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Web Browsers

Info on Web Browsers and the WWW

How do I use Netscape?

Netscape is a popular browser for the WWW. It works essentially the same as the Mac and Windows equivalents. Netscape can also read news and mail and show java applets imbedded in web pages. You can access Netscape by typing "netscape" To run it in the background and thereby keep your prompt type "netscape &" the command line. You can also select " netscape" from the popup menu when you left click on the root window. It will ask you to agree to the copyright statement the first time you run it; read it and push the "accept" button to get to the browser.

Browsing

Links are generally underlined or in bold. clicking on a link will take you to the linked webpage. The Back and Forward buttons at the top of the window will take you to the previous and next place in the history list respectively. The "Home" button takes you to your home page ∥ usually the CS Department Home Page∥.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks are the places along the web that you come back to often. To go to a bookmark, simply click on "Bookmarks" in the menu bar at the top of Netscape, then drag down the pointer and click again on the link you want to access. To add a bookmark, access the link you want to add, then click on "Bookmarks" and "Add Bookmark" and the URL of the link will be saved.

What is Lynx?

Lynx is another web browser, however it is significantly different than Netscape. Lynx is text-based and is uncapable of supporting and displaying colors and graphics. Additionally pretty much all of the formatting gets somewhat screwed up, especially frames. Links show up in bold print and may be accessed by moving the cursor over the link using the up and down arrow keys and then pressing the right arrow. Lynx may be accessed by typing "lynx" at the command line, and is useful for web browsing from a terminal. If you need something from the web but you're not using an X terminal, you can use Lynx instead.

Typing "?" in Lynx will get you to the Lynx help files.

What is Java?

Java is a programming language that can be used to write both conventional standalone programs and applets that can be included in webpages.

What is a mailcap file?

A mailcap file determines how to display non-text data, and is referred to by Netscape. Each entry in a mailcap defines a data type, the command to execute when that data type is found, and optional modifiers. A standard mailcap is kept in /usr/local/etc/skel/turing/.mailcap, and may be copied into your home directory if you don't have one. To see if you have a mailcap file, type "ls -als" at the command line in your home directory. The mailcap file would be called ".mailcap". More detailed information may be found in the man pages by typing "man mailcap" at the command line.

How do I put myself on the Web?

If you want to put your own page of stuff on the Web, there is a Quick Reference page on how to write your own home page. Please read this carefully before beginning. It will direct you to resources for learning HTML, as well as instruct you on how to start. Please think carefully about what you choose to include in your home page.

Copyright (c) HMC Computer Science Department. Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the no Invariant Sections, with no Front-Cover Texts, and with no Back-Cover Texts. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled ``GNU Free Documentation License.''

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Last Modified Tuesday, 22-May-2001 17:17:19 PDT