About browser support
Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 supports several Web browsers that are commonly used. However, there are certain browsers that might cause some Office SharePoint Server 2007 functionality to be downgraded, limited, or available only through alternative steps. In some cases, functionality might be unavailable for noncritical administrative tasks.
As part of planning your deployment of Office SharePoint Server 2007, we recommend that you review the browsers used in your organization to ensure optimal performance with Office SharePoint Server 2007.
Levels of browser support
Web browser support is divided into two levels: level 1 and level 2. Although administrative tasks on SharePoint sites are optimized for level 1 browsers, Office SharePoint Server 2007 also provides support for other browsers that are commonly used. To ensure that you have complete access to all the functionality, we recommend that you use a level 1 browser for administrative tasks.
Level 1 Web browsers
Level 1 Web browsers take advantage of advanced features provided by ActiveX controls and provide the most complete user experience. Level 1 browsers offer full functionality on all SharePoint sites, including the SharePoint Central Administration Web site. Level 1 browsers are:
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Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.x (32-bit) |
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Windows Internet Explorer 7.x (32-bit) |
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Level 1 browser support is only available for computers running the Windows operating system. |
Level 2 Web browsers
Level 2 Web browsers provide basic functionality, so that users can both read and write in SharePoint sites and perform site administration. However, because ActiveX controls are supported only in level 1 browsers and due to the functionality differences within different browsers, a different user experience might be provided and there could be some variances from the user experience from the level 1 browsers. Level 2 browsers are listed in the following table.
Firefox 1.5 |
X |
X |
X |
Mozilla 1.7 |
X |
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Netscape Navigator 7.2 |
|
X |
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Netscape Navigator 8.1 |
X |
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Safari 2.0 |
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X |
If a browser is not listed in either level 1 or level 2, it is not supported. For example, older browsers — such as Internet Explorer 5.01, Internet Explorer 5.5x, Internet Explorer for Macintosh, and versions of third-party Web browsers that are earlier than the ones listed as level 2 browsers — are not supported.
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Feature-specific compatibility listed by Web browser
The following table lists more specific feature compatibilities by browser. The compatibility is listed as either completely compatible (Y) or not compatible (N). Detailed notes for some entries are provided immediately following the table.
Connect to Outlook/Client |
Y (1) |
Y (1) |
Y (1) |
Y (1) |
Y (1) |
Context menu |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Drag and Drop (of Web Parts) |
Y (2) |
Y (2) |
Y (2) |
Y (2) |
Y (2) |
Edit in Datasheet view |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Edit In (Microsoft Office application) |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Explorer view |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
List attachments |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N (3) |
Multiple file upload |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
New Document |
Y (4) |
Y (4) |
Y (4) |
Y (4) |
Y (4) |
Part to Part Connections |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
People Picker |
Y (5) |
Y (5) |
Y (5) |
Y (5) |
Y (5) |
Rich text Toolbar |
N (6) |
N (6) |
N (6) |
N (6) |
N (6) |
Send To |
Y (7) |
Y (7) |
Y (7) |
Y (7) |
Y (7) |
Web Discussions |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Web Part menu |
Y (8) |
Y (8) |
Y (8) |
Y (8) |
Y (8) |
Export to Spreadsheet |
Y (9) |
Y (9) |
Y (9) |
Y (9) |
Y (9) |
Date Picker Control |
N(10) |
N(10) |
N(10) |
N(10) |
N(10) |
Summary Links Web Part |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y (11) |
Excel Calculation Services |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
N |
Slide Library |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Excel Web Access |
Y(12) |
N |
Y(12) |
Y(13) |
N |
Open in Excel |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Open Snapshot |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Sorting and Filtering (Excel Services) |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Signing forms (Forms Server) |
Y (14) |
Y (14) |
Y (14) |
Y (14) |
Y (14) |
Rich Text (InfoPath) |
N (15) |
N (15) |
N (15) |
N (15) |
N (15) |
Rich text editing in Forms Server forms |
N |
N |
N |
N |
N |
Table Key:
Y - Compatible. All or most aspects of the user experience are equivalent. See Numbered Notes for any differences in user experience.
N - Not compatible. Item either is not available from the menu or will not function. Unless otherwise noted, this feature requires ActiveX controls, which run only in Internet Explorer.
Numbered Notes:
(1) These browsers will use the Connect to Client menu item on the Actions menu. This will open a client application that is registered to handle the stssync:// protocol, such as Microsoft Outlook.
(2) Web Parts cannot be placed by using drag and drop. You must click edit on the Web Part, select Modify Web Part, and select the zone from the Layout section of the Web Part properties page.
(3) This functionality is not supported because of an issue with the browser.
(4) Although the New button will not work, you can use the Upload Document button.
(5) Does not convert DOMAIN\Username to display name. If the name is not recognized, an error will be displayed.
(6) The toolbar will not be displayed; however, you can use HTML tags to display styled text. A link to a Help topic that describes the HTML tags supported will be provided under the rich-text field.
(7) With these browsers, and with Internet Explorer without the Microsoft Office client application installed, files cannot be sent from one farm to another farm. For files sent from a server to another server in the same farm, ASPX pages will be used instead of Windows dialog boxes.
(8) The drop-down list menu (triangle on the side of the control) has a different user experience, but the functionality is similar.
(9) This feature might work properly in these browsers. It downloads a file that has the .iqy extension to the browser. If Microsoft Office Excel is not installed, and no other application is configured to open this file, this feature will not work.
(10) Users can still enter dates into the date fields.
(11) When you click for a new link, the pop-up dialog box is the wrong size and the OK and Cancel buttons are partially obscured.
(12) You cannot sort or filter Pivot Tables. There is no work around for this.
(13) The Navigator 8.1 browser must be configured to render in Internet Explorer mode. For more information about switching modes, see the browser documentation.
(14) You cannot sign documents, but you can view signatures.
(15) The rich text is read-only by default. If you try to edit the text, all rich-text formatting is lost. |