| WHAT'S ON THIS PAGE NAVIGATION BOX SCREEN RESOLUTION | BROWSERS | FONTS To return to the page from which you came, use the back button in your browser TO ENTER THE SITE WITHIN THE PC PAGE SET, CLICK HERE |
experience for you. Although this advice is offered in order to improve your
viewing experience while visiting the Coffeehouse Culture site, it could have far
reaching effects on how you interface with your computer and how much you
get from it.
This page is intended for inexperienced computer users and those who are fazed
by any form of technospeak. The page contains information on screen resolutions,
browsers and browser settings and fonts.
WHAT IT IS. WHAT IT DOES. HOW IT WORKS.
WHAT IS SCREEN RESOLUTION? Your monitor is set to display objects (icons etc.)
at a particular size. This is the screen resolution. Screen resolution is measured in pixels
at approximately 72 per inch. Most computers are shipped with the screen resolution
set to 640 x 480 as this used to be the industry standard. On a 13 or 14 inch
monitor, a screen resolution of 640 x 480 makes for large icons and a big text size
that make the screen look rather like a book for the partially sighted. On larger
monitors the effect is even more pronounced, making for unwieldy icons and gigantic type.
WHICH SCREEN RESOLUTION IS BEST? Screen resolution is the literal size things
appear on the screen and there is no 'best.' It depends on you, what you like, what
your eyes can handle, how much you want to see. On a standard 13/14 inch monitor, a
screen resoluton of 640 x 480 looks fine for some people but way too big for others. On
such a monitor the minimum optimum resolution is generally accepted to be 800 x 600.
This gives you a lot more space on your desktop and reduces the size of text slightly
but is still easy to look at. Larger monitors (and computers with the appropriate
amount of VRAM) will support larger screen resolutions. The larger the resolution, the
smaller the icons and text appear on the screen.
WHAT SCREEN RESOLUTIONS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE? Most modern computers
support a number of screen resolutions. Screen resolution is dependent on the amount
of VRAM installed in your computer. The number of screen resolutions available on
your machine depends on the monitor size and the number of colours your machine is
set to display. On machines with less VRAM installed there may be a 'trade-off'
between the number of colours available and the screen resolution.
WHERE TO FIND YOUR CURRENT SCREEN RESOLUTION. In Windows (all versions)
screen resolution is shown in the Display section of the Control Panel (Click on Start
--> Settings --> Control Panel --> Double click Display icon --> Select Settings tab.
The text field in the lower left of the window shows what your current colour setting
is and the right hand panel shows your current screen resolution (below the slide bar.)
OOn a Macintosh, your screen resolution is controlled through the Monitors Control
Panel. Easy access to the current settings and to the Monitors Control Panel iself is
available through the Control Strip on your desktop. (If your Control Strip -- usually
located in the bottom left hand corner of your screen -- is not open, click on the tab
to open it. There should be two screen icons on the strip, one with vertical coloured
stripes and one with a checkerboard pattern. Click on the first of these to see what
your colour setting is and on the second one to see what your screen resolution is. If
you do not have the Control Strip on your desktop, you need to open your Monitors
Control Panel through the Apple Menu (Control Panels) or through your System Folder.
In the Monitors Control Panel the left hand field tells you how many colours you are
displaying and the right hand panels displays your current screen resolution.)
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? In Windows or on a Mac the options available in the left hand
panel depend on the amount of VRAM installed on your computer. In most cases three
options will be available: '256 colours,' '16-bit colour' and '24-bit colour' or, on a
Mac, '256 colours,' Thousands' and 'Millions.' Your current setting is the one curr-
ently in the text field or highlighted (in Windows, the other options are available
through the small menu accessed using the arrow button to the right of your current
setting; on a Mac all the options are listed.) If your machine is set to 16-bit colour
it means you have 65,000 colours available for screen use. If it is set to 24-bit colour
you have 16.7 million colours available. If your machine is set to '256 colours' (or
8-bit colour as it once was known) you are using -- surprise, surprise -- 256 colours.
