Using the
Internet Explorer Pop-up Blocker:
Suggested Lehigh Setup
Description: This document describes the Internet Explorer pop-up blocker and its features, including some unintended effects that this feature can have on Lehigh’s online services. The basic operation and setup are covered.
Audience: Beginner through Advanced
Time to Complete: 15 to 30 minutes
Related documents: Guide to Spybot Search and Destroy, Do You Have Parasites on Your PC?
CONTENTS:
I. Overview
II. Pop-up Blockers and Lehigh’s Online Services
III. General Suggestions for Using Pop-up Blockers
IV. The Internet Explorer Pop-up Blocker
a. How it works
b. Basic Setup
Internet Explorer now offers a pop-up blocking feature (enabled when service pack 2 is installed). In addition to Internet Explorer’s pop-up blocker, there are a number of third-party pop-up blockers. The Google. Toolbar and the Yahoo Toolbar are examples. Some third-party firewall software (Norton, McAfee, ZoneAlarm) also have pop-up blockers. It is possible to have several pop-up blockers enabled, which can interfere with troubleshooting efforts.
II. Pop-up blockers and Lehigh’s Online Services
While pop-up blockers can be useful in reducing unwanted ads, they also suppress pop-ups that perform needed functions. Some typical problems caused by pop-up blockers include:
-- Inability to compose or reply to Web-based email (IMP, portal mail)
-- Inability to open a channel in the portal
-- Inability to open the portal calendar
-- In library databases, the SFX links do not work.
-- When using any Web-based service, the usual commands or links seem to be broken (when clicking on a link, nothing seems to happen).
III. General Suggestions for using Pop-up Blockers
You may not need a pop-up blocker on your PC, especially if
you run software to limit spyware and adware. If you want to use a pop-up blocker, here are some
general suggestions:
- If you want pop-up blocking enabled, use only one product. When you download a toolbar or use a firewall, check the documentation to see if pop-up blockers are included. Disable unneeded pop-up blockers.
- Know how your pop-up blocker works. Most pop-up blockers signal you when a pop-up is blocked, but the signals can be disabled. Do not disable these signals.
- LTS staff will be able to provide the most knowledgable support for pop-up blockers that are integrated with supported browsers, such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla. If you use other pop-up blockers, refer to your documentation.
IV. How Internet Explorer’s Pop-up Blocker
Works
When Internet Explorer suppresses a pop-up, the following message is displayed:
This message alerts the user to a yellow “information bar” that appears below
the toolbars. This bar indicates that a pop-up window is being blocked.
If you click on this yellow
bar, you’ll be given some choices:
·
Temporarily allow pop-ups – this option will allow you to
display this pop-up window
·
Always allow pop-ups from this site – this option will tell your
browser to always allow pop-ups from this site (the domain will be added to
your Allowed Sites list.
·
Settings – this will allow you to view and
change your pop-up blocker settings
·
Help with the information bar – this provides general help with
the information bar
V. How to Change IE Pop-up Blocker Settings
1. View pop-up blocker settings by going to Tools, selecting Pop-up Blocker, then Pop-up Blocker Settings.
2. Add Lehigh to your list of Allowed sites.
a) Enter Lehigh.edu in the box labeled Address of Web sites to allow:
b) Click Add. The Lehigh domain will appear in the list of Allowed sites.
c) If there are other sites that you wish to allow, add them in the same manner.
d) Make sure that the Filter Level is set to Medium (if you set it to high, some Lehigh services may be affected).
For more information about IE pop-up blocker, see these Microsoft Help pages.
How to configure the Pop-up Blocker in Internet Explorer http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;843016
How to Block Pop-up Windows in Internet Explorer http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/web/sp2_popupblocker.mspx
Document: popupslehigh.htm
Created:
Creator: Stacey Kimmel