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- The Netscape window
- Window summary
- Toolbar
- Directory buttons
- Content area, frames, and text fields
- File
- Edit
- View
- Go
- Bookmarks
- Options
- Directory
- Window
- Help
- Pop-up Menu
The Netscape window
This section describes what you see in the main Netscape window. Most of the tools and text fields that help you to navigate the Internet are visible, though you have the option of hiding some tools in order to give more space on the screen to the content area.
Sections describing the window's graphical elements follow. Subsequent sections go into more detail on page displays and button actions. Subsequent chapters explore bookmarks, mail, news, preferences panels, and additional features.
You can open multiple Netscape windows to view multiple pages of information. The title bar of the window shows the title of the currently loaded page. You'll also find that some pages are designed to be a patchwork of pages. These patchwork pages contain rectangular frames, each frame presents its own page information (similar to the picture-in-picture feature offered in some television sets).
Window summary
- Colors and underlining
Colors or underlining highlight words on a page that link to new pages. Clicking on the highlighted text initiates the transfer. On black and white monitors, underlining highlights links. When you select text in a field, the selection is highlighted (by default, in a different color than the colors used for links). - Status indicator
The status indicator (the company logo) animates when a transfer is in progress. Click on the logo to bring the company home page. - Progress bar
The progress bar animates to show the progress of the current operation. The bar shows the percentage done of document layout as a page loads and the percentage of kilobytes loaded as an external image loads. - Mail icon
Click on the mail icon (the small envelope in the bottom-right of the Netscape, Mail, and News windows) to display the Mail window (if not already open) and retrieve for new messages. The mail icon includes a question mark (?) if Netscape cannot automatically check the mail server for new messages. The mail icon includes an exclamation point if the news server has new messages for you. - Window title bar
An author of a page specifies the title as part of the page's HTML source text. - Page display
The content area displays a page. Text can be selected and copied. The content area of some pages is segmented into rectangular frames, each frame containing its own page. A page's background can be set by you or determined by the transmitted page. The location field lets you enter the location (URL) of a page you wish to bring to screen. The status message field and title bar text are read-only. - Security indicators
The security indicator below the content area shows whether a document is secure (doorkey icon on blue) or insecure (broken doorkey icon on gray). The secure doorkey icon is displayed with two teeth for high-grade encryption and one tooth for medium-grade. A blue colorbar above the content area indicates a secure document. A gray colorbar indicates an insecure document. - Document information
Choosing the View | Document Info menu item lets you see composition and security information about the current page. - Toolbar buttons
Toolbar buttons activate the Netscape features you'll most commonly use. Click on the buttons to revisit pages, reload pages, load images, open locations, print pages, find text, and stop transfers in progress. You can choose to have the buttons displayed as pictures, text, or both by setting the panel item in Options | General | Appearance. The Mail and News windows each offer a distinct set of toolbar buttons. - Directory buttons
Directory buttons display pages of information that help you browse the Internet. Click on the buttons to find out what's new and cool in California, use Internet search and directory tools, participate in newsgroups, and get customer service.
Toolbar
- Back
Displays the previous page in the history list. A history list references a hierarchy of pages you've already viewed. - Forward
Displays the next page in the history list. When you use Back or a history menu item to retrieve a page, using Forward gets the proceeding page. Forward is only available after you use Back or a history item. - Home
Displays the home page designated in the General Preferences | Appearance panel. The default is the Netscape home page location. - Reload
Redisplays the current Netscape page, reflecting any changes made prior to the original loading. Netscape checks the network server to see if any change to the page has occurred. If there's no change, the original page is retrieved from the cache. If there's a change, the updated page is retrieved from the network server. If you press the Reload button while holding down the Shift key (Option key on Macintosh), Netscape retrieves the page from the network server regardless of whether the page has been updated (the cache is not used). - Images
Loads images into pages. This is useful when the Options | Auto Load Images menu item is unchecked and icons have been substituted for images. By loading images, you replace the icons with the intended images. - Open
Lets you enter a URL to display the specified page in the content area. - Print
Prints the content area of the current Netscape page. A dialog box lets you select printing characteristics. - Find
Lets you specify a word or phrase to locate within the current Netscape page. You can specify case sensitivity and search direction. If a match is found, the text is selected and displayed. - Stop
Halts any ongoing transfer of page information. - Netscape
Direct connection to Netscape Communications Home Page.
