This site has intentionally been
streamlined to
load fast and be as simple and direct as possible. It is intended to
help
you get easily on the Internet and learn your way around. Here
are
a few helpful hints and tips about browsing the Web, search engines,
e-mail,
chat, and even making your own web page, and more.
The Internet is actually
just
another appliance, and a very useful one! It is the
worlds
largest encyclopedia, a place to find people and ideas and connect with
the whole world in many interesting ways. To get on the
net
it, all you really need is a computer and web browser software--a text
editor or word processor, and an e-mail program.
WHAT IS A URL?
URL stands for Universal Resource Locator or
Uniform
Resource Locator. Most URL's are simply pointers that aim the program
at
other locations. All those things starting with http:// are "Universal
Resource Locators," to your web browser. For a glossary of other
computer/internet
terminology see The
Word Page.
LINKS:
Link is
short
for Hyperlink and a hyper link is generally a line of text in the body
of a web page that when clicked with the mouse, will connect you to
another
site. The most common identifier of a link is that the text appears in
color and is underlined. This does not mean that all underlined blue
text
is a link.....nor that all links are blue and underlined.
BOOKMARKS:
You can bookmark this page so it is easy to find
again
(do it now). Windows users can do this by hitting Ctrl D. If you
are using Netscape and want to make this page come up each time you get
on the net, just do the following: 1) Click edit; 2) Click
preferences;
3) Click "Use current page."
BOOKMARK MENU FOLDER:
In Netscape Navigator, the bookmark menu folder is the
container
for the saved hyperlinks displayed by the Bookmark menu. The bookmark
menu
folder is set in the Bookmarks window. bookmarks folder In Netscape
Navigator,
the bookmarks folder is a container for a collection of saved
hyperlinks.
Typically, the folder has a subject name and it contains hyperlinks to
related Web pages. Learn to cut and paste your bookmarks to keep them
organized.
FILES AND FILENAMES:
Just about
anything you
do with a computer involved doing something with a file. So you just
can't
escape knowing something about file names. The first part of a filename
is seperated from the last part by a period. The second part is called
the extension. MYFILE.TXT implies a textfile that you created.
Here are examples of filetypes
and their extensions
Extension |
Description |
.MP3 or .WAV |
Audio recordings
|
.DBF |
Database
|
.ZIP
|
Compressed file
|
.JPG, .BMP, .GIF
|
Graphics
|
.PDF
|
Desktop publisher and presentation files
|
.SCR
|
Screensavers
|
.XLS or .WKS
|
Spreadsheets
|
.TXT
|
Text Documents
|
.MPG or .MPEG
|
Video clips
|
HTM OR HTML
|
Web pages
|
MAKING A FOLDER TO STORE YOUR
FILES:
You can make
a folder (directory) on your hard drive called JOE or RUTH,
or
MYSTUFF or whatever. Practice with a few files before you get
on-line.
Arrange this folder icon so it is, peeking at you from the edge or top
of the screen and always available. Find your e-mail inbox file, your
address
book file right now and make copies before a disaster destroys
them.
Make a folder called BACKUP or DATA for them. The most organized hard
drive
I have seen had ALL personal files in subdirectories
under DATA. Only that folder needed to be copied when the hard drive
needed
replacing.
CUT AND PASTE:
You can cut
and paste in the address window (at the top of the page). This is
especially
handy for long Internet addresses because they are awkward to type. Use
the left mouse button to select text or address, then RIGHT click to
cut
and paste. On a page, or a chat text, you can SELECT ALL by clicking
the
word EDIT at the top of the window. Hold down Ctrl and press C to cut
and
Ctrl and V to paste.
TEXT EDITORS:
Anytime you see text on your screen that you
want
to use, you can highlight, cut and paste it to a plain text file. Then
you can save the text as a file for later reference or paste it into an
e-mail message or open it into your word processor.
The difference between a text editor and a
word processor
is complexity. Word processors will usually open text files and save as
plain text (if you know how). But often they are so feature rich that
they
are not easy to learn or use, and are too slow to load. Windows comes
with
NOTEPAD.EXE. It is a plain text editor and is useful to have handy
anytime
you use the Internet. And it is easy to use.
Go to the Windows directory where you can see
all the
Windows files. NOTEPAD.EXE has an icon that looks like a spiral
notebook.
Click and drag it to your desktop using the right mouse button. Put it
right at the top of the page so it is handy. You can size the browser
page
so your notepad is peeking over the top. Then you can click on it to
call
it anytime. Or, better yet, start notepad before you get online.
Minimize
it so it is running on the bottom bar. If you use an Office Suite with
a button bar that stays on top, then try dragging the editor icon to
the
button bar. A much improved Notepad type program called Metapad
has a lot of interesting features including "find and replace." Metapad
and other FREE software can be downloaded from shareware
sites.
CD AND VIDEO TUTORIALS:
If none of this makes sense to you, then you
need
to review your operating system's file management. Ask for a video
tutorial
list from the Public Library. There are various good topics to check
out,
such as: Intro to the Computer, Windows, The Internet, your favorite
word
processor, etc. Some video rental stores have them also. Videos are
better
than books because you will be clicking on things, which may be without
names, then dragging them to a place that can be hard to follow in a
book.
I got an EXPERT
tutorial
CD for about $12 and it was excellent. Many schools offer
inexpensive
night classes on these topics. If you are a senior, then you might look
up a local Senior Net group.
INTERNET TUTORIALS and HELP
SITES:
- How
do Computers Work? - a basic introduction
- General
Internet Information and links
- If you are new to the internet (a
newbie), The
Newbie Zone has info and links to help.