If your computer is set to display '256 colours' and you have other options available
you should consider going up a level. This will bring a much better standard of clarity
to screen images.
OThe screen resolution, which is shown under the slide bar in the right hand panel
(Windows) or as a list (Mac), shows your current setting. The options here also depend
on the amount of VRAM installed. On a Mac all the options are listed with the current
setting highlighted. It will most probably say: 640 x 480 pixels. If another setting is
shown, you are already using the minimum screen resolution for optimum viewing of the
Coffeehouse Culture site. (If the site is still not laying out correctly, you may not have
the fonts installed in your system file to display the pages as they should be seen --
CLICK HERE to go to the Fonts section of this page -- or you may have your default
font size set higher than normal in your browser or in the same Display section of the
Control Panel. For instructions on changing these settings, CLICK HERE.) In Windows,
the position of the slider on the bar above the screen resolution text shows whether
you have higher or lower level options available. If there is space to move the slider
to the right, do so. You will change nothing unless you click the 'OK' button. Among
the options available there should be 800 x 600 and there may be more.
at a particular size. This is the screen resolution. Screen resolution is measured in pixels
at approximately 72 per inch. Most computers are shipped with the screen resolution
set to 640 x 480 as this used to be the industry standard. On a 13 or 14 inch
monitor, a screen resolution of 640 x 480 makes for large icons and a big text size
that make the screen look rather like a book for the partially sighted. On larger
monitors the effect is even more pronounced, making for unwieldy icons and gigantic type.
WHICH SCREEN RESOLUTION IS BEST? Screen resolution is the literal size things
appear on the screen and there is no 'best.' It depends on you, what you like, what
your eyes can handle, how much you want to see. On a standard 13/14 inch monitor, a
screen resoluton of 640 x 480 looks fine for some people but way too big for others. On
such a monitor the minimum optimum resolution is generally accepted to be 800 x 600.
This gives you a lot more space on your desktop and reduces the size of text slightly
but is still easy to look at. Larger monitors (and computers with the appropriate
amount of VRAM) will support larger screen resolutions. The larger the resolution, the
smaller the icons and text appear on the screen.
WHAT SCREEN RESOLUTIONS MIGHT BE AVAILABLE? Most modern computers
support a number of screen resolutions. Screen resolution is dependent on the amount
of VRAM installed in your computer. The number of screen resolutions available on
your machine depends on the monitor size and the number of colours your machine is
set to display. On machines with less VRAM installed there may be a 'trade-off'
between the number of colours available and the screen resolution.
WHERE TO FIND YOUR CURRENT SCREEN RESOLUTION. In Windows (all versions)
screen resolution is shown in the Display section of the Control Panel (Click on Start
--> Settings --> Control Panel --> Double click Display icon --> Select Settings tab.
The text field in the lower left of the window shows what your current colour setting
is and the right hand panel shows your current screen resolution (below the slide bar.)
OOn a Macintosh, your screen resolution is controlled through the Monitors Control
Panel. Easy access to the current settings and to the Monitors Control Panel iself is
available through the Control Strip on your desktop. (If your Control Strip -- usually
located in the bottom left hand corner of your screen -- is not open, click on the tab
to open it. There should be two screen icons on the strip, one with vertical coloured
stripes and one with a checkerboard pattern. Click on the first of these to see what
your colour setting is and on the second one to see what your screen resolution is. If
you do not have the Control Strip on your desktop, you need to open your Monitors
Control Panel through the Apple Menu (Control Panels) or through your System Folder.
In the Monitors Control Panel the left hand field tells you how many colours you are
displaying and the right hand panels displays your current screen resolution.)
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? In Windows or on a Mac the options available in the left hand
panel depend on the amount of VRAM installed on your computer. In most cases three
options will be available: '256 colours,' '16-bit colour' and '24-bit colour' or, on a
Mac, '256 colours,' Thousands' and 'Millions.' Your current setting is the one curr-
ently in the text field or highlighted (in Windows, the other options are available
through the small menu accessed using the arrow button to the right of your current
setting; on a Mac all the options are listed.) If your machine is set to 16-bit colour
it means you have 65,000 colours available for screen use. If it is set to 24-bit colour
you have 16.7 million colours available. If your machine is set to '256 colours' (or
8-bit colour as it once was known) you are using -- surprise, surprise -- 256 colours.
