HELP: Frequently Asked Questions

Can't figure x? Does x seem amiss? Help is here. We've listed most of the technical problems you may incur while using this software. If our answers are gibberish to you, please don't hesitate to seek further assistance from your technical support person.


  1. Why doesn't anything happen when I click the icons?
  2. Why do I get the message The Plug-in could not load QuickTime ... when I try to bring up a media window?
  3. Why don't I hear anything when I try playing the media files?
  4. Why does the audio in your media files sound choppy?
  5. I have QuickTime 3.0 installed. Why do the audios still sound choppy when I play them?
  6. I want paper copies of student materials. How do I get them?
  7. Why do I get the message The Plug-in could not load Acrobat for ... when I open a PDF file?
  8. Why do print outs of the browser pages look different than the PDF formatted files?
  9. How can I increase the font size in my browser windows?
  10. How can I speed up scrolling in my browser windows?
  11. How can access the codes for the calculator programs on this CD?
  12. How do I get to the MOOSE simulation in QuickBasic© mentioned in the Wildlife unit?
  13. The opening screen mentioned a piece of software called the TI83 Trainer. How do I get it?


 
Q1 Why doesn't anything happen when I click the icons?
A You should get a pop-up window with no control icons, and an animation and an audio should begin to play. We use JavaScript to initiate our media and PDF windows. Ensure your browser is JavaScript enabled. Search for javascript in your browser's Help index to learn more about doing this.
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Q2 Why do I get the message The Plug-in could not load QuickTime ... when I try to bring up a media window?
A You don't have Apple's® QuickTime plug-in. We've included the QuickTime 3.0 installation file on the CD-ROM. To install, first close out all windows and then

Mac Folks:
  • install Quicktime 3 by dragging and dropping the icon in the /Tools/mac/ folder on the CD into your system folder.

    PC Folks:
  • execute the qt3.exe file in the /Tools/pc/ directory on the CD.
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    Q3 Why don't I hear anything when I try playing the media files?
    A You need an audio chip on your system to hear the audio in our media files. If you have an audio chip, ensure your volume levels are not too low or disabled:

    Mac Folks:
  • check the SOUND control in the drag strip control.
  • check the SOUND control panel or MONITORS and SOUND panel.

    PC Folks:
  • bring up the Multimedia Properties dialog box from your Control Panel.
  • select the Audio tab.
  • increase the Playback volume level.
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    Q4 Why does the audio in your media files sound choppy?
    A We recorded our media files using QuickTime 3.0. Perhaps you have an older version of QuickTime. We've included the installation file for QuickTime 3.0 on the CD-ROM. To install, first close out all windows and then

    Mac Folks:
  • click on the qt3.sit.hqx icon in the /Tools/mac/ folder on the CD.

    PC Folks:
  • execute the qt3.exe file in the /Tools/pc/ directory on the CD.
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    Q5 I have QuickTime 3.0 installed. Why do the audios still sound choppy when I play them?
    A You may have minimal RAM. Close the pop up window and reopen it. Playback may improve in some cases. In playing the audio, the CPU must execute some decompression routines. A slow CPU will always play the audio with pauses.
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    Q6 I want paper copies of student materials. How do I get them?
    A PDF icon Hard copies of all materials are available from the INDEX of MATERIALS page. You will need a copy of ADOBE ACROBAT READER installed to view and print the hard copy versions. Go to the INTEX of MATERIALS page and select the materials you want in PDF format.
    Portable Document Format (PDF) is Adobe Corporation's solution for the need to distribute electronic documents in original form to various platforms.
    PDF files can be viewed using Adobe's® free Acrobat Reader. With the Acrobat Reader serving as a plug-in for your browser, PDF files can be viewed from your internet browser.
    If you wish to print out any of the unit materials, it is recommended that you print out the PDF file or particular page number within the PDF file. Printing out web versions will result in unpredictible pagination. For additional assistance, please refer to the Acrobat Reader Documentation included on the CD or go to Adobe's web site for the latest information: http://www.adobe.com/acrobat/
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    Q7 Why do I get the message The Plug-in could not load Acrobat for ... when I open a PDF file?
    A You do not have Adobe's® Acrobat Reader. We've included the Acrobat Reader 3.0 installation file on the CD-ROM. To install, first close out all windows and then

    Mac Folks:
  • click on the ar302.sit.hqx icon in the /Tools/mac/ folder on the CD.

    PC Folks:
  • execute the ar302.exe file in the /Tools/PC/ directory on the CD.
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    Q8 Why do print outs of the browser pages look different than the PDF formatted files?
    A They are meant to look different. The files displayed in the browser have been modified for the browser. They contain multi-media elements which are not printable. If you wish to create paper copies of materials, print from the PDF formatted versions in the Index of Unit Materials section.
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    Q9 How can I increase the font size in my browser windows?
    A To force your browser to display a larger type, you must consult the Help files on your browser. Search for font under the Help index. Please note that changing font size will alter pagination, possibly distorting information within tables. PDF files will not be affected by a change in font size.
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    Q10 How can I speed up scrolling in my browser windows?
    A If the screen scrolls slowly, there isn't much you can do except be patient. Screen refresh is controlled by the CPU. A slow CPU will strain at rewriting the images embedded in long files: our guides contain a lot of material. Fast CPU's will scroll through the documents more easily.
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    Q11 How can access the codes for the calculator programs on this CD?
    A This is a case of "you can't get there from here." The codes for all programs mentioned in the text are available for TI 82, TI 83 and Casio calculators. They are in the RESOURCE folder. You can't view them or use them with a browser. You must exit the browser, open up the TI GRAPH LINK, or Casio FA 122 Interface. The path is resource/ti/ or resource/casio/. Separate folders for each unit in the MMA curriculum are contained in these directories. Example: testing will contain all the code and notes on the DRACULA program used in this unit. These folders contain text documents and codes to download to your calculator.
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    Q12 How do I get to the MOOSE simulation in QuickBasic© mentioned in the Wildlife unit?
    A Runtime versions of MOOSE are available in the Wildlife folder in the TI folder. The path is resource/ti/wildlife/ . Look for folders called SOFTMAC or SOFTPC. The README document in each explains how to access the MOOSE simulation. You don't need QuickBasic© to run it. You can copy these programs onto a disk and install them on computers students will use.
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    Q13 The opening screen mentioned a piece of software called the TI83 Trainer. How do I get it?
    A Demonstration copies of Professor Goldstein's TI83 Trainer are available on the CD. The movie icon at right gives a quick peek at the TI83 Trainer. The TI83 Trainer is a PC only application. It can be run on a Mac under Softwindows 98. You must quit your browser and navigate to the RESOURCE folder and open up /TITRAIN/ . The document INSTALL.TXT explains how to install the application. It will take about 4 megs of disk space. The license to use the demo version will expire one year after installation.
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