Directory buttons
Directory buttons can also be accessed from the Directory or Help menus.
- Net Search (Directory | Internet Directory)
Your choice of Internet search engines. - CA Cool! (Directory | California Cool!)
Information describing what's cool in the Golden State. - E-mail (Window | Netscape Mail)
A direct connection to the E-mail window. - Newsgroups (Window | Netscape News)
A direct connection to the Newsgroup window. - Customer Service (Services | Customer Service)
Your link to Pacific Bell Internet customer service. - Help (Help)
Tips and pointers on software, access and more, plus the online Netscape Handbook.
Content area, frames, and text fields
- Content area
The content area contains the current page brought by the most recently requested link. Vertical and horizontal scroll bars might be present to view pages larger than the screen area. The content area displays HTML-formatted pages that often include inline images stored in the GIF and JPEG graphic file formats. Other file formats represented by links in the content area (for example, a sound file) can be accessed using external helper applications. You can copy text to the clipboard by selecting the text, then choosing File | Copy. Unlike a word processor, you won't see a blinking insertion bar. Alternatively, you can select text by clicking once at one end of a selection, then holding down the shift key and clicking a second time with the cursor pointing at the other end of the selection. - Frames
The content area of some pages is segmented into rectangular frames, each frame containing its own page. A page containing frames is a top-level page (or frameset). Generally, toolbar and menu items affect the top-level page. The pages within each individual frame may have scroll bars. You can select a frame by clicking inside it. Some commands, such as keyboard shortcuts, affect only the selected frame. Likewise, some menu items, such as printing and document mailing, apply to a frame alone. You can resize frames by positioning the cursor in the border between frames (the cursor changes shape) and dragging the adjacent frames to a new position. Clicking on a link within a frame may affect the page within the frame, pages within other frames, or the top-level page. Frames and the actions of their links are created by page authors using HTML - Backgrounds
The background of the content area may vary according to a preference item you can set in the Color panel (not on UNIX). You can set the background to a default of gray, a custom color of your choosing, or an image file you select. You can also determine if your choice of background should always be used or if the background transmitted with a page should override your choice. - Location/Go to
The location field shows you the location of the current page and can be used to enter the location (the URL address) of the page you wish to go to next. The label of the location field reads Location after you bring a page. The label changes to Go to if you enter text into the field. Pressing the return key brings the page specified in the Go to field and changes the label back to Location. On Windows, a pull-down menu at the right of the field lets you choose a URL (the 10 most recent locations you've entered into the field are stored as menu items) to revisit pages. - Status message
The status message area contains text describing a page's location or the progress of a connection to a page. When the cursor is positioned over highlighted words (or an image) serving as a link to a page, the status message field shows the URL that will be used to bring the page to the screen. When the Auto Load Image option is unchecked and the cursor points over an image, the status message shows the alternate text for the image and, if the image is a link, the URL. When the cursor points over an image with active areas, the status messages shows the description for the active area. During connections, the status message field reports progress in contacting the URL source, loading pages, and loading inline information. - Error messages
Error message result from a variety of situations. The Netscape application tries to evaluate any problem you encounter and present information to help you solve or circumvent it. The most common error messages result from trying to view a page that isn't available. Often, this occurs because the server issuing the page is temporarily shut down or too busy with other connections to handle your request. Occasionally, the page is no longer available at the specified URL. If you would like to report a problem, you should note the exact wording of the error message. The Help menu offers items for giving feedback and getting support.
