Getting Started on the Web > 4: Browser Basics

4A: Anatomy of a Web browser window

[D]

4B: Basic Browser Functions

Different brands of browsers have similar functions, but the organization and appearance of the toolbar varies. Also, you can usually customize your browser toolbar to add or remove buttons that you don't want displayed.

	Use Stop to interrupt a transfer in progress.
	Use Refresh or Reload to fetch 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.

4C: Monitoring Your Progress

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 transaction between your computer and the server is being processed. When it stops, the transfer is complete.

Status bar, at the bottom of the browser window. It will indicate when the host has been contacted, when data is transferring, and when done.

Don't confuse your browser by clicking on any part of the screen, except the STOP button, while the transfer is in progress.

4D: Backing Up

There are several ways to return to a previously viewed page:

1. Use the browser's BACK button.
2. Use the browser's drop-down menu options. In Internet Explorer, choose View | Go To from the drop-down menu. Select Back to return to the previous page or choose from the list of recently visited pages.
   
3. Point to a blank part of the page and click the [right] mouse button (press CONTROL and click on the Macintosh). Choose Back from the menu that pops up.

4E: Frames

Sometimes a Web page contains multiple windows within the larger browser window. These smaller windows are called frames.

To change the size of a frame:

Point at the border you want to move. Grab: If the pointer changes to an indicator that looks like the one shown in the illustration, click the mouse button to "grab" the border. Hold the mouse button down and pull the border in either direction. Release the mouse button when done.

4F: New Browser Windows

Clicking on some links causes a new (second) browser window to open. The new window may partially or completely cover the old one. To move (toggle) between windows, use one of the following methods: Windows task bar: Click a button to bring that window to the top. Browser menu: If you are using Macintosh, you won't have a task bar, but your browser will probably have a Window menu, like the illustration. To resize windows: To make one of the windows smaller or larger, see these instructions. To close new windows: Use the drop-down menu option, File | Close, or use the regular Windows or Macintosh window closing technique (shown in the illustration) [D] Activity Try closing this new window. Pop Quiz How can you tell that a Web page is completely loaded on your computer? choose one Page appears on the screen Browser beeps Status indicator stops moving Correct answer: [NOTE: Score is not recorded] Back | Top | Next net.TUTOR © 1997-2005, The Ohio State University Libraries http://liblearn.osu.edu/tutor/