Browser Advice for NCBI Web Pages (original) (raw)

Supported Browsers

The NCBI web site supports the current release of Chrome, Firefox and Safari, and the previous two versions. It also supports the current release of Microsoft Edge. "Supports" means that NCBI will actively work to identify and fix bugs.

Tricks & Tips to Resolve Webpage Errors

To resolve page load errors

Due to the complexity of the modern Internet, digital traffic flow can be intermittently disrupted in a number of places. These transient disruptions may cause your browser to display and/or cache incomplete or corrupted pages. Clearing your browser's cache and history can fix these problems. Please see the relevant sections below for instructions on how to do this.

To resolve "Blocked for Possible Abuse" Errors

If you see a message that specifically mentions being "Blocked for Possible Abuse", please note that the "Access Denied" error message is not meant to imply any maliciousness on your part. Because of the prevalence of firewalls, a single IP address may represent many users, all of which will be affected if we block the firewall's IP address.

If this does occur, please send a message to info@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov with the following information:

• The exact error message you are seeing. Please cut and paste the entire error message into your next reply, including the "Client Address:" field.
• The exact URL you are trying to access.
• A description of what you are attempting to do.

With this information, we will be able to unblock your system and, depending on the specifics of the case, can also offer advice about how to access our data in ways that will prevent future blocks.

Enable JavaScript

Most NCBI web pages require JavaScript in order to function as designed. To fully access all of the website's features, JavaScript must be enabled in your browser.

To enable JavaScript in your browser:

• Please see the JavaScript support page for Firefox.

Enable Cookies

A "cookie" is a set of data stored by a web server on your computer. See the NLM Privacy Policy for additional information. NCBI uses cookies to record information about your interactions to support key functions of NCBI web pages. For example in PubMed and other NCBI databases, cookies enable interactive features such as Preview/Index, Clipboard, History, MyNCBI and paging through results.

To enable cookies in your browser:

• Please see the Cookies support page for Firefox.

For more information on your specific browser's cookies, please consult your browser's documentation. If you have problems using cookie-dependent features of PubMed even after enabling cookies, possible reasons may include:

• Cookies are blocked by your provider or institution. Check with your Internet provider and/or the system administrator at your institution to see if cookies can be accepted. Even if you have them enabled in your browser, if they are blocked by your provider or institution (e.g., by a firewall, proxy server, etc.), cookie-dependent features of PubMed will not work.
• Your computer's date and time settings are incorrect. Check your computer's time settings to ensure that they are correct.

Clearing History and Cache & Adjusting Privacy Settings

Modern browsers store copies of viewed web pages in a cache so that, if requested again, these pages can be viewed more quickly. However, if a page does not load completely or correctly, your browser may store a corrupted version of the page that will be shown when you attempt to load the page again. Clearing a browser's cache will fix these problems, and should always be a first step when confronting page load errors. In some cases clearing a browser's history may also fix these problems.

Clear Browser Cache

• Please see the support page for Firefox.

Clear Browser History

• Please see the support page for Firefox.

Modern browsers also allow "private browsing", which prevents certain types of data flow and storage. Some stringent private browsing settings may disrupt data flows that the NCBI web site needs in order to function properly. If you cannot access NCBI web pages even after clearing your browser's cache and history, you may want to consider adjusting your browser's privacy settings.

Adjust Browser Privacy Settings

• Please see the Privacy settings support page for Firefox.

AccessKeys

To assist users who may not have a mouse, trackball or touch mechanism to control a browser's cursor, NCBI has enabled the use of AccessKeys for easier keyboard navigation of common links and page elements within the NCBI website.

Because each browser implements AccessKeys differently, we have also provided a list of Browser AccessKeys and actions.

List of NCBI Accesskeys

Accesskey + 1

The NCBI Homepage

Accesskey + 2

The My NCBI Homepage (Sign In page when signed out)

Accesskey + 3

The main content of the current page.

Accesskey + 4

The main site navigation on the current page.

Accesskey + 0

A link to this page.

Browser and Operating System-specific AccessKeys:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer:
  Alt key + accesskey will focus on a link. You must press the enter key to activate the link
• Mozilla Firefox, versions 3 and above, Microsoft Windows:
  Alt key + Shift key + accesskey
• Mozilla Firefox, versions 3 to 13, Mac:
  Control key + accesskey
• Mozilla Firefox, versions 14 and above, Mac:
  Control key + Option key + accesskey
• Google Chrome, Microsoft Windows and Linux:
  Alt key + accesskey
• Google Chrome, Mac:
  Ctrl key + Option key + accesskey
• Safari, version 3, Mac:
  Ctrl key + accesskey
• Safari, versions 4 and above, Mac:
  Ctrl key + Option key + accesskey
• Safari, Microsoft Windows:
  Alt key + accesskey
• Opera:
  Shift key + Esc key (enabling a menu), followed by the accesskey.