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Works in Any Device
The site is designed using Responsive Web Design (RWD) techniques to respond to device screen size and to present the best possible viewing experience for the visitor no matter how they view the site.
Aside (Sidebar)
When viewed in a wider screen a narrow aside (or sidebar) is located on the right side of the main column as shown in the image below:
When viewed in a narrow screen (a viewport less than 825 pixels wide) the aside column is removed and the content is relocated below the main column.
A link to the aside — the Quick Links menu item on this page — will usually be the last item in the internal navigation so that it is more accessible in narrow devices like smartphones.
Javascript Used
Javascript is used to enhance this site. If disabled, your experience of this site may degrade and some important content cannot be displayed.
External Links Open New Windows
Links pointing to an address external to this site (e.g. DuckDuckGo) will open a separate window or tab using JavaScript (any exceptions are noted) and will display a dotted line underneath.
- These are not pop-up windows. Simply close the new tab or window to return to this site.
- If Javascript is not enabled in your browser, external links will function the same as links pointing to resources within this site.
Local Links Open in Same Window
Links pointing to an address within this site (e.g. my Home page) will open in the existing window or tab.
Use your browser's back arrow (
) to return to the page you were referred from.
Different Browsers — Different Experiences
Unlike printed documents, each browser may layout or display content differently — even within the same operating system.
You should be able to view the content on this site with any browser although your experience may not be optimal when using older browsers.
Use a Recent Web Browser
Older software, including web browsers, may not display this site as intended and can contain significant security vulnerabilities. I strongly recommend updating to the most current browser supported by your computer or device.
- Download a current browser from the Russ Harvey's Browsers & Plugins page.
- Mozilla's Update Your Software has instructions for updating Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android plus current browsers and their plugins.
Text May Be Enlarged/Reduced
Text sizes may be increased/decreased in modern browsers if you have difficulty viewing the default sizes or if the default sizing doesn't work for you.
This function varies by browser and version, but try Menu ⇒ Zoom. The menu is usually represented by some variation of a “hamburger” icon (
) in modern browsers.
For quick access, try holding down the Ctrl button and pressing:
+(plus) to increase the text size;-(minus) to decrease the text size; and0(zero) to reset the page to 100% (the default) — not supported in IE.
PDF Documents
Several documents on this site are provided in PDF format which ensures their original layout is retained.
A number in brackets — e.g. (PDF–2.5 MB) — indicates the size of the document in megabytes (MB) or kilobytes (KB) for users on cellular or slow connections.
Firefox & Other Browsers will Display PDFs
Most modern browsers will display these documents natively without plugins.
However, some features (like auto-fill) may not work, in which case you'll need to open the PDF in a dedicated PDF reader that can manage these extras.
Nitro PDF Reader Recommended
Nitro Reader is the best free PDF reader and viewer. Create, review, sign, and share PDFs.
Adobe Reader Vulnerable
Adobe Reader is a known vulnerability. You should uninstall it and replace it with an alternative like Nitro Reader or a safer professional PDF program.
Professional PDF Software Recommendations
Microsoft Office and LibreOffice can create PDFs these days, but you might want to explore purchasing professional software to create the smallest and most flexible documents without risking the vulnerabilities of Adobe Acrobat.
I recommend Nitro Pro or Able2Extract Pro for users that need professional quality software that don't suffer from Acrobat's vulnerabilities:
- Able2Extract Professional (free to try; US$149.95 to buy) is a powerful professional PDF program that allows you to do almost anything with PDFs. Available for Windows, Mac and Linux. Learn more.
- Nitro Pro (free to try; US$199.99 to buy) allows you to create professional quality PDF documents that anyone can view, with any PDF reader, on virtually any device. Supports Windows only. Learn more.