ACU National Library ACU National logo

 

 Remote Access     -    [ FAQ ]      [ About ]      [ Browser Check ]      [ Cookie Check ]      [ Javascript Check ]      [ URL Builder ]      [ Feedback Form ]   

 

EZproxy FAQ - Browsers

EZproxy is browser independent, i.e., any browser (Other than AOL) should work with EZproxy. The latest version of a browser is recommended for security reasons. There are database vendors that are incompatible with certain browsers, though, and in such instances, EZproxy does not change that incompatibility. In general, you should use a version of a browser that is supported by the database vendor. The Safari browser on a Mac operating system some times doesn't work well with some of the databases. We recommend trying the Netscape, Internet Explorer or Firefox browsers.

Your browser settings can be easily modified. If you cannot modify your broswer as per the instructions below it could be because your workplace does not allow it - please refer the Workplace Restrictions area. If you are still experiencing problems with your browser after following the instructions below, please try switching to another broswer.

Some corporate, agency, institutional, dial-up, cable, or broadband connections may automatically configure browsers so their own proxy server is used. It's possible these automatic settings, if they exist, could interfere with the use of EZproxy. If these networks have a firewall or preset internet security settings they could interfere with EZproxy. You will need to talk to your network administrator at your place of business, institution or your ISP.

Please Note: If you setup your broswer to access our resources, this will only affect the computer you are currently using. If you use a friend's computer, you may have to setup up the browser again for that computer. Likewise if you get a new computer.

 

Pop Up windows being blocked:

Please disable the pop-up blocker while you are using our databases. You can always go back and enable it again for general Internet use. For personal firewall software, such as Norton Security, make sure that cookie blocking is set to "none" and that the browser privacy box is unchecked. You can always go back and recheck these later. Ad blocking software may have settings that block cookies. Set the program not to block cookies.

  • Does a yellow bar appear at the top of the page? which turns purple when you pass the mouse over it?
  • It will say something to the effect of ‘this page uses pop up windows, click here to allow this window’.
  • If you click on it and follow the instructions it will allow the pop up window.
  • Once you have done this once for the site it should not ask again and will automatically allow the pop up windows to open.
  • If you change to another computer you may have to set it up there again.

In IE on a XP machine with Service Pack 2 installed: go to Internet Explorer's Tools > Pop-up Blocker menu and select the Turn Off Pop-up Blocker command.

If that solves the problem, you can turn the Pop-up Blocker back on and then configure Internet Explorer's Pop-up Blocker to allow pop-ups from a particular site. Here's how:

      Launch Internet Explorer and access the desired Web site.
      Copy the site's URL from Internet Explorer's Address bar.
      Go to Internet Explorer's Tools menu, select the Pop-up Blocker, and click the Pop-up Blocker Settings command.
      Paste the URL into the Address Of The Web Site To Allow text box and click the Add button.
      Click Close.

 

Things don't function right with my Internet Service Provider (AOL...)

ISPs that use proprietary versions of browsers, such as AOL, can cause some problems for EZproxy. A simple workaround is to connect to the provider, minimize your session and use your own copy of Netscape or Internet Explorer for accessing the library’s resources instead of their browser.

Another common problem is that during the set up of dial-up, cable, or broadband connections, certain browser settings get configured according to THEIR preferences. This is another reason to minimize your session and use your own copy of Netscape or Internet explorer when using library resources.

 

Why can't I use The AOL Browser for off campus access?

The new off-campus Library Resource system uses EZproxy, which will not work with AOL's browser. If you are currently using an AOL browser and want to successfully access the Library’s resources from off-campus, please download Netscape Navigator, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer - see the Upgrade your browser section. Minimize AOL and open one of these browsers to access the resources at ACU.

 

I’m not seeing everything on certain database sites, what’s wrong?

Some products require a particular browser or version. In particular, an increasing number of websites are no longer capable of being viewed by older browsers, such as Netscape 4.7 or 4.8.

 

Netscape 3.x or earlier, Internet Explorer 4.x or earlier

These older browsers do not conform to HTML standards and will not be able to access some modern web sites properly, including some of the databases and e-journals linked to from our site. We recommend you upgrade to a conforming browser such as Netscape 4.7 or above or Internet Explorer 5.5 or above.

 

Need to Upgrade your Browser?

To upgrade your browser, download a more current version of

 

Expired Pages

If your username and password is still being rejected even though you have verified that they are valid, it could be because you are seeing an expired page.

Internet Explorer often displays 'expired' pages that are stored (cached) on your hard drive when you access sites. Deleting the temporary files stored by IE usually fixes the problem. Please follow the instructions on Clearing Internet Explorer Cache.

 

Java or JavaScript pages not working

If you receive the following: "Error has occurred in script on this page."
check another library database such as EBSCO. If you can use these, you don't have Javascript enabled on your machine.

If you have Javascript enabled you will see 'Success - JavaScript enabled' written in orange below.

If you have Javascript disabled you will see 'Configuration Problem!!!' written in orange below. Please follow the steps provided to enable Javascript in your browser.