eLink fully supports MS-Internet Explorer 5.5 SP 2 and higher. Netscape, Mozilla and Firefox have been validated for the main features but do not support ActiveX, which means that some eLink features do not work correctly.
Internet Explorer 5.5 SP 2 and up
Trusted web site
Add the eLink Web server as trusted site. This tells Internet Explorer that you trust all contents and scripts coming from the eLink Web Server: Go to (menu) Tools (item) Internet Options (tab) Security (icon) Trusted Sites Click (button) Sites… In the new window, untick (checkbox) Require Server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone then add the following line: ‘http://[IP address of eLink web server]’
Bypass the Proxy Server
If your company uses a proxy server to access the Internet, then you will need to carry out the following steps to bypass the proxy server for local addresses. This is done to prevent the caching on the proxy server interfere with the operation of eLink. This also assumes that you know the IP address/host name of the server. Go to (menu) Tools (item) Internet Options (tab) Connections (button) Lan Settings. Ensure that the checkbox labelled Bypass proxy server for local addresses is ticked. Click the button labelled Advanced. Enter the IP address/host name of eLink into the textbox within the “Exceptions” section, labelled “Do not use proxy server for addresses beginning with:” If there is already something in here, put a semicolon (” ; “) before the IP address/host name of the eLink server.
ActiveX Some modules of eLink use ActiveX (the Query and Template wizards e.g.). Those ActiveX are installed automatically the first time you access one of those modules. However, if the computer is running Windows NT or Windows 2000, the user must have the right to install an ActiveX on his workstation. Users who only belong to group “Local Users” do not have that right. Make the user a member of the local group “Power Users” OR Give the user the installation right by using the NT or Windows 2000 Policies OR Register all ActiveX while logged as Administrator (ocx files extracted from the cab files from the eLink web server. The ActiveX-related security settings must be configured as follows: From Internet Explorer: (menu) Tools (item) Internet Options (tab) Security (icon) Trusted Sites. Then click (button) Custom Level in section Security level for this zone. Set all options concerning ActiveX to “Enable“.
Cookies eLink uses cookies to store information about your session and user identification. Thus, your browser must allow cookies. Please note that the default settings of Internet Explorer work fine. Internet Explorer 5.x From Internet Explorer: (menu) Tools (item) Internet Options (tab) Security (icon) Trusted Sites Click “Custom Level” in the “Security level for this zone” section. Set “Enable” for cookies both signed and unsigned. Internet Explorer 6.x From Internet Explorer: (menu) Tools (item) Internet Options (tab) Privacy (button) Advanced tick (checkbox) Override automatic cookie handling (section) First-party Cookies tick (radio button) Accept and tick (checkbox) Always allow session cookies
Caching To prevent the browser from opening other sites in eLink windows: Go to (menu) Tools (item) Internet Options (tab) Advanced (section) Browsing Clear the checkbox Reuse windows for launching shortcuts.
Mozilla Mozilla does not support ActiveX, thus some eLink features will not be available through this browser.
Cookies eLink uses cookies to store information about your session and user identification. Thus, your browser must allow cookies. Mozilla’s default settings are fine. If you experience trouble: (menu) Edit – (submenu) Preferences – (section) Privacy & Security – (item) Cookies. If (radio button) Allow cookies based on Privacy settings is checked, click (button) View. If the option Site has no privacy policy is set to Reject, go to the Cookie Manager, tab Cookie Sites, type the IP address/host name of the eLink server and click Allow.
Pop-up windows eLink needs to use pop-ups as it is a multi-window application, with hyperlinks on one card opening another window. Even the eLink Navigator pops up after login. (menu) Edit – (submenu) Preferences – (section) Privacy & Security – (item) Pop-up windows: if the checkbox Block unrequested pop-up windows is checked, then click (button) Allowed Sites and add the IP address of the eLink server to the list.
Proxy Servers If your company uses a proxy server to access the Internet, then you will need to carry out the following steps to bypass the proxy server. This is done to prevent the caching on the proxy server interfere with the operation of eLink. This also assumes that you know the IP address/host name of the server. (menu) Edit – (submenu) Preferences – (section) Advanced – (item) Proxies – (radio button) Manual proxy configuration – (field) No Proxy for: type the IP address of the eLink server.
Firefox Firefox does not support ActiveX, thus some eLink features will not be available through this browser, like the Query Wizard, the Template Wizard, the Launch Template feature etc.
Proxy Servers If your company uses a proxy server to access the Internet, you will need to carry out the following steps to bypass the proxy server. This is done to prevent the caching on the proxy server interfere with the operation of eLink. This also assumes that you know the server’s IP address/host name. (menu) Tools – (submenu) Options – (section) General – click (button) Connection settings – (radio button) Manual proxy configuration – (field) No Proxy for: type the IP address of the eLink server.
