Checking Your Computer for Compatibility

Information Center Reports are built using Microsoft technologies.  As a result, some of the reports may render differently with other platforms.  For best results you should be working on a Windows operating system using Internet Explorer 6.0 (IE) or higher.

In addition, you will need other software installed on your computer to access the exporting functions of the reporting system.  Specifically, you should have Microsoft Excel and Adobe Reader.

Use the following steps to check your system for compatibility.

Operating system:
  1. Click on the <Start> button.  If you do not have a start button, you are not on a Windows machine. Close this program and proceed to another machine.
  2. Right click on My Computer.  From the new menu, select <Properties>. 
  3. Under the General tab, your system is described.  You should be running Windows XP with Service Pack 2 installed for best performance on the reports. The reports also function well using Mac dual OS and Windows Vista.
Browser:
  1. Open Internet Explorer.  If you do not have Internet Explorer on your computer you will either need to install it or proceed to another machine.  IE 6.0 is required.
  2. Click on <Help> and select <About Internet Explorer> from the drop down menu.
  3. Be sure your computer has version 6.0 or higher installed.
  4. Where other browsers such as Mozilla and Netscape will work for the most part, there are occasional GUI differences in the report delivery.

 
Excel:
  1. Excel is a spreadsheet program from Microsoft.  It is generally installed as part of the Office Suite on computers in the district.
  2. Click on <Start> then All Programs.
  3. From the generated list, find 'Microsoft Office'
  4. From the new list click on Microsoft Office Excel.

Adobe Reader:
  1. Adobe Reader is a program that reads files in the PDF format.
  2. After downloading a file in the PDF format.   If you have the software installed, the file will open, if not, your computer will tell you it cannot open the file.
  3. If necessary, download the free reader from the url listed at the right.

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html