e-Start — How to Use e-Start

Group of young adults huddled around a computer

How to Use e-Start

e-Start has been developed in consultation with small businesses right across Western Australia. Consequently, in recognising the various levels of adoption of e-Commerce and the wide range of e-Commerce goals, it has been designed to meet these varying needs.

To this end, e-Start allows the flexibility for users to enter, exit and complete as much of the program as is appropriate to their individual requirements.

This section outlines the key features of e-Start, where you should commence based on your current level of knowledge and how to navigate around the program. You are strongly advised to read through the answers to each of the questions below before commencing e-Start.

What’s on the e-Start opening screen? >>

Where do I start? >>

How do I navigate through e-Start? >>

How is the e-Start learning experience structured? >>

What should I do if I have technical difficulties using e-Start? >>

What should I do if I have difficulty understanding the information in e-Start? >>

To commence the e-Start Program click the e-Start Home icon below and you will be returned to the opening screen. From the opening screen choose Start Program.

What’s on the e-Start opening screen?

Horizontal Menu Bar

The e-Start opening screen has the following key options located on the horizontal bar at the top of the screen.

The following provides a brief outline of each option:

This option provides you with information about the e-Start initiative and what it is designed to achieve. Before commencing e-Start we recommend that you select this option to ensure that the program is relevant to your needs.

The How to Use e-Start option is the section you are reading now. It provides an outline of the key features of e-Start, its structure and layout, guidelines on where you should start the program and details on how to navigate your way around. It is strongly recommended that first time users read this section carefully before commencing the e-Start program.

This option gives an overview of the entire e-Start program and what is covered in each section. It has a print facility that is printer friendly, allowing you to print the content outlines of each section of the program.

This option takes you to the main menu of the e-Start program and you can begin your learning experience. First time users should ensure they have read “All About e-Start” and “How to Use e-Start” before selecting this option.

This option provides a comprehensive list of definitions of terms used in e-Start. Using this option you can conduct an alphabetic search for a specific term. You can also select words within e-Start that are underlined to be taken to the glossary definition of that word.

This option provides a list of internet links to a range of resources to help small business adopt e-Commerce.

When you have completed e-Start we would greatly appreciate your feedback. This option provides an online questionnaire for you to complete. Your feedback will be very valuable for the ongoing improvement of e-Start.

Main Text Section

In the main part of the opening screen there are three main options as shown below:

These buttons perform the same functions as they do on the horizontal menu bar. They are provided in this format to ensure first time users have a simple sequence to follow, that is, firstly complete All About e-Start, secondly, How to use e-Start and finally, you are ready to use Start Program.

Bookmark
As you work your way through e-Start you will notice the following line of text on the main menu pages:

Last page visited: xxxxxxxxxxxx

This is called a bookmark and it indicates the last place (or page) you were reading (visiting). If you have not used e-Start before, the last page visited will not be displayed. If you leave the e-Start program and subsequently return, the Last page visited will indicate the page you were reading when you exited the program. Simply click on the Last page visited link (in yellow text) and you will be taken to the appropriate page.

To Turn Audio Off/On:

The following Audio icon is located in the top left corner of every screen.

Simply click on this icon to switch the voice on or off. When you have switched the audio off, it will remain off until you switch it back on again and vice-versa. If you wish to replay the audio, click the icon to switch it off, and then click the icon again to switch it on. The audio will now start to play. e-Start has audio included on the opening screen, main options, overview pages and the exit screen.

Once you have played the audio for a specific page it will automatically switch OFF for that page avoiding repeated voiceovers for pages you have already visited. If you wish to listen to the audio for pages you are revisiting, simply click on the audio icon ON and the voice over will be replayed for the selected page.

To return to the Opening e-Start Screen:

Once you have left the opening e-Start screen by selecting an option, you can return directly by clicking on the following icon where it appears on every subsequent page.

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Where do I start?

e-Start has five main sections:

Sections 1, 2 and 3 give an overview of key e-Commerce concepts and are for beginners or those who wish to refresh their memory;
Section 4 provides a more detailed level of understanding of e-Commerce implementation and is appropriate to those small business operators who have completed sections 1, 2 and 3 or those who already have the knowledge presented in these sections; and
Section 5 is designed for those small businesses who would like to Chart their First Steps to e-Commerce. This section focuses on applying your knowledge of e-Commerce to your own business. You will identify where you are now in your online journey, where you want to be, and how you are going to get there.

When you select Start Program from the opening e-Start screen you will be presented with an outline of these sections. You should start with the section most appropriate to your current level of knowledge of e-Commerce.

Tip for Beginners: Start at Section 1 and work your way progressively through the program.

Completing e-Start

You can complete as much or as little of the e-Start program as meets your needs. You can also exit and re-enter e-Start at any place. The last place (page) you were at will be presented (bookmarked) on the opening screen of e-Start when you commence a new session. Simply click on the bookmark to resume from where you exited in your last session.

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How do I navigate through e-Start?

e-Start has two main navigation options:

The computer network menu and navigation buttons on the bottom of each page; and
The left side bar menu.

You can use either option or a combination of both, depending on your preference. Each option is described below.

Computer network menu and navigation buttons on the bottom of each page.

An example of the computer network menu is given below. This is the menu for Section 1 What is e-Commerce?

To use this menu, simply use your mouse to click on the topic of your choice. To select Overview you would click on the computer icon with the title Overview.

