[Novalug] Firefox Problem

[Nino Pereira]

Megan,

>> I hate to sound like a heretic on a linux list but...
>> have you tried the site using IE?   

you are correct: some government sites only work with IE and Windows.
>>
>> There are some sites (grants.gov used to be one of them) that simply don't work properly on a non-IE browser.  
  Yes, IMO I fault the programmer/designer of the web site.
>>

But, grants.gov has an option to use linux. You have to do a whole bunch
of things (including, IIRC, install a citrix server), and then download
another package (PureEdge) that can only be read on Windows. However,
they will change this approach in February 1009 (I'm told) in favor
of using pdf files and a modern version of Acrobat. I doubt that you can
use xpdf for their files.

> 
> I've not used it, but isn't there an add-on for firefox that
> causes it to mimic IE?

Another site that I have to use demands Windows (and can not use Vista), 
and also demands IE. On this site (eb.wawf.mil) you can use Firefox
with the addition of 'PrefBar' in the IE setting, but only up to a
point: I have not been able to figure out how to make Firefox with
PrefBar upload the files that these people want. And, when you are
halfway in the process and you get stuck you are in really bad
shape because this web site is overly picky in the way it does
things, and extremely unhelpful: their 'help' menus include such
gems as 'submit the files' when you ask the help page to tell you
'how do I submit the files' (I paraphrase). Infuriating!
After fighting this )$^#(& for a day I just purchased a second-hand
computer that had XP and IE on it: I turn this computer on once
a month, with as only purpose to communicate with this web site.

I found the PrefBar site (prefbar.mozdev.org/) by googling.

HTH,

Nino
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