| PublicationDate: 1/23/98 Summary: FAFSA on the Web and Internet Explorer 4.01 Author: CPS - Central Processing System (CPS) January 23, 1998 TO: All EDE participants FROM: U.S. Department of Education RE: FAFSA on the Web and Internet Explorer 4.01 The Department of Education has received inquiries regarding why the most recent version of Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE 4.01) is not supported as a certified browser for the FAFSA on the Web applications. The intent of this message is to explain why this decision was made. Each Internet browser version released for production is tested with the FAFSA on the Web software to ensure the data edits work correctly and the data is being accurately submitted to the FAFSA on the Web database. Due to a JavaScript incompatibility in Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 4.01, the accuracy of data could not be guaranteed, thus the browser could not be certified for use. The Department of Education has reported this issue to Microsoft and are currently working with them to see if the browser will support FAFSA on the Web in future releases. Browsers which have passed our certification standards and are supported by FAFSA on the Web are the domestic versions of: Netscape Navigator 3.0 - 3.04 (Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT, or Macintosh) Netscape Navigator 4.0 - 4.03 (Windows 3.1, Windows 95, or Windows NT) Internet Explorer 4.0 (Windows 95, or Windows NT) The Department of Education continues to pursue this issue with Microsoft. We are currently evaluating Netscape Navigator 4.04 and expect to certify that browser in the near future. We will evaluate new versions of browsers as they are released and will support each version that meets the certification standards. If you have any questions, please contact FAFSA on the Web Customer Service at 1-800-801-0576, or via email at FAFSAWEB@NCS.COM. |