Internet Browser Setup Guide for InnoVia

Transcription

1 REALTORS Association of Northeast Wisconsin Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Internet Browser Setup Guide for InnoVia Recommendations and Guidelines for browser software used with InnoVia MLS and InnoVia CIE Revised: May

2 Why are there special browser guidelines for InnoVia users? The InnoVia program involves detailed computer programming and the use of Java to make the buttons, windows, and displays change as needed. Certain browser settings and maintenance practices will allow the best possible use of the system with the least amount of time and frustration. Do I have to know a lot about computers to use InnoVia or to follow these browser guidelines? No. We have tried to make these guidelines easy to follow by providing step-by-step instructions, and we use non-technical language or explanations whenever possible. This guide only talks about Internet Explorer. What about Netscape Navigator, AOL, Opera, or Firefox? At this time, Internet Explorer is the only browser supported by RANW MLS. In most instances Netscape Navigator will work with InnoVia; however, when printing displays from InnoVia, members using Netscape have found they are unable to edit their printer settings (margins, headers, footers) to match the MLS recommendations. For those members using AOL (or any other Internet Service Provider that uses a proprietary browser), we recommend minimizing the ISP s browser and using Internet Explorer with InnoVia. Firefox is being tested for use with InnoVia, and the preliminary results are promising; however, compatibility issues still exist. Other browsers, such as Opera, may or may not work well with InnoVia. A special note about pop up windows: Members must allow InnoVia s pop-up windows in their Internet browser. Internet Service Providers and Anti-Virus programs often include pop-up blocker options for their subscribers. Software applications that block pop-up windows are available for downloading from the Internet. The Windows XP Service Pack 2 includes both a firewall and a pop-up blocker. Each of these pop-up blocker programs allow users to tell the program to allow pop-up windows for certain websites. InnoVia uses pop-up windows for counting matching records, creating CMA reports, ing displays to clients, entering and retrieving Prospects and Saved Searches, and for all aspects of the Use Checked function. If InnoVia s pop-up windows are blocked, InnoVia will not function correctly. 2

3 Internet Basics/Definition of Terms What is the Internet? The Internet is a collection of computer networks that connect millions of computers around the world. What is an Internet Browser? An Internet browser is a software package that contains the basic programming you need in order to find, retrieve, view, and send information over the Internet. Browsers often include software that allows you to send and retrieve electronic mail ( ) messages worldwide, as well as participate in newsgroups (or forums). Some examples of browsers are: Microsoft s Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Opera, and Mozilla Firefox. Some ISP s (see below), such as AOL and CompuServe, provide their own browser software to their clients. What is an ISP? An ISP (Internet Service Provider) is a service company that sells access to the Internet. Access may be provided via telephone lines, over cable lines, through satellite connections, etc. Some local ISPs include: Road Runner, Family Video, Net Net, and Athenet. What is a Link? A link (short for hyperlink ) is a connector between two points on the Internet. These points may be on the same page or website, or may connect two different locations across the world. Within InnoVia, you will see various fields that appear blue and underlined. Anytime you click on one of these fields, the system will connect you with another screen. For example, anytime you click on a blue underlined ML# field InnoVia will open the Customer Display of the property for viewing. (Once you have clicked on a link, the color will change to gray to indicate that the link has been followed. The link remains active, and you may follow it again if you wish.) What is a Cookie? A cookie is a small text file placed temporarily on your computer by a web page to allow certain web applications to function correctly. InnoVia uses cookies to authenticate your login ID and password, as well as monitor inactivity on the MLS server. What is Cache? (Temporary Internet Files) Cache (pronounced cash ) is a storage area on your computer where previously viewed web pages and cookies are stored for later use. When the Temporary Internet Files folder gets too full, it may deny applications, such as JavaScript, the resources they need to run properly. Clearing the Temporary Internet File folder is a quick and easy process, and InnoVia users should clean their cache at least once per week. 3

