Confused about what changes are happening as a result of the new way the Department of Labor is developing automation? Well, you've come to the right page. We've compiled a list of FAQs regarding our web interface, which will for sure answer all of your questions! This page was last updated on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 11:20:35 AM. If you have already read these questions and answers, proceed to DOL Main Menu.

General FAQs

1) Do I need to do something different to get security access to the web applications?
2) Is the data I enter on the web going to update the data on the mainframe?
3) Can I be signed on to the web and be signed on to the mainframe at the same time?
4) Is the response time going to be slow like my internet connection at home?
5) Can anyone who knows our internet address get to our data using their internet connection?
6) When I print from the web, the web page sometimes comes out distorted. What can I do?
7) Which browser (Netscape, Internet Explorer) should I use?
8) Can I have more than one browser session open at one time?
9) What should my 'Home' button on my browser link to?
10) What is the best way to navigate to the different applications?

1. Q) Do I need to do something different to get security access to the web applications?
   A) No. Security for these new applications is handled by our internal security staff in the same way that it has always been handled. Initially, internal security will have a huge task to assign appropriate security to all of these new applications. Coordination will take place between career center managers, technical user staff, and internal security to make this a smooth transition.

2. Q) Is the data I enter on the web going to update the data on the mainframe?
   A) Yes. The data on the web is the same data that you would see on the 'green screen' mainframe. If you change it on the web, the changes are immediately seen on the mainframe.

3. Q) Can I be signed on to the web and be signed on to the mainframe at the same time?
   A) Yes. This is absolutely necessary since we still have many applications only accessible through the 'green screen'. If you are working with a Social Security Number of someone on the web, you will have to key their number into an application on the 'green screen' to see any data on the 'green screen'. We can't connect and pass the number from a web application to a 'green screen' application.

4. Q) Is the response time going to be slow like my internet connection at home?
   A) We do not anticipate that this will occur. At least not for the same reasons as your personal internet connection. We will have greater control of response time than you do with your personal connection. Data will not travel from remote location to remote location like normal internet connections. Instead, your data will transmit directly to our DOL host computer. Our telecommunications staff should have all of our career centers on T1 lines by the time we implement the high-volume applications. Other enhancements have already taken place to make response time as fast as possible.

5. Q) Can anyone who knows our internet address get to our data using their internet connection?
   A) They could get to our sign-on page if they know a special extension that would be part of the web address. They would then need to know a valid userid and password.

6. Q) When I print from the web, the web page sometimes comes out distorted. What can I do?
   A) Print as little as possible. Printer configurations and models are varied throughout the state. We can't fully control what the print will look like for every possible situation. Where possible, print from the 'inquiry' pages. The more input fields there are on a page, the more it will look distorted.

7. Q) Which browser (Netscape, Internet Explorer) should I use?
   A) It is recommended by our telecommunications staff that Internet Explorer be used, but Netscape is fine. Use the browser you feel most comfortable using. The main concern is not about what browser to use, but to make sure that you have a somewhat current version. To fully use our applications, you need version 4 or higher. Call our help desk if you have an older version.

8. Q) Can I have more than one browser session open at one time?
   A) Yes. Especially if you have the need to code DOT's many times during the day. You could leave the DOT Lookup page on the browser. You can minimize the browser when it is not needed. It is highly recommended that only one browser be used for updating. Results from updating with two browsers could be unpredictable. Also, do not open too many browsers. Your pc will work more slowly with each browser session or other pc application that you have running.

9. Q) What should my 'Home' button on my browser link to?
   A) It makes the most sense to have the DOL Main Menu be your 'Home' button destination. When you launch your browser, this will be the first page to appear. You can then proceed to the signon page. Any time during the day, you can then use the 'Home' button to return to the DOL Main Menu.

10. Q) What is the best way to navigate to the different applications?
    A) Use the links provided within each web page. Using the 'Back' and 'Forward' buttons on the browser menu bar can create confusion when you are updating data. Remember that you are not executing an application when you use those buttons. You are just viewing a history of web pages you have visited. Also, do not use bookmarks or favorites to link directly to applications. This can lead to unpredictable results. Bookmarks and favorites can be used to link to menus or web sites beyond DOL.

DOL Main Menu.