Plan browser support (Windows SharePoint Services)
Applies To: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
Topic Last Modified: 2011-11-07
Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 is compatible with commonly used browsers. Supported functionality, however, varies among browsers.
In this article:
About browser support
Levels of browser support
Feature-specific compatibility list by Web browser
About browser support
Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 supports several Web browsers that are commonly used. However, there are certain browsers that might cause some Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 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 Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, we recommend that you review the browsers used in your organization to ensure optimal performance with Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.
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, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 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 Web browsers for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 with SP2 are as follows:
Windows Internet Explorer 6.x (32-bit)
Windows Internet Explorer 7.x (32-bit)
Windows Internet Explorer 8.x (32-bit) (includes running in compatibility mode)
Windows Internet Explorer 9.x (32-bit) (includes running in compatibility mode)
Level 1 Web browsers for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 original release and Service Pack 1 (SP1) are as follows:
Internet Explorer 6.x (32-bit)
Internet Explorer 7.x (32-bit)
Note
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, ActiveX controls are supported only in level 1 browsers. In addition, there are functionality differences between different browsers. As a result, there might be a user experience that is different from that in level 1 browsers.
Level 2 Web browsers for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 with SP2 are listed in the following table.
| Browser | Windows | Linux/Unix | Macintosh OSX Leopard |
|---|---|---|---|
Internet Explorer 7.x (64-bit) |
X |
||
Internet Explorer 8.x (64-bit) |
X |
||
Internet Explorer 9.x (64-bit) |
X |
||
Firefox 3.x |
X |
X |
X |
Safari 3.x |
X |
Level 2 Web browsers for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 original release and Service Pack 1 (SP1) are listed in the following table.
| Browser | Windows | Linux/Unix | Macintosh OSX |
|---|---|---|---|
Firefox 1.5 |
X |
X |
X |
Mozilla 1.7 |
X |
||
Netscape Navigator 7.2 |
X |
||
Netscape Navigator 8.1 |
X |
||
Safari 2.0 |
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.
Feature-specific compatibility listed by Web browser
The following table lists more specific feature compatibilities by browser for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 with Service Pack 2 (SP2). The compatibility is listed as either completely compatible (Y) or not compatible (N). Detailed notes for some entries are provided immediately following the table.
| Feature | Internet Explorer 7.x (64-bit) | Internet Explorer 8.x (64-bit) | Firefox 3.x | Safari 3.x |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Date picker control |
N(1) |
N(1) |
N(1) |
N(1) |
Microsoft Office Visio 2007 diagram creation |
N(2) |
N(2) |
N(2) |
N(2) |
Microsoft Office InfoPath 2007 integration |
N(3) |
N(3) |
N(3) |
N(3) |
Single sign-on |
N(4) |
N(4) |
N(4) |
N(4) |
Presence information |
N(5) |
N(5) |
N(5) |
N(5) |
Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 integration |
N(6) |
N(6) |
N(6) |
N(6) |
Web discussions |
N(7) |
N(7) |
N(7) |
N(7) |
Spreadsheet and Database integration |
N(8) |
N(8) |
N(8) |
N(8) |
Slide library and Office PowerPoint 2007 integration |
N(9) |
N(9) |
N(9) |
N(9) |
Rich Text Editor field |
N(10) |
N(10) |
N(10) |
N(10) |
Datasheet view |
N(11) |
N(11) |
N(11) |
N(11) |
File upload and copy |
N(12) |
N(12) |
N(12) |
N(12) |
Core functionality |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
My Colleagues and My Site |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Workflow features |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Dynamic content refresh |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
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) Users will usually encounter ActiveX date pickers on list item forms. For level 2 Web browsers, users must type dates into the date fields.
(2) Users will see this feature when they are viewing a SharePoint list by clicking the Actions menu, and then by clicking Create Visio Diagrams. Microsoft Office Visio 2007 must be installed on the client computer. This feature is not supported in level 2 Web browsers.
(3) If a user wants to re-link or merge InfoPath forms that are contained in a form library, the user can use the Merge Documents command. Users who have a level 2 Web browser must manually open and edit the documents.
(4) Single sign-on enables the credentials for authenticated users to be reused during the current session. Not supported in level 2 Web browsers.
(5) When a user opens presence status, the user can see the methods available to contact another user. Presence information is available from the People Picker Web control. Not supported in level 2 Web browsers.
(6) Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 integration:
If a user wants to upload multiple pictures in a picture library, the user must upload pictures one at a time by using Upload.aspx.
If a user wants to edit a picture in a picture library, the user must download the picture, edit it, and then upload the picture back to the picture library.
If a user wants to download more than one picture from a picture library, the user must download the pictures one at a time by clicking on the picture link.
If a user wants to edit a Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007 slide, the user must click directly on the link on the slide name.
(7) Web discussions are deprecated and are only supported in Internet Explorer.
(8) Spreadsheet and database integration:
Enables users to export a SharePoint list to Microsoft Access. On the Actions menu, click Open with Access. Microsoft Access must be installed on the client computer. Not available in level 2 Web browsers.
Enables users to open or edit a Microsoft Office document. On the Edit menu for documents, the icon and name of an associated Microsoft Office program is displayed. Microsoft Office must be installed on the client computer. To edit a document, users who have level 2 Web browsers can click the document.
Document version control. In a list that requires a document to be checked out for editing, the user can click the document or the Edit menu. Microsoft Office must be installed on the client computer. Users who have level 2 Web browsers must click the document. To edit the document, the user must check out the file in the client application. To save the changes, the user must check the file in after the edits are complete.
Export to spreadsheet. Users can export a SharePoint list as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet by clicking Export to Spreadsheet on the List Actions menu. Microsoft Office must be installed on the client computer. Not available in level 2 Web browsers.
Import from spreadsheet. Users can import a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to create a new SharePoint list. On the Site Actions menu, click Create, and then, in the Custom Lists section, click Import Spreadsheet. Microsoft Office must be installed on the client computer. Not available in level 2 Web browsers.
(9) Slide library and Office PowerPoint 2007 integration:
Delete slide. Feature enables users to delete slides. Users who have level 2 Web browsers must click the slide, and then click Delete Slide. Repeat for each slide.
Copy slide to presentation. Feature enables users to add a slide to an Office PowerPoint 2007 presentation. Microsoft Office must be installed on the client computer. Not available in level 2 Web browsers.
Publish slide. Feature enables users to upload a single slide from an Office PowerPoint 2007 presentation to a slide library. Microsoft Office must be installed on the client computer. Not available in level 2 Web browsers.
(10) ActiveX controls are only supported in Internet Explorer Web browsers. Users who have level 2 Web browsers must manually enter HTML formatting.
(11) Microsoft Office list datasheet. Feature is used to display and perform actions on a list in grid view. Not available in level 2 Web browsers.
(12) File upload and copy control:
Multiple file upload control requires that Microsoft Office be installed on the client computer. Users who have level 2 Web browsers must upload documents one at a time.
Copy to control enables users to copy files from one document library to another, and includes options to be notified if the source document has changed. Users who have level 2 Web browsers can use the Copy.aspx Web page, but must copy one file at a time.
The following table lists more specific feature compatibilities by browser for the Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 original release and Service Pack 1. The compatibility is listed as either completely compatible (Y) or not compatible (N). Detailed notes for some entries are provided immediately following the table.
| Feature | Firefox 1.5 | Mozilla 1.7 | Netscape Navigator 7.2 | Netscape Navigator 8.1 | Safari 2.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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) |
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.
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