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Early Email and Online Distribution Changes for Macintosh Computers

The new online entry of distribution changes must be run on Internet Explorer 4.x or better for Windows. The Department of Pharmacology has been testing the product on the Macintosh platform as part of the beta group. This handout describes the methods used by Pharmacology to run the payroll entry system on the Mac.

This document covers:

  1. Equipment
  2. Setting up
  3. Optimizing performance of Virtual PC
  4. Testing the browser
  5. For further assistance...

I. Equipment

Hardware:
  • Power Macintosh G3 with at least 64 MB (96 MB preferable) of RAM and at least 300 MB free hard disk space
  • SVGA monitor capable of running 1024x768 pixels
  • Software:
  • Mac OS 8.x
  • Connectix Virtual PC version 2.1.3 with Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows version 4.x or higher
  • Network:
  • Ethernet access to the internet

  • Notes:
    • The Virtual PC software is available with either Windows 95 or Windows 98. Pharmacology tested the USER product with Windows 95, but Windows 98 should work also.
    • Check the Connectix website at http://www.connectix.com for more information about the Virtual PC software and system requirements.
    • Microsoft Internet Explorer comes pre-installed with Windows. However, it may be necessary to upgrade Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer version 5.0 can be downloaded for free from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.htm and installed on Windows using Virtual PC.

    II. Setting up

    Configure the Macintosh monitor
    1. Open the Monitors & Sounds control panel from the Apple Menu.
    2. Click on the button marked "Monitor" so that you see a window similar to the one at right.
    3. In the box labeled "Resolution," click on "1024 x 768" as shown right.
    4. Close the control panel.

    Install and configure Virtual PC
    1. Follow the instructions provided with the software to install Virtual PC on your Macintosh.
    2. Launch Virtual PC. The first time you launch Virtual PC, you will need to enter your Microsoft Product ID to use the Windows software.
    3. Choose "Preferences..." from the Edit menu at the top of the screen. If you cannot see the menubar at the top of the screen, press Command-m to toggle screen mode.
    4. In the PC Preferences window, make sure that Ethernet is enabled, as shown right.
    5. Click OK to close the PC Preferences window.

    Configure the Windows monitor
    1. While running Windows in Virtual PC, click on the Start menu at the bottom of your screen and choose "Control Panel" from the Settings section. If you cannot see the Start menu, press Command-m to toggle screen mode
    2. From the Control Panels window, double-click on "Display".
    3. Click on the "Settings" tab so that you see a window similar to the one shown right.
    4. In the box marked "Desktop area," move the slider to the right, towards the word "More", until "1024 x 768 pixels" appears under the slider as shown right.
    5. Click OK.
    6. Close the Control Panels window.

    III. Optimizing performance of Virtual PC

    1. Quit Virtual PC if you are running it, and locate the icon for the application.
    2. Single-click the icon to highlight it, and choose "Get info" from the File menu, so that you see a window similar to the one shown right.
    3. In the Memory Requirements box, change "Preferred Size:" to the biggest possible value. To calculate this value:
      • Quit all applications
      • Choose "About this Computer..." from the Apple menu
      • Multiply the number after "largest unused block" by 1024
      • Type this number into "Preferred Size:" for Virtual PC
    4. Note: I recommend quitting all applications before running Virtual PC. This will allow the most RAM possible for running Virtual PC and Windows, and will greatly improve performance.

    IV. Testing the browser

    1. While running Windows in Virtual PC, double-click on the Internet Explorer icon on the Windows desktop to launch the browser. The Internet Explorer icon looks like this:
    2. Type the URL http://iswwweval1.cac.washington.edu/BrowserTest/ into the address box, and press return.
    3. You should see a series of windows in the browser. If you do not, you need to upgrade your version of Internet Explorer. New versions of Internet Explorer for Windows can be downloaded for free from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.htm.

    V. For further assistance...

    1. Refer to the materials provided by the USER training group.
    2. Contact David Wilson of Health Sciences Microcomputer Services, for assistance at an hourly rate of $40.00 (billed in 15 minute increments) to be charged to your UW budget number. 616-6937 or davidrw@u.washington.edu.
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