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Info on the EBC

ReadMe File

System Requirements
Install
Technical Tips
Troubleshooting
Copyright
Licence

1. System requirements
The IEBC is a multimedia application that runs on an Internet browser platform. The minimum system requirements to run the interactive encyclopedia are:

Browsers
On Windows systems, the IEBC runs with Netscape 4.0 or higher, or with Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher. On Macintosh the IEBC runs only with Netscape 4.0 or higher, and will not run successfully with Internet Explorer. You can install a browser directly from the CD-ROM if one is not already installed on your system. See "Install," below.

QuickTime
To play sound and video clips, you must have QuickTime installed on your system. You can install QuickTime directly from the CD-ROM. Note that each browser that you use will require a QuickTime installation. See "Install," below.

2. Install
You will need a recent version of Netscape or Explorer in order to run the IEBC. You will also need the QuickTime plug-in for your browser in order to play sound and video clips.

If you need to install a browser, make this the first step in your install process. Each time you install a new browser, you should run the QuickTime installer afterwards. This will help ensure the QuickTime plug-in is properly placed in your new browser.

Netscape
Netscape 4.7 is available for installation directly from the IEBC CD-ROM. Windows users should click on the "Install Netscape 4.7" option on the first screen that appears after starting the CD. Mac users should double-click on the Netscape installer that appears automatically after starting the CD. To return to the opening screen and install the browser now, close this window.

Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer 5.0 is available for install by download from the Web. Windows users should click on the "Upgrade to Internet Explorer 5.0" option on the first screen that appears after starting the CD. The IEBC will not run with Internet Explorer on Macintosh systems.

QuickTime
QuickTime is available for installation directly from the IEBC CD-ROM. Windows users should click on the "Install QuickTime" option on the first screen that appears after starting the CD. Mac users should double-click on the QuickTime installer that appears automatically after starting the CD.

IEBC
If you are working in Windows, you may also place the complete contents of the encyclopedia on your hard drive with the IEBC Installer. This will allow you to start the IEBC with a click of your mouse, and may increase the operating speed of the encyclopedia. Windows users should click on the "Install encyclopedia" option on the first screen that appears after starting the CD. To return to the opening screen and install the IEBC now, close this window.

3. Technical Tips

Monitor Display
Size of windows and crispness of images: The minimum required monitor resolution is 800x600, but articles and images appear smaller and crisper at higher resolutions if your system supports that. The resolution can be changed using your Control Panel:

In Windows, click on the Display icon in the Control Panel; then click on the Settings tab. Use the slider in the Desktop Area to change the resolution.

On a Mac, select Control Panels in the Apple menu, and click on Monitors and Sound. Select the desired resolution from a list in the Monitors & Sound box.

Managing Multiple Windows on the Screen
Whenever several windows are displayed on your screen, you can arrange them so that a part of each window is visible at all times. This will prevent windows from becoming hidden. To move a window, click and hold on the title bar at the top of the window to drag the window from place to place on the screen.

When browsing the IEBC, keep your main display window open at all times. This is the window containing the Encyclopedia of BC logo, as well as Find, Back, Forward and other navigation elements. If you close this window, you will close the IEBC application.

Otherwise, we suggest you close pop-up image and media windows when you arefinished viewing them. If you click to see a media element such as More Images and it appears that nothing is happening, the element has probably opened in a window that is minimized or is hidden behind other windows on your screen.

When quitting the encyclopedia, click on the Exit icon in the main display window and follow the exit cues.

Sound and Video
To play sound and video clips, you must have QuickTime installed on your system. See "System requirements" above for directions on how to install it.

Special Note to Macintosh Users
If IEBC functions are performing poorly or slowly, or if you are getting messages that suggest you close other windows, you may have to adjust memory allocation. Exit the IEBC application and quit your browser program. Next, go into your hard drive and find the location of the browser program you are using with the IEBC. Select the main browser icon, and then choose General Information from the main File menu on your desktop. An information summary for the browser will appear in a separate window. Select Memory from the pop-up menu at the top of the window.

