Supported Browsers, Plugins and Operating Systems for Blackboard 8.0
Please click on the title above to review Blackboard's current list of supported browsers and operating systems. We recommend using Internet Explorer (IE) 8+ and Firefox 3.5+ browsers.Don't know how to find your browser and operating system information?
Go to ThisMachine.info to find out which Operating System and browser you have. If that doesn't work, do it the old fashioned way....
Operating System:
~ PC - My Computer > Help> About Windows>
~ MAC - Click on blue Apple icon in top left corner> Select About this Mac
Browser:
~ Open Browser > Help > About >Blackboard 8.0 - Known Issues
Issues using different operating systems and browsers to access Blackboard present an ongoing challenge. We have listed known issues that are subject to change, and note that some issues may not be covered in this announcement. Please alert us to Blackboard problems that occur so we can attempt to resolve them and provide you with the most up-to-date information.
Problems uploading/downloading documents
Browser appears to freeze, hang or crash
Browser Related Issues
(1) The Grade Center seems to lose entered grades when using IE 7
(2) Grade Center takes a long time to load when using IE
(3) Grade Center scroll bar is missing when using Firefox
(4) In timed test the timer covers the submit and save buttons when using IE 8
(5) Test Import/Export does not work with Firefox 3 in Macs
(6) Cannot upload files using the Assignment tool and Firefox 3.5
(7) Collaboration tools don’t work with Microsoft Vista and IE 8Problems uploading/downloading documents
Problems have been reported when trying to upload or download files with names that are too long or contain invalid symbols, like blank spaces or non alphanumeric characters like ?, /, \, #, etc. In this case, please rename your file using alphanumeric character only and try again.Also, please see (6) Cannot upload files using the Assignment tool and Firefox 3.5
Browser appears to freeze, hang or crash
Problems seem to occur when using the discussion board with an older version of Java. However, it could also happen when using other Blackboard tools or functionalities.
Please update Java to see if it resolves this issue.
Blackboard 8
Firefox
Grade Center
(1)The Grade Center seems to lose entered grades when using IE 7 and Firefox 3
(2) Grade Center takes a long time to load
(3) Grade Center scroll bar is missing.
Tests tool
(4) In Timed tests, the timer covers submit and save buttons using IE 8
No problems reported with Timed test using the Firefox browser.
Test Manager
(5) Test Import/Export does not work with Firefox 3 in Macs. No problems with Firefox 3 in PC
Assignment Tool
No problems reported with the Assignment tool and IE
(6) Cannot upload files using the Assignment tool and Firefox 3.5
Collaboration Tools
(7) Collaboration tools don’t work with Microsoft Vista and IE 8
No problems reported with Firefox and Collaboration tools
(1) The Grade Center seems to lose entered grades using IE 7 and Firefox 3
The browser does not refresh the page and displays an older cached page. Change the settings in IE and Firefox to Check for newer versions of stored pages:IE 7
Open your IE 7 browser > Tools > Internet Option > General > Browsing History > Setting > Click on "Every time I visit the webpage" > OK > OKFirefox 3
Open your Firefox 3 browser. In the URL address box type - "about:config" and press enter > Click on "I’ll be careful, I promise! > (Note: There will be a warning!!)- Scroll down to find “browser_cache_check_doc_frequency” then double click on the row to select > Change setting to "1" and click OK.(2) Grade Center takes a long time to load when using IE
Firefox appears to be faster with grade center downloads.
(3) Grade Center scroll bar is missing when using Firefox
This may happen when you use the Firefox browser and extra large fonts in Windows. To solve this problem without changing the font size, try the following:Right-click on your Desktop > Properties > Appearance tab > Advanced > Select Scrollbar from the drop-down menu, if the size setting is greater than 20, change the size to 16 > OK > Apply.
(4) In timed test the timer covers the submit and save buttons when using IE 8
This problem may be resolved by enabling “Compatibility View” which will allow your browser to display content as viewed in Internet Explorer 7. To enable Compatibility View follow these steps.
Open your IE 8 browser > Tools > Click on "Compatibility View".
Using IE 8 you can correct this issue by turning on the Compatibility View feature:
a. Launch Internet Explorer (IE) 8
b. Select Tools
c. Select Compatibility View Settings
d. In the Add this website text box, type: bb.samuelmerritt.edu
e. Click Add
f. Repeat steps d & e and type in samuelmerritt.blackboard.com
g. Click Close
h. Restart(5) Test Import/Export does not work with Firefox 3 in Macs
Please use Safari. Make sure your browser is set up not to automatically open zip files. Go to Preferences > General tab > uncheck Open "safe" files after download.
(6) Cannot upload files using the Assignment tool and Firefox 3.5
When trying to upload a file using the Assignment tool the warning “Please enter a valid file” displays. To solve this problem you will need to install the Firefox User Agent Switcher. Select Restart your Firefox browser and follow these steps:
In your browser select Tools > Default User Agent > User Agent Switcher > Click Options > Under”New” click on New User Agent > Clear the fields and type in the Description field Blackboard, and in the User Agent filed type mac > Click OK twice.
Now upload your file to the Assignment tool Before clicking submit, from your Firefox browser select Tools> Default User Agent > Blackboard. Now click Submit.
Note: You will need to follow the last steps (select Tools > Default User Agent > Blackboard > "every time you open a new browser" to upload a file to the Assignment tool.
(7) Collaboration tools don’t work with Microsoft Vista and IE 8
Please use Firefox. Make sure to allow pop-ups.
(content retrieved from UNC Chapel Hill: http://help.unc.edu/CCM3_007967)
