RAA WEB-BASED TRAINING SETTINGS & TROUBLE-SHOOTING INFORMATION

Topics include:

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MOST COMMON PROBLEMS DISPLAYING LESSONS

 Its a good idea to first test if Authorware Web Player is installed as well as other minimum software requirements. To do so, click on the "System Test" icon at the left.
  1. Pop-up Blockers may need to be temporarily turned off: Pop-up blockers are one of the most common display issues, so if you are having display problems you should try turning them off during online training. The System Test (see above) now tests for Pop-up Blockers and gives directions on how to turn them off for Internet Explorer, Google & Yahoo. You may have Pop-up Blockers also turned on in a few other places: some Personal Firewall or other software can have Pop-up Blockers activated, so those need to be turned off during training as well. Many Pop-up Blockers bring up a message or have a Site setting that lets you block Pop-ups for a specific site: use the Login page: http://raa.howtomaster.com as the site to block Pop-ups. That way you will continue to have Pop-up blocking for all other applications.
  2. The Lesson You Are Opening Might Need The Authorware Web Player. WHEN LAUNCHING A LESSON CANCEL IF YOU GET PROMPTED TO SAVE. You are probably are trying a lesson that requires the free Authorware Web Player. Some older lessons or Specialty Courses require it (see the list below). Note that a few courses (such as Computer Fundamentals, Windows XP) have a choice to display in (1024x768) or (800x600) resolution---the (1024x768) option DOES require the Authorware plugin, whereas courses displaying in (800x600) resolution do NOT need the Authorware plugin.
  3. AOL users or other non-Internet Explorer or non-Mozilla FoxFire users need special instructions. See the special instructions below for AOL users or other non-Internet Explorer or non-Mozilla FoxFire users
  4. Your computer may not meet the minimum system software or hardware requirements. Try the System Test and check the minimum system requirements below.
  5. Can't Login If Cookies Are Blocked: This is a rare problem. If you can't even login, first check you have the correct UserID and Password. If you still can't login, then it could be because your Browser Privacy (security) is set to block Cookies. You need to allow Cookies for the online training: you can change your Browser privacy settings and can usually select the Site to allow Cookies : use the Login page http://raa.howtomaster.com as the site to allow Cookies.

WHO NEEDS THE AUTHORWARE WEB PLAYER?

Authoware Web Player is required for:

HTML-Based Courses That Do Not Need Authorware:

 To test if Authorware Web Player is installed as well as other minimum software requirements, click on the "System Test" icon at the left.

Download & Install Authorware Web Player




If you need to install the Authorware Web Player Click Here. You will only need to do this once. Then follow these directions:

  1. When the page loads, click the Install Now button.
  2. After you do this the plug-in will install. This should only take 5-10 minutes (DSL/Cable) or 20-30 minutes via modem, but still could take longer depending on network traffic. During this process, it will look as if nothing is happening, but please wait. In time, it will install. A good time for a coffee or lunch break! The good news is you'll only have to do this once.
  3. Once it has installed, you will see the graphic on screen change and a message that indicates that it is installed.
  4. Once this process is finished, go back to your training site and click on any lesson.

SCREEN RESOLUTION

For best viewing results (especially for Windows XP & Office XP modules), you should set your screen resolution to 1024 x 768. For other software (Windows 2000, 97, etc...), a lower resolution of 600 x 800 works fine, but 1024 x 768 is still recommended. However, as noted above some lessons that are specifically for (1024x768) also require the Authorware Web Player, whereas the (800x600) version does not. Some courses allow you to pick the between those two resolutions.

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AOL OR NON-INTERNET EXPLORER, NON-NETSCAPE OR NON-MOZILLA FOXFIRE BROWSER USERS
(using AOL, Earthlink, Compuserve, NetZero, or some other browser other than Internet Explorer, Netscape or Mozilla Foxfire as the means to connect to the Internet)

**Even if you have installed the Authorware plug-in required for playing our training products, you will most likely be taken to an incorrect Web site if you try to use AOL or some other “non-standard” browser to access our training. This is because AOL or non-Explorer/Netscape browsers are not always compatible with sites on the Internet.