You will see three memory items listed in the next screen that appears. We suggest you add at least 10,000 (10 MB) to the "Preferred" memory allocation for the program. After doing this, close the information window and restart the IEBC. If you encounter any difficulties in starting it, restart your computer and try again. Please note: it may be necessary to experiment with different levels of memory allocation to determine which settings will provide best results with the IEBC. We also suggest that you activate Virtual Memory. To do so, go to "Control Panels", select "Memory" and turn Virtual Memory on.

Quitting the Encyclopedia
Make sure that you quit by clicking the Exit icon in the main display window. Special note to Mac users: after quitting the IEBC, you must also quit your browser program.

4. Troubleshooting

Q: Having trouble getting started?

A: The IEBC is a multimedia application that runs on an Internet browser platform. You need to have at least the following system configuration to run the interactive encyclopedia:

Windows:

Macintosh:

Browsers

Q: Find, Back and other navigation buttons not showing on navigation bar of main display window?

A: When you started running the CD, you may have clicked the Find button before the main window finished loading. Reloading the window will restore the navigation buttons:

In IE under the View menu, select Refresh. In Netscape under the View menu, select Reload. You can also right-click on the window and select Reload or Refresh.

Q: Want crisper text and images, or smaller windows?

A: The minimum required monitor resolution is 800x600, but articles and images appear smaller and crisper at higher resolutions if your system supports that. The resolution can be changed using your Control Panel:

In Windows, click on the Display icon in the Control Panel; then click on the Settings tab. Use the slider in the Desktop Area to change the resolution.

On a Mac, select Control Panels in the Apple menu, and click on Monitors and Sound. Select the desired resolution from a list in the Monitors & Sound box.

Q: Problems with display quality?

A: The minimum recommended colour setting for the IEBC is 16-bit colour. If you are experiencing problems with poor image display, we suggest you check your colour settings and increase the display setting as necessary.

Windows users should go to "Control Panels" and select the "Display" panel. Click on the "Settings" tab at the top of the Display panel. You will then see the colour setting in a pop-up menu on the left-hand side of the control panel. Please select 16-bit colour or higher, close the panel and resume your session. Note: some Windows 95 users may be asked to restart their computers in order to execute changes to monitor settings.

Mac users should also go to "Control Panels", choose "Monitor" and then select "thousands of colours" (or higher) from the colour options available.

Q: Articles loading slowly?

A: Articles with multiple media elements such as images and sound clips can take noticeably longer to load on some computers. Viewing multimedia content is demanding for most computers. We suggest you close any other nonessential applications during your IEBC session. If you are using a Mac, you may want to adjust memory allocation. (See "Special note to Mac users" above for instructions on adjusting your browser's memory allocation.)

Q: Navigation devices not working well?

A: Make sure that Java is enabled: In Internet Explorer, check the Tools menu, select Internet Options, then click on the Advanced tab. Make sure that Java JIT compiler is enabled. In Netscape, check the Edit menu, select Preferences, then click on Advanced. Make sure that Java is enabled.

If you are a Mac user, you may want to adjust the amount of memory assigned to your browser. (See "Special note to Mac users" above for instructions on adjusting your browser's memory allocation.)

Q: More Images not working?

A: If you open the More Images window, then do other things without closing that window, it moves to the back of the screen. When you click to see a new collection of images, the new set will open in that hidden window and it will seem as though nothing is happening. Minimizing a window will have the same effect because the window is still open though not visible. For best results, close the image window when you are finished viewing, using the Close Window button at the bottom.

Q: Sound and video clips not working?

A: To play sound and video clips, you must have QuickTime installed on your system. See "QuickTime," above. Please note: video clips can take some time to load. Once a clip is loaded, click the Play button (forward arrow) on the video screen.

If it appears that QuickTime is already installed on your system, and sound and video clips still do not play, check to see if QuickTime is in place in your browser's Plug-in folder. To do this, locate and open the program folder for the browser and then open the Plug-in folder. If you do not see a QuickTime file in the Plug-in folder, you should re-install QuickTime.

Q: Can't print a map, table or chart?

A: You can use your browser to save a copy, open it in a new browser window, and then print.

Q: Having trouble working offline?

A: Windows users may encounter difficulty in using the CD offline with Internet Explorer 4.x. These may include problems in starting the CD and frequent prompts to connect to the Internet. There are two ways to deal with such difficulties: connect to the Internet before beginning your IEBC session (and remain connected throughout the session), or upgrade your browser to a 5.x version of Internet Explorer.

