System Requirements

What you will need to use the AWWA Online Institute

Your Computer

Your computer should be a multimedia-capable computer (with color monitor, sound card, and speakers) with a Windows 95/98/2000/NT/XP/ME operating system*. Your monitor should be set at a minimum of 800 x 600 resolution with a minimum of 256 colors. Your Internet connection speed should be at least 56k.

*Please note that most users with UNIX (Linux) or Macintosh operating systems are able to use the AWWA Online Institute successfully. Using up-to-date system software, browser software, having the correct plug-ins, and having JavaScript enabled usually results in a comparable user experience.

Web Browser

AWWA Online Institute courses require either Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or Netscape Navigator 6.2, or newer, web browser versions. AWWA Online Institute courses do not support the AOL browser. Please check your browser version before entering the AWWA Online Institute. You can check your browser version by pulling down the "Help" menu on your menu bar and clicking on "About...". Having the most recent version of one of these browsers will help ensure a trouble-free experience. We highly recommend, however, the newest browser versions.

To download the most recent version of either browser, click Internet Explorer 6.0 or Netscape 7.0.

Your browser should be set to enable JavaScript. For most browsers, JavaScript is turned on by default.

To accomplish this in Netscape Navigator, you typically:

  1. Pull down the "Edit" menu
  2. Click on "Preferences"
  3. Select "Advanced"
  4. Check the "Enable JavaScript" check box.
In Internet Explorer, enabling JavaScript varies by version. To accomplish this in IE 5.5 or newer versions:
  1. Pull down the "Tools" menu
  2. Click on "Internet Options"
  3. Select the Security tab
  4. Click the "Internet zone" icon
  5. Click the "Custom Level" button
  6. Scroll down the Settings list to the Scripting item. (You may need to double-click on icons to expand lists).
  7. Under the "Scripting" item, choose the Enable radio button for "Active Scripting"
  8. Click OK and Yes to confirm and close the Security Settings dialog box
  9. Click OK again to close the Internet Options dialog box
  10. Refresh the current page by either pressing the F5 button or by pulling down the "View" menu and selecting "Refresh".

Top of page

Plug-ins

Plug-ins, also referred to as Active X controls in Internet Explorer, extend the capabilities of your browser to play different kinds of media. Like browsers, plug-ins come in different versions with different degrees of compatibility.

To determine the plug-in requirements for any particular course, click the Catalog button and then the title of the course. A new window with information about the course will pop up. Click the “System Requirements” tab to view plug-in requirements for the course.

*Please note that if you are attempting to download a plug-in from a multiple-user operating system, or from within an organization that has a firewall in place, you may need administrative access to be able to complete the download and installation.

Flash Player
This Macromedia plug-in lets you view streamed multimedia, animation and entertainment in your Web browser. This plug-in is free and is compatible with Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. You will need version 6.0 or higher of the Flash Player.

  • To test your system for Flash 6.0 Player capability, click here.
  • If you know that you do not have this capability, you can download the latest Flash Player by clicking here. The download should take less than two minutes with a 56.6 kbps modem connection speed.

Adobe Acrobat Reader
The Acrobat Reader lets you view and print Portable Document Format (PDF) files. Acrobat Reader also lets you fill in and submit PDF forms online. This plug-in is free and is compatible with Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. You will need version 5 or higher of the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view some content in a few courses.

  • To test your system for the Adobe Acrobat Reader, click here. A document should open in the Acrobat Reader if this plug-in is installed on your system.
  • If a document does not open, you do not have this plug-in installed on your system. You can download the free plug-in by clicking Acrobat Reader now. The download may take 15 minutes with a 56.6 kbps modem connection speed.

Top of page