Setting up your Browser for WebCT

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In order to use WebCT successfully, some web browser configuration may be required. To test your configuration, follow this checklist:

1. Is my web browser supported?

   Supported web browsers for Windows are located on the Startup CD available to Curtin Students and Staff.

   The recommended browsers for use with WebCT are:

   • Internet Explorer 6.1
   • Mozilla 1.7
   • Safari 2.0

   To determine your web browser version, from the "Help" pull-down menu select "About". Mac users select "About" from the Apple menu.

2. Set your cache to always reload

   In Internet Explorer

   • Select "Tools" then choose "Internet Options"
   • Select the "General" tab
   • Select "Settings" from Temporary Internet Files
   • Select the "Every Visit to the Page" radio button
   • Click "OK"

   In Netscape Communicator

   • Select "Edit" then choose "Preferences
   • Click the + sign next to "Advanced" to see more options
   • Select "Cache"
   • Select the "Every Time" radio button at the bottom
   • Click "OK"
3. Turn off Anonymous Logon

   In Internet Explorer

   • Select "Tools" then choose "Internet Options"
   • Select the "Security" tab
   • Select "Custom level"
   • Scroll down to "User Authentication" settings
   • "Logon" options
   • Select the "Automatic logon only in Intranet zone" radio button
   • Click "OK"
      
4. Enable Cookies
   You must enable cookies in order to log in to WebCT.

   How do I enable cookies for Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.x?

   • Select "Internet Options" from the Tools menu
   • Go to Privacy (tabs)
   • Adjust preset settings so that cookies are enabled or click on "Advanced" to customize the settings
   • Click "OK" for each window

   How do I enable cookies for Netscape 6.x?

   • Select "Preferences" on the "Edit" menu.
   • Click on the arrow next to "Advanced" in the left hand menu and click "Cookies."
   • Select "Enable all cookies" or "Enable cookies" for the originating website only.

   How do I enable cookies for Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x?

   • Select "Internet Options" from the Tools menu.
   • Click on the "Security" tab.
   • Click on the "Custom Level" button.
   • Scroll down to the "Cookies" section.
   • To enable: Set "Allow cookies that are stored on your computer" to "Enable."
   • Set "Allow per-session cookies" to "Enable."
   • Click "OK"

   How do I enable cookies for Netscape Communicator 4.x?

   • Select "Preferences" from the Edit menu
   • Find the "Cookies" section in the "Advanced" category
   • To enable: Select "Accept all cookies" or "Enable all cookies."
   • Click "OK"


5. Enable Java
   

   In Internet Explorer

   • Test for Java. See if you can load this applet.
   • If you don't see the countdown, you will need to download the Java plug-in.
   • After installation of the Java plug-in, try to load the applet again.

   In Netscape Communicator

   • Select "Edit Preferences"
   • Select "Advanced"
   • Make sure the "Enable Java" and "Enable JavaScript" boxes are checked
   • Click "OK"

Apple Mac users

Safari 2.0

1. From the Safari menu, click Preferences
2. Click the Security tab
3. For Web Content, check the boxes for

Check the box for Enable Plug-ins
Check the box for Enable Java
Check the box for Enable Javascript
Uncheck the box for Block Pop-up Windows

4. For Accept Cookies, choose

Only from sites you navigate to

5. Close the Preferences window

Netscape Navigator

1. From the Edit menu, click Preferences
2. Under the Category heading, click Advanced
3. Ensure that Enable Java, and Enable JavaScript are checked
4. Expand the Advanced folder, by clicking the small triangle, and then click Cache
5. Under "Page in cache is compared to page on network", select Every time
6. Click OK.

Internet Explorer

1. From the Edit menu, click Preferences
2. In the left hand scroll-box, click Web Browser (and expand if necessary), then click Java
3. Ensure that Enable Java (Apple MRJ) and Log Java Output are checked
4. Click Advanced
5. In the Cache area, next to "Update Pages", select Always
6. Click OK.

• Windows XP - Java is not included with Windows XP. If you do not have Java, it is available from the JavaSoft website.
• Internet Explorer 5.5 SP1 - When downloading a file, such as a .doc file, the browser window is saved as a HTML file instead of the intended download file.
• Office XP - When attempting to view Word or PowerPoint files the file may not open, you may receive a 403 Forbidden error, or your ID and Password may be rejected. To resolve this problem, update your software to Microsoft Office XP SP2 or later. This is available via Office Update.
• Popup stoppers are commonly used to block internet advertising banners. If you install such client software as ZoneAlarm and Norton Internet Firewall, you must configure it to allow pop-up windows in order for Quiz, Discussion bulletins and Content pages to display.
• Firewall Settings - If you configure a firewall on your PC, it should allow access to http://webct.curtin.edu.au port 80. To access the chat and whiteboard facilities, port 4445 and 4567.
• Spyware - If you have illicit web pages popping up on your computer, you may have visited a web page that infected your computer with "spyware". "Ad-Aware" can detect and remove this from your computer. It is freely available from download.com.
• Viruses - To protect against computer viruses, ensure your virus scanner is up to date. Norton AntiVirus is available from the Symantec website.
• If you have Windows NT, 2000 or XP on your home or office computer, it may be vulnerable to a computer worm W32.Blaster.Worm. To protect your computer from infection, download the security patch from Microsoft. This is available from the Microsoft web site.