Browser Requirements

If you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 or later versions, or Mozilla Firefox for your browser, you should have no problems viewing our site. However, versions of Internet Explorer older than version 7 are known to have issues opening certain pdf documents. (Please note that Internet Explorer 7 requires the Windows XP or later operating system).

If you encounter problems opening a pdf file on our site, you should either upgrade to Internet Explorer 7 (or a later version when they become available) or install Mozilla Firefox. We have found no issues with Firefox opening pdf documents.

Adobe Acrobat

Web site documents are commonly posted in .html format. Documents in this format do not have fixed margins and page breaks. This creates margin- related problems when the files are printed. For this reason, the documents visitors to our site are most likely to print have been posted in .pdf (portable document file) format. (The Iowa DOT traffic count maps, available from the DOT site through a link on our site, also require the Adobe Acrobat Reader). Files saved in .pdf format are indicated by (.pdf) throughout our site. To open and print these files you must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your machine. This is a free download available from Adobe's Website.

If you encounter a problem opening a pdf document, first verify your browser is Internet Explorer version 7 or later, or Mozilla Firefox. (See the links in the first paragraph on this page). If you are using an older version of Adobe Acrobat you may need to uninstall it, and load a newer version. In general, Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0 or later should have no problems opening the pdf files on our site.

About our map files

Download times vary widely among the maps presented here. Generally, the more detail contained in the map image, the larger the file and the longer the download time.

Maps containing a high level of detail will require larger format paper if you attempt to print them. These maps often include small font print that will become unreadable if the map is reduced to fit on a small-format paper size such the 8.5" X 11" commonly used in home and office printers. (This is why the travel maps typically found at travel bureaus and in gas stations are printed on large paper). For this reason, you may find it necessary to zoom to a specific area of interest on the map and print the zoomed area only.

.DJVU formatted files

You will need the DJVU plugin to view maps stored on our server with the djvu file name extension. This free plugin is available from Celartem. Look for the free viewer downloads. These maps are generally created in black and white. They are reasonable in size for the home-user and images can be zoomed (right-click on the map image and follow the on-screen instructions). When an area of the map is zoomed to show additional detail, the zoomed area will print, excluding the remainder of the map

As a rule of thumb, color .djvu files are larger than black and white files, and therefore take longer to download. When a color file opens, you will find it displayed at a larger scale than its black and white counterpart. You may want to zoom to a scale below 100% for viewing on-screen. To zoom a .djvu file, just right-click anywhere on the image and follow the on-screen prompts.

.DJVU files may open a second instance of your browser. If this occurs, the "Back" button on the browser for the .djvu file will be grayed out and inoperative. After viewing the file, close the second instance browser to return to your primary Internet session.

.SID formatted files

Mr. SID files utilize a special formatting designed for maps and large drawings with a great deal of detail. They are similar to djvu files in that a special plugin is required to view them, and the files can be zoomed and panned. The Mr. SID plugin is available from www.lizardtech.com as a free download. Look for the "ExpressView (MrSID) Plug-in" link.

With the plugin added to your browser, .sid files will open with a small version of the map in the center of your screen. Place the mouse pointer over the map, and right click to open the pop-up menu. Among the features in the menu are options to zoom in and out of the map. Zoom to the level of detail you require. There is also a "pan" option in the menu that allows you to move your view on the map. As you pan off the initial image, the previously unviewed areas of the map will initially appear blurry. However when the pan is completed the map will automatically redraw the new areas which will then be displayed clearly.

Internet Explorer

If you use Microsoft Internet Explorer, the DJVU plugin works interactively with our map files. You can open, zoom, and print the files with no extra steps.

Mozilla Firefox

If you use the Mozilla Firefox browser, the process of viewing the maps is slightly more involved. When you click a DJVU file in Firefox, the browser will prompt you to save the file to your local drive. Once the file is saved, you can then view it as a local file, and should have no problems zooming or printing the file.