Internet Explorer 8

[Thrifty1]

I've been following the posts since asking a question on June 6 about the inability to print off census reports from Ancestry.co.uk.

I am using Vista and IE8 and am not technically minded and have no wish to go loading different internet interfaces.

I asked Ancestry about this issue and their response was I am using IE8! I already knew that and told them so!
My concern is that my annual subscription is due soon and if this problem is not resolved then I may have to look at another genealogy site.(Any suggestions as to what is equally good?)
I have tried the compatibility mode and that makes no difference - I still can't print the actual reports although I have no other printing problems with Ancestry.
I think the question is "why isn't Ancestry updating their software so that it is compatible with IE8? Other software manufacturers have done this.

[RJ_Paton]

I think the question is "why isn't Ancestry updating their software so that it is compatible with IE8? Other software manufacturers have done this.

The problem does not lie with Ancestry but rather with Microsoft and the changes they have made within the structure of IE8 which appear to generate random faults depending upon which system it is installed in. Microsoft do not document the changes made to the internal system by IE8 and without some knowledge of what changes are required it is difficult to change such a system as Ancestry's.

A rather accurate analogy was made earlier of a petrol manufacturer changing the formula for their petrol and telling the car engine makers to change their engines accordingly.

[Nick29]

Thrifty1, I know this isn't much consolation to you, but I am using IE8 on Ancestry, and there is only one thing which doesn't work too well, and that is when you try to edit the profile of someone on your tree, and this is more of an annoyance than anything else, because it does work once you get beyond the 4th or 5th character in the place name.

However, I can view and print census pages with no problems at all.  Are you using the Enhanced Viewer, or the standard one ?

I've just done a test print with the Enhanced Viewer, and it worked just fine.

[Thrifty1]

Hi Nick29. Yes, I tried switching back to the basic viewer and I can print the record, albeit a long procedure to go through and it doesn't print a full page image. If I save a record in 'basic' it is saved as a jpeg file and then I have to go to picture viewer to get it printed and at the same time change the printer settings to accommodate the printing.
In 'enhanced' when I try and print I get a message that says "an error occurred during this operation"
Whether or not we wish to blame Microsoft or not (an easy target), if we took the attitude of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" we would all be driving around in Ford's Model T car. Like it or not we live in a progressive world and it is now a question of keeping up.

[Redroger]

On the subject of if it aint broke don't fix it. Google just downloaded a new version of Google Earth, which it can't run on this computer due to the Graphics. I tried to get back to the previous version via system restore, but it won't let me.Now they want me to update the graphics card, sorry all Greek to me. Why can't they leave well alone instead of these automatic dowloads of new versions available without a thought for your machines compatability?

[NigelG]

Next to the bar where you type in the website address, you'll see a button that looks like a page torn in half.  Click on it, and it will turn green.  This puts IE8 into compatability mode for the site you're on.  There's also a "Compatability View Settings" in the Tools menu where you can manually add, remove or edit sites.

Thanks for trying to help - have done as you suggested but still experience same problem. I have emailed GR directly to see if they have any suggestions - will let you know what they say.  

[GrahamH]

I think the question is "why isn't Ancestry updating their software so that it is compatible with IE8? Other software manufacturers have done this.

The problem does not lie with Ancestry but rather with Microsoft and the changes they have made within the structure of IE8 which appear to generate random faults depending upon which system it is installed in. Microsoft do not document the changes made to the internal system by IE8 and without some knowledge of what changes are required it is difficult to change such a system as Ancestry's.

A rather accurate analogy was made earlier of a petrol manufacturer changing the formula for their petrol and telling the car engine makers to change their engines accordingly.

The origin of the problems which occur on some systems is definitely the responsibility of Microsoft. It was Microsoft which developed and implemented IE8 knowing that it would cause problems for some web sites.

The admission of that is in the compatibility mode if nothing else. If they didn't realise there would be problems they would not have spent money on developing a compatibility mode.

Whilst, as Nick says, IE8 works perfectly for some people a simple Google search for IE8 problems brings up millions of hits. It is up to Microsoft to publicise the reasons so that affected users can decide what action to take.

From my personal point of view, it is now a week since my particular problem was supposedly escalated by Microsoft. I did tell them that I would be away so couldn't be contacted by phone but had expected to have received at least an interim response from the team now dealing with it. I've e-mailed again this afternoon asking for an update on what is happening.

Graham

[Nick29]

With respect, Graham, Microsoft did give website designers and owners plenty of warning about the stricter requirements of IE8.  Whether these people thought it a good idea to make their sites work properly with the most used browser on the planet was really their choice.  As a business owner with my own website, I made damned sure that my site works properly with IE8.  Ancestry has never really been that famous for good website coding, although to give them their due, the site is quite complex.

Ancestry and GR rely quite heavily in java scripting and Flash graphics - both of these can give some nasty problems if the latest versions of the software are not in use, or not properly installed, or if java is not properly enabled within the security settings of the browser.

[GrahamH]

I understand what you are saying Nick but it matters not whether Microsoft gave any warning. The origin of the problems is still the responsibility of Microsoft. Microsoft knew that the way they developed and implemented IE8 would cause problems for some web sites.

That aside, there are definitely other problems, including the one which I am suffering from. The CDs we produce use basic, not complex, HTML coding. We do not use any Java scripting or Flash graphics. Indeed, as proved by my testing, IE8 (when it can be persuaded to open the files) renders the HTML correctly.

The problems which IE8 creates on some systems - which have come about as a result of the way Microsoft developed the product - are not solely related to the web page coding. There are reasons why those other problems occur. Microsoft, if they have a properly documented specification and properly structured testing regime, should be able to state why those problems occur. In my case the fact is that, so far, they have been unwilling or unable to do so.

Graham