Help
Helpful Tips for Visiting the MDE Web Site
If you have technical questions or problems with the site and you don’t find the information you are looking for here, please contact mde.it-helpdesk@state.mn.us.
If you cannot access a Web site always check a different site to verify that your Internet service is still connected. Difficulty reaching any Web address may be caused by temporary Internet files or cookies stored by your browser.
To delete these unnecessary temporary items:
For IE: In your browser go to Tools - Internet Options – under Temporary Internet Files, delete the cookies and delete temp files, click Apply, close and reopen the Browser.
Recommended Minimum Internet Connection:
One 56.6 Kbps Dialup Line Per 4 Users
One T1 Line Per 96 Users
Browser Version
This web site has been designed to be viewed by Internet Explorer Version 6.0 or above or Mozilla Firefox Version 1.0. To download a newer version of your browser, click one of the links below:
Directions for Downloading Files
You can save files to your computer instead of opening them in your Web browser by following these general directions:
WINDOWS: MACINTOSH: |
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Downloads & Plug-ins
Many of our publications and forms are in PDF format. Click here to download a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader
Click here to download a free copy of Adobe Access for screen readers.
Some of our PowerPoint slide presentations are in the original format. If you do not have PowerPoint on your system you can view the PowerPoint slides with this free viewer. Click here to download the PowerPoint Viewer
With the Microsoft Word Viewer 2003, Microsoft Word users can share documents with those who do not have Word and users without Word can open and view Word documents. Click here to download the Word Viewer
With Excel Viewer 2003, you can open, view, and print Excel workbooks, even if you don't have Excel installed. You can also copy data from Excel Viewer 2003 to another program. Click here to download the Excel Viewer
The Macromedia Shockwave Player lets users view Web content that has been created by Macromedia Director. Click here to download the Shockwave Player.
RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and is used as a mean of transmitting and updating news in an automated way. A RSS feed is published to our web site which is regularly updated with available headlines and/or articles
Reading RSS
To take advantage of an RSS feed you need to use a piece of software called an RSS aggregator (built in Internet Explorer 7). Most of them are very similar to email client programs, but instead of incoming emails, they display news from various sources (from feeds that you are subscribed to).
Some popular RSS aggregators include Amphetadesk (Windows, Linux, Mac), FeedReader (Windows), and NewsGator (Windows - integrates with Outlook). There are also a number of web-based feed readers available. My Yahoo, Bloglines, and Google Reader are popular web-based RSS feed readers.
Printing
When printing a webpage, the banner image and navigation areas will be dropped from the page so that you only see the body area information.
Temporary Internet Files
Our website uses caching to improve speed. If you are experiencing difficulties, please go through the following:
Open a Browser window
Go to Tools – Internet Options
Under Temporary Internet Files, delete the cookies and delete files
Click on Settings
Select “Automatically” to check for newer versions of stored pages
Click on Apply
Close the Browser window and re-open
Screen Resolution
To change* your screen resolution to 1024 by 768 pixels for optimal viewing of the MDE Web site:
PC users:
Right-click on your desktop and select "Properties."
A new window displaying several tabs will appear. Select the tab called "Settings."
In the next window, there should be a small box called, "Screen Area." In this box is a slide that allows you to adjust your screen resolution. Slide it to "1024 by 768 pixels."
Click "OK."
A confirmation window will appear that reads, "Windows will now apply your new desktop settings...." Click "OK."
A new window, called Monitor Settings, will appear with a message that says, "Your desktop has been reconfigured. Do you want to keep these settings?" Click "Yes."
Your screen will flicker and perhaps go black for a second or two - don't worry. When it is done, your resolution - and your view - will be changed.
MAC users:
In the Apple Menu, select "Control Panels."
Select the control panel called, "Monitors" or "Monitors and Sound," then "Monitor."
Change resolution in box to 1024 x 768. Click “OK.”
Your screen might flicker and perhaps go black for a second or two - don't worry. When it is done, your resolution - and your view - will be changed.
*These instructions will work for most workstations. However, your operating system may require a slightly different process.
MDE E-mail Updates