4 Minimum System Requirements The recommended system configuration to use Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 is Windows ME or higher on a computer running with a Pentium III processor and 128 MB of RAM. Operating System: Windows ME, 2000, XP Processor: Pentium II/266 MHZ RAM: 64 MB Hard Disk Space: 5 GB Full installation size of IE6 depends on the operating system, and may vary from 8.7 MB to 12.7 MB. Monitor Size and Display Properties for InnoVia: 17 (or larger) 1024x768, True Color, Small Fonts Connection Method: 56KBps Modem, Cable, DSL, ISDN, Satellite Recommended Browser Software: Internet Explorer, Version 6 with Service Pack 1 For those members using AOL (or any other Internet Service Provider that uses a proprietary browser), we recommend minimizing the ISP s browser and using Internet Explorer with InnoVia. To determine which version of Internet Explorer you are currently using, start your browser, and then select Help About. A new window will appear, displaying your version information. A link to Microsoft s website is provided on the InnoVia login screen for your convenience should you need to download a newer version of your browser. Please note: Downloading a new browser from the Internet can take hours when using a dial-up Internet service provider. Enable Your Cookies: Cookies are small text files placed on your computer by InnoVia to allow you to log in with your member password, and gain access to the MLS data. In the Internet Explorer version 6.0 browser, cookies are disabled by default. To enable your cookies for use with InnoVia, follow the directions below: Internet Explorer 6.0: 1. Open your browser screen 2. Select Tools Internet Options 3. Click the Privacy tab 4. In the Web Sites section at the bottom of the window, click Edit 5. Enter the address of the RANW website: and then click the Allow button 6. Repeat with RANW s second address: 7. Click OK to return to the Privacy tab 8. Click OK to close the Internet Options window. 4

5 Downloading a new browser: If you find that you are not using the correct version of Internet Explorer, you will need to download a new or updated version. On the InnoVia login page, we have provided a link to Microsoft s website. This link will take you directly to the download area for Internet Explorer. Installing Internet Explorer System Requirements for Internet Explorer 6.0 The recommended system configuration to use Internet Explorer 6 is Windows 2000, Windows ME, or Windows NT on a computer running with a Pentium III processor and 128 MB of RAM. Windows 98 computers must have a minimum of 16 MB of RAM available, Windows 2000, NT, and Millennium must have a minimum of 32 MB of RAM available. Windows XP computers meet all system requirements. How to Download and Install: Choose the version of Internet Explorer you wish to install, and click the appropriate Internet Explorer link to start the download. Do one of the following: 1. To start the installation immediately, click Open or Run this program from its current location. 2. To copy the download to your computer for installation at a later time, click Save or Save this program to disk. With this process, you are prompted to download a 500 KB setup file called ie6setup.exe. During the setup, you can choose the type of installation you prefer, and Internet Explorer downloads only the files you need. If you are prompted for a Save In location, you may wish to select your desktop so that you can easily find the file for the next step in the installation process. After you have downloaded and saved the ie6setup.exe file to your computer, you will need to double-click on the file name or icon to begin the program installation. This installation can take more than an hour over a dial-up Internet connection. Note Third-party download managers (for example, Netzip, GetRight, etc ) intercept the download, and cause the installation to stop. To prevent this, disable third-party download managers before running the setup file. 5

6 Do Your Updates! Windows Updates: If you get logged out of InnoVia when using your browser s Back button, you may be missing the Service Pack 1 for Internet Explorer 6, or may have conflicting browser helpers installed. Part of your regular computer and browser maintenance should be checking to see whether Microsoft has released any updates, fixes, or service packs for your operating system and browser. Newer computers are often set up to notify you if updates are available. You can also go to Microsoft s website at: and select the Scan For Updates option. Install all critical updates (you may need to perform multiple installations). You may wish to install some of the recommended updates as well, but that is a personal choice. Anti-Virus Software: Anti-virus programs use files called virus definitions to identify a virus in a computer file. Since new viruses come out every day, a good anti-virus program will have some kind of auto-update feature that will download new signature files and install them on a set interval to enable it to detect the newest viruses. You must be connected to the internet in order to auto-update your anti-virus protection. Cable Modems/DSL: In most cases, you are connected when you turn on your computer and the anti-virus program should update itself. Dial-Up: It s recommended that you manually update your software to ensure that the update finishes before you disconnect your dial-up connection. To manually update, please see your anti-virus software manual or online help. Check your virus definitions WEEKLY! Most programs will have the definitions date clearly visible on the main screen - if the definitions are more than 5 days old, do an immediate update. Schedule a weekly virus scan of your hard drive to help detect/remove any viruses to keep your computer virus free. Below are some helpful anti-virus websites for software support or purchase. (software can range from $50-$100 for a full product with a year subscription to virus definitions): (Norton Anti-Virus) (McAfee Virus Scan) (PC-cillin) (AVG Anti-Virus) 6

