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If your question cannot be answered by the FAQ below, please
click here to send us a question or comment.
To get back to the BottomLine install page, click
here.
WINDOWS TASKBAR (ENHANCED) VERSION:
1. Why do I get a message
saying 'Action Cancelled' in my BottomLine? Where are the scores?
2. Why is there so much blank
space on the right side of the BottomLine?
3. How can I 'auto-hide' the
BottomLine?
4. How can I dock the BottomLine
to different areas on my desktop?
5. When I try to install the
BottomLine on my PC, I don't seem to have enough rights to do it.
What's this all about?
6. How do I check to make sure
I have the most current version of the BottomLine?
7. When I try to check for the
newest version, I get an error (sometimes saying "Class not
registered"). How do I upgrade?
8. When I download the installer
and try to open it, I get the message "espn-bar.exe is not
a valid Win32 application". What's this all about?
9. I know I have Windows 98
or better and would like to download the enhanced version of the
application, but your site is telling me don't have Windows 98 or
better. What can I do?
10. I am on a dial-up connection
and whenever I start up my computer now, it automatically tries
to dial-up. How do I stop this from happening?
11. How do I uninstall the
BottomLine?
12. When I try to run The BottomLine, all I get
is a white screen with what looks like a broken movie strip. What's wrong?
13. I'm using Windows ME and when I try to run the BottomLine installer, it stalls partway through the install process and won't seem to finish. What's the problem?
MAC AND OTHER NON-TASKBAR (STANDARD) VERSIONS:
1. I don't have a PC running
Windows 98 or better so I have to use the popup version of the BottomLine.
Will you be offering a framed version ever again?
CURRENT FEATURES, UPCOMING FEATURES, AND GENERAL
QUESTIONS:
1. Can I put the BottomLine on my own web site?
2. When I click the 'Customize' button, nothing happens.
What's wrong?
3. After I 'customize' my BottomLine, the changes don't
seem to have stuck. What could be the problem?
4. How often are the scores
updated?
5. If my scores don't seem to be
updating, what could the problem be? What can I do to fix it?
6. How often are the headlines updated?
7. What does the 'lock' icon in the
gold area do?
8. What does the 'lock' icon in the
red area do?
9. If I 'lock' onto one game, will
the score continue to update?
10. How do I customize what sports
are displayed in my BottomLine?
11. Can I choose only to have scores
or only to have news?
12. Why do some sports have additional
information such as top scorers and others do not?
13. Why do some headlines get truncated
and end in "..."?
14. Do you plan to add other sports
like soccer, tennis, etc.?
15. Do you plan to add fantasy stats?
16. The scores don't seem to be
updating as quickly as they should. What could be the problem?
17. When I launch the BottomLine,
I get an error saying I might not be connected and to try again.
Why am I getting this message?
18. How will I know when the scores
have refreshed?
19. How do I close this thing?
20. When does the BottomLine switch
over from last night's games to the current day's games?
21. If I go offline and leave the
BottomLine running, and then go back online, will it pick up where
it left off and get new score updates?
22. Will you be showing any other
college basketball games besides the Top 25?
23. I'm being told I need to get
the newest version of Flash to view the BottomLine. Where do I get
that and how much does it cost?
24. If I use the BottomLine, will
ESPN install any spyware or other components on my computer or collect
information on me in any way?
25. Do you swear on your answer
to the previous question?
WINDOWS TASKBAR (ENHANCED) VERSION:
1. Why do I get a message saying 'Action
Cancelled' in my BottomLine? Where are the scores?
Under certain configurations of AOL, this error seems to pop up
from time-to-time. The cause of it is unknown at this time and it
appears to only affect some AOL users and not others. If you get
this error while accessing the BottomLine, we encourage you to call
AOL tech support and ask them if they know what the cause could
be (and don't forget to tell us!).
2. Why is there so much blank space on
the right side of the BottomLine?
