Advanced Netscape Skills

Netscape Helper Applications

Netscape is far more than a Web browser. With the right setup, you can use Netscape to play sound files (as long as you have at least a 16-bit sound card), view videos and graphics, retrieve files using FTP (file transfer protocol), or visit non-Web based sites using Telnet.

TIP Many helper applications can be downloaded directly from the Internet for free. (If you find a program useful you are encouraged to register it and pay any applicable shareware fees.) Shareware.com is a good place to search for these programs. Netscape provides a Helper Applications page with links to sites where you can download some of the more popular programs. The Mosaic and External Viewers page also provides useful information about helper applications.

graphic viewers -- LView Pro
audio players -- RealAudio Player (some services such as NPR, ABC, PBS, and live sports broadcasts require RealAudio)
video players -- MpegPlay, QuickTime
specialized viewers
- Postscript -- Ghostview
- Adobe Acrobat -- Acrobat Viewer
telnet -- use telnet to visit Internet library catalogs and other non-Web based Internet sites
ftp -- although ftp is built into Netscape, a separate ftp program can be useful for transfering files quickly without starting up Netscape; in addition it allows you to deposit your files on somebody elses Internet site

TIP The file name extensions at the end of each URL indicate the type of file available at that URL. If you don't want to wait for a large graphic, audio or video file to download, look at the exension before clicking on a link. If you hold your mouse pointer over a link without clicking, the URL will appear at the bottom of your Netscape window. Common file name extensions include: ps (postscript); gif, jpg and tiff (graphics); mpg (video); ra and wav (audio); and pdf (Acrobat).

Managing Netscape

Use the Find button to locate information within a Netscape page.

Bookmark Control

Bookmarks seem to multiply when you aren't looking. If you don't take the time to organize them at the beginning you'll spend far too much time looking for the right bookmark when you really need it.

Most versions of Netscape offer several ways to deal with bookmarks:
- Menu -- By selecting bookmarks you can see a list of your bookmarks. (If you are using folders selecting the name of the folder will pop open a list of the bookmarks in that folder.)
- Folders -- By selecting Ctrl+B you can open a window to view your bookmarks. Unlike the menu option, which can disappear with a mouse click, this window remains open while you organize your bookmarks into folders or edit URLs. If you know you will be saving a number of bookmarks that fall into a specific category take the time to establish folders for those subjects before you start adding bookmarks. You can also use separators, dotted lines that can make it easier to locate folders in a hurry. This window also offers find in the Edit menu. You can import URL lists from other sources, too.
- HTML-- You can open your bookmark file as an HTML document by selecting the open file option in the File menu and entering the name of your bookmark file. You also can use this to create your own home page -- save the page under a different name and use it as your default page.

TIP Use downtime to clean up your bookmark folders.

Third-party programs have been designed specifially to help manage Netscape bookmarks. Smartmarks is included with some versions of Netscape. Smart Bookmarks, the parent of Smartmarks, can be purchased separately or you can look here for a beta version that can be downloaded for a free 30-day evaluation. Both let you create catalogs of Web sites, maintain notes about various sites, export bookmarks and comments; you can even monitor certain sites for changes or additions.

TIP If you can't cope with some problems never download a beta of anything.

PIMs -- You can save URLs when you're offline by creating cardfiles or taking notes in Personal Information Managers like Lotus Organizer, Sidekick and Ecco, then try them out when you're online.

Database -- You might prefer using a database to keep track of URLs. You can set up a form that includes space for comments and other pertinent information.

Screen Captures

Increasingly, more journalists are being asked to provide screen images to accompany articles or for use online.

capturing
- LView Pro -- this popular shareware program can capture windows, the desktop or selected areas. LView lets you save images in a variety of graphic formats. It also can be used to clean up images and prepare them for printing.
- Alt+PrintScreen -- pressing the alt and print screen buttons on your keyboard at the same time will take an instant snapshot of the current window that can be viewed on the clipboard and saved as a file or can be pasted onto another screen.

TIP You can download images directly to your hard disk or diskette by placing your cursor over the image and clicking the right mouse key.

graphics editing
- Paintbrush -- comes with Windows and can be found in the accessories group in the Windows program manager.
- Paint Shop Pro -- a shareware image-editing program that supports multiple formats
- Adobe Photoshop, etc. -- expensive programs usually used by professionals

Saving Web Pages

Saving to a hard drive or diskette
- Select file from the Netscape menu or use Ctrl+S to open the save as window.
- Make sure the drives text box shows your hard drive. If it doesn't, use the arrow to the right of the text box to select the correct drive.
- If you want to save the page in HTML, make sure the text box under save file as type says Source [*.htm]. If not -- or if you want to save the file as text -- use the arrow to the right of the text box to change your selection.
- type the file name in the field text box and click on select or hit enter.
Saving Text/Printing
- You can select and copy text in Netscape (as in any Windows program) by using standard Windows commands . Ctrl+Cfor copy or by using your mouse. Copy can then be pasted into another program by using Ctrl+V.

This can be especially useful when it comes to URLs.

To change fonts or point sizes, open the Options menu, then select Preferences and Fonts

Changing the point size can make it possible to print on fewer pages.

Printing from Netscape can be customized to your taste by selecting the Page Setup from the File menu.

Mailing from Netscape

You can mail documents or messages directly from Netscape by selecting Mail Document from the File menu. Before you try this make sure the Mail and News window in Preferences has been filled out.

Last update 1 March 1996
http://www.ccrc.wustl.edu/spj/surf/advanced.html
Prepared by Lorrie Faith Cranor (lorracks@cs.wustl.edu) and Staci D. Kramer (sdk@cris.com)