Located at the bottom of each page of e-Start are the page and section navigation buttons. The function of each is described below:

This button takes you to the next screen

Takes you to the previous screen in the sequence

Takes you to the next section eg If you are currently in Section 1, this will take you to the beginning of Section 2.

Takes you to the previous section eg If you are in Section 2, this will take you to the beginning of Section 1.

The left side bar menu

This menu is located down the left hand side of the screen and is available on all pages of e-Start. It provides a map of the e-Start program and allows you to go directly to any section or subsection that you choose. Generally speaking this menu is for more advanced users who are not working through the program sequentially but have targeted areas they wish to cover.

As you become more familiar with the structure of e-Start you may choose to use this menu option.

An example of the left side bar menu for Section 1 is provided below.

To view the details of each section, simply click on the section title eg Section 1. To select an item, click on the topic of your choice.

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How is the e-Start learning experience structured?

Each e-Start section has a consistent structure and format that includes:

A Section Overview- This provides a very brief outline of what is going to be covered in the section.
The Section Topics or Subsections- These provide the information about the key concepts presented in the section.
A Section Summary- Briefly reviews the key points and concepts presented in the section.
A Case Study- Sections 1 to 4 each include a relevant case study from the National Office for the Information Economy. All case studies are based on Western Australian small businesses.
A Test Your Knowledge Section- This section provides you with opportunity to review how much of the information presented in the section you can recall. This section is entirely optional and it¹s up to you whether you wish to complete the tests. The test results are simply for your own information and you can complete the tests as many times as you wish. Some users may decide to complete a specific Test Your Knowledge section to decide whether they should work through the section.
A Focus On Your Business Section- Each section of e-Start has a Focus on Your Business Section designed to help you apply what you have learnt about e-Commerce to your own business. This section is optional and particularly applicable to small business operators who would like some focus and guidance for completing initial research into how e-Commerce can be adopted into their own business.
If you choose to complete the Focus on Your Business sections, answer each question with your own business details. The information you enter will be automatically collated and presented as your personalised reports at the end of each Focus of Your Business section.
If you would like a comprehensive set of reports for your business, which will be presented in Section 5, ensure you complete the Focus on Your Business questions in all sections, providing as much detail as possible.
Please note that the information you enter about your business is stored on your computer and is not submitted to any organisation, nor used for any other purpose.

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What should I do if I have technical difficulties using e-Start?

If you are having technical difficulties using e-Start the most likely causes are:

Your computer hardware and connectivity (internet access) specifications are not high enough; or
You are using an incompatible or old web browser version.

Minimum Hardware Requirements

The following table outlines the minimum hardware and system specifications for e-Start:

Processor required	Pentium II 300Mhz or above
RAM required	128 Mb
Hard disk space required	10Mb free
Monitor and video card	15 inch screen, 16 bit colour & 8Mb card or above
Sound Card	Any Card will suffice
Video resolution	800 x 600
CD-ROM	Only if CD version is used
Modem speed and bandwidth	56K Modem or faster, if web version is used
Printing	Prints to standard Windows printer in 8.5″x11″ mode
Operating System	Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP

If you do not know how to check that your PC meets the minimum hardware requirements above click here to print the Minimum Hardware Specifications. You can then provide these to your computer supplier who should be able to advise you on whether your system meets these requirements.

Minimum Web Browser Standards

The following table outlines the minimum standards for web browsers:

Internet Explorer	I.E. 5.5 or above Please note: If you are using IE 6.0 the Windows version recommended by Microsoft is Windows XP.
Netscape	Netscape 6.2 or above.

To check your web browser version:

If you are using Internet Explorer- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Help option on the top menu bar and then click on About Internet Explorer (bottom of the list). The version of Internet Explorer you are using will be displayed in the information that appears.

If you are using Netscape- Open Netscape, click on the Help option on the top menu bar and then click on About Communicator. The version of Netscape you are using will be displayed.

If you do not have either Netscape 6.2 (or above) or Internet Explorer 5.5 or above you will need to update your web browser.

To update your browser version:

You can download an updated version of your browser free from the internet (note, this may take up to 1.5 hours to download).

Instructions for downloading an updated browser version from the internet:

If you are using Internet Explorer- Go to the website at:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/
and follow the download instructions on this site.
If you are using Netscape- Go to the website at:
http://home.netscape.com/download/1126101/10004-----_qual.html?cp=djun6x
and follow the download instructions on this site.

Adobe Acrobat Reader

You will also need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. This can be downloaded for free from the internet.

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

With appropriate PC hardware and connection to the internet, a suitable web browser (Netscape 6.2 or Internet Explorer 5.5) and Acrobat reader installed on your computer you are ready to view e-Start.

If you are still having technical difficulties please contact the SBDC webmaster at the following email address:

webmaster@sbdc.com.au

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What should I do if I have difficulty understanding the information presented in e-Start?

If you are having difficulty understanding the information presented in e-Start you are strongly advised to contact the e-Commerce specialist at the Small Business Development Corporation. The e-Commerce specialist may refer you to other resources, publications and / or introductory computer courses that may be more suitable for you. Once you have gained this base level of knowledge, you may then be ready to work through e-Start.

Contact the SBDC e-Commerce specialist on:

Tel: (08) 9220 0222
Fax: (08) 9325 3981
Country freecall hotline: 1800 199 125
info@sbdc.com.au