Mozilla Firefox is the strongly recommended browser for use in the COIN65 CSS for Web Design course. Firefox is CSS standards compliant and works with some of the best web developer tools currently available which we will be using in this course. If you don't already have Firefox installed on your computer, follow these instructions to download and install it for free. If you do have Firefox already installed, proceed to the next page for information on installing the Web Developer Toolbar Open in a New Window extension.

Most computers in the Foothill College computer labs have Firefox installed if you cannot install it on your own system.

Downloading Firefox

1. Before downloading, make sure your computer meets the system requirements for running Firefox.

Windows

Minimum System Requirements:

  • 233 Mhz processor
  • 64 MB of RAM
  • 50 MB of free disk space
  • Microsoft Windows 98

Mac

Minimum System Requirements:

  • PowerPC G3 processor
  • 128 MB of RAM
  • 75 MB of free disk space
  • Mac OS X 10.2.x

Mozilla recommends:

  • 500 Mhz processor
  • 256 MB of RAM
  • 100 MB of free disk space
  • Microsoft WindowsXP

Mozilla recommends:

  • PowerPC G4 or Intel processor
  • 512 MB of RAM
  • 150 MB of free disk space

DOM Inspector
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2. Using your current browser, click this link to go to the Mozilla Firefox download Open in a New Window web page. Under the Firefox 2.0.0.x heading, click the appropriate operating system link to begin the download process. Save the download file to disk.

3. Select a location in your computer's directory structure to save the Firefox installation file, then click Save. The file will download to the selected location. When the download is complete, locate the saved file on your computer, then launch the file to start the installation process.

Firefox Download Dialog Box
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4. The Mozilla Firefox Setup window appears. Close any open applications including your current browser, then click Next.

5. When Firefox is launched, you will be asked if you want Firefox to be your default browser. Answer according to your personal situation. It will not make any difference either way in this course although it may be more convenient for viewing your work from your code editing software if Firefox is the default.

6. Click "Go to my home page".

Import Bookmarks/Favorites and Settings From Another Browser

From the Firefox File menu, choose Import.

In the Import Wizard, follow the instructions and select the items you want to import from your other browser(s) into Firefox. You can import settings at any time but it will probably be easier to work with Firefox if you import such things as Favorites/Bookmarks now.

Further Firefox Information

For more information on Firefox features and its use, go to the Firefox Features Open in a New Window page.

Next we will be downloading and installing the Web Developer's Toolbar extension. Instructions are on the next page.