Using SRC-hosted Web Sites

• Downloading Files
• Browser Configuration
• Recommendations
• Known Issues
• Other Tips

Downloading Files

Because of the way SRC-hosted Web sites are built, the traditional method of downloading files (right-clicking on a link and choosing "save") does not work properly. So, we've provided an alternative means of downloading special file types.

For special file types—namely: pdf, csv, xls, txt, zip—there is a small down arrow icon next to the link. To download, click the icon and follow the normal download procedures for your browser. Important note: If you are using Internet Explorer 5.5, see the Known Issues section below.

Browser Configuration

In order to successfully use any of the SRC-hosted Web sites, your browser must be configured to accept cookies and have JavaScript enabled. SRC-hosted Web sites require cookies to allow you to complete forms, to log in, and to maintain your session after you have logged in. JavaScript is used in menus, forms and various page-rendering functions.

How Do I....

• Enable cookies in my browser
• Enable JavaScript in my browser

Recommendations

SRC develops and tests its Web sites primarily on PCs using Windows platforms. The majority of testing is done on the latest versions of Internet Explorer 5 and 6 and Netscape 7, which our comprise roughly 90 percent of our sites' usage.

For optimal use of the features on SRC-hosted sites, we recommend Internet Explorer 6.0.

If you are unable to use the recommended browser and you run into a problem using one of the SRC-hosted sites, please consult the Known Issues section below. If you encounter a problem not listed there, we'd like to know about it. Please notify the webmaster of the problem you experienced and what browser/system you were using when you encountered it.

If you elect not to use the recommended browser, we suggest the following:

• If you prefer Internet Explorer 5, be certain you have upgraded to Service Pack 2 or later.
  • Download the latest service pack for IE 5.01
  • Download the latest service pack for IE 5.5
• If you prefer Netscape, version 7 is most compatible with the technology on SRC sites.
• If you prefer Mozilla, version 1.6 is most compatible with the technology on SRC sites.

Known Issues

The following are issues that users may encounter when using the SRC-hosted Web sites, followed by our recommendations for resolving them. If you encounter a problem not listed here, please notify the webmaster of the problem you experienced and what browser/system you were using when you encountered it.

1. Unable to download files by clicking the download icon
   If you are using Internet Explorer 5.5 with Service Pack 1, you will not be able to properly download special file types by clicking the download icon next to the link. This is a known defect in this version of IE 5.5. Microsoft fixed the problem in Service Pack 2 for that version. See Microsoft's documentation for more information, or download the latest service pack for IE 5.5.
2. Log-in problems
   Some corporate users have encountered problems logging in to SRC-hosted sites. This problem is related to misconfigured proxies at the customer's end. If you encounter this problem and would like technical assistance in resolving the problem, please contact the webmaster.
3. Slow Web Site Response
   Usually, when someone has reported apparently slow responses from an SRC-hosted Web site, we have found that the problem is unrelated to one of our servers. More likely, a cause has been discovered on the receiving end, or there turns out to be Internet congestion somewhere along the connection path.
   
   It is notoriously difficult to pinpoint the exact cause or location of an Internet bottleneck. But, if you seem to be encountering such problems, there are some questions to ask and some diagnostic steps to take prior to contacting us. They are:
   1. Does the problem occur only after you log in to the SRC site? If so, do other folks in your company experience a similar problem after logging into the SRC site? If the answer to both of these questions is "Yes," then there may be a proxy misconfiguration problem at your organization; contact the webmaster with this information.
   2. Can you, from your browser, get to other Web sites outside your company's domain. Try cnn.com or google.com (for example). Do you see similar slow responses when accessing these sites? If so, the problem is not particular to the SRC. Investigate whether there is a problem at your company or a more widespread problem on the Internet.
   3. If previous answers are "No," try reversing the previous question. Instead of asking whether you can get to other sites, ask whether other sites are having similar trouble getting pages from the SRC site. To test this, you will need to access the SRC-hosted site from multiple systems on multiple networks. Fortunately, a free service like this exists. It's called TRaceRT and can be accessed through the Web site at http://www.tracert.com. While you must register at www.tracert.com, the service is free, and it is a great way to compare access times from different points on the Internet to a single URL.
      
      If many of the test points are having trouble, then it is more likely that the problem lies closer to the SRC server. Contact us, and let us know. On the other hand, if other sites are not experiencing the same difficulty that you have encountered, you should probably contact your organization's network support staff first.

   If you have taken the above steps and are convinced there is a problem on an SRC server, please contact the webmaster.

Other Tips

Pop-up Blockers

Several new browser applications known as "pop-up blockers" are now available from various sources, including Google, Earthlink, and America Online. Use of these browser add-ons while exploring SRC-hosted Web sites may defeat some features and functionality on our sites. These include pop-up windows containing instructional text, forms, and new windows for PDF files. If you use a pop-up blocker, we recommend that you add src.org to your application's exclusion list or simply turn off the blocker while surfing SRC-hosted sites.

Note: SRC-hosted Web sites do not use automatic pop-up windows when a page is visited, for example, as some sites do with pop-up advertisements. A new window will open only when you have clicked a link that specifies opening the document in a new window. This feature is used to enable our visitors to maintain access to site navigation in the original window when viewing PDF files, as well as to facilitate the use of instructional text when completing forms without having to leave the form itself.