WebHelp and Windows XP SP2

[HKabaker]

Colleagues,

Today my desktop support tech told me she will be installing Windows XP on my PC next week because the company has so decreed for everyone.

After maybe a year of going, “Tsk, tsk,” on reading about XP problems in the forum, now I’m rounding up any documentation I can find – not to stop XP, because that’s futile, but to make sure system constraints won’t thwart me and my WebHelp readers.

Here’s an outline of what I’ve gathered from forum members’ sites and posts. If I’ve neglected something, please reply here.

Thanks.

Harvey

The Internet Explorer Information Bar in XP SP2

A Miscrosoft technical note, it suggests ways to eliminate some problems in these areas:

• Add-in installation prompts
  
• Pop-up blocked notification
  
• Automatic download prompts
  
• Active content blocked
  
• ActiveX blocked due to security settings [/li]
  
  It also says, however,
  
  Important You can turn off the Information Bar in Internet Explorer by lowering the default security settings. However, we strongly recommend that you leave these security settings at their default level or higher. The default security settings in Internet Explorer are designed to help protect your computer from viruses and from attacks over the Internet.
  
  An Adobe/Macromedia tech note on the Info Bar
  (http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?event=view&id=KC.rb_99740&extid=rb_99740)
  
  These two pieces cover these problems:
  
  
• Can’t open WebHelp on my PC after generating in RH.
  
• Some of WebHelp’s display features are disabled, such as dynamic Index and Search.
  
• Popup blocker flags almost everything useful in WebHelp, requiring item-by-item clearance or putting the domain on the white list.[/li]
  
  Useful threads in this forum:
  XP SP2 popup blocker and Web Help
  (http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/webforums/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=447&threadid=985045&enterthread=y)
  
  Popup Blocker Prevents . . .
  (http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/webforums/forum/messageview.cfm?forumid=65&catid=451&threadid=1020871)
  
  They have links to other threads on related issues.
  
  It seems the key requirement is for all users to have access to security settings in XP and IE and to use their own discretion.
  
  Comments?
  

[Captiv8r · Accepted solution]

Hi Harvey

Where is your WebHelp stored? How do your users access it?

My reason for asking is because oftentimes, the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) is totally unfounded. Does XP introduce all this stuff? Sure! But it ONLY happens IF your users each have their personal copy of WebHelp installed on their PCs and are accessing it that way. I'm guessing this is seldom the case. WebHelp, by its very nature is best served (pun totally intended) from a server. This is normally the way users view it. When your users view WebHelp in this manner, they shouldn't ever encounter that pesky yellow information bar.

So those are my comments... Rick

[HKabaker]

Rick,

Oh, I see. Never mind....

Thanks for clarifying. I didn't realize that this stuff will happen only when I'm looking at WebHelp on my own PC. If I publish immediately to my own space a network drive, I can see it there with no obstacles, right?

Thanks.

Harvey

[Peter Grainge]

Harvey

You can run the generated output from your hard disk if you are happy to go to Tools | IE Options | Advanced tab and tick the Allow Active Content option.

[HKabaker]

Peter,

Thanks.

I'll be happy to do it; we'll see whether the management will be happy to allow it.

Harvey