OAK: Browser Settings Guide

Current Blackboard Version: Bb 9.1 SP 8 (9.1.82223.0)

Important: At a minimum, Blackboard requires JavaScript and Cookies to be enabled in your browser. Though OAK may work with other settings, you should not assume that all features will work correctly. For more information regarding compatible browsers, please refer to the Browser Compatibility Matrix. Check your browser again.

  » Download the Browser Settings Guide (PDF)

Settings for supported browsers:
  » Internet Explorer 8 and 9 (PC only)
  » Mozilla Firefox (PC and Mac)
  » Chrome (PC and Mac)
  » Safari (Mac only)

 

Internet Explorer 8 and 9 (PC only)   
NOTE: To temporarily display the menu bar in your browser, click the ALT button on your keyboard.

Enable Status bar

1. Click View
2. Hover over (or click) Toolbars
3. Click Status Bar

Enable Cookies

1. Click Tools and then Internet Options
2. Select the Privacy tab and select the Advanced button
3. Check the Override Automatic Cookie Handling box (First party: Accept; Third party: Prompt)
4. Check the option to Always allow session cookies
5. Click OK to save your preference

Enable Java (IE8)

1. Click Tools and then Internet Options
2. Select the Advanced tab
3. Scroll down to Java (Sun)
4. Check the box next to Use XXX X.X for <applet> (required restart)
5. Click OK to browser and restart the machine

Enable Java (IE9)

1. Click Tools and then Internet Options
2. Select the Security tab, and select the Custom Level button
3. Scroll down to Scripting of Java applets
4. Make sure the Enable radio button is selected
5. Click OK to save your preference

Enable JavaScript

1. Click Tools and then Internet Options
2. Select the Security tab, and select the Custom Level button
3. Scroll down to Scripting
4. Make sure the Enable radio button is selected on the following:
1. Active Scripting
2. Allow Programmatic clipboard access
3. Allow status bar updates via script
4. Allow websites to prompt for information using scripted windows
5. Click OK to save your preference

Get New Page Each Visit

1. Click Tools and then Internet Options
2. Select the General tab
3. In the Browsing history section, click the Settings button
4. Select Every time I visit the webpage
5. Click OK to save your preference

Pop-up Blocker Settings

1. Click Tools
2. Hover over (or click) Pop-up Blocker
3. Click Pop-up Blocker Settings
4. Enter *.vanderbilt.edu and click Add
5. Click Close to save your preference

Trusted Sites

1. Click Tools and then Internet Options
2. Select the Security tab and then Trusted Sites
3. Click the Sites button
4. Enter *.vanderbilt.edu and click Add
5. Uncheck Require server verification for all sites in this zone
6. Click Close to save your preference

Discussion Board Issues

1. Click Tools and then Internet Options
2. Select the Security tab, and select the Custom Level button
3. Scroll down to Launching programs and files in an IFRAME (under Miscellaneous)
4. Make sure the Enable radio button is selected
5. Click OK to save your preference

Back to top

Mozilla Firefox (PC and Mac)   
NOTE: for Mac OS X browsers, access preferences via the Application Menu (ex. Firefox>Preferences).

Enable Cookies

1. Click Tools and then Options
2. Select the Privacy icon
3. Check the Accept cookies from sites box
4. Click OK to save your preference

Enable Java

1. Click Tools and then Add-ons
2. Select Plugins and scroll down to Java (TM) Platform
3. Click the Enable button next to it

Enable JavaScript

1. Click Tools and then Options
2. Select the Content icon
3. Check the Enable JavaScript box
4. Click OK to save your preference

Advanced JavaScript Settings

1. Click Tools and then Options
2. Select the Content icon
3. Click the Advanced button next to Enable JavaScript
4. Check the Disable or replace context menus box
5. Click OK to save your preference

Enable Menu Bar

1. Press the ALT button on your keyboard to display the Menu bar
2. Click View
3. Hover over (or click) Toolbars
4. Click Menu Bar

Get new page each visit

1. Click Tools and then Options
2. Select the Privacy icon
3. Check the Clear history when Firefox closes box
4. Click OK to save your preference

Clear Browser Cache

1. Click Tools and then Clear Recent History
2. Select Cache
3. Click Clear Now to clear your cache

Popup Blocker Settings

1. Click Tools and then Options
2. Select the Content icon
3. Check the Block pop-up windows box
4. Click the Exceptions button next to Block pop-up windows
5. Enter *.vanderbilt.edu and click Allow
6. Click Close to save your preference

Back to top

Chrome (PC and Mac)   
NOTE:for Mac OS X browsers, access preferences via the Application Menu (ex. Chrome>Preferences). For Windows, click the wrench icon to access most settings.

Enable Cookies

1. Click the Wrench and then Settings
2. Click Show advanced settings
3. Scroll down to Privacy and click Content Settings
4. In the Cookies section, select the Allow local data to be set radio button
5. Click OK to save your preference

Enable JavaScript

1. Click the Wrench and then Settings
2. Click Show advanced settings
3. Scroll down to Privacy and click Content Settings
4. In the JavaScript section, select the Allow all sites to run JavaScript radio button
5. Click OK to save your preference

Get new page each visit

1. Click the Wrench and then Settings
2. Click Show advanced settings
3. Scroll down to Privacy and click Content Settings
4. In the Cookies section, check the Clear cookies and other site and plug-in data when I close my browser box
5. Click OK to save your preference

Popup Blocker Settings

1. Click the Wrench and then Settings
2. Click Show advanced settings
3. Scroll down to Privacy and click Content Settings
4. In the Pop-ups section, click Manage exceptions
5. Enter *.vanderbilt.edu and select Allow
6. Click OK to save your preference

Clear Browser Cache

1. Click the Wrench and then Settings
2. Click Show advanced settings
3. Scroll down to Privacy and click Clear browsing data
4. Select (at least) the Empty the cache box
5. Click Clear browsing data to clear your cache

Back to top

Safari (Mac only)   
NOTE:All settings can be found in the Safari Menu under Preferences.

All Settings

1. In the Safari Menu, select Preferences
2. Click the Security icon
3. Check the boxes for the following:
   1. Enable Plugins
   2. Java
   3. JavaScript
4. Clear the check box for Block Popup Windows
5. Under Accept Cookies, select Only From Sites You Navigate To

Back to top