Computer Support: Java

Java

Blackboard Vista uses the Java Runtime Environment for certain key features, including file uploads and chat. You must have Java installed on your computer in order to use Blackboard. To install Java, do the following:

Windows XP/Vista/ Windows 7: Java Installation

Go to Java Website and Download the Free Software

Mac: Java Installation

If you are using Mac OSX - Snowleopard to access Blackboard, Java should have come preinstalled on your computer. Please use the Software Update feature to make sure you have the most recent version.

Still having problems go to Java for Macs website.

Java Troubleshooting

Several of the common issues users experience have to do with their installation of Java. If, when using Blackboard, you experience difficulty with any of the following, chances are it may be a problem with Java:

• Uploading files (the My Computer icon is missing)
• Using Wimba
• Using Chat
• Editing web pages using the Blackboard HTML editor
• Seeing the Blackboard gradebook (visible only to instructors and TAs).

If you are experiencing difficulty with any of these, see the following site on troubleshooting Blackboard Java Issues.

Java Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Blackboard Java Issues

Java is a software platform that, like Flash, runs within a web browser to display certain content and run certain web applications. Blackboard uses Java for some of its functionality, most importantly:

• Uploading files and attachments (i.e. the My Computer icon will not appear if Java is missing or not functioning properly)
• Loading the Blackboard gradebook
• Editing pages using the built-in HTML Creator
• Loading SCORM objects (including certain activities, worksheets, and other interactive or sharable content)
• Checking for browser incompatibilities at login

When you or someone you support is having problems with one or more of these functions in Blackboard, odds are the problem originates in the Java setup on the computer accessing Blackboard.

Most Common Steps for Troubleshooting Java Issues

Most Java-setup issues can be resolved in one or more of the following ways:

• Install or update Java.
• Clear the Java cache (often along with the browser cache).
• Troubleshoot Java certificate settings
• Remove multiple installed versions of Java (Rarely problematic)

Install or Update Java

To install the latest version of Java, visit http://www.java.com and follow the download link and instructions provided there.

Clear the Java Cache

Occasionally a problem arises in which the Blackboard gradebook fails to load, but instead a blank white screen appears. The solution to this problem is to clear the browser cache and then the Java cache. To clear the Java cache, complete the steps on the following link:

Clearing the Java Cache

Troubleshoot Java Security Settings

If Java is installed but you are still having problems with Java functionality in Blackboard, there might be a problem with the Java security certificate settings on your computer. Here are two things to look for:

1. The application digital signature has not been allowed to run.
2. The certificate information stored on the comptuer does not match the current certificate.

Please see the following link for more details.

Troubleshooting Java certificate problems in Blackboard

Remove multiple installed versions of Java

When Java is updated, older versions are not removed but are left installed on the computer. On rare occasion this can lead to problems.To remove old versions, go to the Control panel of your PC (located within the "Start" menu, and select the option to Add or Remove programs. Scroll through the list of installed programs and remove all but the latest version of Java.

Note that before taking this step, it would be good to know whether other software running on your computer requires an older version of Java than the latest. If so, you may want to keep that Java version installed on your computer.

For Mac users, multiple versions of Java is not a problem.

Clearing the Java Cache

Occasionally a problem arises involving the Java cache. Most typically this is seen in cases where the Blackboard gradebook fails to load, but instead a blank white screen appears. The solution to this problem is to clear the browser cache and then the Java cache. To clear the Java cache, complete following steps:

Windows

1. Open a web browser and login to Blackboard. This will initiate Java on your computer.
2. Look for the Java icon located in the bottom-right corner of the Windows task bar.
   
3. Right click on the icon and select "Open Control Panel."
   
4. Once the control panel is open, click the "Settings" button under the General tab.
   
5. Next, click the "Delete Files" button.
   
6. When prompted to "Delete the following temporary files," make sure both options are checked and click "OK."
   

Mac OSX

1. Using the spotlight tool, search for "Java Preferences"
   
2. Open Java Preferences and click the "Network" tab.
   
3. Click the "Delete Files" button.
   
4. When prompted to "Delete the following temporary files," make sure both options are checked and click "OK."
   

Troubleshooting Java Certificate Settings

If Java is installed on your computer, but you are still having problems with Java functionality in Blackboard (see Troubleshooting Java Issues in Blackboard), there might be a problem with the Java security certificate settings on your computer. Here are two things to look for, with tips to troubleshoot:

1. The application digital signature has not been allowed to run

When you login to Blackboard for the first time on a given computer, you are greeted with a prompt that reads "The application's digital signature has been verified. Do you want to run the application?" You must select "Run" for Java-driven functionality to work within Blackboard.

If you accidentally select "Cancel," you should be able to restart your browser and then login again. This will bring up the prompt, allowing you to select "Run."

When you select "Run," you tell your Java installation to trust the Java security certificate that Blackboard uses. That information is stored away so that you do not have to keep selecting "Run" every time you login

2. The certificate information stored on the comptuer does not match the current certificate

Every once in a while, the Java security certificate on Blackboard is renewed, which may cause problems if the certificate information stored on your comptuter does not match. To see if this is the case, you must clear out your stored Blackboard certificates in Java. Below are the steps for doing so.

Windows

1. Open a web browser and login to Blackboard. This will initiate Java on your computer.
2. Look for the Java icon located in the bottom-right corner of the Windows task bar.
   
3. Right click on the icon and select "Open Control Panel."
   
4. Once the control panel is open, select the "Security" tab.
   
5. Click the "Certificates" button.
6. Highlight any certificates containing the word "blackboard" and click the "Remove" button.
   

Mac OSX

1. Using the spotlight tool, search for "Java Preferences"
   
2. Open Java Preferences and select the "Security" tab.
   
3. You will see a list of sites that Java will run signed content from without prompting. Highlight any certificates containing the word "Blackboard" and click the "Delete" button (which appears as a minus sign).