7 Java Update/Installation: If you notice that the InnoVia menu buttons are missing when you log in to InnoVia, your browser is not supporting Java. You will need to download and install Java s software from their website to bring your menu back. 1. Go to 2. Click the Java Software Download link 3. Select Manual Download 4. Use the Windows Offline Installation option, and click the Download button 5. When prompted to Run or Save the file, select Save and make sure to save it to your desktop to make it easy to find once the download is finished. 6. When the download is complete, minimize your browser window so you can see your desktop area. 7. Double-click the new Java icon that appears on your desktop; this will begin the Installation Wizard. 8. Follow the Installation Wizard prompts, accepting all default settings. 9. When the installation is complete, restart your computer, clear your temporary Internet files (see page 11), and then log into InnoVia. Your menu buttons should reappear! Configuring the Norton Internet Security program: If you use the Norton Internet Security program on your computer, you must configure that program to allow InnoVia s pop-up windows to function correctly. Select Start - All Programs - Norton Internet Security, and click on Norton Internet Security to start the program. For Versions 2004 and 2005: Click Privacy Control Click Configure Click Advanced For Version 2003: Click Options on the top menu Click Web Content THEN for all versions: 1. Click Add Site under the Web Content Options window 2. Add in the New Site/Domain box 3. Click OK In the Web Content Options window, click once on to highlight it 1. Select the User Settings tab in the top left of the Web Content window 2. In the section titled Pop Up Ads: Uncheck Use Default Settings Click the Permit radio button 7

8 Windows XP Service Pack 2 SP2 contains several enhancements to Windows XP, the most notable being in security. Without the SP2 update, computers are easily compromised by spyware, adware, Trojan horses and other security bugs. Computers may also be taken over by hackers and used in Denial of Service and other types of attacks, or have personal information (including account and credit card information) stolen. SP2 installs a new Windows Firewall (that is turned on by default) and includes a pop-up blocker for Internet Explorer. There are 2 steps all RANW MLS users who use Windows XP MUST TAKE in order to continue using InnoVia after installing SP2. These steps allow you to add InnoVia to your trusted sites zone in Internet Explorer and to allow pop-ups from InnoVia. (If you install the SP2 and do not complete these steps, you will be unable to connect to and use InnoVia.) 1. Add InnoVia to your Trusted Sites Zone in Internet Explorer: 1. Open Internet Explorer (IE), and select Tools - Internet Options 2. Click on the Security tab 3. Click on the green Trusted Sites icon (the green circle with a white check mark) 4. Click on the Sites button to display the Trusted Sites window 5. Uncheck the box that says Require Server Verification ( for all sites in this zone (see image at right) 6. In the box labeled Add this Web Site to this zone, type the following web addresses, clicking the Add button after each one: <click Add> <click Add> 7. Click to put a check mark back into the box titled Require Server Verification ( for all sites in this zone 8. Click OK 9. Click OK 2. Add InnoVia to your Allow Pop-Ups section: 1. Open Internet Explorer (IE), and select Tools - Internet Options 2. Click on the Privacy tab 3. At the bottom of the Privacy tab, under Pop-Up Blocker, click the Settings button 4. In the box labeled Address of Web Sites to Allow:, type the following web addresses, clicking the Add button after each one: <click Add> <click Add> 5. Click Close 6. Click OK 8

