New issue - SMART Response Teacher Tools Loading up Blank

[Randy Tran]

Hi everyone,

 

Just a heads up that Adobe just released a new version of Flash player for Firefox (10.2.152.26); installing this version of Flash player will BREAK the teacher tools.

 

New edited instructions (February 17, 2011):  We've released the Response 3.0 SP1 software, and I can personally verify (had it on several computers in our test labs) that the Flash 10.2 will not affect this new version of SMART Response.  Unfortunately, the MSI files are still in testing, so those are not out yet, and if you do need those, please be patient with us.  Otherwise, get the full installer here (both Mac and Windows):

 

http://smarttech.com/us/Support/Browse+Support/Download+Software/So...

 

How do I tell if I have it installed?

 

Please check your flash player version by going to the following page (using Firefox, not IE):

 

http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

So what happens if I do have it installed?

 

If you try to open up the teacher tools, the window pops up will be blank, and will remain blank. Unlike the issue where the Teacher File being loaded is located on a shared drive, you will see absolutely nothing but a white window, not even a loading bar.

 

 

If I do have it installed, what can I do?

Old instructions, or for those who have to remain on Response 2010 SP0 (i.e. your software is installed through a network deployment):

 

If you do have the Flash Player version 10.2.152.26 for Mozilla Firefox, you will need to downgrade the flash player. 

 

Start by uninstalling previous flash player versions by accessing this page and following the instructions applicable to the OS you are using:

 

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/141/tn_14157.html

 

Then you can get the older versions here:

 

http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/installers/archive/fp_10.1.102.64_and_9.0.289.0_archive.zip

 

In the zip, go to the 10_1r102_64 folder, and run flashplayer10_1r102_64_win.exe if it is a windows computer, and flashplayer10_1r102_64_ub_mac.dmg if the computer is a Mac.

 

Once downgraded the Teacher Tools should load up once again.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

 

#R
 

[Rob Jacklin]

Thanks for this post! Totally saved a lesson plan of  our teachers this afternoon. I wish there were some way for SMART to know ahead when these things happen and let us know.

 

Thanks again!

 

 

[Matt Granger]

Thanks. It saved me too. I had already upgraded. When I saw the blank page, I remembered this post and was able to fix it pretty quickly.

 

I've tweeted this. It could save a lot of grief. Unfortunately, when Adobe updates something, SMART and other companies that use flash don't know what will happen to their apps until the update is released.

[Randy Tran]

I've updated my original post with news that the newest release of SMART Response (released yesterday) will work fine with the Adobe Flash 10.2.  See my first post for the download link.

[Matt Granger]

Thanks for the update. I tweeted it again.

[Matt Granger]

Randy,

I went to SMART Update through Notebook and Teacher Tools and it says my software is all up to date. The version of SMART Response is 3.0.159.0. But I just upgraded Flash and Teacher Tools won't load again. Any ideas?

[Randy Tran]

Hey Matt,

 

Ignore the SMART Product Update for now.  The software update versions in the updater only update when we release our Admin Install packages.  As those packages for SMART Response have yet to be signed off and released yet, SMART Product Updater will not reflect that update (as it executes the upgrades using those packages.  (In short, because we haven't released admin packages for the new Response, SPU can't report that there is a newer version out there)

 

For the time being, please use the installers from the SMART website (which I linked to in the original post).  Once updated your software should have a version number of 3.0.256.1.

 

#R

[Matt Granger]

Randy,

I didn't see the collapsed "Downloads" section at the bottom of the Windows page. That is where it was hiding. Thanks.

[Matt Granger]

Worked like a charm. Thanks for the update.

[Dodie Ainslie]

I'm having issues with teacher tools loading- but it is different issue-

Seems like what is happening is that when teachers try to open the file from the toolbar icon the tools don't open the existing file.  It opens and prompts you to create another file.

If you go directly to your file you created and try to open it- it says it can't open and prompts you to open the back up file.

 

So- question is- will we have to have teachers create a new teacher file every year? (is this an issue with old versions not working well with new versions of SMART Response?)  Or is this the flash issue from above?  I will check our flash version and see what we have tomorrow.

thanks for any insight you may have- concerned about teachers coming back and this being a huge problem

[Carly Morales]

I am having an issue with my teacher tools.... today when I opened it all of my assessments were gone!  Any ideas as to why that is?

[Randy Tran]

I'm not sure what may have happened in your case specifically, but one really easy way to replicate those symptoms is if someone or some script cleared out your temporary files when you had the Response Teacher File open.  (response does all of its work in the temp folder).

[Dave Effron]

Adobe updated flash player again and it was not compatible with the newest 2013 Notebook installer version of Response.  Yesterday, flash player poped up and asked me to update to the newest version 11.7.  And today Response loaded only with a blank page.

I was so so pleased to find this post.  I uninstalled flash player and reinstalled notebook2013 installer. SMART installs flash player 11.6.602.168. Everything is working fine again.  Thanks, Randy for the original post and links.