The BottomLine is designed to fit on all monitors running at 800x600
resolution or higher. Just over half of ESPN.com users are running
at this resolution. If you are using a higher resolution such as
1024x768 or 1600x1200, the BottomLine will simply expand horizontally
to stretch across your screen. Because we cannot use any of this
real estate for displaying data (otherwise, people with 800x600
screens couldn't see it), it must remain empty. You can, however,
put the BottomLine into 'Float' mode by dragging it from its top
edge and then it won't take up any more room than necessary. You
can also invoke Float mode and other functions using the red 'E'
icon in the right side of your Windows Taskbar.
3. How can I 'auto-hide' the BottomLine?
Click the red 'E' icon in *right* side of your Windows taskbar and
choose 'Auto-Hide'. At ESPN, we've found that if you have your taskbar
located at the bottom of the screen (the default) and you want to
use 'Auto-Hide' on the BottomLine, you're better off docking the
BottomLine to the top of your screen. That way, you won't invoke
it when trying to use the taskbar.
4. How can I dock the BottomLine to different
areas on my desktop?
Simply drag it by its edges to wherever you'd like it. The cursor
will turn into a four-way arrow when your mouse is over a draggable
edge. If you move it close to the top or bottom of your screen,
it will 'snap' into place. If you decide to have to 'float' on your
desktop, you can turn off or on the 'Always on Top' option using
the red 'E' icon in the lower *right* side of your Windows Taskbar.
5. When I try to install the BottomLine
on my PC, I don't seem to have enough rights to do it. What's this
all about?
When you're in a networked environment, a lot of times your network
administrator will only give you certain rights to your own machine.
For instance, you will not be able to make modifications to your
system software, add third-party plug-ins to your browser, and other
things which may increase the functionality (but potentially decrease
the safety) of your machine. In order to install the BottomLine,
you need to have 'admin' rights to your machine... usually, this
just involves calling your network administrator and informing him/her
what you'd like to do. At that point, they can either a) log in
and perform the installation for you, b) give you admin rights,
or c) laugh in your face and tell you how powerful they are compared
to you.
6. How do I check to make sure I have
the most current version of the BottomLine?
Every time you launch the BottomLine, it will automatically check
to see if newer versions are available. If there is a new version,
you will receive a prompt to download it, and it will install the
new version over the old version.
7. When I try to check for the newest
version, I get an error (sometimes saying "Class not registered").
How do I upgrade?
When the BottomLine was first launched, a few copies were distributed
which contained invalid upgrade codes. If you feel you have one
of these versions, simply go to to http://espn.go.com/bottomline
and download a new version. It will automatically replace the version
you currently have.
8. When I download the installer and
try to open it, I get the message "espn-bar.exe is not a valid
Win32 application". What's this all about?
Usually this means that you haven't downloaded the entire installer
application. Try deleting the partially downloaded installer application
named 'espn-bar.exe' from your desktop and downloading a fresh one.
9. I know I have Windows 98 or better
and would like to download the enhanced version of the application,
but your site is telling me don't have Windows 98 or better. What
can I do?
If you know your system is Windows 98 or better and would like to
download the application directly, please click
here to download it.
10. I am on a dial-up connection and
whenever I start up my computer now, it automatically tries to dial-up.
How do I stop this from happening?
When you install the BottomLine, its default setting is to launch
itself at startup. When it launches, it tries to make an internet
connection and that is what is causing the automatic dialing. To
keep the BottomLine from launching when you start up, click the
red 'E' icon in the lower *right* side of your Windows taskbar and
uncheck the option labeled 'Launch at Startup'.
11. How do I uninstall the BottomLine?
If you just don't want the BottomLine to start up automatically
every time you start up your computer, click the red 'E' in the
lower right side of your Windows taskbar and deselect the option
labeled 'Launch at Startup'. That way, you can just launch it whenever
you'd like. If, however, you'd like to completely uninstall it,
go to your Start menu and select 'Settings > Control Panel > Add/Remove
Programs'. From there you can remove the BottomLine just as you
would any other application.
