Info on the EBC
Technical Tips for the EBC CD-ROM
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:
Windows:
Windows 95/98 or NT
Processor - Pentium 90
32MB available RAM
16 bit colour, 800x600 monitor resolution
CD-ROM drive
Netscape 4.0 or Internet Explorer 5.0
Macintosh:
Mac OS 8.6
PowerPC 120
32MB available RAM
16 bit colour, 800x600 monitor resolution
CD-ROM drive
Netscape 4.0
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 ReadMe for install instructions.
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. Each time that you install a new browser, you should then install QuickTime as well. See ReadMe for install instructions.
IEBC
Windows users can improve performance by installing the encyclopedia on their hard drive. Click on the "Install encyclopedia" option on the first screen that appears after starting the CD.
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 "QuickTime" 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.
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