File
- New Web Browser
Creates a new Netscape window. This window has the same history items as the previous window and displays the oldest page in the history (usually the home page) to screen. - New Mail Message
Lets you create and send a new mail message in the Message Composition window. - Mail Document... (or Mail Frame...)
Lets you create and send a mail message in the Message Composition window with the current page automatically attached. The content field contains the page's URL. The subject field contains the page's title. - Open Location...
Lets you enter a URL to display the specified page in the content area. Every page has a unique URL that identifies its protocol, server, and file pathname. - Open File...
Lets you select a file to open. - Save as... (or Save Frame as...)
Lets you save a file that contains the current Netscape page contents. You can save the page in plain text format or in source (HTML) format. On UNIX, you also have the option to save in PostScript format. - Upload File...
Lets you select a file to upload to the FTP server specified by the current URL. The command is only active when the current page accesses an FTP site. Alternatively, you can upload files to the FTP site by dragging and dropping files from the desktop to the Netscape window. Write permission is required. - Page Setup... (Not on UNIX)
Lets you specify printing characteristics associated with the current page. - Print... (or Print Frame...)
Prints the content area of the current Netscape page. You can select various printing characteristics. - Print Preview (Windows only)
Previews the printed page on screen. - Close
Closes the current Netscape page. On Windows, exits the Netscape application when you close the last page. - Exit (On Macintosh: Quit)
Closes the current Netscape page and exits the Netscape application.
Edit
- Undo
Reverses the last action you performed, when possible. - Cut...
Removes the current selection and places a copy on the clipboard. - Copy
Places a copy of the current selection on the clipboard. - Paste
Puts the clipboard contents into the current Netscape page at the position of the selection marker. - Clear (Macintosh only)
Removes the current selection. - Select All
Creates a selection composed of the entire contents of the area occupied by the selection marker. - Find...
Lets you specify a word or phrase to locate within the current Netscape page. Press the Find button to begin the search. If a match is found, the text is selected and, if necessary, scrolled to a visible position in the content area. If the Match Case option (Case Sensitive on Macintosh and UNIX) is checked, the case of each letter must match; otherwise a match can occur regardless of case. On Windows, check the Up or Down radio button to direct the search toward the beginning or end of the document. If there is a current selection, the search begins at the selection and does not wrap around to the opposite end of the document. On Macintosh and UNIX, check the Find Backwards check box to determine if the search starts from the beginning or end of the document. - Find Again
Searches for another occurrence of the text specified after using Find.
View
- Reload
Brings a fresh copy of the current Netscape page to replace the one originally loaded. Netscape checks the network server to see if any change to the page has occurred. If there's no change, the fresh copy is retrieved from the cache. If there's a change, the fresh copy is transmitted from the network server and the reloaded page displays the updated page contents. If you press the Reload button while holding down the Shift key (Option key on Macintosh), Netscape retrieves a fresh version from the network server regardless of whether the page has been updated (the cache is not used). - Reload Frame
Brings a fresh copy of the currently selected page within a single frame on a Netscape page containing frames. In other respects, the command operates the same as Reload. - Load Images
Displays images of the current Netscape page. Typically, images automatically load into pages. However, if the Options | Auto Load Images menu item is unchecked when a page loads, a small icon is substituted at the position of each image. Choosing Load Images replaces all small icons with their corresponding images. Images are loaded from their source files, however the page is not reloaded (links to images are not updated from the source page). - Refresh (Not on Macintosh)
Brings a fresh copy of the current Netscape page from local memory to replace the one originally loaded. The refreshed page does not display changes made to the source page from the time of the original loading. - Document Source
Produces a View Source window showing the current page in the format of HTML (HyperText Markup Language). The HTML source text includes the commands used to create the content and content style of a single page. On Windows and Macintosh, you can specify an application of your choice to view the source text (bypassing the viewer window). Choose the Options | General | Applications menu item to find the View Source field and a Browse button to specify the location of the viewing application you wish to use as the default viewer. - Document Info
Produces a page in a separate Netscape window stating the current document's structure and composition including title, location (URL), date of last modification, character set encoding, and security status. Secure documents specify the type of encryption used and certificate data. The certificate states the version, serial number, issuer (identity of the certifier), and subject (identity of the server).