9 Cleaning up Browser Helpers Members have contacted RANW MLS with problems such as InnoVia s menu bar freezing, or getting Page Expired error messages when using Internet Explorer s Back button. Occasionally, clearing the Temporary Internet Files will resolve these issues, but if this quick and easy process doesn t solve the problem, members may want to reset their Internet Explorer browser settings. The following process was provided to a RANW MLS member when they contacted Microsoft s Customer Service department. RANW MLS has found this process to be beneficial in resolving some of these browser issues, but assumes no liability if this process conflicts with other programs installed on a member computer. 1. Open Internet Explorer 2. Select Tools Internet Options 3. In the General tab, click Delete Cookies, and then click OK 4. In the same tab, click Delete Files; put a check mark in Delete all Off-line Content and then click OK 5. In the same tab, click Settings, and then click View Objects 6. At the top of this window, select View Details. You will see some program files. If the Status column indicates conflict, damaged, or unknown, delete these files. 7. Return to the General tab, click Clear History and then click OK 8. Click the Programs tab, and click Reset Web Settings 9. Click the Advanced tab, and click Restore Defaults 10. Still under the Advanced tab, un-check Enable third-party browser extensions (requires restart) 11. Click OK and restart your computer. RANW MLS has found that the programs that display as conflict or unknown are often Adware or Spyware programs installed via the Internet. (See the April 2004 issue of the REALTOR Agenda for more information about these malicious programs. The Association website and InnoVia MLS are free from all adware and spyware.) RANW MLS assumes no liability if this process negatively affects any programs on a member s computer. Adware and Spyware Adware and Spyware are types of software that are installed without a user s knowledge when they download programs from the Internet (particularly games, screen savers, file sharing programs, etc.). Adware determine a user s interests based on the webpages they surf, and advertisements related to those subjects pop up on the screen. Spyware can maliciously record passwords, account numbers, and keystrokes, allowing a stranger to access personal accounts and information. To remove Adware/Spyware from your computer, a number of solutions exist (available for free or for a small fee). Two popular ones appear below: Ad Aware: SpyBot Search and Destroy: RANW MLS does not endorse these products, and assumes no liability concerning their use. 9

10 Set Your Display Properties: 1. Open your Control Panel 2. Double-click on the Display icon 3. Click on the Settings tab Color Quality: Set to a minimum of 16-bit Screen Resolution: Click, hold, and drag the slide bar until you reach the correct setting for your monitor size. (1024x768 or higher is recommended.) 4. Click OK. Your computer will prompt you to accept any changes. Many computers will require you to restart before the changes take effect. Printer Settings for InnoVia Displays InnoVia contains a number of displays designed as customer handouts. To ensure that the customer/handout displays print on one page (not two), open your browser and set your browser s print settings as follows: Select File Page Setup If anything appears in the Header and Footer fields, remove it by highlighting the entire text, and then pressing the Delete key on the keyboard. Set all of your margins to.25 (one-quarter of an inch). If your printer does not allow a margin that narrow, set your margin as close to.25 as possible. Click the OK button to save your changes. 10

11 Clearing the Cache (Temporary Internet Files) The Temporary Internet Files folder (also known as cache - pronounced cash ) is the location on your hard drive where Web pages and files (such as graphics) are stored as you view them. This speeds up the display of pages you frequently visit or have already seen, because your browser can open them from your hard drive instead of from the Internet. When the cache area gets too full, these temporary files can conflict with the Java code in InnoVia. Members should clear their cache on a weekly basis. With Internet Explorer open: Select Tools Internet Options In the area marked Temporary Internet Files, click the Delete Files button Click to put a check mark in the box for Delete All Offline Content Click OK The hourglass will appear while the cache is cleared, and will return to the Internet Options window where you can click OK to close the window. How often should your browser retrieve a new copy of the Web pages you are viewing? RANW recommends one of two options: Once Per Session/Every time you open Internet Explorer: This choice will set your browser to retrieve a new copy the first time you visit a page, but will not load additional copies during the same Internet session. Automatically: This choice will cause your browser to retrieve a new copy every time you visit a Web page. This option may dramatically slow down your Internet browsing, particularly on pages with many graphic files. With Internet Explorer open: Select Tools - Internet Options In the Temporary Internet Files area, click the Settings button Select either Every time you start Internet Explorer or Automatically. 11