What is INB?
Why INB?
How to log on to INB
What to expect when downloading and installing JInitiator
How to create a desktop shortcut to launch INB
Operational differences between INB and Banner Client/Server implementation
How to avoid losing your INB session if you click on another web link inside of email
What about Macintosh computers?
Optimal desktop display settings for Internet Native Banner
Setting a different font size for GroupWise messages (optional)
Known technical issues
How to ensure optimal performance of INB

• You must be using Internet Explorer (IE) version 6.0 or higher to run INB.  *Do not use Netscape for INB.*
  
  NOTE: If you'd like to make Internet Explorer your default browser, click here for instructions.
  
  
• Go to  http://www.smith.edu/its/tara/internet_browsers.html  to download and install a copy of IE version 6.0.  The User Support Center (USC) at extension 4487 can help with this process
  
  
• Open the Internet Explorer (IE) browser and type in the following URL:  https://banner.smith.edu:9999/
  
  
• Before you logon for the very first time only via INB, you must download the JInitiator.  This is a java plugin necessary to run INB.  The download and install process should initiate automatically when you submit the URL above.  More detail on this process is given below in FAQ #4.
  
  
• The initial browser window you will see must remain open and unchanged for the duration of your Banner session.  You can minimize the window to get it off your desktop, but you cannot close this window or use this window to go to another website, including a second Banner session.
  
  
• You will get your usual signon window for Banner, with the familiar Banner main menu following.  There are only a few minor differences using Banner with INB (see FAQ #6).
  
  
• To log off Banner via INB, you must perform the Exit function in Banner and then close the initial browser window.
  

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4.  What to expect when downloading and installing JInitiator

For the first-time user of INB, this *one time only* step is required.  This is what to expect:

• Enter https://banner.smith.edu:9999/
  
  
• You will see an "Oracle JInitiator" download page. Click Yes to start the download.
  
  Please note: You may need to minimize the blank Developer Server and Oracle JInitiator window in order to see the screen and click Yes.
  
  
• The InstallShield Self-extracting.exe box will appear next. Click Yes to start the install process.
  
  
• The Setup box will appear, then the Welcome window. Click Next.
  
  
• The Choose Destination Location will appear. Click Next.
  
  
• The system will go through a series of setup dialog boxes. The Installation Complete box will appear when installation is complete.
  
  
• Developer Server and Oracle JInitiator window will appear and start loading the java applet which will log you into Banner.
  

• Right-click anywhere on your computer desktop, and select New, then Shortcut from the pop-up menu.
  
  
• If you have IE installed in the default location on your computer (if you don't know, you can assume you do), type the following one-line statement into the command line box, including all quote marks.
  
  "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE" "https://banner.smith.edu:9999/"
  
  NOTE: Both parts of the statement must be on the same line, with one blank space between the quote marks after IEXPLORE.EXE and the quote mark before https:  
  
  
• If you do not have IE installed in the default location, you will need to browse for the IEXPLORE.EXE file.
  
  
• Select a name for your shortcut (e.g., INB Banner) and press the FINISH button.
  

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6.  Operational differences between INB and Banner Client/Server implementation

• The Options Menu, which used to be in a frame on the left side of the window, is gone.  The Options Menu is still available when you click on Options at the top of the window.
  
  
• The vertical toolbar on the left of the window no longer displays.
  
  
• Print screens do not show time and date.
  
  
• Form backgrounds are grey rather than white.
  

You will need to set an option in your IE browser configuration so that any new web link will be created in another, new IE browser window. To do this:

• Go to the horizontal menu at the top of your IE browser and select Tools, then Internet Options.
  
  
• Click on the Advanced tab and go to the Browsing section.
  
  
• Make sure the "Reuse windows for launching shortcuts" statement is unchecked, and click Apply.

You can use Internet Native Banner on a Macintosh if you are running OS 10.3 or higher, and using Internet Explorer version 5.2 or higher, or Safari 1.2.4 or higher.

To access Internet Native Banner from a Macintosh:

1. Go to:  https://banner.smith.edu:9999/
2. Select Banner 7 PPOD MAC from the drop-down menu.
3. Click the Submit button.

The optimal setting for each computer depends on monitor size and user preferences. The following example explains how to set your Resolution to 800 x 600 and your Font setting to Small font.

• Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
  
  
• In the Display Properties window, click on the Settings tab.
  
  
• To change the resolution, drag the slider in the "Screen area" box until it shows 800 x 600 pixels.  Click Apply.
  
  
• To change your font setting, click on the Advanced button.  The Display Font size control box will appear.
  
  
• Click on the down arrow and choose Small Fonts (Normal 96 DPI).
  
  
• Click Apply, then OK.
  
  
• When the Display Properties box appears again, click OK.
  

If you want your GroupWise messages to display in a larger font size without impacting the INB display, follow the instructions below:

• Right-click anywhere on your desktop and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
  
  
• In the Display Properties window, click on the Appearance tab.
  
  
• Click on the down arrow for Item and choose Message Box.
  
  
• Click on the down arrow for Font and choose the desired font size.
  
  
• Click Apply, then OK.
  
  
• When the Display Properties box appears again, click OK.
  

See FAQ #6 for a list of differences in INB.

Print screen problem - blank pages:
Try this temporary workaround.

• Click in the INB window to make it the active window.
• Press the Alt and Print Screen keys simultaneously to put a copy of the window contents into your system clipboard.
• Open a new MS-Word or Paint window and select Edit / Paste.
• Print the document from within that application.
  
  

Windows 98 users: If you are having this problem, you may need a new postscript driver for your printer.

• First, find out your printer's model number. Click on Start, then Settings, then Printers. Make a note of the model number for your default printer (e.g., HP 8510 PCL 5e).
  
  
• Once you know your printer's model number, check the following HP printer driver download page for a postscript printer driver for your printer: http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/software_drivers.html
  
  
• If you can't find your printer, or encounter any other problems, call the User Support Center at x4487.
  

Print screen problem - fuzzy printouts: 

• Adjust your printer setting by clicking Start, then Settings, then Printers.  
• Right-click on your printer's icon and choose Properties from the pop-up menu.  
• Click on the Graphics tab and be sure that Dithering is set to none.
  

Computer freeze/crash:
Avoid opening too many windows.

INB is slow:
Close other applications, especially BAR/Access applications

• Always close all inactive/unused windows.
  
  
• Do not execute BAR/Access queries and simultaneous INB sessions.
  
  
• Be aware of your computer's capacity and scale down open applications accordingly.
  
  
• To determine the amount of RAM on your computer, click Start, then Settings, then Control Panel, then System.  Click on the General tab to view the amount of RAM available on your machine.
  
  
• The Requirements Matrix below offers guidelines for optimal INB use. If you'd like to print a copy of the matrix, click here for a printable version.