12. When I try to run The BottomLine, all I get
is a white screen with what looks like a broken movie strip. What's wrong?
Your MIME settings are misconfigured so that your QuickTime player is trying to
play Flash content (the BottomLine is Flash). You should remedy this right away. To
do so, click 'Start > Settings > Control Panel' and then double-click the item called
'Quicktime'. Then go to the 'Browser Plug-In' section of this dialog box and click the
button which says 'MIME settings'. Scroll down to where it says 'Miscellaneous' and click
the box next to it until it is empty. This will ensure that the Quicktime player will not
try to play any Flash files or other files it is not equipped to play. You may need to
completely exit out of your browser and/or restart your computer for these settings to
take effect.
13. I'm using Windows ME and when I try to run the BottomLine installer, it stalls partway through the install process and won't seem to finish. What's the problem?
You are probably using Norton SystemWorks or another disk utility program which causes problems when trying to install third-party software. There are many known issues with running Norton SystemWorks under Windows ME and both Microsoft and Norton have acknowledged these problems. ESPN makes no recommendations as to what programs you run on your computer, but if you'd like to install the BottomLine, you will need to temporarily disable Norton SystemWorks as well as delete a few dummy files it created on your hard drive when you first tried to install the BottomLine. For complete instructions on how to do this, click here.
*As with any modifications you decide to make to your computer, follow these instructions at your own risk. ESPN is not responsible for anything which may happen to your computer as a result of you not following the instructions correctly, or as a result of any other unforeseen circumstances.
MAC AND OTHER NON-TASKBAR (STANDARD) VERSIONS:
1. I don't have a PC running Windows
98 or better so I have to use the popup version of the BottomLine.
Will you be offering a framed version ever again?
We are currently looking into bringing the framed version back if
there are enough requests for it. The enhanced 'application' version
is clearly the most efficient way to offer the BottomLine and we're
looking at ways to offer this functionality to our Mac and Linux
users as soon as possible. There are certain features of the Windows
operating system which make an application like this fairly straightforward
to engineer... we are currently looking at ways to do the same with
alternate OSes. Suggestions welcome! On the bright side, Mac and
Linux users get the same scores and news, updated just as often
and formatted just as cleanly... they just need to be in a web browser
to view it.
CURRENT FEATURES, UPCOMING FEATURES, AND GENERAL
QUESTIONS:
1. Can I put the BottomLine on my own web site?
Yes. You are welcome to place the BottomLine on your own site with
the understanding that should ESPN ask you to remove it for any reason,
you must comply. Possible reasons for removal requests include displaying
the BottomLine on sites containing adult/explicit material, modification or
otherwise improper display of the ESPN branding, or any other reason ESPN
feels is appropriate to demand removal.
To put the BottomLine on your
site, simply create a frameset with the bottom frame being exactly 44 pixels
tall and point it to this address:
http://espn.go.com/bottomline/espnewsbottomlinebasic.html . You must follow
these directions exactly and point to this exact address for your implementation
to be acceptable to ESPN. We change our BottomLine code quite frequently as
improvements are made and pointing to this address ensures you are always
getting the most current code.
2. When I click the 'Customize' button, nothing happens.
What's wrong?
The 'Customize' button pops open a window using Javascript. If you are
using any sort of ad blocking software which prevents pop up windows
from popping up, this could also be preventing the 'Customize' window
from popping up. Try disabling your ad blocking software and then
customizing your BottomLine. After it's all customized to your liking,
you can then re-enable your ad blocking software.
3. After I 'customize' my BottomLine, the changes don't
seem to have stuck. What could be the problem?
