The World Wide Web

The world wide web is a wide bandwidth channel on the Internet. This wide channel was designed to enable the movement of hypermedia throughout the Internet's infrastructure. The web allows text, hypertext, graphics, images, sound, and video to be sent and received by computers linked to the Internet through the web. In order to access the information which is stored at a web site (and on a web server), it is necessary that you use a browser.

The Internet

The Internet, in simple terms, is a massive network of networks that interconnect millions of computers around the world. The Internet uses a common communication protocol called TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol). Communication is sent throughout this global network using IP Packets (Internet Protocol Packets). These packets are sent using an addressing scheme similar to the address you were assigned for this program (name@ucs.orst.edu).

Network servers are assigned special addresses (ucs.orst.edu) and each computer on the network is assigned a specific address. These addresses are given alpha characters to make it easier for the user to understand. The machines actually work faster if the addresses are in numeric form. For example: 654.978.556. Regardless of how the address is specified, the Internet Protocol sends Packets throughout the system similar to how postal mail is routed. That is, the e-mail is sent from a site to a final destination. This trip might take unusual routes. The e-mail may be sent to one site, then forwarded to another site, then another, then another, until it finally reaches its destination. These are called "hops." The Internet is set up to distribute and forward to a specific address. This is similar to how HTML (HyperText Markup Language) documents are transferred by using HTTP (HyperText Protocol Transfer Protocol).

Browsers

Browsers are generally graphical user interfaces, which means that they are capable of transferring and viewing the information contained at a web site. There are a number of browsers available today, but the most widely used (over 80%) is the Netscape Navigator browser.

Netscape Communicator

Before you start cruising down the information highway, it is best to become familiar with the transportation. In this case the vehicle is Netscape. The Netscape browser provides a reasonable interface to the web. It provides pull-down menus, buttons, bars and indicators. Each of these supply protocols or information necessary to make your travels more efficient and enjoyable.

Let's start with the Communicator window. Contained within the active window is the browser interface. This interface (whether using a PC or a Mac which look very similar) contains the elements shown below.

Title Bar

The top line of the Netscape window contains the Title Bar. The title bar displays a small navigator icon, the Netscape name and the name of the open window or page.

Pull-Down or Menu Bar

Contained in each of the pull-down menus are most of the functions or operations of Netscape. I have provided these images of the pull-downs for those who would like to print this tutorial and study their functionality off-line. The six pull-down menus and their functions are shown below:

File...Open Page, Save, Print, Close or Exit Communicator.

Edit...Cut, Copy, Paste, Find, and Preferences.

View...Hide, Reload and Refresh, and Page Source.

Go...Back, Forward, Home, and Visited Sites.

Communicator...Netscape's resources.

Help...Online help.

Buttons

A simpler and more efficient way to use the most common Communicator functions is to use the buttons provided on the Toolbar (shown below).

The tool bar is made up of nine buttons which help you navigate through web sites and use Communicator. Each of these buttons have special actions when you click on them.

BACK to the previous page.

FORWARD to the previous page.

Reloads the current page. Helpful if the current page does not load or loads incorrectly.

Returns the user to the start-up HOME page.

Links to Netscape's Search page.

Guide provides the following pull-down to locator web pages.

Prints the current page or selected frame.

Opens the Security info box.

Stops or interrupts the current transfer.

Bookmarks

Once you open and have a site displayed on your browser, you can save the site address to a bookmark list. To set a bookmark, simply open a location and pull-down the menu. Communicator will now display the bookmark directories and/or bookmarked files (shown below).

You can open the bookmark folders by moving your cursor over the names with the right pointing triangle. This will open the folder and display the sites contained within that folder. You can open a bookmark by simply highlighting it and clicking your left mouse button once.

If you would like to add a bookmark to your "main" folder, then click on [Add Bookmark]. That's it, the web page currently displayed on Communicator will be added to your main bookmark list. If you would like to add a bookmark to a specific folder select [File Bookmark]. Communicator will open the list of folders. Continue this process until you find the folder you wish to place the bookmark into and then release your mouse button. The bookmark will automatically be added to that folder.

To edit your bookmarks or folders, click on [Edit Bookmarks]. This will display the bookmarks in an edit window. This window provides you with an opportunity to manage your bookmarks (shown below). A few of the features that the Edit Bookmarks window provides are: create a folder, create a separator, import, cut/copy/paste, find a bookmark, and threading. Another nice feature of the edit window is the drag and drop capability. You can select a bookmark and drag it (or multiple bookmarks by holding down the shift key) to another folder.

URLs/Addresses Bar

To locate documents (web pages) on the web, it is necessary that the browser find a specific URL (Uniform Resource Locator). This is the addressing scheme of the world wide web. Communicator displays the current URL in the Address bar. (shown below).

To the right of the location/address box is the pull-down arrow button. This pull-down will display the visited locations/URLs. You may go to any of these listed locations by selecting it from this menu (shown below).

To the left of the Location/Address box is the Link icon. This "button" may be used to create a bookmark. To use this button, drag the icon to your bookmark window or use to make a shortcut on your WIN95 desktop.

You may also use the Location box to go to a location. Click on the Location box and then enter the URL/Address. Pressing the Return or Enter key will have Netscape go to the specified URL/Address. Communicator will try to guess where you want to go by entering address information (as you type) from visited sites (on your history list).

Status Indicator

The Netscape icon in the upper right of the browser serves two functions. The first, when Netscape is loading a page, graphic or file, the icon animates. That is, you will see streaks of light (comets) going through the icon. When the page, graphic or file is done, the streaks will stop. Second, clicking on the icon will load Netscape's home page.

Progress Bar, Status Message Area, Security Indicator and Mail Icon

Security Lock...Indicates whether the connection is secure or not. An open lock is unsecured.
Progress Bar...Will move back and forth as Communicator loads the page.
Status Message...When the cursor (pointing hand) is positioned over a link, will displays the address Netscape will open. Also provides status information once a link is clicked.
Navigator Wheel...Opens a new Netscape window.
Mail Icon...Opens Netscape's Mailbox.
Discussion Icon...Opens Netscape's Discussion List.
Composer Icon...Opens Netscapes Web Page Editor.

The Magic Right Mouse Button

The right button on your mouse is functional when you are using Win95 and Communicator. By positioning your cursor over specific parts of your Communicator window and web pages, and then clicking the right mouse button, will display a popup menu. Get used to using this magic button and you will increase your Communicator efficency. For example, if you position your cursor in the right frame for this web site you will display the menu displayed at the left. This menu contains many useful commands including: open the frame in a new Communicator window, backward/forward in frame, and view frame source.

A Complete Netscape Communicator Handbook

If you would like a more complete handbook on Netscape Communicator for your journey, click on the link below.

• Netscape Communicator 4.0 Handbook (An Introduction to Using Communicator)