Professional Development
Online Programs
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
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Computer Requirements: (please
read carefully)
| Hardware |
- Minimum Pentium 166 MHz CPU required to support
audio playback
- Minimum 64 MB RAM (128 MB recommended)
- Network connection to the web server via a web browser
- End-user workstations must have a minimum video
resolution of 800x600, with 16-bit color
- Minimum 28.8 Kbps connection speed required for
most products
- 56 Kbps or higher recommended
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| Operating System |
- 32-bit Microsoft Windows operating system: Windows
95/98, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows XP
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| Web Browsers |
- Microsoft Internet Explorer, version 4.x or greater
- Netscape Navigator™, version 4.06 through
4.8, 6.2, 7.0, 7.1
- Enable browser caching
- Enable Active Scripting and Scripting of Java Applets
- Enable META REFRESH in IE 6
- Support JavaScript 1.0 and Java 1.0.2
- Support .ZIP, .JAR, or .CAB Java Applets
- Java Virtual Machine
- Microsoft JVM is supported with Microsoft Internet
Explorer 4.x and greater
- Sun JVM/JRE version 1.1 is supported with Netscape
version 4.06 through 4.8
- Sun JVM/JRE version 1.3.1_02 - 1.4.2_03 is supported
with Internet Explorer 5.5 and above and Netscape
6.2-7.1
- JRE 1.3.1_08 is not supported with this release
- JRE 1.4.2_02 and above is not supported on an
SSL site
- Recommended: Enable Java Console
- Accept cookies
- Pop-Up / Window Launch Blockers A browser enabled
with a pop-up blocker (or similar window blocking
tool) may interfere with the launch of SkillSoft courseware.
If this occurs, SkillSoft recommends you set the blocking
tool to "Always allow" for SkillSoft or
for the site from which you access courseware. If
this fails, SkillSoft recommends disabling the blocking
tool during course play and re-enabling it after completing
your play session.
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| HTTPS Support |
- HTTPS support is fully tested on Windows NT 4.0,
Windows 2000 Server, and Windows 2003 server SP6 with
JVIEW 5.00.3316
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| Web Accessibility Support |
- SkillPort supports JAWS screen reader software,
versions 3.7u, 4.0, and 4.51
- JAWS 3.7u and 4.0 require 256 color resolution
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Deployment methods available when implementing the software:
NetPlay
NetPlay courses are played through a Java applet version of
the Player. When a course is initiated, the Player applet is
copied to the browser cache and launched. The Player applet
fetches the necessary files as the learner progresses through
the course.
A course will typically take 1.5 minutes to start playing on
a 56K-modem connection and 15-20 seconds on a T1 line. The startup
times for a course can vary due to busy Internet Service Providers,
or high levels of traffic on a T1 line. In either of these cases,
if the level of traffic is high for an extended period of time,
it may take longer than the times stated above for a course
to play.
NetPlay/Local Player
When using NetPlay/Local Player, a Java application version
of the Player is downloaded and stored locally. This download
is only performed once. When a course is launched, content is
play live from a web server. The Player application fetches
the necessary files as a learner progresses through the course.
This method requires a live connection, but eliminates the initial
download of the Player applet at course-launch, which ultimately
speeds up access. No content is stored locally.
NetDownload
When using NetDownload courses, a Java application version of
the Player is downloaded and stored locally. This download allows
users to load a course, or part of a course directly to their
computer. This option is often used by people who spend much
time away from the office and need to download information onto
their laptop computers. If you are downloading course material
at your work institution, please be aware of the policy regarding
downloading software to your workstation.
Note: There are a variety of connection options when downloading
software onto your computer, which make this option more complicated
than the alternative options.
Technical questions
Q. Can I get help if something
does not work right?
A. Yes, you can get help 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. For contact
information for technical support, please call 1-866-754-5435
(see FAQs for more detailed information on technical support).
Before contacting support staff, please look through the questions
listed on this site to see if you can find the answer to your
question.
Q. What browser versions are
required for playing courses?
A. SkillSoft courseware uses
Java Applets to play courses. The learner workstation must have
a web browser that fits the following requirements:
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Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0 or greater |
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Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (JVM) version 5.00.3165
or greater |
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Netscape Navigator version 4.06 through 4.8, 6.2, 7.0,
7.1 or greater |
Q. How do I know what version
of the Java Virtual Machine I am using?
A. Follow the directions in
the links below to find the Java Virtual Machine version installed
with your web browser.
Internet Explorer 4.x, 5.x
If you are using Internet Explorer 4.x, 5.x
Open a MS-DOS window:
a. Click on the start button.
b. Click on Programs.
c. Click on MS-DOS Prompt.
Or
a. Click on the start button.
b. Click on Run.
c. Type "command" and press Enter. (NOTE: this will
not work on WinNT-you need to type "cmd")
Type "jview" at the DOS prompt. The Java Virtual Machine
version is listed on the first line. It appears similar to the
following.
Microsoft(R) Windows 98
(C)Copyright Microsoft Corp 1981-1998.
C:\WINDOWS>jview
Microsoft (R) Command-line Loader for Java Version 5.00.3167
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp 1996-1999. All rights reserved.
Usage: JView [options] <classname> [arguments]
&ldots;
C:\WINDOWS>
In this example above the Java Virtual Machine version is 5.00.3167.
Netscape 4.x
Open Netscape Navigator/Communicator Web Browser.
Click on Window or Communicator from the browser menu.
Click on Java console. This will open the Netscape Java console,
which will display text that is similar to the example below.
Netscape Communications Corporation -- Java 1.1.5
Type '?' for options.
Symantec Java! ByteCode Compiler Version 210.065
Copyright (C) 1996-97 Symantec Corporation
In this example the Java Virtual Machine version is 1.1.5.
Q. Does the courseware support
proxies and firewalls?
A. Yes. In general, if you
can view the SkillSoft web site http://www.skillsoft.com/, then
you can play a course from the Extranet server. The only exception
to this is if the firewall or proxy server at your site is filtering
Java Applets or compiled code. In this case the SkillSoft course
Player will not be able to load properly. Check with your Network
Administrator to see if this applies to you. If using the Download
options, the SkillSoft Course Manager will need to be configured
to properly identify the proxy server.
Q. When I try to play a course,
nothing happens or I just get a gray screen. I am using Internet
Explorer.
A. The most common cause of
this symptom is an outdated Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The
JVM that ships with Internet Explorer has problems that sometimes
impact the execution of our Java Applet. The solution is to
update the JVM. This update is available from the Microsoft
web site at http://www.microsoft.com/java.
Q. I am currently using Internet
Explorer 4.0. Why do I have to update?
A. It is a common misconception
that Internet Explorer 4.0 is up-to-date, because it is a 4.0
browser. IE was originally released in 1997. This is ancient
in the computer industry. Since IE was originally released,
there have been frequent updates to the Java component. These
updates fix bugs and add more functionality to Java for Internet
Explorer, as well as Y2K compliance.
Q. What about the Java component
that ships with Internet Explorer 3.02? Does it need to be updated
to play courses?
A. Yes. Anyone who wants to use our product with Internet Explorer
3.02 will need to update the Java Virtual Machine by installing
the latest version that is available at http://www.microsoft.com/Java.
Q. What does the download option
do?
A. The download option gives
the learner the ability to download content to their local machine
so courses may be taken when disconnected from the network.
This is accomplished by installing the SkillSoft Course Manager
and Player.
Q. Do I need to install the
Download option to play a course?
A. No. SkillSoft courseware
is designed to be played using the Java technology in current
web browsers, and does not require any software be installed
to actually play a course. If you want to take a course offline,
then you will need to install the SkillSoft Course Manager.
Q. If I do use the download
option, how do I upload my results to the Learning Assistant?
A. Use your browser to connect
and login to the Learning Assistant. You should see a dialog
box indicating that synchronization is taking place. Your results
should be automatically synchronized within a few seconds.
Q. When I try to play a course,
it is taking an unusually long time for the course to start.
A. Do you use McAfee VirusScan
version 4.x or higher, and do you use VShield with Download
Scan set to Scan All Files? This has been found to slow the
download of the Java Applet when starting the course. You can
set VShield Download Scan to Scan Program Files only instead
of All Files.
Q. The Play button is not appearing
on the Course summary page.
A. The most common cause of
this symptom is an outdated Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The
JVM that ships with Internet Explorer has problems that sometimes
impact the execution of our Java Applet. The solution is to
update the JVM. This update is available from the Microsoft
web site at http://www.microsoft.com/java.
Q. Can I turn off the audio?
A. Yes. You can turn the audio
off at any time by clicking the turn off audio button located
just above the page back and page forward buttons at the lower
right-hand side of the screen. You can turn it back on my clicking
the same button.
Q. Should I have other applications
open when running the courses?
A. Occasionally, having other
applications open on the desktop can affect course performance.
We recommend closing all non-essential applications when playing
courses.
Q. Can I play two courses simultaneously?
A. No. You can only play one
course at a time. |
| Never Stop Learning
With Professional Development Online! |
| Last update
February 8, 2005
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