Recommended settings for the Windows Internet Explorer browser

Table 1 shows the recommended settings for the Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer browser. If you are using the Workload Management task, see also Enabling automatic prompting for file downloads.

Table 1. Recommended settings for Internet Explorer
Environment Option Response
JavaScript

To work with z/OSMF, your browser must have JavaScript enabled.

To enable JavaScript, do the following:
  1. From the Tools menu, click Internet Options > Security tab.
  2. Click Custom Level.
  3. Scroll down to Scripting, then Active Scripting.
  4. Click Enable.
  5. Click OK > OK.
Cookies

To work with z/OSMF, your browser must have cookies enabled—if not for all sites, then at least for the z/OSMF site at your installation.

To enable cookies for use by any site, do the following:
  1. From the Tools menu, click Internet Options > Privacy tab.
  2. Click Advanced.
  3. Select the Override automatic cookie handling check box.
  4. Select Accept for First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies.
  5. Click OK > OK.
To enable cookies for only the z/OSMF site, clear the Override automatic cookie handling check box and select Block for First-party Cookies and Third-party Cookies. Then, do the following:
  1. From the Tools menu, click Internet Options > Privacy tab.
  2. Click Sites.
  3. Enter the URL for the z/OSMF site at your installation.
  4. Click Allow.
  5. Click OK > OK.
Pop-up Windows

For proper functioning with z/OSMF, your browser must be enabled for pop-up windows.

To enable your browser for pop-up windows, do the following:
  1. From the Tools menu, click Internet Options > Privacy tab.
  2. Clear the Turn on Pop-up Blocker check box.
  3. Click OK.
To enable pop-up windows for the z/OSMF site only, ensure that the Turn on Pop-up Blocker check box is selected. Then, do the following:
  1. Select Settings
  2. Enter the URL for the z/OSMF site at your installation.
  3. Click Add.
  4. Click Close > OK.
Frames

To work with z/OSMF, your browser must have frames enabled.

To enable your browser for frames, do the following:
  1. From the Tools menu, click Internet Options > Security tab.
  2. Click Custom Level.
  3. Scroll down to Miscellaneous, then Launching programs and files in an IFRAME.
  4. Click Enable.
  5. Click OK.
Screen Resolution

For optimal viewing with z/OSMF, your workstation requires a minimum screen resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels.

To increase the screen resolution, do the following:
  1. Right-click on the desktop and select Properties > Settings tab.
  2. Move the slider to select a screen resolution of at least 1024 by 768 pixels.
  3. Click OK.
Browser Content Dimensions

For optimal viewing with z/OSMF, your browser requires a usable content display area of at least 800 by 600 pixels.

A number of factors can affect the size of your browser's usable content display area, such as Windows desktop appearance settings and the inclusion of toolbars for browser plug-ins.

To check the desktop appearance settings, do the following:
  1. Right-click on the desktop and select Properties to open the Display Properties dialog box.
  2. Click the Appearance tab.
  3. Click Advanced.
  4. From the Item list, select Active Title Bar and verify that it is no larger than necessary (the default is 25 pixels). Similarly, check the setting for Scrollbar (the default is 17 pixels).
  5. Click OK > OK.
To remove unnecessary toolbars, do the following:
  1. From the View menu, click Toolbars.
  2. For any unnecessary toolbars, clear the associated check box.

As an alternative, you can maximize the browser window, thus eliminating the toolbars, by pressing the F11 function key. To restore the window to its previous size, press F11 again.
Add-ons

For optimal performance with z/OSMF, it is recommended that you include only required add-ons with your browser.

To disable an add-on, do the following:
  1. From the Tools menu, click Manage Add-ons > Enable or Disable Add-ons.
  2. Scroll down the list to view the add-ons.
  3. To disable an add-on, select it and click the Disable button.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Restart the browser to have the changes take effect.
Plug-ins

Some plug-ins, such as JavaScript debuggers, can affect browser performance. For optimal performance with z/OSMF, it is recommended that you include only required plug-ins with your browser.

In the environment checker report, the Settings column shows the installed plug-ins for your browser. To verify this list, do the following:
  1. From the Tools menu, click Manage Add-ons > Enable or Disable Add-ons.
  2. Scroll down the list to view the add-ons.
  3. To disable an add-on, select it and click the Disable button.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Restart the browser to have the changes take effect.
Parent topic: Verifying your workstation with the environment checker