In this article we'll cover the topic of browsers. Now all browsers are created equal; we'll discuss supported browsers, browser tips, settings and error messages. Happy Browsing!
Desktop Browser Support
L2L supports the current version of all major browsers running on Windows and macOS:
- Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
- Firefox
- Safari
Mobile Browser Support
L2L will run on mobile browsers. We support the current (latest) version of the following mobile browsers:
- Chrome
- Safari
Mobile Device Support
L2L supports devices that run supported desktop or mobile browsers and are still receiving updates from their respective manufacturers.
Device Guidelines
- Caution should be taken before deploying mobile devices to the plant floor. When purchasing, ensure that devices will be supported by their manufacturer for an extended period of time.
- Since DISPATCH is thoroughly tested on each of the above-supported browsers, it typically works on non-supported and outdated browsers. However, please be advised that an update may cause a functionality or rendering issue. Use non-supported browsers at your own risk.
- We encourage you to install device and browser updates as soon as they become available to avoid security vulnerabilities and ensure feature compatibility.
- Supported browsers can often be installed on many smart devices, including smart TVs. However, we have found that most Television manufacturers do not provide updates to browsers on smart TVs. If the built-in browser on your smart TV becomes outdated, you can attach a PC and use the TV as a monitor. There are also many inexpensive "Stick PCs" and Single Board Computers on the market that can be used to add a compatible browser to any HDMI input.
The set-up configuration for many web browsers is not secure by default. The following steps will help make your web browser more secure. These settings are especially important if you use your browser to access, send or receive sensitive information.
Steps to secure your browser:
- Keep your browsers up to date
- Enable automatic updates for your browser
- Block pop-ups, plug-ins, and phishing sites
- Set your browser not to store passwords.
- Disable third-party cookies
- Browser-specific settings:
- Firefox: install the uBlock Origin add-on
- Safari: disable Java
- Edge: set up security zones
- Chrome: Top Right, click 'More'. Click Update Google Chrome. If you don't see this button, you're on the latest version.
Examples of browser-controlled functionality include:
- Page layout and appearance when viewing or printing
- Changes in font size, font color, and font type
- Distorted or exaggerated images and text
- Overlapping text and images
- Images do not fully load
- Images have a shattered glass appearance
- If your images look like a tiny postcard
- Auto-Complete & Auto-Correct
Disabling Auto-Fill
In Chrome, as in most other browsers, click the menu icon, and then click on “Settings.” Alternatively, you can type chrome://settings/ into the search box to go directly there.
Scroll down until you see the Autofill section, and click on “Addresses and More.”
Untoggle the switch next to “Save and fill addresses.”
How to Delete previously saved Auto-Fill Information on forms
Should you want to remove addresses after you disable the Auto-Fill feature manually, here’s how you can delete everything stored in it from Chrome’s Settings. *Note: again, the verbiage may vary, but the process is virtually the same across browsers.
In the “Addresses and More” section. You can do this by typing chrome://settings/addresses into the search box and hitting Enter.
Once there, click the menu icon next to any saved addresses, then click “Delete.”
The entry immediately deletes without warning or a way to undo your action, so make sure you really want to delete this information.
Now, to take things one step further, you can use the “Clear Browsing Data” feature to scrape away the little bits of information still clinging to the browser. Type chrome://settings into the search box and hit Enter. Once in the Settings tab, scroll down to the bottom and click on “Advanced.” Scroll down a little bit more until you see “Clear Browsing Data.” Click on it.
RELATED: How to Delete Synced Information in Chrome
How to Reset Settings:
Firefox:
Browser Error Messages
If you are receiving an error stating 'This page can't be displayed', you'll want to make sure TLS is turned on in Advanced Settings of your browser.
NaN Error
NaN errors can be encountered in virtually every software application (pun intended). However, unless you understand what NaN means, this error message is less than helpful.
NaN literally means Not-a-Number. Now, wouldn't that have been easier to understand? Not A Number designates a non-numeric or invalid numeric response. A value that is undefined or unrepresentable. NaN is generally used to indicate an error condition for a function that should return a valid number.
Even if numeric responses are required, and you enter a numeric response, you could still see this error message if the value is not legitimate. For example, when entering dates. If you want to indicate November 13, 2020 but you enter 111/13/2020 or 13/111/2020 by mistake, you may well trigger a NaN error. Likewise, if you are asked to populate a full 24 hour period, say when creating a default Pitch Schedule Template, and you inadvertently neglect to account for all 24 hours, when you try to save your work, you may well see the NaN error message.
CSRF or Undefined Error
A CSRF Error message, usually something like, "CSRF Verification Failed." or, "Forbidden (403)" or "CSRF Token Error" can happen to any of us. A CSRF error message indicates that either a session was started and has been active, or worse yet, inactive, for more than 24 hours, or more than one user ID was detected by your browser.
Example: If you are logged into your computer, and you want to show someone how to do something, if you open another window (tab) with that user's credentials, your browser will think the other person is still working even after you 'close' that session. This happens frequently during Training. We'll come back to that "Close that session" part in a minute.
Note: We often see this error message when customers are in the process of editing/updating a checklist. This error generally occurs in 1 of 2 ways:
1. When a session has been ongoing in L2L for more than 24 hours, and then work is resumed, you can encounter this error. i.e. If you begin updating/editing on Friday and do nto log out, then resume on Monday, this error can occur.
2. This can also occur when you are working in more than one concurrent L2L instance. If you have more than one monitor, window, or browser open.
502 & 504 Errors
A 502 Bad Gateway error means that one server on the Internet received an invalid response from another server. The server was acting as a gateway and received an invalid response from the upstream server. The server failed to fulfill a valid request.
However, sometimes, there is no real issue but your browser thinks there is an issue thanks to a problem with your browser, an issue with your networking equipment, or some other reason. This is because browsers cache messages. The same technology that allows your browser to recall your preferences online also causes your browser to continue to wave a flag alerting you needlessly. Now what?
Try these steps to remedy the situation and get rid of that pesky message:
1. Try loading the URL again by pressing F5 or Ctrl+R on your keyboard, or by clicking the refresh/reload button. Many 502 error messages are extremely short-lived and refreshing your page is all that's required.
2. In addition to reloading the URL and refreshing your page view, if you work from bookmarked pages, you may have to manually enter the URL to remove the outdated error message. Again, this is because browsers cache messages.
3. Start a new browser session by closing all open browser windows and then opening a new one. Then try opening the web page again. It's possible that the 502 error you received was due to an issue on your computer that occurred sometime during this session in your browser. A simple restart of the browser program itself could solve the problem.
4. Clear your browser's cache. Error messages that are being stored by your browser could be causing 502 Bad Gateway error message issues.
5. Clear your browsing history.
6. Delete your browser cookies.
7. Log out of all open sessions. You will need to actually LOG OUT, not just X out of all open windows.
8. If none of the steps above resolve the persisting error message, shut down and restart your computer.