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Technical help

If you are having technical problems with the site these frequently asked questions should be able to help. Choose from the links below to find the questions and answers relevant to your problem.

Contents:

Browsers

Which browsers can I use to access the website?

The Clean, Safe Care website has been tested on a wide range of web browsers. The type and version of browser changes depending on the type of operating system that you are using:

OS: Microsoft Windows

  • MS Internet Explorer 5.01 SP2 and above
  • Netscape Navigator 6.2.2 and above
  • Mozilla Firefox 0.9.2 and above

OS: Mac

  • MS Internet Explorer 5.2 Mac Edition
  • Netscape Navigator 6.2.2 Mac Edition
  • Mozilla Firefox 0.9.1 and above
  • Safari 1.0.3 (OS X only)

What if I don't have one of the recommended browsers?

This website has been designed to support as wide a variety of browser and operating system combinations as possible. Browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 and Netscape Navigator 4 or those from other suppliers (such as Opera) will allow the user to access the site and use the pages but might not display the site as designed, nor provide the user with the best experience of using the website. Most browser suppliers will allow you to upgrade for free, either because they don't charge for their browser or because you have bought a previous version. To upgrade your browser go to the supplier's web site and follow the instructions provided.

Do I need a browser that supports Cascading Style Sheets?

The website uses Cascading Style Sheets (CSS2). Some browsers, particularly earlier versions, either do not or only partially support, this standard. These browsers might not display the text and graphics properly.

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Screen resolution

Which screen resolution is best for viewing the website?

The minimum display settings for the pages are 800x600 and 16-bit colour (65,356 colours or thousands of colours depending on your operating system). For information on adjusting the display resolution try the help files in your operating system or consult the manufacturer's website.

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Document formats

What document formats are used across the website?

The following document formats are used throughout the site:

  • Adobe Acrobat - .PDF
  • Microsoft Word - .doc
  • Quark Xpress - .qxd
  • PowerPoint - .ppt
  • Zip - .zip

What are PDF files and how can I view them?

The PDF file format is a common internet file type. (PDF stands for Portable Document Format.) It's used for electronic distribution because it faithfully preserves the look of the original document and it can be used across many different types of computers and browsers. It is commonly used for government publications, leaflets and forms. In order to view PDF files a small plug-in program is required. A free version of such a program can be downloaded from the Adobe website.

Download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader (external link)

What are Word (.doc) files and how can I view them?

Word files are created using Microsoft Word, part of the Microsoft Office suite. To read these files you will need to use a computer that has Word installed, or an alternative word processing package such as Sun Star Office.

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Cookies

Does the website use Cookies?

The site makes use of session Cookies and users need to enable Cookies to view most of the site's content. However, these Cookies are deleted once a user session expires, so no files are permanently written to the users' computer and no information about users is captured through the use of Cookies.

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Pop-up windows

Does the website use pop-up windows?

The site uses 'pop-up' windows in the Community Section and in some content area links (for example, links to external websites open in a new window). In all cases the pop-up windows require user interaction to be activated and will not be prevented by Pop-up Blocker software. The site does not make use of automatic Pop-ups (i.e. those that will open without user interaction).

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JavaScript

Does the website use JavaScript?

The Clean, Safe Care website makes use of JavaScript to control navigation and page loading and browsing. It is essential that users do not disable JavaScript in their browsers.

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External websites

I am trying to access an external website but keep receiving error messages. Can you help?

We cannot guarantee the operation of other organisations' websites. There are many reasons why such a website might be unavailable from server-side problems like addressing and scripting to browser issues. Sometimes there is no other option than to wait and try later. If, however, you continue to have problems linking to a site please let us know by sending an email to the Helpdesk team.

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Information for new internet users

As a beginner, where can I get information about using the internet?

We do not provide basic information about computers, networks and the internet. However, if you are new to this subject a good place to start is the BBC WebWise site. For advice on how to use the internet visit a UK online centre. These have been set up to help everyone in the UK who wants to learn how to access to the internet.

BBC WebWise (external link)
UKonline Centres (external link)

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