Compatibility Requirements for WIN 7.0 with IE 11.0

This topic provides the details to ensure that your Windows 7 with Internet Explorer 11.0 desktop configuration is compatible with PointForce iTopia (PFE version 7.1 on iTopia 9.4).

Verify System Compatibility

The System Compatibility Check List enables you to determine whether or not your system's components are set up for compatibility with iTopia. The check list link can be found on the link on the PointForce login page. The required components on the checklist include:

If any of the options are not enabled or supported, or if your screen resolution is not 1440x900 pixels or higher, then perform the required steps as outlined in this topic.

The following section outlines how to configure your Internet browser to correctly run PointForce 7.1 on iTopia 9.4.

1. Set the Security Zone

   If you would like to read additional information on the importance of the Internet Security zone, click here.

   Before you set your Internet Browser's Security, we recommend that you open PointForce in the browser. You do not need to login to PointForce, just have PointForce open when you open Internet Explorer 11.0.

   1. Select the Tools menu in Internet Explorer.

   2. Select the Internet Options menu option.

   3. Select the Security folder.

   4. Select the Local Intranet icon and click the Sites button. The Local Intranet window opens.

   5. Click the Advanced button. Another Local Intranet window opens. If you have PointForce open in the browser, your PointForce server name automatically displays in the 'Add this website to the zone' field, for example http://*.tecsys.corp.

      
      ^{Local Intranet window}

   6. Click Add to add the PointForce sever name to the Websites list box.

   7. Ensure the Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone check box is unchecked. This is required if you do not specify the https portion of your site.

   8. Click Close to close the Local Intranet window. You are returned to the Security folder.

   9. Click OK to apply your changes.

   Note: In Internet Explorer 11, the zone information is no longer displayed in the status bar, but has been moved to the Properties window. To see the zone that is being used on your system, right-click on the browser window and select the Properties option. The Properties window is displayed with the appropriate information.

2. Enable ActiveX Support

   PointForce takes advantage of Microsoft's ActiveX Web component, which must be installed the first time a new machine accesses the system. In order to do so, the user ID logged into the system must have administrative privileges on the machine.

   Note: ActiveX Support is only required for Microsoft Outlook integration.

   The following steps outline how to enable the appropriate ActiveX controls and plug-ins:

   1. Select the Tools menu in Internet Explorer.

   2. Select the Internet Options menu option.

   3. Select the Security folder.

   4. Select the Local Intranet icon and click the Custom Level button.

   5. The Security Settings-Local Intranet Zone window opens.

      
      ^{Security Settings/ActiveX Controls & Plug-ins window in IE 11.0}

   6. Prior to setting the ActiveX controls we recommend that you click Reset to ensure that the original browser defaults are in effect. If changes were made when you click on the Reset button, the following warning message displays: "Are you sure you want to change the settings for this zone? Yes/No". Select Yes.

   7. Scroll down to the ActiveX controls and plug-ins category and ensure that the set the Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe for scripting is set to Enable.
      • Warning: These settings should never be enabled in the Internet security zone as they may lead to attacks on your computer.

   8. Click OK to accept your changes.

   9. You are returned to the Security folder on the Internet Options window. Click OK to apply your changes.

3. Enable JavaScript Support

   The browser's security configuration includes a number of JavaScript-related settings that should be fully enabled to run properly with iTopia.

   The following steps outline how to fully enable JavaScript support:

   1. Select the Tools menu in Internet Explorer.
   2. Select the Internet Options menu option.
   3. Select the Security folder.
   4. Select the Local Intranet option and then click the Custom level button.
   5. The Security Settings window opens.
   6. Scroll down to the Scripting category and select the Enable radio button for all options.
   7. Click OK to accept your changes. You are returned to the Security tab.
   8. Click OK to apply your changes.

4. Enable Cookie Support

   Internet Explorer's default privacy setting is set to Medium. If you have customized this setting or are using a different level and need to enable cookies, you can reset it.

   The following steps outline how to reset your browser's privacy setting:

   1. Select the Tools menu in Internet Explorer.
   2. Select the Internet Options menu option.
   3. Select the Privacy folder.
   4. Click the Default button if it is enabled and slide the setting to Medium.
   5. Click OK to apply your changes.

   
   ^{Internet Options/Privacy folder in IE 11.0}

   You may also want to customize the current level you are using.

   The following steps outline how to customize your browser's current privacy setting:

   1. Select the Tools menu in Internet Explorer.
   2. Select the Internet Options menu option.
   3. Select the Privacy folder.
   4. Click the Advanced button.
   5. The Advanced Privacy Settings window opens.
   6. Select the Override automatic cookie handling check box.
   7. Select the Accept radio button under First-party Cookies.
   8. Click OK to accept your changes.
   9. You are returned to the Privacy folder.
   10. Click OK to apply your changes.

   
   ^{Advanced Privacy Settings in IE 11.0}

Changing Screen Resolution:

PointForce is designed to be run at a screen resolution of a minimum of 1440x900 pixels. The ideal resolution is 1920x1080 pixels or higher. Your ability to increase your screen resolution depends on the size and capability of your monitor and the type of video card used.

