Page contents last updated on 19 July 2008

Help using this website

 

Please note that Narcotics Anonymous has no affiliation with any software or hardware vendors, ISP's and Internet hosts mentioned on this page.

   

On this page we hope to help you solve some problems you might experience when using our website.
If you came here needing help regarding drug problems, go to our contact page >

Links to areas below:

  • I cannot find the page I'm looking for
  • I seem to get old pages whereas I'm expecting to see new updates
  • Your website looks broken up
  • When I click on an e-mail link or a map, it doesn't work
  • I've saved one of your web pages, but when I try to use it, it doesn't work
  • When I click on a link to view a document, spreadsheet or presentation on this site, it doesn't work
  • When I click on a link to listen to a recording, it doesn't work
  • I have questions regarding the forums.

 

I cannot find the page I'm looking for.

At the bottom of most pages, you will see a link called site map. Click on it to see a "map" of our website.

 

I seem to get old pages whereas I'm expecting to see new updates.

WINDOWS users: Click on your browser's Refresh button or press the "F5" button on your keyboard.
If you still see an old version of the page, force-refresh by pressing "Control" and "F5" simultaneously.

MAC users: Click on your browser's Refresh button or press the "Command (Apple)" and "R" buttons on your keyboard simultaneously.
If that doesn't work, you need to force-refresh: Safari users, press "Alt", "Command (Apple)" and "R" simultaneously; Firefox users, press "Shift", "Command (Apple)" and "R" simultaneously.

If you still see an old version, it may well be that no-one sent us any updates yet ;-)

 

Your website looks 'broken'.

You're probably using a very old or obscure web browser. However, despite its appearance, the website should still be functional, touch wood.

For the latest free browsers you may want to try these linksFirefox 3, Safari 3 or Explorer 7 (Windows only).

 

When I click on an e-mail link, or on the meetings maps, it doesn't work.

Mm.. maybe someone disabled JavaScript functionality in your browser. Go to the Tools* menu, choose Options and enable "Scripting" or "JavaScript".

*Mac users, go to Safari menu > Preferences, or Firefox menu > Preferences > Content

If you prefer having JavaScript off, our e-mail address is website (insert the "at" symbol) na.org.za . The reason we use JavaScript to display our e-mail links is to avoid "spammers" harvesting our e-mail address and abusing it.

If the e-mail link still doesn't work:

Are you in an Internet café? They usually do not have e-mail programmes set up (for security reasons). Or maybe you just haven't set up yours yet – Windows users, look for Outlook, Outlook Express or Thunderbird; Mac users, look for Mail, Entourage, or Thunderbird.

If you ARE in a public place, you may try setting up a web-based e-mail account (meaning you do not need an e-mail programme to use it, only your web browser, e.g. Explorer or Safari ) if you do not already have one. Examples of free, web-based e-mail accounts are Gmail and Yahoo!.

If you have an Internet account, you often can set up a free e-mail account with your ISP (Internet Service Provider), such as MWeb, Telkom, Uninet etc., by going to their website.

'Course, you could always just phone us ;-)

 

I've saved one of your web pages, but when I try to open it, it doesn't work.

You probably wanted to add that page to your favourites (bookmarks), but instead you saved the actual page on your computer, right?

Pages containing registration forms, order forms and forum pages will not work. Same goes for links that lead to pages outside the NA South Africa site. Go to the original page on our website by typing www.na.org.za in your browser and click on "Go" or press "Enter" on your keyboard. Remember to check that you're online :-)

 

When I click on a link to view a document on this site, it doesn't work.

It may take a while for some documents on our website to load, so it may seem like nothing is happening for a while.

Or, the document is downloading to your hard disk instead – this happens especially with Office documents. Check your default download folder to find it (usually your desktop).

If still nothing happens after a while:

  1. PDF's: Some very old computers may not have the programme installed that is needed to read these documents. The programme is called Adobe Reader (previously Adobe Acrobat Reader) and it is free of charge. If you do not have the time to download it (if you use a dial-up modem, it may take an hour to download), ask your nearest PC shop or IT manager to give you a copy.

    Mac OS X users have a built-in reader called Preview, so you shouldn't experience any problems .

  2. The same goes for any Word (.doc), PowerPoint (.ppt) or Excel (.xls) documents found on this site.

    To view them, you will need one of the following Office-like programmes:
  3. *We do not recommend downloading these programmes or suites, unless you have a true broadband Internet connection. Rather get them from providers listed on their websites.

  4. Office Open XML* documents (.docx), presentations (.pptx) and workbooks (.xlsx) are Microsoft formats introduced since Microsoft Office 2007 for Windows and Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac.

    *Not to be confused with the OpenDocument format (.odt, .odp, .ods), supported by most free and Open Source Office suites.

    To view Office Open XML files, you will need one of the following Office-like programmes (at the time of writing – 19 July 2008):

    Or you can download one of several filters available for your Office suite – see the list on Wikipedia's Office Open XML page.

When I click on a link to listen to a recording, it doesn't work.

  1. Probably because the MP3 file you want to listen to is still downloading, and your MP3 player is set to only play the track once the complete track has downloaded. If you use a dial-up modem, you may have to be patient. To see whether the MP3 is still downloading, watch the progress bar.

  2. Another possibility is that your computer is not set up to play sound at all, meaning you need a sound card and/or speakers. Also, be sure that your speakers are switched on, the volume is up, and the speakers are plugged into both your wall socket and your computer.

  3. A remote possibility is that someone deleted the programme from your hard disk.

Here are some popular, free MP3 players you may want to download:
WINDOWS users: iTunes, Winamp or Windows Media Player.
MAC users: iTunes or QuickTime

I have questions about the Forums.

Try the Forum Tips page. You will find a link to it near the top of every Forum page.

 

Still have problems? We may soon have a page titled "Help using the Help page". In the meantime, feel free to e-mail us at

 

To change details on this page, please send them (together with your town/city and NA area affected) to


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