Calculator Problems

Weight Loss Calculator

There are generally four reasons why our users occasionally have problems with our calculators:

  1. Ad Blocking Software: You are using software designed to stop ads from appearing on our pages.
  2. Cache is Out-of-Date: Your PC has loaded an out-of-date version of a calculator from its memory or disk drive.
  3. Cookies Disabled: Cookies are not enabled on your PC.
  4. Bad Cookies: Cookies from previous use no longer contain appropriate data.

Section 1 - Ad Blocking Software

We agree that pop-up ads and ads with animated graphics that continually move, flash and flicker on your screen are obnoxious and distracting. We would never place such ads on our webpages. However, as soon as all users block ads, free websites will go away.

The only ad blocking software we know of that causes problems with our webpages in Norton Internet Security (NIS). It affects any webpage created with JavaScript, the code we use to make our calculators run.

NIS inserts Norton code into all of our pages, but most are simple enough that they still display in some distorted fashion. However, our calculators are complex and the insertion of the Norton code causes them to fail.

If you are using NIS with Ad Blocking turned on, you will get a blank page instead of a calculator. The only solution we know of is to go to the NIS screen and turn Ad Blocking off.

But that is only one of two steps you must perform; you must also clear cache of the old, broken page, as explained in Section 2.

Section 2 - Cache is Out-of-Date

All browsers cache copies of webpages that you have visited recently. This means that they are stored in your PC's memory or hard drive so that they can be loaded more quickly when you return to visit them again.

Sometimes, however, caching can create problems. For example, we may update one of our webpages in such a way that it becomes incompatible with other webpages that your PC has stored in cache. To solve this problem, you must clear your PC's cache of the old versions of the webpages.

If you do not know how to clear cache, you can check your browser's help files. Here are instructions for some of the more common browsers, though they may vary depending on what version you are using:

Internet Explorer Version 7:

  1. Click on Tools.
  2. Click on Internet Options.
  3. Under the General tab, Browser history heading, click on Delete.
  4. Under the Temporary Internet Files heading, click on Delete files.
  5. Click on Yes.
  6. Click on Close.
  7. Click on OK.
  8. Close the browser window and open a new one, then return to the webpage you wish to display.

Internet Explorer Version 6:

  1. Click on Tools.
  2. Click on Internet Options.
  3. Under the General tab, Temporary Internet files heading, click on Delete Files.
  4. Check the Delete all offline content box.
  5. Click on OK.
  6. Click on OK.
  7. Close the browser window and open a new one, then return to the webpage you wish to display.

Firefox Version 2:

  1. Click on Tools.
  2. Click on Options.
  3. Click on Advanced.
  4. Check the Network tab.
  5. Click on Clear Now.
  6. Click on OK.
  7. Close the browser window and open a new one, then return to the webpage you wish to display.

Netscape Version 7.2:

  1. Click on Edit.
  2. Click on Preferences.
  3. Click on the arrow by Advanced to open up the options list.
  4. Click on Cache.
  5. Click on Clear Cache.
  6. Click on OK.
  7. Close the browser window and open a new one, then return to the webpage you wish to display.

Section 3 - Cookies Disabled

Our calculators rely heavily on "cookies," little bits of data that are written to your hard drive. As you "surf the net" you will find that this is a very common practice.

We use cookies to keep track of the parameters you set. For example, your weight and whether you measure yourself in pounds, kilograms or stones. This way you don't have to enter these parameters each time you return to use our calculators.

We have performed a little test and it appears that cookies are enabled on your browser. Continue with Section 4.

Section 4 - Bad Cookies

Sometimes cookies end up missing or containing bad data and it is best to delete them and get a fresh start. But before taking that step, it is a good idea to try a fresh copy of our calculator to be sure that deleting the cookies is really necessary.

  1. If you have not already done so, clear cache as described in Section 2.

    Note: Completing the following step and deleting the cookies will delete any items you have entered with the Add Foods feature of the Food Calculator.

  2. If the problems persist, click on Clear Cookies to delete the cookies.
  3. Close the browser window and open a new one, then return to the webpage you wish to display.

Still Need Help?

E-mail us and we will assist you. Please provide the following information:

  1. Is this your first visit to our website, or have you used the calculator(s) before?
  2. What calculator are you having problems with?
  3. Describe what happened when it failed and what was on your screen.
  4. Did an error message pop up on your screen? What did it say?
  5. What browser are you using? If you're not sure, click on your browser's Help link, and then on