Cookies eLink uses cookies to store information about your session and user identification. Thus, your browser must allow cookies. Firefox’s default settings are fine. (menu) Tools – (submenu) Options – (section) Privacy – (item) Cookies: if the checkbox Enable cookies is unchecked, then click (button) Exceptions, type the IP address of the eLink server to the list and click (button) Allow.
Pop-up windows eLink needs to use pop-ups as it is a multi-window application, with hyperlinks on one card opening another window. Even the eLink Navigator pops up after login. (menu) Tools – (submenu) Options – (section) Web features: if the checkbox Block Pop-up Windows is checked, then click (button) Add Site and add the IP address of the eLink server to the list.
Enable JavaScript eLink uses JavaScript for a large numbers of operations, including showing the Navigator and clicking OK in edit windows. (menu) Tools – (submenu) Options – (section) Web features: make sure that the checkbox Enable JavaScript is ticked.
POP-UP KILLERS Some applications offer to prevent pop-ups from appearing on web sites. However, eLink needs to use pop-ups as it is a multi-window application, with hyperlinks on one card opening another window. Even the eLink Navigator pops up after login. So, you need to configure your pop-up killer to make sure that all windows will be activated in eLink. Generally, there is an option in the pop-up blocker to add a site as “trusted” or “allowed”. Do this for the entire eLink web site.
Example: the Google Toolbar The Google Toolbar blocks pop-ups. To allow pop-ups for eLink, click the button from the Google toolbar when logging in to eLink.
Example: Norton Internet Security If you have Norton Internet Security and the eLink navigator does not appear after login, check the following: (start menu) Settings (menu item) Control panel (item) Administrative tools (item) Services: Find the service called Symantec network proxy, right click and select Properties. Click the button Stop and set the dropdown field Startup type to Manual. Note: this program modifies a part of eLink’s code, thus preventing the eLink Navigator from displaying. Changing the setting above will not stop Norton’s main Internet Security features.
Personal Firewalls If you have a Personal Firewall installed, you may experience trouble accessing the Internet (thus eLink). Please refer to the application’s documentation.
MS-WORD AND MS-EXCEL CONFIGURATION
Macro security in Word and Excel The document merging using an eLink Template uses macros. That’s why the macro security options in Word and Excel should not be set to “high”, which will not execute the macros and cause errors in the merge. In MS-Word, go to menu Tools – Macros – Security.On the first tab (Security Level), tick the radio button Medium or Low. Note: if you choose a Medium security level, warn the user that he/she should click the button Enable macros when prompted while launching an eLink Template. In Word 2003 or XP, also go to the second tab (Trusted Publishers) and tick the checkbox Trust access to Visual Basic Project at the bottom of the window.Note: this option has been added to Word through a Windows Update. If you do not see this option, do not worry.
Repeat the same configuration in MS-Excel.
MS-OUTLOOK CONFIGURATION
Install the Outlook add-in and the eLink Command Center The Outlook add-in is necessary for the integration between eLink and Outlook. The eLink Command Center groups a series of nice-to-have features like direct login, favorites, recent cards etc… Before starting, close all applications of the MS-Office suite (Outlook, Word, etc.) From the eLink Navigator, click (button) Tools, (hyperlink) Options, (hyperlink) Install Add-in Components After installation, please check that the URL to eLink has been taken correctly: In Outlook: (menu) Tools – (menu item) Options – (tab) Link The icon for the eLink Command Center is a butterfly. If it does not appear in your system tray, go to Start – Programs – eLink Add-In Components 2005 – eLink Command Center. Right-click the butterfly in your system tray and choose Properties. Check the URL on tab Options.
Do not use Word to edit e-mail messages If Word is set as the editor for your e-mails, this may cause errors. If you experience trouble, do the following: In MS-Outlook 2000, go to menu Tools – Options. On tab Mail Format, clear the checkbox Use Microsoft Word to edit e-mail messages. In MS-Outlook 2003, go to menu Tools – Options. On tab Mail Format, clear the checkboxes Use Microsoft Office Word 2003 to edit e-mail messages and Use Microsoft Office Word 2003 to read Rich Text e-mail messages.
Move notification e-mails to a separate Outlook folder Users often ask to keep the LINK internal mails and system notifications apart from external emails. A rule based on the presence of the text <!LINK$ in the message body will accomplish the job.
USERFRIENDLINESS
Opening eLink Make sure eLink can be accessed easily: Place a shortcut to the eLink login page on the desktop OR Add the eLink login page to the Favorites OR Log in through the eLink Command Center
Specify language in login When logging in to eLink, you need to specify each time in which language you choose to work. This can be automated by specifying the language in the URL, as follows: http://xx.xx.xx.xx/elink/elink.dll/home?rootdir=elink&language=NL Note: NL = Dutch; F = French, E = Spanish, GB = English
Specify region in login eLink has two sets of layouts for addresses: the continental one (by default), and the UK/US layout. You can force the region in the URL as follows: http://xx.xx.xx.xx/elink/elink.dll/home?rootdir=elink®ion=UK
