Blackboard Browser Setup
The Truman Blackboard system requires that your browser be up to date and configured correctly. Use this page to check whether you have required plugins and features installed or enabled.
Browser Auto Check Results:
Your browser
To view the different types of information on Blackboard coursesites, the following plugins and features must all be successfully installed or enabled:
| Cookies | |
| JavaScript | |
| Adobe (Acrobat) Reader | |
| Adobe/Macromedia Flash | |
| Apple QuickTime | |
| Windows Media Player | |
| Java | |
| Word, Powerpoint, etc. | not tested (see Browser Plug-Ins and Add-Ons below) |
Your instructor may require additional software as well.
Browser Issues and Options
Here are some more details about your software.
If the tests above reported that your browser was not compatible with Blackboard, you need to update your browser version.
You can download the latest browsers and plug-ins from our Technology Requirements page. In general, the latest production version of your browser is usually the best. However, Blackboard Inc. doesn't always certify new versions immediately. There are many, many points of compatibility to test. For instance the inability to upload documents using FF3 was finally patched; however that problem is back again in FF3.5
| Operating system | Hardware | Recommended Browser | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows XP (SP 3 is current) |
PC | MS Internet Explorer 7 or 8 Firefox 3.0 |
Firefox 2 works, but upgrade soon. Firefox 3.5 mostly works. |
| Windows Vista (SP 2 is current) |
PC | MS Internet Explorer 7 or 8 Firefox 3.0 |
Firefox 2 works, but upgrade soon. Firefox 3.5 mostly works. |
| MacOS 10.4 and 10.5 (Tiger and Leopard) |
Mac | Firefox 3.0 Safari 3 or 4 |
Upgrade Safari 2 and Firefox 2. Firefox 3.5 mostly works. |
| Linux | any | Firefox 3.0 | Linux not officially supported but mostly works. |
We have not yet done testing with MacOS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or Windows 7.
It is also very important for both security and functionality that you update your system software regularly:
- PC users: regularly visit Windows Update or set your system to automatically run Automatic Updates. To turn on Automatic Updates: (1) Click Start, and then Control Panel. Find "System," which may be categorized under Performance and Maintenance. (2) Click System, and then click the Automatic Updates tab. (3) Click the option that you want. Make sure Automatic Updates is not turned off. PC users running Windows 2000 or an earlier version must upgrade to XP or Vista. We have not yet tested Windows 7.
- Mac users: run Software Update... from the Apple menu. Mac users who are still running 10.3 or earlier versions of Mac OS should upgrade to Leopard (10.5).
Firefox configuration
Mozilla FireFox defaults are generally adequate for Blackboard. If you need to change them, most settings are on the menu item Tools→Options (on a Mac, Firefox→Preferences), under "Content". "Load Images", "Enable Java", and "Enable Javascript" should all be checked. If "Block Popups" is checked, then you should also click the corresponding "Allowed Sites" button and add "blackboard.truman.edu", since popup blocking can interfere with some blackboard features.
Internet Explorer configuration
Internet Explorer default settings for page caching is not appropriate for Blackboard use. Go to Tools→Internet Options and on the General tab click the "Settings" button (for "Browsing History" or "Temporary Internet Files"). Select "Every time I visit the webpage" for "Check for newer versions of stored pages".
If you need to enable cookies in Internet Explorer, choose Tools->Internet Options->Privacy. A setting of "medium-high" works well.
If you need to enable Java or JavaScript in Internet Explorer, first
visit Blackboard to find out
what security zone your browser is using for the site; 
you
are probably viewing it in the "Internet" zone (see the status bar footer at
lower right of the browser window; use "View->status bar" if necessary). 
You
may want to have security for the Internet zone set higher than blackboard
allows, and if so you may decide to set security for the Internet zone to
"High" but then tell your browser to view Blackboard in a slightly less
restrictive context. You would do so by adding the URL
"https://blackboard.truman.edu" to the list of "Trusted Sites" and then
would verify that the "Trusted Sites" zone was set appropriately.
To change the security level for the zone you are using for Blackboard, choose Tools->Internet Options->Security, select Internet or Trusted Sites, and choose an appropriate security level. Most users will find that the best security setting for Blackboard use is "Medium." If you really need a more restrictive security setting, start with "High" but then go to "Custom level" and make sure at a minimum that you have:
| Scripting -> Active scripting | enabled | |
| Microsoft VM -> Java permissions | high safety | |
| ActiveX -> Download signed ActiveX controls | prompt | |
| ActiveX -> Run ActiveX controls and plugins | enabled or prompt | |
| ActiveX -> Script ActiveX controls marked safe | enabled or prompt | |
| Downloads -> File download | enabled |
Browser Plug-ins and Add-ons
- Please visit our Technology Requirements page for common plug-ins required here at Truman State University.
- Many browsers include popup blockers, or the Google, AOL, Yahoo, or other popup blockers may be installed as add-ons. If you get a "Pop-up blocked" message in the information bar (directly under the Address bar at the top of the window), click the information bar and choose "temporarily allow popups".
http://ids.truman.edu/blackboard/blackboard_browser_setup.asp
Maintained by Diane Richmond, Instructional Design Services
Last revision: 13 October 2009 by Diane Richmond