Heidi Olson

When we began testing Bb v8 we noticed that the equation editor wasn’t working on some platforms. OIT worked with us in testing and came up with this:

Here are the platforms and browsers that we have tested and work with the equation editor:

Windows XP
IE 7 – works
Firefox 3.0.5 – works, but an equation cannot be edited once entered. It can only be deleted.

Windows Vista
IE 7 – works
Firefox 3.0.5 – works, but an equation cannot be edited once entered. It can only be deleted.

Mac 10.5.5
Safari 3.1.2 – works when the Visual Text box editor is set to unavailable. Make sure the window with the equation editor is maximized to see all available buttons. Inserting an equation is done with the “Add” button. Modifying an equation is done with the “Modify” button.

Mac 10.5.6
Safari 3.2.1 – works when the Visual Text box editor is set to unavailable. Make sure the window with the equation editor is maximized to see all available buttons. Inserting an equation is done with the “Add” button. Modifying an equation is done with the “Modify” button.

All of the above is in regard of adding an equation in the description of a content item. Viewing the equation works in all supported browsers: IE 7, Firefox 3.x, and Safari 3.x.

Mac Issues with Equation Editor and Visual Text Box Editor
Mac users have to make a choice to either use the visual text box editor or the equation editor. Currently there are no browsers that support both.

Use the equation editor
1.1 Open Safari
1.2 Log in to Bb
1.3 Go to My Blackboard tab
1.4 Click on Personal Information
1.5 Click Set Visual Text Box Editor Options
1.6 Make the Visual Text Box Editor unavailable.
1.7 Go into the course, add a content item and add an equation to the description

Use formating features of the Visual Text Box Editor
2.1 Switch to Firefox
2.2 Log in to Bb
2.3 Go back to My Blackboard tab
2.4 Click on Personal Information
2.5 Click Set Visual Text Box Editor Options
2.6 Make the Visual Text Box Editor available.
2.7 Go back to the course and format the text using the Visual Text box Editor.

This workaround does allow users to use all features of the Visual Text Box Editor, but they have to switch browsers and make the Visual text box editor available or unavailable depending on the browser they are using.

Included in most of the test, survey, and content areas of Blackboard is the option to use an equation editor to enter math and scientific equations without having to use html coding. Finding the right combination of browsers and operating system that works with the equationeditor has been an issue but a bit of testing different combinations has produced some successful results.

Windows Vista

• Firefox 3 – works
• IE7 – works but other features in blackboard don’t work so we suggest you use Firefox.

Windows XP

• IE6 – works
• Firefox3 – works

Mac 10.5 and 10.4

• Safari 3 – works!
• Firefox 3 – doesn’t work

News is that UAf is moving to Blackboard 8 in January – hopefully some of the issues with the equation editor will be resolved – we’ll keep you posted!