|
Help & Support
This section has been designed to help guide you through our site.
|
|
 |
If you have got this far, we will assume you are familiar with using a computer and the basics of the Internet. However, if you do need further assistance on how to use the Internet, please refer to the BBC´s WebWise site by clicking here.
For information on how to use your computer, try the BBC´s Absolute Beginners´ Guide by clicking here.
Please select a topic from the following list on which you would like to read help:
Online Services
The 'Do It Online' section of this site contains a list of all the different services we currently offer online, such as: application forms, leaflet request forms, information databases and our complaints & feedback form.
All fields in a form marked with the * symbol must be completed in order to proceed to the next stage. If these are not filled in correctly, you will be asked to enter the missing details before you are able to continue.
The outcome of completing an online form depends on the type of form you are filling in; you will normally be notified of what will happen next, either before you start filling out the form or once you have submitted it.
Job Applications
You can obtain a list of job opportunities by clicking the 'Jobs & Careers' link found on the homepage of our website.
Once you enter the main 'Job Vacancies within Somerset County Council' area of the site, you will notice a link on the left of that page labelled 'SCC Application Form'. Clicking this link will open an application form in Microsoft Word format. Alternatively, if you have an email address, you can request an application form to be sent to you by clicking the 'Download Application Pack' link whilst viewing an individual job vacancy.
Viewers & Plug-Ins
PDF Files
PDF (Portable Document Format) is a type of file format, commonly used by businesses and governments around the world to present information. The files contain all the fonts, graphics and visual layout information, which means they appear exactly the same as when they were designed, no matter what computer is used to view them. PDF files are compact, and can be viewed, printed and shared by anyone using the free Adobe software.
On our web-site, links to PDF files are shown using the following image:
In order to view a PDF file, you need to install Adobe Reader on your computer. This is available for FREE and you can download it from the Adobe web site by clicking here.
Microsoft Word Documents
Microsoft Word is a word-processing application used across the world, both at work and at home. A Word document ends with the extension '.doc'.
On our web-site, links to Word documents are shown using either of the following images:
 
To view a Word document, you need to have Microsoft Word installed on your computer. This is available for purchase from most reputable computer shops and software retailers. When you click a link to a Word document on the Internet, it will often be displayed in the same window as your browser (e.g. Microsoft Internet Explorer). However, it is necessary that you have Microsoft Word installed in order for this to happen.
Microsoft Excel Documents
Microsoft PowerPoint Documents
Multimedia
Audio
This site offers audio files in various formats, including: MP3, Windows Media Audio (WMA) and Real Player.
You will need to have an audio player installed on your computer in order to listen to these files. You will also need to have a sound card and speakers or headphones plugged into your computer.
If you do not have an audio player already installed on your computer, you can obtain one by clicking on one of the following links:
Videos
This site offers video clips in various formats, including: Windows Media Player (ASX) and Real Player (RAM).
You will need to have an video player installed on your computer in order to watch these files. You will also need to have a sound card, monitor and speakers or headphones plugged into your computer.
If you do not have a video player already installed on your computer, you can obtain one by clicking on one of the following links:
Internet Browser
What is an Internet Browser?
An Internet Browser (also known as Web Browser) is a software package which allows you to view web pages on your computer.
Most browsers are multi-platform, which means they will work on an array of operating systems (e.g. Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, Linux). The majority of Internet Browsers are also graphical browsers, which means they can display graphics as well as text. Nowadays, most browsers can also play multimedia such as music and videos.
What browser do you recommend I use to view your web-site?
In order to view our website, we recommend you use Internet Explorer version 4 or higher, or Netscape Navigator version 3 or higher.
Where can I find an Internet Browser?
Most computers come pre-installed with a browser when they are purchased. The majority of computer magazines come with a cover CD, which normally contains the files needed to install a browser on your computer.
You can download a browser by clicking on either of the following links:
Click here to download Internet Explorer
Click here to download Netscape Navigator
Click here to download Mozilla Firefox
Click here to download Opera
Screen Resolution
What is screen resolution?
Screen resolution is the number of dots on the entire screen of a monitor. For example, a 640 x 480 pixel screen is capable of displaying 640 dots on each of 480 lines. Depending on the size of the screen, the more dots-per-inch (DPI), then the higher the quality of the content displayed.
What screen resolution do you recommend I use to view your website?
Our website has been carefully designed so that anybody can view it, no matter what screen resolution they are using. However, we recommend that our site is displayed on a screen of either 800 x 600 or 1024 x 768 resolution, as this will give optimum results.
What should the colour quality settings of my monitor be?
This will depend on the age and type of your monitor. We recommend that you use at least the 'True Colour (24 bit)' setting in order to view our website at its best.
How do I change my monitor's settings?
-
Microsoft Windows: Click Start > Control Panel > Display > Settings OR right-click on the desktop then select Properties > Settings
-
Mac OS: From Finder, select Apple Menu > Control Panels > Monitor OR click Monitors in Control Strip
Bookmarking a Page (Adding to Favourites)
You can create a bookmark to a page on this site in order to re-visit it at a later date without having to remember the full address.
Follow the below steps to do this:
-
Internet Explorer: Click on Favourites > Add to Favourites. Type a name to remember the page, for example 'Somerset County Council'.
-
Netscape Navigator: Click on Communicator > Bookmarks > Add Bookmark
-
Mozilla Firefox: Bookmarks > Bookmark this page
Further Help
For further information on how to use a website, visit the BBC´s WebWise site by clicking here, which contains all the basic information on how to get started with the Internet, as well as the BBC´s Absolute Beginners´ Guide if you require help on the basics of using a computer.
If you require technical support using our website, but have not been able to locate it on this page, please contact the Web Development Team at County Hall - Telephone: 01823 355200 or Email: webmaster@somerset.gov.uk.
Please also refer to our Accessibility section for information on general navigation, access keys, changing the text size and language translations.
Top of page
|
Please 
Please