If your computer is set to display '256 colours' and you have other options available
you should consider going up a level. This will bring a much better standard of clarity
to screen images.
OThe screen resolution, which is shown under the slide bar in the right hand panel
(Windows) or as a list (Mac), shows your current setting. The options here also depend
on the amount of VRAM installed. On a Mac all the options are listed with the current
setting highlighted. It will most probably say: 640 x 480 pixels. If another setting is
shown, you are already using the minimum screen resolution for optimum viewing of the
Coffeehouse Culture site. (If the site is still not laying out correctly, you may not have
the fonts installed in your system file to display the pages as they should be seen --
CLICK HERE to go to the Fonts section of this page -- or you may have your default
font size set higher than normal in your browser or in the same Display section of the
Control Panel. For instructions on changing these settings, CLICK HERE.) In Windows,
the position of the slider on the bar above the screen resolution text shows whether
you have higher or lower level options available. If there is space to move the slider
to the right, do so. You will change nothing unless you click the 'OK' button. Among
the options available there should be 800 x 600 and there may be more.
HOW DO YOU CHANGE THE SETTINGS? On both PC and Macs the screen resolution
is changed through a control panel. The path to the appropriate settings dialog, on
either platform, is described above. Open the appropriate dialog and have a play.
Before you change anything, if you need to, make a note of your current settings.
Changing the screen resolution settings can have a dramatic effect on what appears on
your monitor screen. Do not panic if your screen does strange things, you can always
revert to your original settings. When you change your screen resolution, any icons on
your desktop will change their position. Simply drag them back to where they should be.
WHAT THEY ARE. WHAT THEY DO. WHICH ONE IS BEST.
pages drawn from the world wide web. Web browsers cannot only read the display the
language in which web pages are written (html) but, through plug-ins, can accept and read
additional files -- such as sounds and video -- and handle e-mails. Although there are
many web browsers available, two dominate the field -- Netscape and Internet Explorer.
Which one you use is a matter of personal preference based on your internet needs.
Although Internet Explorer has a nice-to-use interface, at Coffeehouse Culture we use
Netscape Communicator v. 4.7 for its very stable and functional e-mail handling abilities
and because we would rather not encourage Microsoft in their cynical delusions of world
domination. While Internet Explorer has a somewhat slicker interface and a few useful
facilties, the mail handling module -- Outlook Express -- can be problematic. Having
said that, Internet Explorer is generally regarded as more stable in its support for
Javascript. Prior to version four, Netscape Communicator was called Netscape Navigator.
WHAT ARE 'VERSIONS?'As new versions of browsers are released, new features
and capabilities are included that give the browsers increased functionality. Versions
of either browser prior to version four are much less capable than current versions.
However, with web technology developing at such a fast pace, both browsers have a
problem keeping up. Both browsers came into their own with version three which
provided support for Javascript (the scripting language that provides web pages with
their interactivity.) This support was extended in version four browsers to include
support for dhtml (dynamic html.) Most people working on fairly up-to-date computers
use version four browsers.
WHY DOES IT MATTER? The Coffeehouse Culture site and many other sites feature
dhtml. Dhtml is a highly developed form of Javascript that increases user interactivity
within web pages. Typically, DHTML web pages include Javascript (or 'code') that
responds to user mouse and/or keyboard activity by triggering 'events.' Such events
can trigger pop-up text boxes, animations and accept and incorporate your input into
web pages. Having a browser capable of handling dhtml was not so crucial in the past
when all the important information was right there on the web page. However, increas-
ingly web designers are moving important information off html pages and putting it into
dhtml. If your browser is not capable of handling dhtml, you will still be able to view
dynamic web pages but all of the dhtml features will be disabled.
