Upgrading your browser
Browsers and web site functionality
Web sites today are not what they used to be just a couple of years ago. Some web
site developers, trying to make use of the latest technologies, insert within the pages
of their web sites, certain things which may not function properly if you have a
relatively older browser on your computer (this is the program you are currently using
to read this page).
To ensure most people (including those with relatively older computers and software)
can view this site as it was intended, we tried to limit the use of sophisticated
functions, animation, sounds and graphics elements. However, we do use an effect
called a "rollover" on the top navigation bar of each page. Passing your mouse over
the text should make the contents of that section appear - thus allowing you to
choose whether or not to follow that link. If you cannot see this effect with your browser, you may need to upgrade it. Luckily, this is relatively easy and free.
How do I know the version of my browser ?
This site can be viewed with older browsers, but is optimized for browsers with
version numbers of 4.0 or higher. To check the version of your browser, just click on
the "Help" menu (usually found at the top of your screen).
Make sure it is the Help menu from your browser that you are looking
at (the program you are using right now to view this site). If you are on a PC
(as opposed to a Mac) and using one of the two most widely used browsers in the world (Netscape's Navigator or
Communicator, or Microsoft's Internet Explorer),
after clicking on "Help", scroll down and click on "About Communicator/Explorer". This will bring up a window indicating the version of your browser. You can then just close that window.
If your version is lower than 4.0, you should probably upgrade your
browser to take full advantage of the features found on most of
today's web sites.
How do I download a newer version?
Netscape and Microsoft make it easy to download newer versions of their software for
free. Their sites give you clear directions and even now have a function which requires
you to do little more than click a few options - the software then not only downloads
to your computer, it often even loads itself automatically so that your newer version
becomes instantly usable.
Please note that the information in your email address books and the email
messages sitting in your folders should not be affected by downloading a newer
browser version, but if you want to be sure, please read the
instructions made available on their web sites before you download.
To download updates to your browser now, see the bottom of this page.
What about plug-ins?
The download sites will also give you the option of downloading additional "plug-in"
software. These third-party software applications are developed by other
companies and are usually offered free, but sometimes they may only
work for a limited time to entice you to purchase them later. Just
read the fine print if you are curious. These plug-ins add further functionality to browsers. Typical ones allow you to run
video for example directly from your browser.
Your system may already have some of these already loaded with your
browser without you even knowing it. The idea is to make these
plug-ins as seamless as possible so you don't have to open them
yourself manually to take advantage of their added functionality.
A particular one worth accepting (you will likely be given options to select such plug-ins
and add them to your download "order") is from a company called Adobe
It is called Acrobat Reader. This plug-in software allows you to view documents made available on web
sites in the ".pdf" format. This is now a worldwide standard for web sites that want to
make available documents in the exact format they were created in. For example, if a document was desktop published and made available for viewing on a web site in
".pdf" format, you could view it exactly as it was laid out if you have the Acrobat
Reader plug-in. Please note that The Health Communication Unit makes several reports and newsletters available in ".pdf" format. You will thus need Acrobat
Reader to view these on this site. See the bottom of this page to download Acrobat
Reader if you do not already have it.
Download sites
To download the latest Netscape browser (Communicator),
click here
or on the icon below.
To download the latest Microsoft browser (Internet Explorer),
click here
or on the icon below.
To download only the latest version of Adobe's Acrobat Reader,
click
here or on the icon below. Please note that Netscape and Microsoft may automatically make available the latest copy
of Acrobat Reader when you download their latest browser.