The following steps outline how to change your desktop resolution:

1. Right-click on the desktop and select Screen Resolution.

2. Adjust the screen resolution to a minimum of 1920x1080.

3. Click OK to accept your changes.

Toolbars

There is no official support for toolbar add-ons that are applied to Internet Explorer. The PointForce iTopia application may have issues with certain toolbars. Each toolbar potentially may work but may need to be configured to work with the iTopia application.

Example: Google Toolbar

By default, the Google Toolbar implements its own pop-up blocker. The pop-up blocker will block any new windows or tabs the iTopia application attempts to open. Without configuration changes, it will create issues with the iTopia application.

The following steps outline how to disable the pop-up blocker:

1. On the Google Toolbar, click the wrench icon ().
2. Click Options.
3. Click Tools.
4. Un-check Pop-up blocker.

Note: These steps apply to all Internet Explorer versions.

Configuring Interactivity with Microsoft Excel

The following configuration is optional, enabling you to access a Save button directly from within a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (utilized in the 'Edit with Excel' feature).

Prerequisites

To use the Edit with Excel feature, you must have the following set up:

• Microsoft Excel must be installed on your system (laptop/desktop).
• A Web services license must be assigned to your user id by the PointForce iTopia system administrator.
• The TECSYS Excel Add-In must be installed.

One-Time Setup Procedure

If you PC was equipped with an older version of the TECSYS Excel Add-In (file extension .xla), it must be removed before installing the new version. The following steps outline how to remove the older add-in:

1. Launch Windows Explorer.

2. Go to the Add-In folder and delete the XLA file (i.e. C:\Users\{username}\Documents\Tecsys\iTopia\Add-In\tecsys_iTopia.xla).

3. Launch Microsoft Excel.

4. A prompt will advise you that the add-in no longer exists. Click OK.

5. Click File.

6. Click Options.

7. Click Add-Ins.

8. From the Manage drop-down menu, select the Excel Add-ins option, and then click Go....

9. Select the Tecsys_Itopia plugin.

10. A prompt will advise you that it cannot find the add-in and to delete it from the list. Click Yes.

11. Click OK.

12. Close Excel.

13. Install the latest version of the add-in using the instructions in the following procedure.

The following steps outline how to install the TECSYS Excel Add-in:

1. Launch the Export to Excel (meta_export_excel) resource from PointForce iTopia.

2. Click the Download hyperlink to download the indicated Tecsys.zip file onto your local system.

3. Open the ZIP file and extract its contents into your Windows Documents folder. This will create a folder called Tecsys/iTopia (i.e. C:\Users\{username}\Documents\Tecsys\iTopia), as well as three sub folders titled Add-in, Output, and Template .

4. Launch Microsoft Excel.

5. Click File.

6. Click Options.

7. Click Add-Ins....

8. From the Manage drop-down menu, select the Excel Add-ins option and then click Go...

9. Click the Browse... button and go to the C:\Users\{username}\Documents\Tecsys\iTopia\Add-In folder.

10. Select the Tecsys_iTopia.xlam add-in file and click OK. This will add the Tecsys_Itopia option to the list of add-ins.

11. Ensure that the Tecsys_iTopia check box is selected, and then click OK.

Using the Edit with Excel Feature

Here's an example from the Customer Master resource using Edit with Excel. In this example, we have selected 1 record to edit. Here is what the spreadsheet looks like in Excel:

• To modify a record, change the value of any modifiable column.

• If you wish to create an additional record, add a new row with a unique business key and complete the required columns.

• When all of the data has been modified or created, click the Save action from the TECSYS iTopia tab in the Excel ribbon to write the data to the database.

• Once the Save action is performed, the status of the record(s) is displayed in the Status column. Any record that has been modified successfully will have a status of Updated. Every record that has been created will have a status of Created. Any record with an Updated or Created status has been written to the database. Every record that was unsuccessfully created or updated will have a status of Invalid. This record will also have cell notes in each column in which the error occurred. Correct the errors and save the record again.

Note: If you are working with a view that includes links to other views on the details page, you will experience issues when you export the table to excel and attempt to save your changes. This section explains the issue and provides a solution.

Here is an example of the Products (ibis_ici1.im13) view's detail page:

• You can export the data to excel without any issues. When you save your change(s), the following message displays: "The Web service cannot be executed. OK".

• In order to save the changes, you must personalize the view (i.e. you must start over, so all of the changes you just made in excel will be lost).

• Return to the view in iTopia and click on Personalize found in the bottom right-hand corner of the search criteria/results page or on the details page.

• On the Details folder, remove the section (and all of the contents) under 'Link To ...' in column on the right (Show These Fields in This Order).

• We recommend that you use the Save As option in Personalization in order to save a new view rather than saving the master view. In this way, you have a view that is always available for editing with Excel.

• With the Link To section removed from the view, you can successfully edit records in Excel and save the changes in iTopia.