How to disable Popup Blockers

You have been directed to this page from WebSked if your computer has a pop-up blocker installed that will interfere with your use of WebSked. This web page contains these sections:

What are "pop-ups"?
Why does WebSked need to use pop-up windows?
How can I safely disable my pop-up blocker while using WebSked?

Specific instructions for:
Internet Explorer
Firefox (for the Mac)
Firefox (for PC)
Safari (Mac)
Safari (iPod and iPhone)
Google Chrome (for Android)
Google Toolbar (for Internet Explorer)
Yahoo Toolbar (for Internet Explorer)
Note regarding firewalls

What are "pop-ups"?

Unwanted pop-ups are intrusive windows that open within another window when you're using the Internet. For example, you display one window and an unwanted ad opens up (pops-up) in another window. Because unwanted pop-up ads are so common and irritating, programs that prevent pop-ups from being displayed have been developed. These blocking programs, know as "pop-up blockers", are included as part of several popular programs or even in automatically installed Windows updates. You may have one or more popup-blockers installed on the computer you are using and not know it.

Wanted pop-ups are desired information windows that are displayed as a needed or desirable website function. WebSked will display only wanted pop-ups.

Why does WebSked need to use pop-up windows?

You will want to display ("pop-up") a new window within another window many times while using WebSked. For example, if you are filling in your schedule requests and want to add an additional explanation about your requests for your scheduler, you can click on the Notes button at the top of the request form. WebSked will open ("pop-up") a small window containing a text box in which you can enter your note. A pop-up blocker that prevents display of the "Notes" window will prevent you from entering your explanation.

As you can see, the problem is that popup-blockers can interfere with both wanted and unwanted pop-ups. For that reason, any pop-up blockers on your computer need to be turned off while you are working with WebSked (and most other interactive web sites).

How can I safely disable my pop-up blocker while using WebSked?

There are many pop-up blockers available on the market. If you are using Microsoft XP with Service Pack 2 or later, your version of Internet Explorer is equipped with a built-in pop-up blocker. Many other browsers, such as Mozilla, Firefox, and Opera, also have built-in pop-up blockers. If you use a toolbar, such as Google Toolbar or Yahoo Toolbar, these include a built-in pop-up blocker.

How do you turn them off? First you have to find them.

Here are some of the common pop-up blockers and instructions for disabling them or turning them off while using WebSked. Note that the computer you are using may be using a different version of the listed programs; screen appearances and the specific steps that you need to take may vary, but should be similar enough to allow you to disable the pop-up blocker.

Instructions are available below for:

Internet Explorer
FireFox (Mac)
FireFox (PC)
Safari (Mac)
Safari (iPod and iPhone)
Google Chrome (for Android)
Google Toolbar (Internet Explorer)
Yahoo Toolbar (Internet Explorer)

Note regarding firewalls

A firewall is a part of a computer system or network that is designed to prevent damage from malicious programs outside the network. Similar to popup blockers, firewalls can prevent legitimate programs from functioning.

WebSked works well with most common firewall settings. However, if you are sure that all popup blockers have been turned off and you are still experiencing problems, you may have a firewall that is preventing your access to WebSked. You can confirm this by temporarily turning off your firewall and/or by listing www.websked.com as a trusted site, which should allow access.

If you are on a hospital computer you may need to contact your IT (Information Technology) department to assist with a firewall problem. Most commonly, a hospital server may have an ISA (Internet Acceleration Server) that blocks java scripting from unapproved sites. This helps protect against viruses and spyware, but also can block access to legitimate sites. Please have your IT department add www.websked.com to the list of approved sites, which should resolve the access problem.

Disabling Internet Explorer's Pop-up Blocker

With the release of Microsoft’s Service Pack 2, Pop-Up Blocking is now directly integrated into Internet Explorer and is enabled as the default setting. To disable pop-up blocking in Internet Explorer only while using WebSked, go to Tools...Pop-up Blocker...Pop-up Blocker Settings.... as shown:

In the displayed Pop-up Blocker Settings window, enter http://www.websked.com as shown:

then click the Add button. If your entry is successful, Internet Explorer should display www.websked.com in the "Allowed sites" listing as shown:

With this pop-up blocker disabled, you should be able to make use of WebSked's pop-up windows unless another pop-up blocker is still active on your computer. Use the "click here to refresh this window and login to WebSked" link at www.websked.com to again try to display the login window. If the login window still does not appear, you have another pop-up blocker active on your system that needs to be disabled.