First, make sure you hit the green refresh button on the right side of the
BottomLine. If that doesn't work, try exiting the BottomLine and then relaunching
it. If that still doesn't work, it's possible you have cookies disabled. The
BottomLine uses cookies to store your preferences on your machine. To see if you
have cookies enabled, go to
this site
and scroll down until you see the
cookies line item. If it says 'CookiesEnabled > True' you are fine. If it says
'CookiesEnabled > False', you must re-enable your cookies in Internet Explorer.
4. How often are the scores updated?
Currently, the scores are updated every 2 minutes directly from
our real-time score feeds unless you are 'locked' on a game. If
you are 'locked' onto one game, the score will get updated once
about every 20 seconds (faster than on any sports site, including
ESPN.com). Occasionally, there is congestion with the score feeds
however, so please bear with us if you notice any delays... we are
working to minimize them.
5. If my scores don't seem to be updating,
what could the problem be? What can I do to fix it?
There are four possible causes of this:
a) You have your Internet Explorer 'cache' settings set incorrectly.
On a PC, open up Internet Explorer, choose 'Tools > Internet Options
> General > Temporary Internet Files (Settings)'. Make sure you
have either the 'Every visit to the page' or 'Automatically' option
selected. This is the most common cause of score refreshing problems.
b) You are connecting to the internet through a proxy or
a firewall which is caching old scores. There are only a couple
of things you can try to get around this. Firstly, look at item
'a)' above and make sure your setting reads 'Every visit to the
page'. Secondly, ask your network administrator if you can be taken
off the proxy or if the proxy can be set to not cache files.
c) Your connection to the internet was lost when your computer
went to sleep, was turned off, or was unplugged somehow. Try making
sure you're online by accessing a web page, and then try hitting
the green 'refresh' button on the far right side of the BottomLine
to fetch a fresh feed. Often times, this will eliminate the problem.
d) It is entirely possible that ESPN's score feeds are having
problems at any given time. We pull real-time scores from so many
different venues over so many different lines that sometimes, the
signal simply doesn't get through. We are working to minimize these
problems, and if they occur, they should always be fixed within
an hour or two (but usually within minutes). If you consistently
notice that you aren't getting fresh scores, however, the problem
is probably not on our end.
6. How often are the headlines updated?
Currently, new headlines are fetched once every half hour. The BottomLine
will always display the 10 most recent headlines we have, so if
you are looking at a sport which is out-of-season, it is not uncommon
to see headlines that are a few days old. As soon as new news comes
in, these headlines are pushed out.
7. What does the 'lock' icon in the gold area
do?
When 'locked', the BottomLine will stay locked on one sport. When
'unlocked', the Bottomline will rotate through all sports.
8. What does the 'lock' icon in the red area
do?
The 'lock' icon in the red area lets you lock onto one game. The
score and in-game data will continue to update as you are locked.
If you are locked onto one game, the score will update every 20
seconds instead of every 2 minutes.
9. If I 'lock' onto one game, will the score
continue to update?
Absolutely. Scores and in-game data will continue to update until
the game is over. If you look closely at the area in the gold bar
near the 'lock' icon, you should see a small rotating green arrow
appear about every two minutes telling you new scores are being
fetched. Occasionally, there is congestion with the score feeds
however, so please bear with us if you notice any delays... we are
working to minimize them.
10. How do I customize what sports are displayed
in my BottomLine?
Simply click the 'CUSTOMIZE' button and you will be prompted with
a window asking you to select the sports you are interested in.
You can select to have just scores, just news, or both news and
scores for any sport you wish. Note: When sports go out of season,
we will often take them off the BottomLine until they come back
into season because there will be no scores and very little news
to show. As long as you have not deselected a certain sport from
your BottomLine, it will automatically appear when it comes back
into season. Also, whenever we add a new sport to the BottomLine,
we will automatically add it for you so you know it's available.
