Run multiple versions of IE at the same time!

[paul_lomax]

Hopefully you're moving towards creating standards compliant websites using XHTML and CSS, but as you'll know, bugs in how different browsers render CSS can be a complete pain (with older browsers having bugs or not fully supporting CSS) - especially when you only have IE6 installed on your PC. Until now it was impossible to properly browser-test unless you had multiple machines or dual-booted.

Lucky for all you web designers out there, some clever chaps figured out how to get IE to run 'stand alone'. If you're interested in how it works, <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.insert-title.com/web_design/?page=articles/dev/multi_IE>click here</A>

If you just want to give it a try, download these zip files and simply extract them! (NT/2000/XP only - files are about 3Mb each)
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.webuser.co.uk/downloads/ie501sp2_nt.zip>Internet Explorer 5.01 SP2</A>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.webuser.co.uk/downloads/ie55sp2_nt.zip>Internet Explorer 5.5 SP2</A>

You might not want to bother testing for IE 5.01 - for the most part it renders CSS okay, and its fairly rare in usage (about 2-4%). Unfortunately IE 5.5 is still fairly well used (about 10-12%), and has a ton of CSS rendering bugs (for example nested tables don't inherit fonts etc).

Just don't use IE5.01 or IE5.5 to browse anything other than your own sites though, as there is a reason the latest version is IE6 - they are hi-jackable browsers (or at least 5.01 is - 5.5 may be okay - does anybody know if this is the case?). <font size=1>It's no wonder that malware is so prolific when there are so many people with un-updated computers!</font size=1>

On the subject of CSS, I'm currently writing a tips and tricks css how-to, so watch this space.

<hr width=100% size=1><font size=1>Paul Lomax
Internet Technology Manager
IPC Country and Leisure Media
- <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.countrylife.co.uk>Country Life Magazine</A>
- <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.decanter.com>Decanter Magazine</A>
- <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.horseandhound.co.uk>Horse and Hound Magazine</A>
- <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.total-golf.co.uk>Total Golf Magazine</A>
- <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.webuser.co.uk>Web User Magazine</A>
- <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.worldsoccer.com>World Soccer Magazine</A>
- <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com>Yachting and Boating World</A>
</font size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by paul_lomax on 08/04/2005 18:45 (server time).</FONT></P>

[owen]

Brilliant tip Paul. I'm doing my site in XHTML and CSS and this is the sort of things I wanted. You seem to be "tipping" a lot recently, methinks someone is after £25 but me also thinks that your not allowed it [img]/images/forums/icons/wink.gif[/img]

<hr width=100% size=1>Owen,
Disable System Restore
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.isecurity.org.uk/misc/hijackthis.html>Post a Hijack This Log</A>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com>Download ALL Critical Updates and Service Packs</A>
Show Hidden Files and Folders

[owen]

Just tested my new design and it works fine and displays the same in Old Versions, the latest version and the Netscape Family. I'm pleased [img]/images/forums/icons/smile.gif[/img]

You are right about security issues with IE5. IE5.5 is in extended support phase so it is still reasonably safe but users are encouraged to use IE6 (because it has new privacy controls).

<hr width=100% size=1>Owen,
Disable System Restore
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.isecurity.org.uk/misc/hijackthis.html>Post a Hijack This Log</A>
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com>Download ALL Critical Updates and Service Packs</A>
Show Hidden Files and Folders