AOL OR NON-INTERNET EXPLORER/NETSCAPE/MOZILLA FOXFIRE BROWSER USERS FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

  1. Connect to AOL OR OTHER NON-EXPLORER/NETSCAPE/FOXFIRE BROWSWER the way that you normally do.
  2. Minimize the AOL OR NON-EXPLORER/NETSCAPE/FOXFIRE BROWSWER window to make it small. (You will maintain your connection to the Internet by remaining connected to AOL OR NON-EXPLORER/NETSCAPE/FOXFIRE BROWSWER, but will not use AOL OR NON-EXPLORER/NETSCAPE/FOXFIRE BROWSWER to surf the Web. Instead, you will use Internet Explorer or Mozilla Foxfire to surf.)
  3. Launch the Internet Explorer or Mozilla Foxfire browser. (Normally, you will have an icon on your Taskbar at the bottom of the screen for Internet Explorer and/or Foxfire on your Desktop. Click or double-click either of these icons to open Internet Explorer or Mozilla Foxfire.)
  4. Visit < http://www.raatraining.com > by entering that address in the browser's Address Bar and then clicking the Go button.
  5. Click the Member Logon link located at the top left of the page.
  6. Enter your UserID and Password, and then click “Continue” to Log On.
  7. After you are logged into the system, you will need to load the Authorware Web Player again. At the lower-left of the screen, you will find a button that says Get Authorware Web Player; click it to install the plug-in. This will start the installation process. It will take a couple minutes on a T1 or cable modem, and up to 20 minutes using a dial-up connection. (You will see a small screen with animation if the plug-in is loaded, and the screen will say installation complete. If you do not see this and the small screen is blank, just wait for it to install. It's installing even though you think nothing is happening.)
  8. Once it is finished, it will say installation complete, and you will see a green animated line.
  9. Now, anytime that you need to access the online training, when you use AOL OR NON-EXPLORER/NETSCAPE/FOXFIRE BROWSWER to connect to the Internet, then use Internet Explorer or Mozilla Foxfire to play the lessons. (Remember to just minimize the AOL OR NON-EXPLORER/NETSCAPE/FOXFIRE BROWSWER, and then launch Internet Explorer or Mozilla Foxfire.)

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MOZILLA FOXFIRE USERS :

Mozilla Foxfire will work just like the Internet Explorer, and in fact uses the same Authorware Web Player if needed. Users should not experience any problems with the lessons or tests using Mozilla Foxfire. However, for Administrative Accounts that use the Learning Management System (LMS) to customize or make changes to Groups or user accounts, there can be some minor problems when naming Groups or making changes to them. Most other Admin features such as running Reports to track activity work fine with Mozilla Foxfire. Even though most Admin features work fine with Mozilla Foxfire, because there are a few that experience some problems we recommend that Administrative users use the Internet Explorer when logging in as an Administrator..

NETSCAPE USERS :

It is recommended that you use only Netscape version 6.2 or above.

Netscape Settings :

 If you need to install the Authorware Web Player for Netscape Browser.

  1. Go the the sign in page, and click on the button to get the Web Player File.
  2. Once the new window opens, click on Get Macromedia Authorware Web Player Button
  3. Because you are using Netscape the Authorware_Web_Player.exe install file will be downloaded to your computer.
  4. Keep track of what folder you downloaded the file to.
  5. Open up Explorer and find the file on your hard drive.
  6. Once you find the file, double click on it to start the install.
  7. Be sure to answer the questions asked, and say that you are using Netscape, not Internet Explorer
  8. Once you have finished the install, close Netscape.
  9. Re open Netscape, from now on the plug in will be active.

 (Note this process only has to be done one time.)

