Supported Browsers and Settings (Windows)

Working in Almagest requires that you use a current Internet browser and enable your browser to allow Almagest pop-ups. The recommended browsers for Windows Operating Systems are:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer - 5.0, or higher
  • Firefox - 0.9, or higher
  • Mozilla - 1.7, or higher
  • Netscape - 7.2, or higher

Note: If you have a Mac OS, click here for browser requirements.


Browser Settings:

Enabling Almagest pop-ups (Required)

In order for Almagest to work properly, pop-ups from the Almagest server, URL WILL SHOW HERE, must be enabled. To enable pop-ups, follow the appropriate set of browser-specific steps.

Internet Explorer:

  1. Select Tools, Internet Options, Privacy Tab.
  2. At the bottom, either:
    • Check the Block pop-ups option, click Settings and type URL WILL SHOW HERE in the text box, and click Add to add the Almagest web site to the Allowed Sites list,
      OR
    • Uncheck the Block pop-ups option (this option is NOT recommended, as it enables all pop-ups).

Firefox:

  1. Select Tools, Options.
  2. On the left side, click Web Features and either:
    • Check the Block Popup Windows, click Allowed Sites and add URL WILL SHOW HERE into the text box. Click Allow to add the Almagest web site to the Allowed Sites list,
      OR
    • Uncheck the Block Popup Windows (this option is NOT recommended, as it enables all pop-ups).

Mozilla:

  1. Select Edit, Preferences.
  2. At the bottom, either:
    • Check the Block unrequested popup windows option, click Allowed Sites and type URL WILL SHOW HERE in the text box, and click Add to add the Almagest web site to the Allowed Sites list,
      OR
    • Uncheck the Block unrequested popup windows option (this option is NOT recommended, as it enables all pop-ups).

Netscape:

  1. Select Edit, Preferences.
  2. Click Privacy & Security (at the left) and then click Popup Windows, and either:
    • Check the Block unrequested popup windows option, click Allowed Sites and type URL WILL SHOW HERE in the text box, and click Add to add the Almagest web site to the Allowed Sites list,
      OR
    • Uncheck the Block unrequested popup windows option (this option is NOT recommended, as it enables all pop-ups).

Setting JavaScript settings (Required)

There are basic JavaScript settings that need to be set for Almagest to run properly. To set these JavaScript settings, follow the appropriate set of browser-specific steps.

Internet Explorer:

  1. Select Tools, Internet Options, Security Tab.
  2. Select the Internet option at the top, and click on the Custom Level button at the bottom.
  3. Scroll down to the Miscellaneous section, and choose Enable for Allow scripting of Internet Explorer Webbrowser control.
  4. Scroll down further to the Scripting section, and choose Enable for Active scripting.

Firefox:

  1. Select Tools, Options.
  2. On the left side, click Web Features.
  3. Check the Enable JavaScript checkbox, and click Advanced.
  4. Make sure that Move or resize existing windows is checked.
  5. Make sure that Change images is checked.

Mozilla:

  1. Select Edit, Preferences.
  2. On the left side, click on Advanced, then Scripts & Plug-ins.
  3. Under Enable JavaScript for, check Navigator.
  4. Make sure that Move or resize existing windows is checked.
  5. Make sure that Change images is checked.

Netscape:

  1. Select Edit, Preferences.
  2. Click on Advanced (to the left), and then click Scripts & Plug-ins.
  3. Under Enable JavaScript for, check Navigator.
  4. Verify that Move or resize existing windows is checked.
  5. Verify that Change images is checked.

Setting download options (Recommended)

If you choose to export slide lectures from Almagest to Microsoft PowerPoint for offline viewing, you will likely want to specify a name and location for the PowerPoint file. Some browsers do not automatically provide a prompt for file downloads as their default behavior. It is recommended that you change the browser's download setting to prompt for a file location. To do so:

Internet Explorer:

  1. Select Tools, Internet Options, Security Tab.
  2. Select Internet and click on Custom Level.
  3. Under Downloads, Automatic Prompting for file downloads choose Enable.

Firefox:

  1. Select Tools, Options, Downloads.
  2. Select Ask me where to save every file.

Mozilla:

  1. Select Edit, Preferences.
  2. Click Navigator (at the left) and then click Downloads.
  3. For "When starting a download", verify that Open the download manager is selected.

Netscape:

  1. Select Edit, Preferences.
  2. Click Navigator (at the left) and then click Downloads.
  3. For "When starting a download", verify that Open the download manager is selected.

Disabling the browser status bar (Recommended)

Almagest puts helpful information into the browser status bar and also hides the status bar when the default browser information may be confusing. It is recommended that you allow Almagest to change the status bar. To do so:

Internet Explorer:

  1. Select Tools, Internet Options, Security Tab.
  2. Select Internet and click on Custom Level.
  3. Under Miscellaneous, verify that 'Allow script-initiated windows without size or position constraints' is set to Enable.

Firefox:

  1. Select Tools, Options, Web Features.
  2. Check Enable Javascript and click Advanced.
  3. Check the checkboxes for Hide the status bar and Change status bar text.

Mozilla:

  1. Select Edit, Preferences.
  2. Click Advanced (at the left) and then click Scripts & Plug-ins.
  3. Under "Enable JavaScript for", check Navigator.
  4. Verify that Hide the status bar is checked.
  5. Verify that Change status bar text is checked.

Netscape:

  1. Select Edit, Preferences.
  2. Click Advanced (at the left) and then click Scripts & Plug-ins.
  3. Under "Enable JavaScript for", check Navigator.
  4. Verify that Hide the status bar is checked.
  5. Verify that Change status bar text is checked.

(IE ONLY) Disabling the image toolbar (Recommended)

Internet Explorer, by default, displays an image toolbar when the user mouses over the image. This may become disruptive while using Almagest, so it is recommended that you disable the image toolbar. To do so:

Internet Explorer:

  1. Select Tools, Internet Options, Advanced Tab.
  2. Scroll down to the Multimedia section.
  3. Under Multimedia, uncheck the 'Enable Image Toolbar (requires restart)' checkbox.
  4. Click OK.
  5. You must restart your computer in order for this change to take effect.