Site help

• How do I make the text bigger so that it is easier for me to read?

Quick and easy on-screen method:

Locate the AAA feature which appears on every page and click the letter size of your choice.

Using your browser controls:

Using Internet Explorer, go to
View > Text size > and select the size you want

Using Netscape, go to
View > Text zoom > and select the size you want

 

• How do I change colours so that the contrast is better for me?

   

Quick and easy on-screen method:

Locate the AAA feature which appears on every page.  Click on the big A with the yellow background.  This makes text large and changes the background to yellow.  Black on yellow is a combination that some people with eye problems find easier to read than black on white.

Using your browser controls:

To change the colour of the text and background your browser displays you need to find the Colors option dialogue box.

Using Internet Explorer, go to
Tools > Internet options > Colors

Uncheck 'Use windows colors' and select the colours you prefer.

Using Netscape, go to
Edit > Preferences > Colors

Select 'Use my chosen colors'

 

• I find a mouse difficult to use - how do I move around without one?

   

Access keys allow you to move around the main areas of the site without using a mouse. 

Press the ALT key (Windows) or the Control key (Mac) and the appropriate letter key to jump to the link, and then Return to activate the link.

Access keys for Windows (use the Control key for the Mac):

ALT and S = Skip navigation
ALT and J = Jump to the top of page
ALT and 1 = Home page
ALT and 2 = What's new
ALT and 3 = Site map
ALT and 4 = Search
ALT and 5 = Frequently Asked Questions
ALT and 6 = Help
ALT and 7 = Complaints procedure
ALT and 8 = Terms and conditions
ALT and 9 = Feedback
ALT and 0 = Access key details

Access keys may not work at all, or may work differently, depending on the browser you are using.

 

• What are PDFs and how do I read them?

   

PDF stands for Portable Document File.  It's the most popular way of making downloadable documents available on the web. 

You need a plug-in called Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these files.  You can download this free at www.adobe.com
 
Users who have concerns about accessibility should visit Adobe's accessibility website

Adobe Acrobat documents can be converted to plain text documents using Adobe PDF Conversion by Simple Form

The latest version of Acrobat Reader (version 6) has a Read Out Loud facility, which can be found under the View menu.

 

• How can I view a Microsoft Word file if I don't have Word software?

A free Word viewer is available from Microsoft at

http://office.microsoft.com/Assistance/9798/viewerscvt.aspx

You'll find Word, Excel and PowerPoint viewers here too.

 

• My browser is out of date. How can I get a new one?

The most recent versions can be downloaded from the web.

Internet Explorer
Go to www.microsoft.com

Netscape
Go to www.netscape.com

Many Internet and computer magazines for sale in newsagents include giveaway CDs with copies of the latest browsers.  This can be quicker and easier than downloading browsers from the web, especially if you have a slow internet connection.

 

• Where can I learn more about using the internet?

   

For more online help and web tips, visit the BBCs website at:
www.bbc.co.uk/education/webwise

If you have any problems accessing the content of this site or using any form of adaptive technology, please contact us and we will make every effort to solve the problem.