If you wish to access any of the external Web links on the CD-ROM during your offline session, first open your Internet connection and then select the Web link.

Working offline on Macintosh systems
Macintosh users may encounter difficulty in using the CD offline with earlier versions of the Mac Operating System. Before version 8.6, there is a known limitation of the Mac OS that inhibits the ability of the Mac to run Web-like applications (such as the IEBC) offline. Apple has corrected this problem from version 8.6 onward. When you start up the CD-ROM, you will first see a dialogue box asking for permission to change your network settings. Click "OK" and the IEBC will automatically change your Internet settings so that you can work offline. When you end your session, the IEBC will automatically return your system to the original network settings.

If you still encounter problems in starting the CD, we suggest you first open your Internet connection and then try again to start the IEBC.

The Mac OS will not permit you to switch back and forth between online and offline modes in the same IEBC session. If you are working in offline mode, and wish to access any of the external Web links on the CD-ROM, you should quit the IEBC, open your Internet connection, restart the IEBC and then select the Web links you wish to visit.

Q: Trouble with "Work offline/connect" prompts in Explorer 5.x in Windows?

A: Internet Explorer 5.x users may experience recurring prompts to "work offline" or "connect" during start-up as well as during normal operations of the IEBC. In order to eliminate these prompts, select "connect" or "try again" from the dialogue box that appears on your screen during the prompt. You can prevent such prompts from occurring by changing the dial-up settings on Explorer. See www.knowbc.com for an update on this topic.

5. Copyright
Copyright © 2000 Harbour Publishing Co Ltd and its licensors
Photographs and illustrations © 2000 by the artists
Audio and video clips of Bryan Adams in performance © Bruce Allen Talent
Video clip showing how hydroelectricity is made © BC Hydro and Power Authority
Video clip of Gulf of Georgia Cannery © Parks Canada
Audio and video clips of Sarah McLachlan © Nettwerk Productions and Tyde Music
Video clip of Rocky Mountains © Government of BC, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks
Video clip of Roy Vickers © Roy Henry Vickers
Computer-generated animations © Mainframe Entertainment
All other video clips © Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Audio clips of bird sounds © Doug Von Gausig and NatureSongs
Audio clip of Jim Christy in performance © Jim Christy
Audio clips of pronunciations of First Nations and place names of BC © Harbour Publishing Co Ltd
Audio clip of Edith Iglauer in performance © CBC Radio Canada
Audio clip of Peter Trower in performance © Peter Trower
Audio clips of environmental sounds © Barry Truax, World Soundscape Project

Each multimedia item (including but not limited to audio clips, video clips, photographs, drawings, paintings, tables and charts) is the sole property of the person or agency credited in the caption. All rights reserved.

QuickTime is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Netscape, Navigator and Communicator are registered trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation. Microsoft and Microsoft Internet Explorer are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

6. Licence
The software and contents of the Encyclopedia of British Columbia CD-ROM are furnished under a license agreement for the personal use of the licensee.

Under this agreement, the licensee may not copy this software or contents for any purpose other than personal use of the licensee. Any commercial use, including but not limited to renting, leasing, sub-licensing, transferring or creating derivative works, is strictly prohibited. No copyright or trademarknotices may be removed or obscured. The software and content of the Encyclopedia of British Columbia CD-ROM are the sole property of the copyright holders.

Permission to use any of the material other than for personal use of the licensee must be obtained in writing from the copyright holders. This software, its contents and related material are governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, and by international copyright treaty provisions.

The licensee hereby releases Harbour Publishing Co Ltd and Harbour Interactive Inc or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents from any and all claims or causes of action which the licensee may have at any time against any of them arising in any manner or connection with the Product or any part thereof. The licensee hereby agrees that there are no representations or warranties concerning the Product, or the software or content contained therein, or the performance, quality or ownership thereof, whether express, implied or collateral, whether arising by operation of law or otherwise for which Harbour Publishing Co Ltd, Harbour Interactive Inc or their respective directors, officers, employees and agents are responsible in any manner. The licensee further agrees that neither Harbour Publishing Co Ltd nor Harbour Interactive Inc nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents has any liability to the licensee for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential damages however caused, whether based on negligence, collateral contract or otherwise.