TIME TO UPGRADE? The browser is one of the most used pieces of software on most
computers. Therefore, it is important that you choose your browser carefully.Before
you upgrade your browser read some readers reviews of the various versions available.
Most of the download sites from which you will get the browsers (free of charge but
a long download) include readers reviews. Beware of the very latest version of either
browser. Although new versions of the browsers are tested well before they are released,
they are extremely powerful, versatile and complicated pieces of software that have
lots of scope for bugs. Always go for a browser that has been tried and tested.
| JAVASCRIPT Whichever browser and version you are using, it is crucial that Javascript is enabled (turned on) in the browser's Preferences. If Javascript is not enabled, not only will the dynamic aspects of pages be unavailable but much else. |
WHAT ABOUT BROWSER SETTINGS? If your screen resolution is set to a minimum of
800 x 600, you are using a version four browser and have the correct fonts installed
on your system and are still having layout problems, the fault must be with your browser
font settings. In both the main browsers and on both platforms, the display and
default fonts are set in the browser Preferences panel, Depending on which browser
and version you are using, access to this is through the toolbar and/or the Edit Menu.
Within the Preferences Panel select Languages/Fonts under Browser Contents (Internet
Explorer) or Fonts under Appearance (Netscape Communicator.) Check the information
in the settings panel that opens and ensure that your default font size is not set to
larger than 12 pitch for variable sized fonts and 10 pitch for fixed sized fonts.
OBoth of the main browsers also have font controls under the View Menu that is
accessed through the main menu bar. These controls can enlarge or reduce type sizes.
In Internet Explorer, ensure that 'Medium' is highlighted. In Netscape, use the
Decrease Font Size command to see if it improves the layout of the Coffeehouse Culture
pages.
If your screen resolution is set to at least 800 x 600 and you are still having problems
with the layout of pages on the Coffeehouse Culture site, it could be that you do not
have the fonts required by Coffeehouse Culture pages within your system.
with the layout of pages on the Coffeehouse Culture site, it could be that you do not
have the fonts required by Coffeehouse Culture pages within your system.
TO DISPLAY COFFEEHOUSE CULTURE PAGES CORRECTLY, THESE FONTS
NEED TO BE INSTALLED ON YOUR COMPUTER
Arial, Arial Black, Comic Sans MS; Courier; Georgia; Impact; Times New Roman, Trebuchet & Verdana
OTo check your fonts in Windows go through the Control Panel (Click on Start -->
Settings --> Control Panel --> Double click Fonts icon --> the window that opens
displays a list of your fonts, scroll through the list to see if any or all of the fonts
in the box above are in the list) right click on Start or My Computer --> Select
Explore --> Open Windows folder --> Open Fonts folder. Scroll through your fonts
list to check that you have the fonts named in the box above. If all these fonts are
listed in your Fonts folder, your problem is probably caused by your browser settings
(see below.)
OTo check your fonts on a Macintosh, open your Hard Disk --> Open the System
folder --> Open the Fonts folder.
OThese fonts -- which are free -- are among the most commonly used on the web
and should be installed on most machines. When they are on your machine they will
become available to all applications and you will be able to use them in your documents.
If you would like to download any or all of these fonts, they are available free of
charge from the Microsoft site and take only a moment to download. To log on to the
Microsoft fonts download page, CLICK HERE (the Microsoft page will open in a new
window on top of this one.)
ing service, if you have problems viewing pages from the site and cannot resolve them,
please let us know and we will do our best to assist. To e-mail us. please CLICK HERE.
Please include the fullest information regarding your platform, technical specification
and describe the problem or include a screen dump.
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The information on this page is offered as a service to computer users.
Although every effort has been taken to ensure that the information
is as accurate as possible, Coffeehouse Culture accepts no liability for
loss of data or other losses that may result from its use.
| To return to the page from which you came, use the back button in your browser TO ENTER THE SITE WITHIN THE PC PAGE SET, CLICK HERE |
Copyright © 1999/2000/2001 The Enlightenment Company
Created by Cheapo Cheapo Productions