If you see a new sport in there which you aren't interested in,
simply hit 'CUSTOMIZE' and delete it. Important Note: You
must have cookies enabled in Internet Explorer for the BottomLine
to remember your settings. They are enabled by default, but if you
set your Security Settings to anything higher than 'Medium', the
cookie may be disabled. To ensure your browser accepts cookies,
open up Internet Explorer, go to 'Tools > Internet Options > Privacy'
and set the slider to 'Medium' or lower.
11. Can I choose only to have scores or only
to have news?
Yes. Simply click the 'CUSTOMIZE' button and you can select which
sports you want news and/or scores on.
12. Why do some sports have additional information
such as top scorers and others do not?
The ESPN.com staff is working hard to get you in-game data on all
sports. Look for more in-game data in the coming weeks.
13. Why do some headlines get truncated and
end in "..."?
If you are in a particular sport which shows scores, we have reserved
the black area to the right of the red area for showing in-game
data such as top scorers, rebounders, etc. Currently, this feature
is not implemented yet for all sports, but it will be shortly. If
the red area became any longer, there would be no room for this
in-game data. For more on why the far right side of the BottomLine
cannot be used for displaying data, please see "Why
is there so much blank space on the right side of the BottomLine?"
14. Do you plan to add other sports like soccer,
tennis, etc.?
Absolutely. ESPN.com is working to add as many sports as possible
to the BottomLine.
15. Do you plan to add fantasy stats?
Eventually, yes. There are plenty of other enhancements to make
to the BottomLine before this will get done though.
16. The scores don't seem to be updating as
quickly as they should. What could be the problem?
Every so often, we experience network congestion or server issues
related to our real-time score feed. Our score feeds are pulled
from hundreds of sporting venues around the country (and the world)
and it is not uncommon for some of these to go down on occasion.
Please bear with us as we work to minimize these occurrences, and
also, please be sure you are actually connected to the internet
when viewing the BottomLine.
17. When I launch the BottomLine, I get an error
saying I might not be connected and to try again. Why am I getting
this message?
Every time you launch the BottomLine, it will try to fetch scores
and news for 30 seconds. If 30 seconds passes and it receives no
scores and news, it times-out and prompts you to try again. There
are several things which can cause this: a) You may not actual be
connected to the internet, b) You may be experiencing network congestion
on your end, or c) We may be experiencing a lot of traffic on our
end which can slow things down. If this happens to you, please try
again at a later time. If the problem persists, please contact us.
18. How will I know when the scores have refreshed?
If you look closely at the area in the gold bar near the 'lock'
icon, you should see a small rotating green arrow appear about every
two minutes telling you new scores are being fetched. Another easy
way to tell when the scores have updated would be to actually pay
attention and look at the scores.
19. How do I close this thing?
Simply click the red 'X' on the right side of the BottomLine.
20. When does the BottomLine switch over from
last night's games to the current day's games?
Currently, the BottomLine switches over at 9AM Pacific Time.
21. If I go offline and leave the BottomLine
running, and then go back online, will it pick up where it left
off and get new score updates?
Under some system setups, it will indeed pick up right where it
left off. Give it a couple of minutes to get the next score update
and it should be good to go. On other systems, however, you might
need to close the BottomLine and then re-open it.
22. Will you be showing any other college basketball
games besides the Top 25?
We're currently showing all Division I games.
23. I'm being told I need to get the newest
version of Flash to view the BottomLine. Where do I get that and
how much does it cost?
It's free and it's available at http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash
24. If I use the BottomLine, will ESPN install
any spyware or other components on my computer or collect information
on me in any way?
Absolutely not. ESPN has no interest in collecting any information
on you without your consent. We don't install any advertising modules
or 'spyware' which can track your web surfing habits or anything
else you might not know about. By installing or using the BottomLine,
all you get is the BottomLine... nothing else. If you feel you may
have spyware from another company installed on your machine, please
visit SpyChecker
and check for yourself.
25. Do you swear on your answer to the previous
question?
Yes, we swear.
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