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AOL Browser Problem 2

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SpeedMule

SpeedMule

Technical User
Nov 24, 2003
31
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Hi there

Just wanted to find out if anyone has experienced a
specific web page display problem with AOL.

The colour gradients (from Photoshop) are reproduced
very well in IE6 but can be very blocky in AOL - as
if the number of colours has been restricted. Gradients only
are affected it seems, not photo images.

The display problem has only started in the last week or so.
More confusing is that it happens on some pages sometimes
and then will be OK later and the problem will surface on another page.

Browser settings have been amended but there is no improvement.

Any ideas at all?

Cheers & best regards

SM7
 
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Talk to AOL! They are notorious for setting restrictions on browser colors and image formats.

There's always a better way. The fun is trying to find it!
 
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Thanks TVIM - There's more:

Something else happened with this page yesterday.

When I revised the .html file it appeared in IE6 as expected and yet somehow AOL was still displaying the old file.

Spooky! or Go Figure!!!?

bw

SM7
 
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You just need to clear the cache in AOL.

There's always a better way. The fun is trying to find it!
 
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AOL have a lossy image compression algorithm, which can compress images between their proxy server and the user's AOL browser. The idea being to speed up downloads when on dialup.

IIRC, AOL's default installation has this feature TURNED ON.

As for cacheing issues, make sure you supply cache control information on your web pages. These should be in 2 places:[ul][li]in the <head> </head> area - this provides caching instructions to web browsers[/li]
[li]in the http headers (you'll need config access on the web server) - this provides caching instructions to proxy servers. Most proxy servers will not read <meta> or <pragma> tags.[/li]
[/ul]

Regards,

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please tell us if our suggestion has helped[/li][li]need some help? faq581-3339[/li][/ul]
 
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Thanks for the info. Manarth

As you stated, the <meta> and <praga> tags
were not read by the AOL server.

Is this a common problem and do most sites
deal with it or just assume people purge their
cache folders?

I noticed that IE6 was OK and showed the new page
straight away. I didn't clear out any files.

I use a .php server so I'll guess the coding
will be specific to this protocol and not html(?)

Cheers again

SM7
 
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The issue of cacheing is about what's doing the cacheing.

Browser clients (IE, Netscape, the AOL browser...) should (and generally do) obey meta caching commands.

Proxy servers rarely inspect the contents of the file they cache, and hence do not obey <meta> or <pragma> commands.

Web servers send out headers in the http response. Use these headers to control cacheing by proxy servers.

A good reference is Microsoft's page listing the HTTP headers.

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please tell us if our suggestion has helped[/li][li]need some help? faq581-3339[/li][/ul]
 
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