Go
- Back
Displays the previous page in the history list. A history list references a hierarchy of pages you have viewed. - Forward
Displays the next page in the history list. If you have used Back or a history menu item to bring back a page, then Forward brings the page ahead in the history list. Forward is only offered after using Back or a history item. - Home
Displays the home page whose location is specified in the General Preferences | Appearance panel. Netscape's home page is the default. - Stop Loading
Halts the connection in progress to display a page. - History items
The Go menu appends the title of each page in the history list as a menu item. Choose the menu item to display the page. Choose Window | History to view the history list.
Bookmarks
- Add Bookmark
Adds the title of the current Netscape page to the list of pages in the bookmark file. The Bookmarks menu grows as you add bookmarks. Initially, the menu contains two items: one that adds a bookmark item and another to view the Bookmarks window. Bookmarks are stored as a list and represented by a bookmark file on your hard disk. The bookmarks list can be viewed in the Bookmarks window. For a complete description of bookmarks and the tools for working with bookmarks, see the section on Mail, News, and Bookmarks - Go to Bookmarks (Windows only)
Displays the Bookmarks window (the same as choosing Window | Bookmarks). - Bookmark items
The Bookmarks menu appends an item with the title of each page you add as a bookmark. Choose the menu item to display the page. Choose Window | Bookmarks to view the bookmark list.
Options
- General Preferences...
Presents a dialog box containing tab buttons for selecting preference items. Each tab presents one or more panels that help you define Netscape's operation. The General Preferences panels cover a broad set of preference items. Panels for other preference items are displayed by subsequent menu items. Click the OK button to close the dialog box while accepting any changes in panel settings. Click Apply, if available, to accept changes without closing the dialog. Click Cancel to close the dialog box without accepting any changes. Click Defaults to reset panel items to initial out-of-box settings. Click Help, if available, for online help information about each panel. - Mail and News Preferences...
Presents the tabbed panels for setting mail and news preference items. - Network Preferences...
Presents the tabbed panels for setting preference items regarding cache, network connections, and proxy configurations. - Security Preferences...
Presents the tabbed panels for setting preference items for security features. - Show Toolbar
Toggles the visibility of the toolbar buttons. If checked, the toolbar buttons are visible. - Show Location
Toggles the visibility of the location (URL) field. If checked, the location is visible. - Show Directory Buttons
Toggles the visibility of the Directory menu buttons. If checked, the buttons are visible. - Show Java Console
Displays the Java Console window. Some Java programs might display information here. - Auto Load Images
Toggles the presentation of inline images as a page is brought to screen. If checked, images embedded in a page are automatically loaded. If unchecked, images are not loaded and are instead represented by small icons that can be loaded by choosing View | Load Images or Images from the toolbar. Unchecking this item increases the speed for displaying page text. - Document Encoding
Lets you select which character set encoding a document uses when document encoding is either not specified or unavailable. The proportional and fixed fonts associated with the default encoding are designated using the General Preferences | Fonts panel items. - Save Options
Saves any changes made to the settings of the Options menu (not including the preferences panels whose items are saved by pressing OK). Changes remain in effect for subsequent Netscape sessions.
Directory
- Pacific Bell Internet Services
Who we are and what we offer. - What's New!