Disabling Firefox's Pop-up Blocker (Mac)

To disable pop-up blocking in Firefox only while using WebSked, go to Firefox...Preferences as shown:

Make sure that "Content" is highlighted and then click on the "Allowed Sites" button as shown.

In the displayed Allowed Sites window, enter http://www.websked.com as shown:

then click the "Allow" button. If your entry is successful, Firefox should display www.websked.com in the "Site" listing as shown:

Disabling Firefox's Pop-up Blocker (PC)

To disable pop-up blocking in Firefox only while using WebSked, go to Tools...Options as shown:

Make sure that "Content" is highlighted and then click on the "Exceptions..." button as shown.

In the displayed Allowed Sites window, enter www.websked.com as shown:

then click the "Allow" button. If your entry is successful, Firefox should display www.websked.com in the "Site" listing as shown:

Disabling Google Chrome's Pop-up blockers on Android

To disable popup blockers on your Android phone, open up the browser (usually an icon labeled "Internet"). Click the built-in Menu button on your Android, which may appear as:

or may appear different, depending upon the model of the Android you are using. A new group of settings will display at bottom: click the "More" option.

Click "Settings"

Uncheck “Block pop-up windows” check box. The green check-mark should turn grey.

With this pop-up blocker disabled, you should be able to make use of WebSked's pop-up windows. If you use the Internet frequently on your Droid, you should clear browser history and cache weekly; the frequency of clearing depends on usage amount. Also, if your Androrid initially does not allow access to WebSked, you may need to preemptively clear your cache and browser history by following these steps:

1. Still in Settings, click on the "Open pages in overview" button to enable.

2. Clear browser history by clicking the OK button

3. Clear cache and clear history option, then click “ok” button.

Allow pop-ups with Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer

The Google Popup Blocker can be told to remember websites so pop-up windows are allowed to launch. This information is stored on your computer in what's known as a "whitelist" (as opposed to a "blacklist"). The Popup Blocker uses the whitelist to turn itself off when you visit sites whose popups you would like to see.

To add a site to your whitelist, visit the site and press the Popup Blocker button.
(Click on the "No popups button.")

The button text will change to read "Popups okay," indicating that the Popup Blocker is disabled on the site in question.

Allow pop-ups for Yahoo Toolbar for Internet Explorer

The Yahoo Popup Blocker can be told to remember websites so that pop-up windows will be able to launch. If you cannot view the login screen in WebSked, click the Pop-up blocker button on the toolbar (the green arrow points to the button as shown below). Select "Always Allow Pop-Ups From"... from the drop down menu.

In the Yahoo! Pop-Up Blocker window, www.websked.com will automatically be listed in the Sources of Recently Blocked Pop-Ups text box. Click the "Allow" button.

Click the "OK" button to always allow pop-ups from www.websked.com as shown below:

Disabling Safari's Pop-up blockers on a Mac

To disable pop-up blocking in Safari only while using WebSked, go to Safari…Block Pop-up Windows. Make sure that "Block Pop-Up Windows" is not selected, as shown.

Disabling Safari's Pop-up blockers on an iPhone (also works for iPods)

To disable pop-up blocking in Safari only while using WebSked, select the "Settings" icon on the iPhone's main screen, then select "Safari" from the menu list, as shown.

On the next list that appears, select "Block Pop-ups" and set to OFF, as shown.

With this pop-up blocker disabled, you should be able to make use of WebSked's pop-up windows. Use the "click here to refresh this window and login to WebSked" link at www.websked.com to again try to display the login window.

Unlike computers, disabling pop-up blockers on iPhones will still repeatedly prompt the user to allow opening of a Pop-up Window, as shown.

Click "Allow". Unfortunately, that is how the iPhone was coded by Apple; we cannot change it!