Help FAQ and tips on using the website

This section contains useful information on using the Bundesrat’s website, www.bundesrat.de, and on how the site is structured.

Navigation

The main menu runs horizontally across the upper red toolbar. You can select a section by clicking on the toolbar; the pop-out sub-navigation for this section will then open on the left-hand side of the screen.

The click path navigation allows you to follow a document path through the page structure at any time.

The publication date of each article can be found at the end of the document.

Search

Click on the "magnifying glass" icon on the right-hand side of the tool bar at the top of the page to access the full-text search, which will display above the tool bar.

All document types are included in the search result if you use the general search. You can also restrict your search to a certain type of document using the different document categories that can be found in the left-hand side bar.

Search tips

  • Umlauts (ö, ä, ü) are recognised
  • If you enter more than one search term, these are linked with "and"
  • If you are first search is not successful, try again with synonyms or slightly different terms
  • The search function is not case-sensitive

You can search for a group of linked terms by using quotation marks around the terms or names: e.g. "Reform of German Renewable Energy Act EEG".

Quick access toolbar

Clicking on the "Bundesrat" logo on the top left of the page takes you to the home page.

Click on the "Settings wheel" icon on the right-hand side of the tool bar at the top of the page to select content in English, French or German, as well as in Simple German or (German) sign language.

Click on the "magnifying glass" icon on the right-hand side of the tool bar at the top of the page to access the full-text search.

Page overview

To display an overview of all the content on the Bundesrat’s website, go to the service bar towards the bottom of the page and select "site map". This will show you an overview with links to all the pages on www.bundesrat.de. Just click on the page link to go straight to the overview page for each section of the website.

Browser compatibility

This website is best viewed with any standard current browser. Some features may not be supported if you are using an older browser.

Font size

To change the font size, keep the "CTRL" key pressed down and move the scroll wheel on the mouse, or keep the "CTRL" button key pressed down and use the "Plus" key to increase the font size or the "Minus" key to reduce the font size.

Alternatively, you can also change the font size in your browser settings.

Further explanations of how to do this are available via your browser’s help function.

Print

The website’s content is optimised for printing. The print function allows you to print the content on any page in A4 format without the navigation bars appearing on the print-out.

Below the text/images on each page you will find a "Print" link. If you click on this link, the print dialogue will open in a new window. You can also access this dialogue field via your browser’s print menu or by using the shortcut CTRL+P.

Share function

The "Share" function is displayed on all pages on the left next to the "Print" link. If you click on "Share" a new window will open, with options to share on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ or by e-mail (by filling out a simple form).

A second click is needed to activate the links to Facebook, Twitter or Google+, which means that your data will only be transmitted to social media sites with your consent.

Links

Links on the Bundesrat’s website are in red and are indicated in texts by the sign ">" before the link.

When you move the mouse over a link, further information is displayed in a tooltip (also known as a "hover box"). When you click on a link to another page on the Bundesrat website, the page will open in the same browser window. The "hover box" may indicate that a link is an external link; in this case, the page will open in a new window when you click on the link.

PDF documents

A PDF Reader programme is required to open the PDF documents on the website. You can download a free PDF Reader, for example via the link below: http://www.adobe.com/de/products/reader/

PDF documents are also indicated in red, just like the links, and are followed by information in brackets (file format, file size, and an indication of whether the file offers barrier-free access).

In search results lists, downloadable documents are followed by the words "Download file", plus an indication of the file format and the file size.

Barrier-free access

The Bundesrat’s webpage has been implemented in compliance with the Ordinance on Barrier-Free Information Technology Pursuant to the Bill on Equal Opportunities for the Disabled (Barrier-free Information Technology Ordinance, also referred to by the German acronym BITV).

Some of the downloadable documents do not offer barrier-free access. Many of these documents are older documents, and therefore the source document may no longer be available; in some cases, the downloadable documents were not produced by the Bundesrat. These documents have not been systematically reformatted into a barrier-free format.

Our goal for the future is to offer barrier-free PDF files or provide information in HTML whenever possible.

If you need content from earlier documents in a format that is accessible for you, please send an e-mail to this address: internetredaktion@bundesrat.de

If possible, we will make the information available to you in a more accessible form.

Glossary

Data protection

You can decide here whether you authorise us to conduct completely anonymous collection and analysis of statistical information with the web analysis software Matomo, in addition to cookies required for technical purposes. Statistical information makes it easier for us to provide and optimise our website.

Statistical cookies are deactivated by default. If you agree to allow collection and analysis of statistical information, please activate the tick in the “Statistics” checkbox and click or tap the “Confirm selection” button. A unique web analysis cookie will subsequently be stored in your browser.

Please consult our privacy statement for further information on data protection.