These notes have been compiled from our experiences with AOL members using our online features. They are offered to make your experience easier and less frustrating.

PROBLEM - Some AOL users may not see recent changes made to items or pages due to AOL's use of cache in the members browser, regional cache servers on AOL's network, or both.

SOLUTION - There may not be much recourse as long as you are accessing data on the AOL network. You might try clearing your cache, but this will be more effective if using an alternative browser (Explorer or Netscape) than with the provided AOL browser.

PROBLEM - AOL users may find that their images (particularly thumbnail images) on their site become "blurry" over time. This appears to be because the AOL browser caches very persistently and content is compressed rather than replaced while browsing. The user may have to "clear cache" to resolve the issue locally. If a regional cache issue, there is not much to be done until AOL next updates the regional cache server in question.

SOLUTION - Again, there may not be much recourse as long as you are accessing data on the AOL network. You might try clearing your cache. If you use an Explorer or Netscape browser while online, the issue should not manifest as the cache is less persistent.

CLARIFICATION - While you might see blurred images, other AOL users likely do not as they are not accessing your pages as frequently as you do when working in your catalogue. They are, therefore, not heavily caching your images in their browser.

If you are using a later or current version of AOL, the following notes likely no longer apply. We continue to maintain them for members possibly still using an earlier version with the noted problems.

PROBLEM - When using the AOL browser I experience difficulties uploading data - whether it be registration, homepage templates, new items or modifications. AOL's browser is actually a bundled version of Microsoft's Internet Explorer which is somehow limited or restricted - possibly an early version. This may become a non-issue as AOL upgrades the version of Explorer it uses or integrates "Navigator" browsers (since it has acquired Netscape) and disseminates upgrades.

SOLUTION - When you go online with AOL, minimize the screen (this means "click" on the "dash" in the upper-right corner of your screen. Do not "click" on the double box and certainly not on the "X" - that would take you off-line and the next step will do you no good). Then click on Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 (or greater) or Netscape Navigator 3.0 (or greater) from your desktop or from Start:Programs:etc. Now you are ready to go. You are still accessing the internet via AOL but you are now using an unrestricted browser. If you don't have either of these browsers you may read our reviews and then proceed to download a free version.

CLARIFICATION - Please don't get confused between AOL on one hand and Explorer or Netscape on the other. You are not applying for, buying or downloading a new internet access service. Explorer and Netscape are browsers. Their only function is to traverse the internet, view pages, perform actions on pages and (if you wish) to handle e-mail. They do not, and will not, give you dial-up access to the internet and do not compete with AOL on that level.

If you use a version of Explorer or Netscape which is prior to the generations indicated above (at least 3.0 for Netscape or 4.0 for Explorer), you will not be able to upload graphics files interactively on TROCADERO or anywhere else on the internet.

We recommend Netscape Navigator over Internet Explorer. Explorer prompts the user to "reload form data" when backing up to a page displaying form results. This will repeat the action and may become confusing if not frustrating. Netscape Navigator will not behave this way.