comes out. It's free! This is especially true for people using the America OnLine browser to access the Internet. Many of the design elements in widespread use on web pages today rely on a hidden table structure for visual effect...for example, text in columns, irregular white space blocks, etc. AOL's current browser (version 3.0) still does not display tables properly, so they appear scrambled. This means that AOL users or Netscape 2.0 users will look at a page that an Internet Explorer or Netscape 3.xx or 4.xx user sees perfectly, and complain that the words and numbers are jumbled or misspelled or don't make sense or don't line up (like my client did). If you use a service like AOL or Netcom, you can easily check online to see if an upgrade is available. (AOL Version 4.0 is due out shortly, as this tip is written) Did you know that it is possible to use any browser you wish with an AOL account? Read the AOL FAQ or talk to their technical support about how set up your own system. If you use Internet Explorer or Netscape products, the current commercial release version is 4.xx. Version 4.xx browsers have tremendous new capabilities based on new HTML programming standards. Once you surf with one of the newer browser versions, you'll never look back! Download Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 here: http://www.microsoft.com/msdownload/default.htm Download Netscape Communicator 4.0 here: http://www.netscape.com/download/index.html Download AOL 3.0 here: http://www.aol.com/tryaol/home.html Kaye Vivian, ABC Copyright 1998 by Kaye Vivian ( kvivian@cloud9.net ). All rights reserved. |
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