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Differences Between Internet Explorer and Netscape in Using Blackboard
Blackboard was designed to be used with Netscape and Internet Explorer (IE) versions 4.0 or higher. However, there are a variety of functions that work differently in one browser versus another. If you have having problems doing a particular task in Blackboard in one browser, try one of the suggested tactics below, or switch browsers.
NOTE: Many people use Mozilla Firefox. Firefox and Netscape both are based off of Mozilla/Mosaic technology; therefore, many of the quirks of Netscape may occur in Firefox. However, because Blackboard has not been certified with Blackboard, there are some problems that may occur that cannot be accounted for. Mac users who use Safari may have similar undocumented problems.
Opening PowerPoint Presentations
Netscape
When you click on the link for the desired PowerPoint presentation on a computer with PowerPoint installed, a window comes up, asking you whether you wish to open the presentation using PowerPoint. You can click the "OK" button, or you can select "Save this file to disk," if you prefer. On a computer where PowerPoint is not available, you will only be given the option to save the presentation.
You should be able to view the presentation in PowerPoint by going to "Slide Show" and selecting "View Show." You can also press the F5 button on your keyboard.
IE
When you click on the link for the desired PowerPoint presentation on a computer with PowerPoint installed, the presentation will open within the main frame of the Blackboard course window. The Blackboard buttons to the left will still be visible.
You can view the presentation by either clicking the mouse button on the slide, or by using the scroll bar to the right of the slide. You can view the presentation full-screen by right-clicking your mouse button and selecting "Full screen."
Tactics
The opening and viewing of PowerPoint presentations is only problematic on machines without PowerPoint or PowerPoint viewer installed. You should be able to use either browser to look at a presentation. Where you will run into problems, however, is when you try to save the presentation.
Printing PowerPoint Presentations
Netscape
You can print the presentation from within PowerPoint. Simply go to "File" and select "Print," or hit Ctrl+P (PC) or Command+P (Mac).
IE
You can print the presentation from within Blackboard. Either right-click your mouse button and select "Print," or click the "Print" button in the IE toolbar. DO NOT go to the menu and select "File," and then "Print;" you will only print out the Blackboard screen.
Tactics
If you are viewing the presentation in full screen in IE, you will not be given a tool bar from which to print. You will need to right-click and select the option "End show;" then, you'll be able to either right-click to print, or click the the "Print" button. When printing out presentations in either browser, we suggest that you change your printing options. Under "Print what" in the Print window, select "Handouts." Then, choose the number of "Slides per page" in the "Handouts" section of the page. This will save on toner and paper, and not cause the printer to freeze up.
Saving PowerPoint Presentations
Netscape
In Netscape, this is quite simple. You can either save the presentation from within PowerPoint using "File" and "Save as," or, instead of opening the PowerPoint presentation at the outset, you can elect to save it to disk.
IE
If you go under "File" and select "Save As" in the Blackboard window, you will not be saving the presentation. You will instead be saving the web page.
Tactics
In IE, you have two options:
- Click the "Back" button on IE to return to the list from which you opened the slide presentation; right-click on the link, select "Save Target As," and save the file to the appropriate disk;
- Click the "Back" button on IE to return to the list from which you opened the slide presentation. Then, right-click on the link, and select "Open in New Window." Now, if you go to "File" and select "Save As," you'll be able to save the presentation as an actual presentation (rather than as a web page).
Opening Word Processing Documents
Netscape
When you click on the link for the desired document on a computer with Word installed, a window comes up, asking you whether you wish to open the presentation using Word. You can click the "OK" button, or you can select "Save this file to disk," if you prefer. On a computer where Word is not available, you will be given the option to save the document to look at later. If you decide to open the document using another program, you will have to browse to find a program capable of viewing Word or PDF documents (such as WordPad).
IE
When you click on the link for the desired document on a computer with PowerPoint installed, the presentation will open within the main frame of the Blackboard course window. The Blackboard buttons to the left will still be visible. On a computer where Word is not available, you can either save the document to be opened later, or attempt to open it with an existing program. Unlike with Netscape, IE will open the document automatically in WordPad, if it is available.
Tactics
Again, the major problem you'll run into is trying to open these documents on machines without Word installed. If you feel confident about being able to browse to WordPad on your computer, then you should have no problems in opening the document immediately. If you are unsure, then it is suggested that you either save the document, or try using IE to open the document.
Saving the document will also show more of the differences between the browsers.
Printing Word Processing Documents
Netscape
You will be able to print this document in Word (or WordPad) as you would any other Word document.
IE
IE will allow you to print the document from within Blackboard by either clicking the "Print" button in the toolbar, or by going to the menu and selecting "File," and "Print."
Tactics
Printing word processing documents is more straightforward than printing PowerPoint documents. No tricks are required, unless you are working on a computer without Word or another word processing program. In this instance, your best bet is to save the document to disk and open it within an appropriate word processing document. Keep in mind that while RTF (Rich Text Format) documents can be opened through Word, documents created in Works or WordPerfect cannot.
Saving Word Processing Documents
Netscape
In Netscape, this is quite simple. You can either save the document from within Word (or WordPad) using "File" and "Save as," or, instead of opening the document at the outset, you can elect to save it to disk. The word processing program will default to RTF (Rich Text Format) if the document was originally saved in this format. You can, however, choose "Word document" from the drop-down menu for your "Save as type."
IE
If you go under "File" and select "Save As" in the Blackboard window, you will not be saving the document. You will instead be saving the web page.
Tactics
In IE, your best bet is to open the document in a new window. To do this, click the "Back" button on IE to return to the list from which you opened the document. Then, right-click on the link, and select "Open in New Window." Now, if you go to "File" and select "Save As," you'll be able to save the document. Note that if the document was originally an RTF (Rich Text Format) document, this will be the default format. You can, however, choose "Word document" from the drop-down menu for your "Save as type."
Opening, Printing, and Saving Excel Spreadsheets
Much of what has been said regarding word processing documents applies to Excel spreadsheets. The documents will open in either browser, provided that Excel is available on the computer that you're using. If Excel is not available, your best bet is to save the document to be used on a computer with Excel.
In order to manipulate the spreadsheet and to use some of the tools and formulas available in Excel, you should either use Netscape to open the document (which will open it in Excel for you), or you should save it to disk and open it from within Excel. While you can certainly open and view and, yes, edit a spreadsheet by opening it through IE (and viewing it from within Blackboard), you will not gain access to the many buttons and menus that make Excel so powerful.
The spreadsheet will print without any problems in either IE or Netscape.