Haywood Community College

Distance Learning Help Desk

Plug-ins, Players & Viewers

Browsers often use plug-ins and other helper applications to help them display Web documents. If you encounter an element (such as video or animation) that requires one of these helpers, you may see a message that your browser isn't equipped for that content type. Viewers are required to display certain file formats, such as a PowerPoint slide show. Below are common plug-ins, players, and viewers that are used on the Web in general, and that may also be used in your online course.

• Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free, and freely distributable, software package that lets you view and print Portable Document Format (PDF) files.
  
  
• Apple Quicktime player is for viewing video in Apple's QuickTime format. This player works with over 30 audio, video and image formats.
  
  
• CutePDF Writer will convert files to PDF (Portable Document Format).
  
  
• Java allows certain programs, including some Blackboard applications, to run.
  

• OpenOffice.org is a multiplatform and multilingual office suite and an open-source project. Compatible with all other major office suites, this product is free to download, use, and distribute. If you don't have Microsoft Office products on your computer, this resource may help you.
  
  
• PowerPoint 2003 Viewer is for viewing and printing PowerPoint presentations. Download this if you do not already have PowerPoint installed on your computer.
  
  
• ReadPlease offers a free version of text-to-speech software. If you are visually impaired and do not already own such software, this program may fit your needs.
  
  
• Real Player is for streaming audio and video content.
  
  
• Shockwave (Flash Player) is for viewing interactive content in various Macromedia formats.
  
  
• Windows Media Player plays most Windows media and other streaming formats.