Do I need to install ASTM Standards on Disc?
No. There is no installation necessary with Standards on Disc. All features of the search and display of standards happen within the CD-ROM, your web browser and Adobe Acrobat Reader.


What are the system requirements for ASTM Standards on Disc?
ASTM Standards on Disc requires a PC (Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000 or NT) or Macintosh computer, with one CD-ROM drive; Java-Compatible Web Browser (Netscape Communicator version 4.0 or newer or MS Internet Explorer 4.0 or newer); Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0 or newer; 32 MB of RAM, and 200 MB of free hard disk space.


What do I need to view documents from ASTM Standards on Disc?
Using ASTM Standards on Disc requires having both an up-to-date Internet browser (Netscape Communicator version 4.0 or better or Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0 or better) and Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your PC. The software will automatically open using Internet Explorer or Netscape, usually whichever you have set as your default browser. For your convenience, the Index CD has both Netscape Communicator 4.04 and Adobe Acrobat Reader included. If your system does not have either or both of the programs installed, please follow the Installation Instructions from the Installation and Usage Instruction insert.


Why do I need a web browser to use the ASTM software? Does the software operate over the Internet?
ASTM Standards Source CD software uses a web browser interface to view and operate the software. It is absolutely neccessary to have an up-to-date version of either Netscape Communicator or Microsoft Internet Explorer to properly use the software. However, at no time in the search or viewing process of the software will it be neccessary to have an Internet connection.


When I launch the Standards on Disc, the software fails to open.
Two main factors can cause problems launching the software:

1. TCP/IP MUST be enabled on your PC.
Users without Internet connections or on Local Area Networks may need to set up a TCP/IP protocol.

To set up a new TCP/IP protocol:

1. From your PC's Control Panel, double-click the Network icon.

2. Scroll through the list of installed components under the Configuration tab. You should have either no TCP/IP components or possibly only an EtherLink connection.

3. Select Add...

4. Select Protocol and Add

5. Select Microsoft, TCP/IP, and then OK

6. Your PC will have to install some system files and then restart your system for the changes to take place.

7. Once your computer has re-booted, attempt to launch the software again. .


2. You MUST have an up-to-date web browser installed on your PC to use the software.
For your convenience, we have included Netscape Communicator 4.04 on the Index disk, but it may also be downloaded from www.netscape.com


When I launch CD software, the browser opens, but I get the error "Unable to find location 127.0.0.1".
This is a common problem for users who access the Internet through a Proxy Server or firewall. If you have a Proxy Server, you will need to add 127.0.0.1 to the list of proxy exceptions in your web browser. Directions follow.

Netscape Communicator

1. Go to Edit - Preferences - Advanced - Proxies.

2. The option for Manual Proxy Configuration should already be checked. Choose View.

3. Add the address 127.0.0.1 to the list of exceptions.

4.Choose OK.

5. Close the browser and Restart the software for the changes to take affect.

Internet Explorer

1. Go to View - Internet Options- Connection.

2. The option for Proxy Server should be checked. Click on Advanced.

3. Add the address 127.0.0.1 to the list of exceptions.

4. Choose OK.

5. Close the browser and Restart the software for the changes to take affect.


Why does launching my Standards on Disc attempt to dial out to the Internet?
Most PPP software has an option to dial automatically when an application using TCP (for example, the web browser running ASTM Standards Source) is launched. Because the software uses TCP to communicate with your browser, your PPP software tries to establish a network connection for you.

To prevent your computer from dialing out when you launch ASTM CD Standards Source, turn off the auto-connect option in your PPP software.


I can run the software and view scope pages, but I can't see the full text (PDF) documents. What is the problem?
There are two possible problems. Either you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed as a plug-in to your web browser, or you have certain image-reading functionality turned off on the browser.

1. To test your Acrobat Reader: Make sure the Standards on Disc is in your CD-ROM drive; Type the address file:/D:/PDF into your browser's address or location window (where D: is the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive, change if necessary); Double-click on any of the .PDF files. If the document opens correctly in your browser window, your Acrobat Reader is correctly installed as a plug-in to your browser.

2. To Reset default browser settings (MS Internet Explorer): From the Tools - Internet Options - Advanced tab, click the Restore Defaults button.


I'm running the software on a Windows NT workstation. The Disc works fine the first time I run it, and then it won't work again. What's happening?
Occasionally there is a problem with the interaction between our software and Microsoft Internet Explorer in Windows NT environments. The Standards on Disc software will run in the background of your system and subsequent attempts to re-launch the software do not work.

If the software has already been launched, reaccess it by the following steps:

1. Open your browser

2. Enter the address: http://127.0.0.1:8080/index.htm and click the Enter key on your keyboard.

3. Assuming the software opens correctly, bookmark the address.

4. In the future you can use this bookmarked address to access the software with the following caveat: the search.exe program must be running in the background to access the Standards on Disc software through this bookmarked address.


How can I create a Desktop Shortcut to the Standards on Disc?
If you are using a PC with only one CD-ROM drive, or if you are sure you will always be accessing Standards on Disc from the same CD-ROM drive, you may create a Desktop Shortcut. All Standards on Disc volumes use a start program in the same location. Therefore, creating one shortcut will work for any volume of the Standards on Disc that you have in the specified CD-ROM drive.

To create a shortcut to the Standards on Disc:

1. Insert the Standards on Disc CD into your PC's CD-ROM drive.

2. From your PC's "My Computer" tool, Right-click on the icon for the CD-ROM drive containing the Standards on Disc. Choose Explore.

3. Double-click the _nti31 folder to open.

4. Double-click the bin folder to open.

5. Click the search.exe icon and drag to an open area on your desktop to create a shortcut.

6. The new shortcut will be named "Shortcut to search.exe" by default. You may rename the shortcut to anything of your choosing by right-clicking the shortcut icon and choosing Rename.


Where can I get Adobe Acrobat Reader®?
You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader® from the Adobe web site: www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html


I do not understand how to install or use Adobe Acrobat. Can you provide technical support for this?
ASTM does not provide technical support for Adobe Acrobat Reader®, browsers, installing plug-ins, or manipulating PDFs. However, Adobe offers on-line Customer Support at: http://www.adobe.com/support/


Why am I having problems printing standards from PDF files?
ASTM does not provide support for Adobe Acrobat Reader®, however, the Adobe Web Site offers extensive Customer Support for their products. A resolution to this particular printing problem may be found at: http://www.adobe.com/support/products/readerprinting.html.


The standard's PDF file looks fine on my screen, but I get odd errors when I print the document. What is wrong?
Certain versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader seem to cause printing errors unrelated to the viewable standard. These errors will often appear as large black circles or spots on the printed document, and do not appear on the screen in the electronic copy.

Newer versions of the Adobe Acrobat Reader have corrected the printing problem. If you are experiencing printing errors, download a new copy of the latest Acrobat Reader at www.adobe.com, install the new Reader and print the PDF file again.


Who should I contact for information about copying or distributing copies of ASTM standards?
For permission issues with regards to copying or distribution of ASTM standards, contact Ms. Kathe Hooper at 610-832-9634 or e-mail khooper@astm.org.