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MACINTOSH USERS

While we don't offer any Macintosh online training, Mac users that meet the minimum Macintosh System Requirements can still launch our online training. This is very helpful for people who own a Mac at home but use a Windows PC at work. Also, since the Mac/Windows applications themselves are almost identical, Mac users still find it useful to learn these applications even if they are presented via a Windows environment. NOTE: You cannot login as an Administrator for LMS tracking/customization using a Macintosh: Admin accounts must be accessed using a PC.

MACINTOSH MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

  1. You must have a Macintosh running Macintosh Operating System 10.2.4 or above.
  2. You must use the Internet Explorer browswer version 5.2 or above.
  3. If you are running lessons that require the Authorware Web Player, you must download the Macintosh Authorware Web Player from this Macromedia site:

http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=AWPcmpl&P2_Platform=MacOSX&P3_Browser_Version=NetscapePre4&P5_Language=English

If you have trouble with the above link, try this one but be sure to select only the version “Installer Complete” for OSX:

http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/alternates/

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System Requirements

The System Requirements are slightly different for the new HTML-based training compared to the original Authorware-based training. All the newer applications are HTML-based.

HTML-Based Lesson Format Minimum System Requirements

HTML-Based Lesson Format Minimum Web Browser Requirements

HTML-Based Lesson Format Recommended Web Browser Settings

Internet Explorer Settings:

Authorware-Based Lesson Format Minimum System Requirements

TIPS FOR WHEN YOU FIRST LOGIN

For new users, when you first login be sure to click on “Help” in the Student Menu and go through the User Guides. The User Guides will show you how to navigate and use the online training, testing and other features of the Learning Mangement System (LMS) if available.

To get to your course lessons, click on "My Courses" on the Student Menu, then click on the Library that has the content you want, such as the "Library - PC & Business Skills". After that then select the “View” with the content you want. Admin users would first click on the “Subject” drop-down menu, then select "Library". The View list looks something like this:

VIEW-Microsoft Office 97
VIEW-Microsoft Office 2000
VIEW-Microsoft Office XP
VIEW-Microsoft Office 2003
VIEW-Computer Fundamentals & Operating Systems
VIEW-Specialty Courses and Project Management Training
VIEW-Handheld Personal Digital Assistants

For example, after choosing the version of Microsoft Office to get trained on (such as "VIEW - Microsoft Office 2000"), you will then see several "Sections" listed, such as for Excel:

SECTION- Microsoft Excel 2000 Prescriptive Training
This section contains "prescriptive" tests you can take to assess how much you know about Excel, and then it will recommend the training topics you still need to study. This way you can ignore modules that cover material you already know. Unless you are trying to become MOUS certified, take the Level 1-2-3 tests.

SECTION- Microsoft Excel 2000 Testing
This section also contains similar Excel testing for both MOUS and Level 1-2-3 , but does not then suggest a list of modules you need to study. It is used to simply see how much you know about Excel. Each test is actually labeled as a "Pre-test", but these tests can be taken at any time and can also be used to test your knowledge before or after you have finished the web-based training.

SECTION- Microsoft Excel 2000 Training
This section contains the web-based training modules for three different "Tracks" you could choose from:

  1. The Level 1-2-3 Training track is best if you want to start from the beginning and cover all levels of Excel in an organized progression of topics in sequence.
  2. The Microsoft Office Specialist Training track is for those who are interested in studying toward getting the Microsoft Office Specialist" certification. MOS certification requires taking and passing a separate test in a Microsoft-approved testing facility, and there is a fee for taking the test. MOS certification is recognized globally as a measure of expertise in MS Office proficiency, and can enhance a person's job prospects or potential for advancement. For more information about Microsoft Office Specialist certification, click on this link: http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/officespecialist/officespecialist.asp
  3. The Tasks Training track is for those who would like to simply pick and choose topics of interest to study, in whatever order thay wish.

Please note that ALL the tracks allow you to pick and choose whatever lessons you wish to use . For each "track", the actual content provided is identical; the only difference is in the order in which the training modules are presented. If you are a beginner, unless you're wanting to become MOS certified, the 1-2-3 track is recommended.