Browser Requirements
This website is designed for reliable viewing on ordinary office computers, including older procurement machines, shared reception terminals and laptops that have survived more reorganisations than their labels suggest. The following settings are recommended for best results.
Recommended: Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or later, a screen area of 800 by 600 pixels, JavaScript enabled, cookies enabled for forms, images displayed, and printing configured before the document is urgently required.
Browser
The public MGH website is prepared for Internet Explorer 5 and compatible browsers. Later browsers should also work, although they may have modern opinions about spacing, security prompts, helper bars, privacy notices, download shelves and other decorations not present when the page was written.
| Item | Recommended setting | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Browser | Internet Explorer 5 or better | Tested against the office standard and sufficiently patient with tables, small images and forms. |
| Screen area | 800 x 600 pixels | The site masthead and content column are intended to fit without horizontal wandering. |
| Colours | 256 colours or higher | The blue navigation and small badges are clearer when the computer is not guessing too aggressively. |
| JavaScript | Enabled | Some page conveniences and form checks expect it, although public information should remain readable. |
| Cookies | Enabled for forms | Forms may use temporary cookies to keep a session orderly while an enquiry is being prepared. |
| Images | Displayed | Navigation, badges and diagrams are intentionally small but still part of the page. |
Screen and text size
Set the screen area to 800 by 600 pixels or larger. If using a small monitor, maximise the browser window and close unnecessary toolbars. Text size should normally be set to Medium. If text is set to Largest, the site will remain readable, but some lists may acquire the confident height of a filing cabinet.
JavaScript and cookies
JavaScript should be enabled. The site does not require visitors to install plug-ins for ordinary public pages. Cookies should be permitted when using enquiry forms, application forms or other pages that ask the browser to remember what was typed before the user changed their mind.
Visitors using restricted government, corporate or library computers may need to ask their local administrator to permit session cookies for this website. MGH cannot alter a locked-down browser from this side of the Internet, which is probably for the best.
Printing
For printed copies, use portrait orientation on A4 paper. Set printer margins to approximately 15 mm on all sides, enable background colours only if your printer is on speaking terms with them, and use Print Preview before carrying the document to a meeting. Headers and footers added by the browser may be left on if a date and page URL are useful.
If a page prints across two sheets, reduce the text size one step or remove optional browser sidebars. Do not scale the page so far down that the small print becomes legally decorative rather than legible.
Downloading and saving pages
Pages may be saved for reference, subject to the Terms of Use. Saved copies become out of date without making a noise. For anything important, return to the live public website and check the Site Map or the relevant page before relying on a printout found in a lever-arch file.
Troubleshooting
- If navigation buttons do not appear, turn images on and reload the page.
- If a form refuses to continue, check JavaScript and cookies, then try again before blaming the form.
- If links open in a new window behind the current one, consult the taskbar before submitting the same enquiry twice.
- If text overlaps, set the browser text size to Medium and confirm that the page is not zoomed beyond recognition.
- If the printer omits the right-hand edge, use portrait A4 with modest margins and remove unnecessary browser toolbars.
Page last updated 7 August 2003. Browser advice reviewed for office compatibility.
