NCES Frequently Asked Questions

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Select one of the Questions below to see the response.

Which browsers does the NCES website support?
What can I do to increase the speed with which I access your site?
What is a PDF file and what are the advantages of using this format?
What is a Zip file and what are the advantages of using Zip files?
What is "cache" memory?
How do I clear the cache on my browser?
What are cookies and how are they used on the NCES website?
How do I bookmark my favorite pages?
I bookmarked to a page within your site and now it does not work. Why?
Can I link to your site from my site?
How do I make the NCES website my start up page?
I am having problems connecting to one of your pages. When I do, my system locks up. What's going on?
How can I change my screen resolution?
When printing an NCES publication in PDF, all the words run together on paper, but everything looks fine on the screen. Is the error in your document or my printer?
I do not have a printer. Is there any other way to obtain NCES publications?
When I download a PDF file, my browser screen goes blank and I never see the file.
When I open a PDF file in my browser, Adobe Acrobat Reader says the file is damaged.
What if I want to bypass my browser's PDF plug-in when downloading and save directly to my hard drive?
I need some general troubleshooting advice for resolving print problems.
I entered a URL and I got back a message that said "HTTP Error 404 Not Found. The web server cannot find the file or script you asked for. Please check the URL to ensure that the path is correct." What should I do?
I'm fairly certain that the URL I entered is good but I'm not getting the page I expected. What did I do wrong?
What if I'm looking for a Publication/Data Product, but don't know the exact title, author, or NCES number?
What if I'm looking for a Publication/Data Product, and I have the exact title, but no matching titles are found?
What if I'm not really sure what I'm looking for, but I have some ideas?
How come when I do a search I only get 5 years worth of publications?
What if I'm just looking for tips for effective searching?
What is the best place to find tables and figures on education data??
If I am moving how can I find out about schools, colleges and libraries in other areas?
How do I stay at the forefront of what is going on in the work that NCES does?

FAQ Question and Answer

Question:
How can I change my screen resolution?

Response:
Screen resolution affects the size of the desktop in all operating systems. More icons, word-processing lines, spreadsheet cells, and larger graphics in graphic developing suites are displayed on the desktop using a higher resolution. Resolution can be displayed as 800x600 resolution and some prefer 1280x1024 pixels. Currently, the most common resolution is 1024x768 pixels. Seeing more on the desktop increases productivity by eliminating both some scrolling and switching back and forth between windows. Ultimately, adjusting screen resolution can sometimes reduce eyestrain or otherwise improve viewing.

To change the screen resolution in Windows 2000, XP, and 2003 do the following. Click the "Start" menu on the bottom left hand corner of your screen; select "Settings" and then "Control Panel." Double click the "Display" icon; click the "Settings" tab; click and hold down the left mouse button on the selector in the "Desktop Area" section. Move the selector to the left or the right to decrease or increase desktop size respectively.

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