IE Tab for Chrome: Run Websites Designed for Internet Explorer

Introduction

Frustrated when you stumble upon a website that stubbornly insists on being viewed in Internet Explorer? You’re not alone. Many organizations, legacy applications, and older corners of the internet still rely on technologies that are exclusively compatible with the bygone era of Internet Explorer. Thankfully, there’s a solution that lets you access these websites without the hassle of switching browsers: the IE Tab Chrome extension.

IE Tab for Chrome acts as a bridge between the modern world of Chrome and the legacy requirements of Internet Explorer. It allows you to seamlessly render web pages using the Internet Explorer rendering engine directly within a Chrome tab. This means you can access those crucial websites requiring older technologies like ActiveX controls or specific plugins without the inconvenience of opening a separate browser. Businesses maintaining legacy systems, developers needing to test compatibility, and everyday users encountering stubbornly incompatible websites can all benefit from this handy extension.

IE Tab offers a straightforward solution for running Internet Explorer dependent websites within Chrome. Understanding its capabilities, configuration options, and potential limitations is important to achieve the best possible results. Let’s delve deeper into the world of IE Tab and discover how it can streamline your browsing experience.

Understanding IE Tab and Its Importance

To fully appreciate IE Tab, it’s helpful to understand a bit about the history of web browsers. Internet Explorer, once the dominant force in the browser landscape, gradually ceded ground to more modern and standards compliant alternatives, most notably Google Chrome. While newer browsers embraced evolving web standards and offered enhanced security features, many websites, particularly those developed years ago, remained tethered to Internet Explorer’s specific quirks and technologies.

The necessity of Internet Explorer stems from a reliance on outdated technologies. Many organizations, particularly those with established intranet systems or customized web applications, built their sites using Internet Explorer specific features like ActiveX controls, which are small, downloadable programs that enhance website functionality. Others rely on browser specific plugins that were never ported to Chrome or other modern browsers. These technologies, while outdated, are deeply embedded in these systems, making a complete overhaul both costly and time consuming.

The magic of IE Tab lies in its ability to utilize the Internet Explorer rendering engine within Chrome. It’s not merely displaying the page; it’s effectively creating a miniature Internet Explorer environment within your Chrome browser. The extension handles rendering using the original technology the website needs. IE Tab also allows you to select which compatibility mode you want to use.

This capability saves you the trouble of switching between browsers. Instead of opening Internet Explorer to access a specific website and then switching back to Chrome for your other browsing needs, you can handle everything within a single window.

Installing and Configuring the Internet Explorer Tab Extension

Getting started with IE Tab is remarkably easy. First, open the Chrome Web Store. Then, search for the extension using the term “IE Tab.” Locate the correct entry and click the “Add to Chrome” button. Chrome will ask for confirmation; click “Add extension” to finalize the installation. You’ll notice an IE Tab icon appear in your Chrome toolbar, signaling that the extension is ready to use.

Using the IE Tab button in your Chrome toolbar allows you to open web pages quickly. Manually entering a URL into the IE Tab interface directs the extension to render that page using the Internet Explorer engine.

However, the real power of IE Tab lies in its configuration options. The “Auto URL Filtering” feature is particularly useful. This allows you to define rules so that specific websites automatically open in IE Tab. To set this up, access the IE Tab options (usually by right clicking on the IE Tab toolbar icon and selecting “Options”). Here, you can add URLs to the filter list. For instance, you might specify that any URL containing “legacyapp.com” should automatically open in IE Tab. Wildcards, such as `*.legacyapp.com`, can be used to include all subdomains of a particular domain.

The URL filter list maintains an overview of all the URLs you have added. The Internet Explorer compatibility mode is important for getting the most out of the IE Tab extension. This setting enables you to emulate a specific version of Internet Explorer, such as IE7, IE8, IE9, IE10, or IE11. Choosing the correct compatibility mode is essential for ensuring that a website renders correctly. If a site was designed for Internet Explorer eight, for example, selecting IE eight compatibility mode within IE Tab will likely provide the best results.

It is important to understand how cookies are handled between Chrome and the IE Tab extension. Cookies from the Chrome browser might not automatically be shared with pages rendered using IE Tab. Consider this when logging into websites.

Using IE Tab Effectively: Tips and Best Practices

Even with its straightforward setup, IE Tab can sometimes present challenges. For example, if a page doesn’t render correctly, try experimenting with different Internet Explorer compatibility modes within the IE Tab settings. If the website relies heavily on ActiveX controls, you might need to ensure that ActiveX is enabled within IE Tab’s options. However, be mindful of the security implications of enabling ActiveX, as it can potentially expose your system to vulnerabilities. Only enable ActiveX if you trust the website you are visiting.

If a website displays an error message when opened in IE Tab, double check the URL filtering rules to ensure that the correct settings are applied. Also ensure that you are accessing a website that has not been sunsetted.

To optimize performance, avoid opening too many tabs simultaneously, as this can strain your system resources. Ensuring that both Chrome and IE Tab are running the latest versions helps reduce any unexpected issues. Reviewing the hardware acceleration settings can also improve rendering performance.

Remember that IE Tab is essentially running an older rendering engine, so exercise caution when accessing sensitive websites. Stick to using IE Tab on trusted websites to minimize the risk of encountering malicious content. Keeping IE Tab updated ensures that you’re benefiting from the latest security patches.

A handy trick is to use the right click context menu. Right clicking on a link will present you with an option to open the specific link in IE Tab.

Alternatives to IE Tab: A Brief Overview

While IE Tab is a very useful solution, it’s not the only option. Other approaches to running Internet Explorer websites on modern systems exist, including running a separate instance of Internet Explorer, setting up virtual machines, and using alternative browser extensions.

Running a separate Internet Explorer browser requires you to constantly switch between applications. Virtual machines are resource intensive. They create a virtual computer within your computer. Alternative IE emulator extensions exist in the Chrome Web Store, but can present their own limitations.

IE Tab offers a combination of simplicity and seamless integration. You don’t need to switch browsers or deal with complex virtual machine setups. The integration within Chrome makes it an efficient method.

Internet Explorer Tab for Developers

Internet Explorer Tab is useful for developers. Being able to test websites across different Internet Explorer versions helps ensure browser compatibility. It’s easy to debug Internet Explorer specific code in the IE Tab extension.

IE Tab can allow access to older intranet sites that are still crucial to workflow. IE Tab benefits developers who need to maintain older applications. It helps keep operations smooth.

Conclusion: Bridging the Compatibility Gap with IE Tab

IE Tab for Chrome is a valuable tool for anyone who needs to access websites designed for Internet Explorer. Whether you’re a business user navigating legacy systems, a developer testing website compatibility, or simply someone who occasionally encounters incompatible websites, IE Tab provides a simple and effective solution.

The best experience with the Internet Explorer Tab comes with understanding its features, configuring it to your needs, and using it safely. Explore the configuration settings to ensure the best experience.

As the web continues to evolve, the need to access legacy content will likely persist for some time. Tools like IE Tab will continue to play a critical role in bridging the compatibility gap, allowing users to seamlessly access valuable information and applications regardless of their underlying technology. So go ahead, give IE Tab a try, and unlock access to the forgotten corners of the internet, all within the convenience of your Chrome browser.