Known Blackboard Issues

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Browser/operating system compatibilities 

Some users may need to upgrade their web browsers or reconfigure their web browsers for full operational compatibility with Blackboard 7.1.  See the Browser Configuration Guide in the Blackboard FAQ's.

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Copying/cutting/pasting text into the Visual Text Box Editor  

Firefox users are prevented from doing this by Firefox as a security precaution. Mozilla.org has provided instructions for modifying preferences in Firefox to allow pasting (http://www.mozilla.org/editor/midasdemo/securityprefs.html) Alternatively, users may choose to disable the Visual Text Box Editor – click on the Home, click Personal Information, click Set Visual Text Box Editor Options, click Unavailable, then click Submit.

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Safari posts are blank 

Using Safari will cause blank messages to be posted in the Discussion Board forums in Blackboard. There is not yet a fix for this from Blackboard so we recommend Mac users use Firefox. Alternatively, users may choose to disable the Visual Text Box Editor – open Blackboard and , click Personal Information (on the left side of the McDanielBbWelcome page), click Set Visual Text Box Editor Options, click Unavailable, then click Submit.

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Files with special characters in the filename cannot be uploaded  

When special characters (such as a #) is included in a filename, the file will not be uploaded or submitted to the instructor properly. Rename the file on your local computer and then resubmit.

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Discussion Board error message about your browser not supporting IFRAMES

In IE - when you try to access a discussion board and you receive an error message saying that your web browser does not support IFRAMES, try enabling IFRAMES in Internet Explorer as follows: click the Tools menu, click Internet Options, click the Security tab, click Custom Level, scroll down to find "Launching programs and files in an IFRAME" and set that option to Enable, click OK and OK again. You may also need to check that any third party firewall software installed on your machine is not interfering with Blackboard. If you are using McAfee Security Suite, you may need to disalbe the Ad Blocker.

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Messages about trusting content from a third-party publisher

You may get messages on your screen about trusting (or accepting, or running) an applet that is a third-party product used by Blackboard. If you choose to always trust content from the publisher, the message should not re-appear. If you do not trust the content then you may have problems running certain features in Blackboard. Refer to the trusting_blackboard certificates.pdf for help.

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Assesment Taking Issues

This page from the University of Illinois at Springfield provides tips and solutions for many known issues with Blackboards Assessment feature: http://otel.uis.edu/blackboard/support/AssessmentIssues.htm