usingUsing the Information Center

What browsers are supported?

The Information Center requires a browser that supports:

  • HTML 4
  • Cascading Style Sheets
  • JavaScript
  • Java applets

Examples of such browsers are Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 or higher and Netscape Navigator Version 4.7 or higher.

It is recommended that JavaScript be enabled in the browser. If you use a different or earlier version of a browser, your pages may format differently and some functions may not work correctly. Also, the Information Center uses Java applets for the the collapsible Table of Contents. Not all browsers support these applets. Therefore, there is an alternate HTML-based Table of Contents that you may select to use if you have trouble with the Java-based Table of Contents.

Some browsers, that do not provide a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) by default, may require that you install a JVM to use any Java based code such as JavaScript or Java applets. Refer to support for your browser for more information.

How do I bookmark?

Bookmarking a Web page that uses frames is a quick two-step process:

  1. Right-click anywhere in the frame that you want to bookmark.
  2. Select Add Bookmark if you are using Netscape Navigator.

    Select Add to Favorites if you are using Microsoft(R) Internet Explorer.

    Note: When appropriate you may want to rename the bookmarked page to reflect the content; otherwise, you may replace any previous Information Center bookmarks. Some browsers automatically assign a unique name based upon the page name.

When you use your new bookmark, your browser opens the specific page that you selected when you created the bookmark without opening the other frames that were displayed originally.

How do I navigate the Information Center?

The Information Center uses frames to help you navigate through the content. The navigation frame, on the left, may display the table of contents or the index. The content frame, on the right, shows you the information. This is the frame you will most likely want to bookmark or print. The banner frame, on the top, is the Information Center masthead. You can use it to select different ways of navigating the Information Center, including using the dynamic table of contents or the accessible table of contents or viewing the PDF versions of the information.

The navigation frame at the left is available in both a JavaTM version and an HTML version. Click the appropriate icon in the banner frame above the navigation frame to select the one you prefer. In the Java table of contents, click the topic to view the subtopics. Click it again to hide the subtopics.

Hint: To expand or collapse all subtopics, press the control key while clicking on the parent topic.

What if the navigation does not work?

The default table of contents uses a Java applet, which allows you to expand and collapse topics. Some known issues with the applet are:

  • If the navigation applet does not respond or open pages when you click on it, refresh your browser window.
  • If the navigation frame is blank:
    • You may have scrolled too far down the navigation page. Scroll back to the top of the navigation frame to find the links.
    • You may be using a browser that does not support Java, does not have Java enabled, or your Java Virtual Machine (for Internet Explorer, the Microsoft Virtual Machine) may not be the latest version. Click the HTML icon in the banner to use the HTML version of the table of contents.
  • If the navigation contains corrupt characters, make sure both the browser and the machine are set to the locale of the language you are trying to read. If this does not resolve the corrupt characters, use the HTML version of the table of contents. Use the HTML link, , in the banner to access an HTML version of the table of contents.
  • Some browsers do not provide a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) by default, which is required to use the navigation applets provided with this information center. To use these applets, you must install a JVM. A JVM for Internet Explorer can be downloaded from Microsoft or Sun. Refer to support for your browser for more information.

How do I print information from the Information Center?

You may want to read and work with hardcopy information, therefore the Information Center may include PDF files of topics that can be viewed and printed. You can also print individual HTML topics.

To print individual topics or articles:

  1. Navigate to the topic you want to print.
  2. Click in main content frame, where the article is displayed, to bring focus to the frame.
  3. Click File then click Print.

To print multiple topics:

  1. Use the procedure above for a few topics or do the following to print the entire PDF, if available:
  2. Click PDF Files to select the PDF you want to view and print.
  3. Select Print from the File menu and print the entire PDF or only a specific page range.

How do I adjust the browser's font size?

A cascading style sheet (CSS) governs the appearance of the Information Center. However, the text size remains flexible. The text is displayed in the size indicated in the user's Web browser settings.

The instructions for changing the font size vary between browser brands and versions. Consult the browser product documentation for instructions.