Important site information

This page contains important technical information about our web site. In order to utilize the site to its fullest capacity, certain software preferences must be set in your browser. Some users may also need to download additional software to view website content. Here is all the information you need to be able to browse our site most effectively.

Quick navigation

On every page, you'll notice a "breadcrumb" path at the top of the page under the red bar. As you navigate the site, you'll see the path to your current location from the homepage. You can easily click any link to retrace your steps.

Web standards compliance

Standards-compliant browsers are available for every computer platform. Users can view this site successfully using Safari, Firefox, Mozilla, or Opera.

Internet Explorer users: IE 6 and earlier for Windows is not a standards-compliant browser, and its use may result in strange website behavior. While the site's functionality and usability will NOT be hindered, the way the content is presented may be affected by glitches caused by IE's non-compliance to current W3C, CSS, and HTML standards. It is recommended (but not necessary) that Windows users download IE 7, Firefox, Opera, or Mozilla in order to view this web site as it is intended.

Links to web content

Within lists of links, we try to make it obvious what you're doing with visual cues!

  • Links to web content are indicated by the icon shown to the left.

PDF documents

In order to view PDFs from our site, users should download and install the latest version of Adobe Reader. Adobe Reader is a free utility available for Mac, PC, and UNIX/Linux that lets you view, print, search, and share Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF) files.

  • Downloadable PDFs on this site are indicated by the icon shown to the left.

Some browsers will open PDFs for you, while others will download PDFs directly to your computer. If you are having difficulty viewing PDFs, try the following:

  • Verify that you have the latest version of Adobe Reader for your computer.
  • PC Users should right-click on links to PDFs. From the resulting pop-up menu, choose "Save Target As", and save the file to a location you'll be able to find later.
  • Mac Users should hold down the option key while clicking on the links to the PDFs. This will download the file directly to the user's desktop.
  • Finally, open the file in Adobe Reader.

Video and audio

Video and audio are presented in QuickTime format. If you are having problems accessing our video or audio media, please download QuickTime and install it on your computer. You will then be able to easily access our files.

  • QuickTime movies and audio on this site are indicated by the icon shown to the left.

Word documents

Some documents are presented in Microsoft Word format (.doc). You will need to have Microsoft Word, or an open-source equivalent, to read these files.

  • Downloadable Microsoft Word documents on this site are indicated by the icon shown to the left.

Excel documents

A few documents on this site are Microsoft Excel documents (.xls). You will need to have Microsoft Excel, or an open source equivalent, to read these files.

  • Downloadable Microsoft Excel documents on this site are indicated by the icon shown to the left.

PowerPoint presentations

PC users can download a free utility from Microsoft to view PowerPoint (.ppt) presentations without having to purchase Microsoft PowerPoint. Unfortunately, this utility is not available to Mac users. However, we export our PowerPoint presentations to HTML format so they are viewable in any web browser. You will see a link to the HTML version of every PowerPoint presentation next to the downloadable presentation's icon.

  • Downloadable PowerPoint presentations on this site are indicated by the icon shown to the left.

JavaScript

Certain functions of our website require JavaScript to be enabled in your browser. These functions include form submission, error checking, and verification. While you can browse our site without JavaScript enabled, certain functions will not work. To enable JavaScript for your browser, you must determine what browser you are using. For PC users, choose "About [Browser Name]" from the Help menu. Macintosh users should select "About [Browser Name]" from the Apple menu (OS 9) or the Application menu (OS X). Find your browser in this list to find instructions on enabling JavaScript.

Enabling Internet Explorer 5.x or 6.x (PC)

  1. From the browser's Tools menu select "Internet Options".
  2. Select the Security tab.
  3. Pick the "Internet zone" icon.
  4. Push the "Custom Level..." button.
  5. Scroll down the Settings list to the Scripting item. (You may need to double-click on icons to expand lists.)
  6. Under the "Active scripting" item, choose the Enable radio button.
  7. Push OK and Yes to confirm and close the Security Settings dialog box, then OK again to close the Internet Options dialog box.
  8. Refresh the current page.

Enabling Internet Explorer 5.x (Mac)

  1. From the browser's Edit menu select "Preferences".
  2. From the list along the left, expand the item group "Web Browser" (if necessary).
  3. Under the item group labeled "Web Browser", select "Web Control".
  4. Check the box labeled "Enable JavaScript" and push the OK button to close the Internet Explorer Preferences dialog box.
  5. Refresh the current page.

It is recommended that all users of Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 5.0 and below upgrade to the latest version of Microsoft Internet Explorer found on the Microsoft Web site. Be sure to run all software and security updates!

Enabling Netscape 7.x

  1. From the browser's Edit menu select "Preferences".
  2. Within the Category list, expand the "Advanced" item by clicking on the triangle.
  3. Select the sub-item labled "Scripts & Plugins".
  4. Within the "Scripts & Plugins" window, check "Navigator" under the "Enable JavaScript For" grouping. In the "Allow Scripts To" pane, make sure items regarding cookies are checked.
  5. Push the OK button to close the Preferences dialog box.
  6. Reload the current page.

Enabling Netscape 6.x

  1. From the browser's Edit menu select "Preferences".
  2. Within the "Category" list, select "Advanced".
  3. Check the box labeled "Enable JavaScript for Navigator" and push the OK button to close the Preferences dialog box.
  4. Reload the current page.

It is recommended that all users of Netscape versions 6.2.2 and below should upgrade to the latest version of Netscape found on the Netscape Web site.

Enabling Safari (Mac OS X)

  1. From the browser's Application menu select "Preferences".
  2. Click the "Security" tab.
  3. Within the "Web Content" listing, check "Enable JavaScript".
  4. Close the Preferences dialog box.
  5. Reload the current page.

Enabling AOL

  1. From AOL's Application menu select "Preferences".
  2. From the list of choices along the left, select "WWW".
  3. Select the "Content" tab from along the top of the window.
  4. Under "Active Content", check "Enable JavaScript".
  5. Close the Preferences dialog box.
  6. Reload the current page.

Can't find the answer?

If you're having difficulty with any aspect of our site, and the answer is not found here, please feel free to contact us. Please carefully and precisely state the problem that you're having. We strive to answer every question as soon as possible.

↑ Top of page