A timely page leading you to the new information appearing every day on the Internet. - Internet Directory
A master directory of Internet sites and other Internet directories. - About the Internet
Brief tour of the Internet, where it came from, how it's organized. - Customer Service
Information on your account and on help you can get 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from our customer service organization. - Help
Tips and pointers on software, access and more, plus the online Netscape Handbook
Window
- Netscape Mail
Displays the Mail window. - Netscape News
Displays the News window. - Address Book
Displays an Address Book window where you can create and modify files containing e-mail addresses. - Bookmarks
Displays a Bookmarks window where you can create and modify bookmark files. - History
Displays a History window that lists, in two columns, the title and URL of each page you have recently viewed. The history list is sorted with the most recently viewed pages at the top. One item in the list is always selected. Pressing the Go to button, or double-clicking an item, brings the selected page back to the screen. Pressing the Add to Bookmark button puts the selected page into the bookmark list. - Netscape Welcome Home
A shortcut to the Netscape Home Page.
Help (See Balloon Help or Apple menu on Macintosh)
- About Netscape
Version, copyright, and license information about the Netscape software. - About Plug-ins
Presents MIME type information for currently installed plug-in modules. Plug-in modules are software programs that extend the capabilities of Netscape. The plug-in application programming interface (API) provides native support for new data types and additional features. After installing a plug-in on your hard disk (per instructions from the plug-in), the plug-in adds capabilities seamlessly to Netscape, performing like built-in Netscape features. A Netscape dialog box tries to inform you if there's an incompatibility with a version of a plug-in. - Registration Information
Displays a page containing the registration number for your copy of Netscape Navigator. If you have not yet registered your copy of the software, the page tells you how to register. - Software
Displays a page containing information on how to obtain the most recent upgrades to Netscape Navigator software. - Handbook
Displays the online version of the documentation, with links to chapters and index entries. - Release Notes
New feature information, links to helper applications, and tips for using a specific version of the software. - Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions on a variety of Netscape topics. - On Security
Questions and answers about Netscape's security features and links to additional technical information about Netscape's implementation of Internet security. - How to Give Feedback
A feedback form for you to fill in and send your comments, requests for features, bug reports, and other information to Netscape. - How to Get Support
Displays information on Netscape support programs and relevant e-mail addresses. - How to Create Web Services
A page with links to help you explore opportunities for creating and publishing your own documents on the Internet using Netscape software.
Pop-up Menu
On Windows and UNIX, clicking the right mouse button produces a pop-up menu with items that are shortcuts for several commands. On Macintosh, holding down the mouse button produces the pop-up menu.
The items in the menu depend on the type or contents of the window you are on. For example, when pressing the mouse button over a link, menu items refer to the page specified by the link; over an image, menu items refer to the image file specified by the image; over a pane in the Mail or News window, menu items apply specifically to mail or news features. When a frame is selected, Back and Forward menu items refer to the individual frame.
- Back (or Back in Frame) (Same as Go | Back item)
Displays the previous page in the history list. - Forward (or Forward in Frame) (Same as Go | Forward item)
Displays the next page in the history list. - Open this Link (filename)
Displays the specified page. - Add Bookmark for this Link
Creates a bookmark in the bookmark list for the specified page. - New Window with this Link
Displays the specified page into a newly opened window instead of the current window. - Save this Link as...
Saves the specified page to disk (instead of displaying on screen). - Copy this Link Location
Copies the specified page location (URL) to the clipboard. - Open this Image (filename)
Displays the specified image. - Save this Image as...
Saves the specified image to disk (instead of displaying on screen). - Copy this Image (Macintosh only)
Copies the specified image to the clipboard. - Copy this Image Location
Copies the specified image location (URL) to the clipboard. - Load this Image
Displays the specified image. (Replaces an image icon with the corresponding image like the View | Load Images menu item.). - Create Shortcut (Windows 95 only)
Displays the Create Internet Shortcuts dialog box preset with information about the current page. To create a Internet shortcut icon on your desktop, you can accept the current information or supply a new description and URL for any page you wish. After you have created the icon, you can click it to open Netscape with the shortcut page automatically loaded.
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