Pennsylvania State Data Center

The Institute for State and Regional Affairs uses iDashboards, an industry leader in data visualization software for the web, to build interactive data analysis and presentation tools for our clients. iDashboards uses HTML5 to display charts and visualizations. HTML5 uses standard HTML code, javascript, and style definitions to create the visualizations in your browser. This page contains helpful information about viewing the dashboards and ensuring their functionality in your browser environment.

With the Adobe Flash player reaching end-of-life in 2020, iDashboards has updated their product to fully use HTML5 as their display technology. iDashboards is continuing to improve and refine their HTML5 interface to be more efficient, functional , and attractive.

iDashboards Version

ISRA is currently running build 11.0c-250321133344-180.221 of iDashboards, which was installed on March 13, 2021

Clearing cache

The iDashboards service loads several files into the browser to run the HTML5 interface, which includes script files, style settings, and image files. When loading the pages, your browser may store some of these elements to your local cache to speed up the display of the interface. If your interface is not responding as you expect, one option is to clear your browser's cache and let the iDashboards service send "fresh" versions of these files.

Instructions for Clearing Browser Cache

Use these instructions to clear the cache from your specific browser provider:

To completely clear your browser cache in Microsoft Edge:

1. Select "Settings" from the "3 dots" menu on the upper right.
2. Click the "3 lines" menu to the left of "Settings" at the top of the page. Click "Privacy, Search, and Services" in the menu.
3. Under "Clear browsing data", for "Clear browsing data now", click "Choose what to clear".
4. In the dialog that appears, select the checkboxes for the types of information that you want to remove. You can then select the time frame to delete: If you want to clear everything, select "All time", else select the time in the past to delete from.
5. Click "Clear now" to clear cache.
6. Close the browser, open a new browser window and connect to the website.

To completely clear your browser cache in Chrome:

1. Click the Chrome menu Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
2. Select Tools.
3. Select Clear browsing data.
4. In the dialog that appears, select the checkboxes for the types of information that you want to remove.
5. Use the menu at the top to select the amount of data that you want to delete. Select beginning of time to delete everything.
6. Click Clear browsing data.
7. Close the browser, open a new browser window and connect to the website.

To completely clear your browser cache in Firefox:

1. At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button and then select Options
2. Select the Advanced panel.
3. Click on the Network tab.
4. In the Cached Web Content section, click Clear Now.
5. Click OK to close the Options window
6. Close the browser, open a new browser window and connect to the website.

To completely clear your browser cache in Safari:

1. Click Safari in the upper-left corner of the main menu bar, and select the Preferences option near the top of the drop-down menu.
2. Click the Advanced tab located in the top navigation bar and check the box directly to the left of the Show Develop menu in menu bar option to add the menu to Safari by default.
3. Click the Develop menu near the middle of the main Safari menu bar and select the Empty Caches option.

To completely clear your browser cache in Opera:

1. Click the main Opera button in the upper-left corner of the browser window and select the Settings option from the drop-down menu.
2. Click the Privacy & security panel located on the left-hand side of the resulting window and click the gray Clear browsing data... button within the Privacy section near the top of the page.
3. Check the box directly to the left of the Empty the cache option near the bottom of the resulting pop-up window, along with any other browser data you wish to clear.
4. Select the beginning of time option from the drop-down menu.
5. Click the gray Clear browsing data button in the bottom-right corner of the window.

Other Problems Viewing iDashboards in the Browser

Because a browser is the end point of a network connection between your computer and the iDashboards server, there may be configurations by your Internet provider (in particular if the provider is a corporate or governmental network) that could adversely effect the interface. These may include the following:

• Locked-Down Computers: Some environments may have strict control over the kinds of changes that can be made on a computer, particularly in a business, educational, or government environment. This may include the ability to clear a browser cache or updating a browser version. In these cases you may need to speak with your network's administrator about getting the required authorization or having the appropriate actions taken to update your browser environment.
• Locked-Down Networks: Some networks use items such as firewalls, NAT, or whitelists/blacklists that prohibit access to specific websites or services. You may need to contact your network administrator to see if access to the iDashboards service is being prohibited. Some network restrtictions may include restricting certain files such as javascript files: Consult with your network administrator if you encounter errors caused by network restrictions.
• Proxy Servers: Some networks use a proxy server to act as a buffer between the Internet and a local network. Proxies allow network administrators to improve performance by locally caching Internet requests, and to catch and prevent network problems such as trojans or viruses. The use of a proxy may inhibit some files from downloading to the browser, or the proxy may be caching older file versions and sending it to your browser instead of the newer version. Proxy servers do update with newer files, and many times the update will download over time. If you need the update faster, contact your network administrator about clearing the proxy cache or temporarily disabling it to allow the new files to download.
• Ad blockers/script blockers: Modern browsers allow plugin functionality to block advertisements or prevent javascript execution in the browser. While ad blockers and script blockers create a safer browsing environment, they may interact with proper function of iDashboards' HTML5 interface. Add the following domain to your blocker's "Allow" list: 'idashboard.hbg.psu.edu': Adding the domain will bypass the ad or script blocker when displaying in the browser.