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Blackboard Support for Windows Vista & Internet Explorer 7 Web Browser


Blackboard Academic Suite Release 6, Application Pack 3 has tested to be compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista using both the Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 Web browser and the Firefox 2.0 Web browser. Students should refer to the FSU Computer Initiative (SCI) for the recommended computer systems. FSU Organizations, Faculty, and Staff planning on switching to Windows Vista may refer to the FSU User Services Microsoft Vista Upgrade Recommendations. However, users who decide to upgrade to Microsoft Windows Vista at this point should be aware of the following issues:


Issue 1: Content Collection Folders Viewing Problem Through Web Folders
Blackboard is currently working with Microsoft to resolve this issue. Content Collection folders cannot be viewed through Web Folder by configuring the connection through the Blackboard Content Collection's Web Folder button. Users will receive an error message or the folder will display the content but optons to work with content items and folders will not appear.

Issue 2: Text Box Editor Problem
Visual text box editor which is used to enter announcements, discussion board messages, descriptions for assignments or files in general, does not function correctly in Internet Explorer 7 because it requires a component not available in Windows Vista. Users should turn off the Visual Text Box Editor in their Personal Information or use Firefox 2.0.

  • Internet Explorer 7
    Here's a screenshot of what you may see when trying to edit text with this editor:

    screenshot

    One way to fix this problem is disabling the Visual Text Editor in Personal Information Preferences under the Tools module.

    Step 1: In the login page of your Blackboard account, click on Personal Information in the Tools module.

    screenshot

    Step 2: Under Personal Information select Set Visual Text Box Editor Options.

  • screenshot


    Step 3: In the next window, set Visual Text Box Availability to 'Unavailable'. This option will turn on the Simple Text Editor mode. Then select 'Submit'.

    screenshot

    Step 4: Then click 'OK'.

    screenshot

  • Firefox 2.0
    One other workaround for this problem, would be to install Firefox 2.0 Web browser in which Text Box Editor appears to function correctly.

    screenshotFirefox


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