Browser Basics

Basic Functions

These functions are available both as buttons on the browser toolbar and as options on drop-down menus. These examples are from the Netscape browser, but Internet Explorer has similar functions.

	Use Stop to interrupt a transfer in progress.
	Use Reload or Refresh to get a fresh copy of the page currently in the browser window.
	Use Home to return to the home page that is set for the browser you are using.

The browser also has a Help menu option which will provide much more information on specific features.

Scrolling on Web pages

Sometimes there is more to a Web page than appears on your screen. You may have to scroll down or to the right.

You have a scroll bar on the right side of your browser window - you can click the up or down arrows or you can hold your mouse down on the bar in between the arrows and drag up or down You have a scroll bar at the bottom of the page - if the page is wider than your viewing window If the page has separate frames - the frames may scroll independently of each other.

How can you tell if a Web page is done loading?

You can monitor the progress of your connection by looking at the browser's:

status indicator, in the upper right corner of the window. This icon shows movement while the Web page you've requested by typing the Web address or clicking a Bookmark or Favorite is being received by your computer.. When it stops, the transfer is complete.  If you click the Stop button, you will likely see the message Transfer interrupted if you return to that page with the Back button or the Go menu. If you wish to see the page in full, click the Reload or Refresh button in your browser toolbar.

 

status message field, at the bottom of the browser window. It will show a series of messages:  when the host computer (the location of the Web page you've requested) has been contacted, when the Web page file is being tranferred to your computer, and when it is done.  When the Web page has a number of images on it, you may see a message for every image on the page, as images on Web pages are in the form of files, separate from the file that contains the Web page coding. If the information in the status bar does not change, the process is stuck for some reason:  you have contacted a very busy Web site your connection to the Internet is slow the Internet itself is very busy and slow your modem has disconnected for some reason or the Internet is temporarily dead (this is unusual but can happen to a particular region of the Internet.) If your connection seems good and you can access other Web pages,  try clicking the Reload or Refresh button  - if that doesn't work, you will just have to try that Web page at another time.

Image loading 

With most Web pages, you will likely see text on the page before the images. If images are large, you will see a placeholder box where the image will appear once it is received by your computer. If the Web designer did a proper job, you will see a description of the images to come inside those placeholder boxes. This would be your clue to decide if you want to wait for slow loading images to finish before moving on to another page.

Efficiency Tip

Since text appears on a page before images do, you may see a link to another page that you want to go to before the page is done loading. You can click that link right away - you don't have to wait for the Document Done message. 

If you do accidentally click a part of the screen that has a link while the transfer is in progress, you may unknowingly end up looking at another Web page - potential confusion!

How to enter a link (Web address) (URL):

For a description of URL or Web address, see Web Terminology.

Use the browser's location or address slot. Erase the URL that is currently showing. Type the new URL in the blank space. Press the ENTER (or RETURN) key on your keyboard.
OR  Use the browser's drop-down menu: Go to File | Open Page. A text entry box will open on your screen with a space for you to type the new URL.

Sometimes, particularly in email messages,  you may see URLs surrounded by angle brackets, as shown below. The brackets are used to set off the URL but are not part of it. Don't include them or any punctuation following the URL when you type it.

Example: <http://www.unm.edu>

Time Savers:

1. When entering the URL, you don't have to type the http:// since the browser automatically adds this to what you type
2. Whenever possible, copy and paste URLs, especially long or complex ones, instead of typing them.

Going Back to a Page You've Already Seen

There are several ways to return to a previously viewed page, using either Netscape or Internet Explorer:

1. Use the browser's BACK button.
2. Point to a blank part of the page, click the [right] mouse button. Choose Back from the menu that pops up.

You can also use the browser's drop-down menu options.