Configuring Your Web Browser To Allow Pop-up Windows

Most web browsers include a feature to block pop-up windows. While this may eliminate unwanted or bothersome pop-up windows, the feature sometimes can impede the functionality of legitimate or useful websites.

Some popular Penn-affiliated websites requiring pop-ups include U@Penn, PennPortal, and the Penn Online Directory.

Follow the instructions below to configure your web browser to allow pop-up windows for your selected websites.

• Firefox 1.x (Windows/Mac OS)
• Safari (Mac OS)
• Internet Explorer 6.0 (pre-Windows XP SP2)
• Internet Explorer 6.0 (Windows XP SP2)

Note: If you have installed third party applications to block pop-ups, be sure to consult the vendor documentation to allow pop-up windows for desired websites.

Firefox 1.x (Windows/Mac OS)

1. Open Firefox, then go to the web page that you want to allow pop-ups.
2. In Firefox's URL window, highlight the entire web address of the current page, then choose the Copy command from the Edit menu.
3. Select Options... from the Tools menu. The Options dialog box displays.
4. In the left panel of the Options dialog box, click on the Web Features icon to display the Web Features dialog box. .
5. On the Web Features dialog box, ensure the Block Popup Windows checkbox is selected, then click the adjacent Allow Sites button.
6. Right-click or control-click in the Address of web site: field, choose Paste from the dropdown menu, then click Allow. The selected webpage is added to the list of Allowed Sites.

   Notes: Pasting the web address of a page you wish to allow pop-ups is recommended, rather than typing the generic main web address. For example, you might visit www.example.com/requirepopup.html, but the page is actually hosted at popup.example.com/forms/popupform.html. In this example, you must allow popup.example.com, not www.example.com. Note also that entire websites must be allowed, not individual directories or pages, so in this example Firefox will automatically add the top level popup.example.com to its Allowed sites.

7. Close any remaining dialog boxes.

Safari (Mac OS)

Safari for Mac OS has no per-website control over blocking pop-ups windows. Pop-ups are either blocked, or they are not. To allow pop-ups:

1. From the Safari menu, ensure the Block Pop-Up Windows option is not checked. Unchecking this option will allow pop-ups.
2. To block pop-ups once again, check Block Pop-Up Windows in the Safari menu. You can use a keyboard shortcut: [Apple key]-K.

Internet Explorer 6.0 (Windows)

Follow the instructions below for the version of Internet Explorer for your operating system.

Windows XP SP1 or Windows 2000

The default version of Internet Explorer included with Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) and Windows 2000 does not have the ability to block pop-up windows. As a result, you do not need to take further action to configure Internet Explorer. However, if you are having problems using websites that use pop-up windows, make sure you have disabled any third party software packages that block pop-up windows.

Windows XP SP2

Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) introduced default pop-up blocking behavior for Internet Explorer. When a website attempts to launch a new pop-up window, you may see dialog boxes alerting you of pop-up windows that have been blocked. Follow the instructions below to allow pop-up windows on a per-website basis.

1. Open Internet Explorer, then go to the web page that you want to allow pop-ups.
2. In Internet Explorer's Address field, highlight the entire web address of the current page, then choose the Copy command from the Edit menu.
3. From the Tools menu, select Pop-up Blocker → Pop-up Blocker Settings... The Pop-up Blocker Settings dialog box opens.
4. Right-click in the Address of Web site to allow: field, then choose Paste.
   

   Notes: Pasting the web address of a page you wish to allow pop-ups is recommended, rather than typing the generic main web address. For example, you might visit www.example.com/requirepopup.html, but the page is actually hosted at popup.example.com/forms/popupform.html. In this example, you must allow popup.example.com, not www.example.com. Note also that entire websites must be allowed, not individual directories or pages, so in this example Internet Explorer will automatically add the top level popup.example.com to its Allowed sites.

5. Click Add. The selected website is added to the list of Allowed sites.
6. Click Close to close the Pop-up Blocker Settings dialog box.