- Pakuranga
College WWW Newbie Tutorial is straightforward and accessible.
- Frank's
Virtual
Sites Virtual Internet Guide -One of the best found on the net!
- Primers
and Tutorials from PC Week
- Learning
About The
Internet - from Critical Mass
- Virtual
Computer Library - WWW Guides/Information
- The librarians of Skokie
Public Library have gathered several helpful online resources to
assist
you in navigating the Web.
- Here are some Surfing
tips from Infoseek.
- Fantasy
Realm is a great starter page for Windows users because it explains
how to use Finger Gateway, set up your Netscape mailbox, make a
signature
file, and much more.
- If you crave a cozy and friendly intro,
try Cyber
Mom's Newbie Tutorial.
- Refdesk.com
- Is all about Internet help for beginners.
- Newbie
Nation for
Internet Beginners is a personal web site that has everything the
Internet
newbie will need to create their own personal website or upgrade a site
they now have. Free host providers, guest books, counters, midi files,
backgrounds, chat rooms, images, email, browsers, editors, etc.
- Newbie-U's
virtual
campus is a friendly, helpful tutorial for new users that includes:
How Your Browser Works /
Finding
What You're Looking For /
Finding E-Mail Addresses /
Learn
about e-mail software / Mailing Lists /
"File Transfer Protocol" -
What
is FTP? / FTP Software Step-By-Step /
"Internet Relay Chat" -
Overview:
How It Works / Step-By-Step Session /
Searching for Groups of
Interest
/ Step-By-Step News Reading Session. - Grafton
Internet
Online Help - Configuration Info, Internet Guides, Programs,
PC Help, Mac Help.
- Here is a site for those who are New
to the Net -Information with Links From the WebWorld
- Asia
Pacific CompuNet Ltd. Beginner Guide - Introductions, Internet
Basics,
Netiquette, User Guidelines for responsible use of the Internet.
- Surf
Guru - NET BASICS- send your questions.
- PLANET
EARTH HOME PAGE - central starting point, Links, Beginner's Guides,
Browsers, E-Mail, InternetCodes & Terms, Facts & Figures, Net
History,
Internet Societies & Organizations, ISP'S, Netiquette, Search
Engines.
- Bigeye is
one
of the Best
Reference Sites on the Web - free e-mail, free webpages, magazines, and
more free stuff; including free e-mail and webpages, catalogs and
magazines
and more.
- On-Line
Learning Index- offers a comprehenisve list
ol
learning sites.
- Internet
Background and Basics - collection of unusual and interesting links
- Groovy
Minds - this sites primary purpose is to assist the computer
illiterate,
to take take the frustration out of using a computer.
- Netscape
Navigator Handbook - full of useful info about this Web Browser
- Infoseek:
Learn the Web
MORE INTERNET HELP SITES
CHOOSING YOUR HOMEPAGE:
You can fix your Netscape or Internet Explorer browser to
change
the first page you start when you go online (this is also called your
home,
or default page):
For Netscape Navigator: Click the "Edit" menu at the top of
the screen
and select "Preferences." On the left of the screen that appears,
you'll
see a tree structure. Click "Navigator" so that it's highlighted. To
the
right, you should now see a "Home page" section with a "Location:" box
in it. Type the URL of the page you want your browser to start on,
including
the "http://" part (e.g. "http://www.dogpile.com"). Click on "OK" and
you're
set. Now when you sign on, your browser will automatically start there.
For Microsoft Internet Explorer: Click the "View" menu at
the top
of the screen and select "Internet Options." You should see a "Home
page"
area with an "Address" box containing the address of the page you
currently
start with. All you need to do is type in the address of the page you
want
Explorer to start with, let's use " https://helpfulhi.tripod.com/helpful.html"
-- click OK and you're set. Just cut-and-paste https://helpfulhi.tripod.com/helpful.html
into your browser window to get started making the change.
SEARCH ENGINES:
SearchEngineWatch
- good
on-line source for information about web search tools
Search
IQ
is a
search engine list with strong points of each engine.
Search
Zone lists various search engines and their indications for use.
Search
Engine
Show Down gives tips on how to use search engines.
Searching
the Web (list of search engines via Yahoo)
WWW Search
Engines (master list)
NEWSGROUPS:
An
introduction to
mail groups This source provides general information on the various
types of mail group manager programs and how they are typically used.
http://tile.net/listserv/
http://ancho.ucs.indiana.edu/mlarchive
http://scwww.ucs.indiana.edu/mlarchive/
http://web66.coled.umn.edu/Cookbook/MailingList/MailingList.html
http://www.nova.edu/Inter-Links/cgi-bin/news-lists.pl
http://edweb.cnidr.org:90/lists.html
http://www.neosoft.com/internet/paml/
http://liszt.bluemarble.net/
news.newusers.questions
is devoted to helping new users. The group also has a help
site on the Web. It would be a good idea to read the newsgroup, the
Web site, or both for a little while before posting anything at all to
netnews.
FREEBIES:
SHAREWARE
and FREE
SOFTWARE
Contests and free
stuff
-volition.com
FREECON
-links
UTILITIES:
- XTREE was the best file manager ever, but
unfortunately
was discontinued.
A similar program, ZTREE,
for WIN 9x, does honor long filenames is now available to be
downloaded.
Norton Utilities was very popular, but starting with Windows95, just
loading
the software has caused big problems on some stems.
- Backup
Express
- a good choice to back uo you hard drive to a CDRW drive.
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