Enabling Compatibility View in IE8

[dudwell]

I'd like to be able to see the road conditions map at www.trafficengland.com. Apparently "Compatibility View" should be checked in IE8 but it's greyed out and the button that's supposed to be to the left of "Refresh" doesn't appear either. Any very simple tips gratefully received. I'm using Windows XP.

[Glenn]

2. Go back to the future with Compatibility View
In the bad, not-so-old days before Internet Explorer followed Web standards as closely as it does now, many Web developers designed their sites to display correctly in Internet Explorer, using IE's proprietary layout methods. In IE8, these sites typically display with some elements overlapping others or with similar layout errors. Make those sites appear as their designers intended by using Page | Compatibility View. You can make IE8 always display a site in Compatibility View by adding its address to Page | Compatibility View Settings.

Microsoft maintains a list of sites that need Compatibility View, and IE8 automatically switches to Compatibility View for sites on the list. You can tell if you're visiting one of those sites: Compatibility View will be grayed out on the Page menu. If you don't want IE8 to turn on Compatibility View automatically, go to Page | Compatibility View Settings and clear the check box next to Include updated website lists from Microsoft. The list is updated monthly, and you can find the current list (in Excel format) by searching the Web for "Windows Internet Explorer 8 Compatibility View List." The download page should be near the top of the list of hits.

[dudwell]

Thank you Glenn. I suppose Traffic England must be one of those sites where IE8 automatically switches to Compatibility View. The map(s) never stop loading. Maybe the website is simply overloaded - understandable at the present time.I'll keep trying!

[Glenn]

I tried to open the site, it loaded, but when I selected a region to view, it hung. I gave up after waiting 2 minutes to load. Like you say, the site maybe overloaded at present.

[dudwell]

What a feeble site, to give up just when it's needed! Never mind, I shall activate Plan B instead.

Plan B - stay at home in the warm.

Snowing hard here in East Sussex. 

[JB]

What a feeble site, to give up just when it's needed!

It is a truly appalling site. I have tried to use it several times to track conditions when family members have been coming or going. It works great in summer when road conditions are fine. As soon as you need it in earnest, such as at the moment, it usually fails to respond or hangs without giving you the required info.

Another great British service. Useless!!   

[Rik]

I got an email from E.ON this morning asking me to read the meters as they couldn't get out to do them. When I tried to log in to their website, it just hung. 

[Glenn]

Scottish Powers site is working fine 

[Rik]

 

[john]

I usually use the BBC's Traffic Page

In the bottom left hand corner there are links to Traffic webcams which are updated regularly.

[JB]

I usually use the BBC's Traffic Page

Agreed. Much better.