Technical Help

Cookies

Many websites, including Ontario.ca, use cookies to “remember” information about you and your visit to the site. A cookie is a message sent by the website to your computer where it is saved as a small text file. Each time you access that website, a message is sent back to the site server. Cookies make visiting the site more convenient because you do not have to “reintroduce” yourself with each visit.

To read about your privacy when visiting Ontario.ca, visit the Government of Ontario privacy statement.

Plug-ins

A plug-in is a program that enables your browser to provide a very specific function “on demand”. For example, a plug-in may be used to access video, audio or other special file formats. When a site requires a plug-in, it will provide clear instructions to acquire and install it.

Alternate File Formats

Adobe Flash

To display animation and other web page components on the site, the Adobe Flash Player version 10 or higher is required. Pages may not display properly without it. The Adobe Flash Player is available for FREE on the Adobe website.

Adobe PDF (Portable Document Format)

To view, search, digitally sign, verify, print, and collaborate on Adobe PDF files, a FREE copy of the Adobe Reader (version 7.0 minimum) is available on the Adobe website.

Word

To view, print or copy Word documents, even if you don't have Word installed, a FREE copy of the Word Viewer is available on the Microsoft website.

PowerPoint

To view and print presentations created in PowerPoint, even if you don't have PowerPoint installed, a FREE copy of the PowerPoint Viewer is available on the Microsoft website.

Excel

To view and print Excel workbooks, even if you don't have Excel installed, a FREE copy of the Excel Viewer is available on the Microsoft website.

Screen Resolution

Ontario.ca recommends minimum 800 x 600 pixels and 16-bit colour, which is the Windows XP default. Note, however, that Ontario.ca websites are optimized for 1024 x 768 pixels.

To change screen resolution:

Right-click your computer desktop to display the menu. Click or use the up/down arrows and press Enter on your keyboard to select Properties.
The Display Properties dialogue box will appear. Click on the Settings tab or press the Tab button on the keyboard until you land on the Tab menu and use the left/right arrows to navigate to the Settings tab.
Use your mouse to drag the slide bar under Screen Resolution or tab to Screen Resolution and use the left/right arrows to adjust the display properties. Standard display options are 800 x 600, 1024 x 768 or 1152 x 864 pixels.
Click the Apply button, or use the Tab button on the keyboard to tab to Apply and press Enter.

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