HRMS Browser Requirements
Updated:
June 2002
7/5/02: Q & A for Mac users
In April we provided computer hardware and browser-related tips for PeopleSoft’s HRMS system. As we approach the July 1, 2002 deployment, we would like to provide more details on these tips and take this opportunity to offer additional information.
In April, we suggested that Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 5 and 5.5 would be supported, as well as I.E. 6. Further testing has revealed that Explorer 5.0x does not work well when SSL (Secure Socket Layer, a security feature) with PeopleSoft HRMS when displaying secured and non-secured fields/pages. We now recommend that you upgrade to at least IE 5.5 with Service Pack 1 for Windows-based systems.
Internet Explorer Browser Upgrade
To download IE Service Pack
In your IE browser, click on Help, then follow this path: Online Support->Download Software->Service Pack->Internet Explorer->Internet Explorer 5.5. Choose Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2 download, then follow the installation procedure. You may also consider installing IE 6 instead of upgrading your 5.5 release.
To download IE 6After you click on Help, follow this path: Online Support->Download Software->Internet Explorer->Internet Explorer 6. Follow the remaining instructions to download and install IE 6 on your workstation. You may need help from your workstation administrator if you do not have the privileges to install software.
Detailed tips for enhancing IE for PeopleSoft’s HRMS System
In the April 2002 Berkeley Computing and Communications article Tech Tips for PeopleSoft’s HRMS, we suggested browser settings required by PeopleSoft. Here are PeopleSoft’s instructions on how to check and change these settings.
Web browser configuration guidelines
Take advantage of the browser’s caching ability to reduce unnecessary checking and downloading of the same Internet objects within the online transaction session.
The Internet objects that most likely remain unchanged during an on-line session are:
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Graphics objects
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Style Sheets
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Java Scripts
- Some HTML pages
The following web browser settings are PeopleSoft’s recommended configurations. These configurations are usually the default settings of the respective browsers.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Here is the configuration recipe:
‘Internet Option’->‘Temporary Internet Files’-> ‘Settings’, ’Automatically’.
Here is the configuration recipe:
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‘Edit’->’Preferences’->’Advanced’->’Cache’->‘Once per session’
Only HTTP 1.1 compliant web browsers request compressed files. Web browsers that are not HTTP 1.1 compliant request and receive the files un-compressed; therefore, the Web Server will not be able to send any compressed HTML file to the browser (despite the configuration.properties has the Compress Response switch turns on.)
Most newer browsers since 1998/1999 have been equipped to support the HTTP 1.1 standard known as "content-encoding." Essentially the browser indicates to the server that it can accept "content encoding" and if the server is capable it will then compress the data and transmit it. The browser decompresses it and then renders the page.
This is an important performance feature for the Web Browsers that are using the slower bandwidth medium; such as dialup connection or 56K line.
Which browsers are HTTP 1.1 compliant?
- Netscape 4.5 and above, including the new Netscape 6. NOTE: Netscape 6 is not currently supported for Brio.Insight and BAIRS, so HRMS users should consider whether they will need access to BAIRS via Netscape before upgrading to Netscape 6.
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Explorer versions 5.5 and above (other than IE Mac versions 4.5/5 which do not support HTTP 1.1 compression).
Here is the configuration recipe to verify if Internet Explorer is configured to use the HTTP 1.1 protocol:
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Open the Internet Options property sheet
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If using IE 5.5, this is located under the Tools menu
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Select the Advanced tab
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Under HTTP 1.1 settings, verify that Use HTTP 1.1 is selected (see figure below).
Questions and answers for Macintosh users