INFO: October 1997 MSDN Library and Internet Explorer

 Last reviewed: December 19, 1997
Article ID: Q178358
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Developer Network October 97
  • Microsoft Visual Studio versions 97, 97sp1, 97sp2
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.02, 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.02a, 4.0 for Windows NT 3.51
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.02, 4.0 for Windows 95

SUMMARY

This article includes information about using Internet Explorer with the October 1997 release of the Microsoft Developer Network Library (MSDN).

In order for the MSDN Library to function properly, Microsoft Internet Explorer version 3.01 or higher should be installed on your system. The version of Internet Explorer that you install, should be a released non- beta version, Internet Explorer 4.0 is fully supported. There are some features and known problems using Internet Explorer 4.0 with the MSDN Library that are addressed in this document.

MORE INFORMATION

Installing Internet Explorer with the MSDN Library

If you do not have Internet Explorer 3.01 or higher installed, you will be prompted during MSDN Setup to install Internet Explorer version 3.02. When you select Yes, MSDN setup will halt and display a dialog box saying, "MSDN Setup was not completed successfully." You must click OK, complete Internet Explorer setup, and then reboot. You must then restart MSDN setup. If you select No, you will be required to install Internet Explorer manually.

The U.S. English Internet Explorer Version 3.02b, which includes the Authenticode 2.0 update, is available on the October 1997 MSDN Library CD1 in the \IE subdirectory. To install, run the file Msie302.exe.

To download the latest version of Internet Explorer 4.0, connect to http://www.microsoft.com/ie/

Using Internet Explorer 4.0

Accessibility Enhancements

Internet Explorer 4.0 includes some new accessibility features that can be used within InfoViewer and the MSDN Library. You now have the ability to specify your own color, font, style settings so that your settings always override settings specified by an MSDN topic or Web site. You can change these settings in Internet Explorer 4.0 by selecting Internet Options from the View menu, then clicking on the Accessibility button under the General tab. You can modify the following settings.

Ignore Colors Specified on Web Pages

This option specifies whether you want Internet Explorer to use the color settings you choose for text, background, and links. You can set these colors on the General tab by clicking the Colors button. If the author of a Web page chooses different colors for text and background, the settings you choose here will override them. You cannot change the size or color of graphics.

Ignore Font Styles Specified on Web Pages

The option specifies whether you want Internet Explorer to use the font settings you choose. You can set these types on the General tab by clicking the Fonts button. If the author of a Web page chooses different fonts, the settings you choose here will override them. You cannot change the size or color of graphics.

Ignore Font Sizes Specified on Web Pages

This option specifies whether you want Internet Explorer to use the default font size you choose. You can set the default font size on the General tab by clicking the Fonts button. If the author of a Web page chooses a different default font size, the settings you choose here will override it. You cannot change the size or color of graphics.

User Style Sheet

This option specifies whether you want Internet Explorer to use your own style sheet to format all Web pages when they are displayed, and provides a place for you to type the path to your style sheet. Style sheets can specify the default font style, size, colors, and background for the body text in addition to headings.

Problems Accessing Sample Data

Users of the Integrated Development Environment for Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0, Visual InterDev 1.0, or Visual J++ 1.1 who also have Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 installed will receive the following error when selecting a URL in an MSDN title that accesses samples: 

   Error Accessing Sample Data
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem with Visual Studio 97 development products. This problem was corrected in Visual Studio 97 service Pack 2. The Visual Studio 97 Service Pack 2 is available from the Microsoft Web Site at http://www.microsoft.com/vstudio/sp/.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 

   ARTICLE-ID: Q170365
   TITLE     : INFO: Visual Studio 97 Service Packs - What, Where, and Why
This bug also affects the standalone versions of the MSDN Library prior to October 1997. The October release of the Microsoft Development Library includes an update required by Internet Explorer 4.0 users who want to access samples from within an MSDN title. This update affects only the MSDN executable, Iv5.exe. Users of the IDE who wish to benefit from this fix as well can get it one of two ways:
  • Install the Visual Studio 97 Service Pack 2

    -or-

  • Copy the file containing the fix, Ivauto.dll, from the MSDN CD1 to the directory containing IDE executable. For example, if you installed Visual C++ to its default directory, C:\Program Files\DevStudio, you would copy Ivauto.dll as follows: 

          From:  Disc 1 subdirectory  \x86\bin\IVAUTO.DLL
      To:  C:\Program Files\DevStudio\SharedIDE\Bin\IVAUTO.DLL

Problem with Font Sizes Appearing Very Small in Some Topics

This problem is caused by changes in stylesheet support in Internet Explorer 4.0. The best workaround is to change your accessibility settings in Internet Explorer 4.0 and choose to ignore font sizes. This problem will be fixed in the documentation of a future release of the MSDN Library.

Problem with Very Narrow Table Columns in MFC Documentation

Some documentation for MFC in Visual C++ 5.0 will appear improperly formatted when using Internet Explorer 4.0. The Class Members topics in the Class Library reference uses table columns that are formatted incorrectly using hardcoded point sizes. The descriptions display as a very narrow column. There is no good workaround for this problem. The MSDN team will fix this in the next quarterly library release.

Transact SQL Topic is Blacked Out

This problem is caused by a mistake in the underlying HTML. The background color setting is incorrectly authored. The good news is there is no documentation in this section. It is a simple reference to the new location of the Transact SQL documentation. The documentation titled "Transact-SQL Reference" is now integrated with the Platform SDK documentation on the MSDN Library. You can find this information in the Microsoft SQL Server Programmer's Toolkit located in the Database and Messaging Services section of the Platform SDK.

Known Problems in Internet Explorer 4.0 Beta Preview Releases

  • Downloading samples from an MSDN topic did not work at all in some Internet Explorer 4.0 preview releases. This was fixed in newer releases. Connect to http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ to download the latest version of Internet Explorer.
  • Downloading samples with a space in the filename does not work. You may receive the following error message: 

          Error copying file

    If you experience this problem then you may need to use Internet Explorer 3.02 or download the file from the MSDN Library Online at http:/microsoft.com/msdn/library/.

  • Some Internet Explorer 4.0 beta releases had prevented InfoViewer users from changing the font size of topics. This has been corrected. Connect to http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ to download the latest version of Internet Explorer.
  • Some Internet Explorer 4.0 preview releases caused crashes when viewing InfoViewer Titles if ratings were enabled. This has also been fixed. 

Version           : WINDOWS:3.02,3.02a,4.0,97,97sp1,97sp2; WINNT:
Platform          : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type        : kbinfo

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Last reviewed: December 19, 1997
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