Are you having problems viewing a web page?

When you open a SERF web page, you may receive a JavaScript error message or nothing may happen. The page will open, but some content may be missing.

Why Didn't the Page Open Correctly?

This issue may occur for any of the following reasons:

  • The Javascript engine is disabled.
  • The Javascript engine is not installed properly on your computer.
  • Or, the files stored in the temporary internet files folder are outdated.

JavaScript is used on the SERF website in the design of the web pages.

Enabling Javascript

The following instructions describe how to set JavaScript options for:
Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla, Opera, Safari, and AOL browsers.



Internet Explorer 3.X
  1. Select Options from the View menu.
  2. Click Security.
  3. Check Enable Java Programs.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Click Reload.
Internet Explorer 4.X
  1. Select Internet Options from the View menu.
  2. Click the Security tab.
  3. Click Custom.
  4. Click Settings.
  5. Scroll down to locate Scripting.
  6. Click Enable for Active Scripting.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Click Reload.
Internet Explorer 5.X
  1. Open Internet Explorer.
  2. Select Internet Options from the Tools menu.
  3. In Internet Options dialog box select the Security tab.
  4. Click Custom level button at bottom. The Security Settings dialog box will pop up.
  5. Under Scripting category enable Active Scripting, Allow paste options via script and Scripting of Java applets
  6. Click OK twice to close out.
  7. Hit Refresh.
Internet Explorer 5.X for MACOSX
  1. Open Internet Explorer.
  2. Select Preferences from the Explorer menu.
  3. Click the arrow next to Web Browser.
  4. Click Web Content.
  5. Under Active Content check Enable Scripting.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Click Refresh.
Internet Explorer 5 for MACOS9
  1. Open Internet Explorer.
  2. Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
  3. Click the arrow next to Web Browser.
  4. Click Web Content.
  5. Under Active Content check Enable Scripting.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Click Refresh.
Internet Explorer 6.X
  1. Open Internet Explorer.
  2. Select Internet Options from the Tools menu.
  3. In Internet Options dialog box select the Security tab.
  4. Click Custom level button at bottom. The Security settings dialog box will pop up.
  5. Under Scripting category enable Active Scripting, Allow paste options via script and Scripting of Java applets
  6. Click OK twice to close out.
  7. Hit Refresh.

Netscape 3.X
  1. Select Options from the Edit menu.
  2. Click Network Preferences.
  3. Click Languages.
  4. Check both Enable Java and Enable JavaScript.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Reload.
Netscape 4.X
  1. Open Netscape.
  2. Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
  3. Click Advanced.
  4. Check both Enable Java and Enable JavaScript
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Reload.
Netscape 4.X for MACOS9
  1. Open Netscape.
  2. Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
  3. Click Advanced.
  4. Check both Enable Java and Enable JavaScript
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Reload.
Netscape 6.X for MACOSX
  1. Open Netscape.
  2. Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
  3. Click Advanced
  4. Check both Enable Java and Enable JavaScript for Navigator
  5. Click OK.
  6. Click Reload.
Netscape 7.X
  1. Open Netscape.
  2. Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
  3. Click the arrow next to Advanced.
  4. Click Scripts & Plugins.
  5. Check Navigator beneath "Enable Javascript for".
  6. Click OK.
  7. Click Reload.

Mozilla 1.X
  1. Open Mozilla.
  2. Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
  3. Click the arrow next to Advanced.
  4. Click Scripts & Plugins.
  5. Check Navigator beneath "Enable Javascript for".
  6. Click OK.
  7. Click Reload.

Opera 5.X
  1. Open Opera.
  2. Select Quick Preferences from the File menu.
  3. Make sure Enable Javascript is checked.
  4. Click Reload.
Opera 7.X
  1. Open Opera.
  2. Select Quick Preferences from the File menu.
  3. Make sure Enable Javascript is checked.
  4. Click Reload.

Safari Public Beta 2 for MACOSX
  1. Open Safari.
  2. Select Preferences from the Safari menu.
  3. Click Security.
  4. Check both Enable Java and Enable JavaScript.
  5. Close the window.
  6. Click Reload.

AOL 3.0
  1. Click Prefs.
  2. Click Security.
  3. Check Enable Java Programs, if the box is blank, single click on it.
  4. Click OK .
  5. Click the browser's back button, once back, click reload.
AOL 4.0 and 5.0
  1. Click My AOL.
  2. Click Preferences.
  3. Click WWW.
  4. Click the Secutity tab.
  5. Click Custom.
  6. Click Settings.
  7. Scroll down to locate Scripting.
  8. Click Enable for Active Scripting.
  9. Click OK, then click the Reload button.
Note to AOL 4.0 & 5.0 users

When using the use AOL browser, you may get a Javascript error but, when using an external browser (i.e., Netscape or Internet Explorer) this does not occur. AOL uses compressed graphics by Default. This doesn't allow Java to work while browsing inside AOL. (Additionally, this makes photos you view on web pages look less than optimal.)

Do the following:
  1. Click My AOL.
  2. Click Preferences.
  3. Click the WWW icon.
  4. Click Web Graphics tab.
  5. Uncheck the box next to Use Compressed Graphics.
  6. Click OK Restart the computer.
Note that there are both 16-bit and 32-bit versions of AOL 4.0. Only the 32-bit version has full Java capabilites.

Whom do I contact if I have questions?

If you have questions or comments about the information and content of the SERF website, please contact:

SERF President, Carol Zais at: webmaster@serf.sudbury.ma.us

If you are having technical problems or have a technical question about the website, please contact Alexandra Plotkin, the Webmaster.

Questions? Contact the Webmaster at: