Purpose: This write-up will provide clarity on what we advise for your default browser to be, and how we can interact with and use hyperlinks.
1. IT recommends setting your default browser to Google Chrome.
2. BST will only function in Internet Explorer.
3. There are methods we can utilize to work with hyperlinks.
Part I: Default browser
Most of us use Internet Explorer as our default browser due to BST requiring it. Since this is our only dependency with IE, we think it’s advisable to switch to Google Chrome for all other internet browsing. Most websites inherently work better with Google Chrome these days. The Intranet should automatically be set as your home page on Google Chrome. If it isn’t please let IT know and we’ll help. Below are instructions to switch your default browser.
IMPORTANT reminder: Even if you set your default browser to Google Chrome, you will still need to access BST through Internet Explorer. All other browsing needs can be satisfied with Google Chrome.
1. Click the Start button
2. Click “Control Panel”
3. Click “Default Programs”
4. Click “Set your default programs”
5. Click Google Chrome to highlight it and click “Set this program as default”.
6. Click OK to finish
If you have desktop shortcuts for systems that require Internet Explorer (BST), they will open in Chrome now. Contact IT for assistance and we can tell those specific shortcuts to use Internet Explorer instead.
Additionally, you may want to import your bookmarks from Internet Explorer to Google Chrome. Follow the steps below to import your bookmarks.
Part II: Hyperlinks
Often, we receive emails with hyperlinks embedded. This can cause headaches when our default browser is Internet Explorer and when we click the hyperlink, the website that is loaded does not function properly. There are multiple ways to approach this, see below.
Method 1: Copy URL from the hyperlink and paste it into Google Chrome.
Right-click the hyperlink and select Copy
Open Google Chrome and paste the copied link into the Google Chrome address bar
Method 2: Set your default browser to Google Chrome.
Instructions for Method 2 are laid out in Part I: Default Browser. Setting your default browser as Google Chrome eliminates the need to copy and paste hyperlinks. Instead the hyperlinks can be clicked, and Google Chrome will open the link for you.
As previously mentioned, if the default browser is set to Google Chrome, any desktop shortcuts that navigate to BST will need to be edited by IT to instead navigate to Internet Explorer.
Closing comment:
To conclude this document, it should be mentioned that we are looking into full cloud Microsoft solutions for our Intranet and Timecard/Billing.