Internet Basics 2
What is a browser menu bar?
The browser menu bar is at the top of your browser window just below the title
bar. It has a box for typing addresses (called URLs), plus buttons and menus
for many of the things you can do through your browser. As in most menu bars,
the menu items drop down when you click the menu title.
The browser menu bar for Internet Explorer has the following menu drop downs:
File, Edit, View, Favorites, Tools, Help.
What is the Back button?
Use your browser's Back button to see the Web page you just viewed. Your browser
keeps a list of the Web pages you've visited in the order you've visited them.
The Back button, located on the browser's top menu, enables you to step backward
through your list of recently visited sites. The Forward button does just the
opposite, allowing you to move quickly up to the site you've most recently
visited.
You can also use the back button to make the most of a directory-style or search-site
page: Click a link from among the list of links on the page. If the new page
doesn't have the information you were looking for, use the Back button to return
to the search page so that you can try another link.
Why would I want to use the Refresh or Reload button?
Use the Refresh or Reload button (the button with two green arrows moving in a circular motion for Internet Explorer and one curved arrow in Netscape Navigator at the top of your browser window) to begin reloading a Web page. Refresh a form if you have filled if you've made mistakes or would simply like to start over. Reload a page that has loaded with broken links. Often, refreshing or reloading a Web page re-establishes that page and allows you to view it as though you were opening the page for the first time. Many times pages are updated often (for example, sites with news on them) and this gives you the most current version of the page.
How do I download files?
”Download” means to go out on the Internet and “get” a
file. Many sites offer files to download for free, or after registering with
some personal information, or for sale. Be sure to study the site's privacypolicy
before deciding to give them your personal information.
A button or link to the file is usually labeled "Download" or something similar,
and a special download window appears with several options. One of the options
is to save the file to your disk, which opens a window so you can navigate
to a particular folder on your hard drive. Be sure to remember the name of
the file and the the folder in which you are saving it.
Some sites offer collections of shareware and freeware programs, graphics and
other types of files for anybody to download. Use a search engine to find the
site or the kind of file you want.
"Freeware" is software that the developers give away for free. "Shareware" is
usually low-cost software that you can use for a couple of weeks or months before
the developers ask that you pay their fee. Many shareware fees are between $5
and $50. The period of time and amount of the fee are usually given before you
download the program.
Other sites allow peer-to-peer connections that enable you to connect directly
to shared files on someone elses computer.
Many download sites and files have been reviewed on the newsgroups and message
boards. It may be a good idea to see what others have to say about a site before
you visit it or about a file before you give it a home on your hard disk.
NEXT
