Covington - Browser Tips: Really Basic, But Really Useful

Browser Tips: Really Basic, But Really Useful

Phillip A. Covington

Personal Web Site

More To a Button Than Meets The Eye!

Whether programming a VCR or using computer software it seems there is never a shortage of buttons to push! Fortunately, it takes only minutes to master the basics of browsing Web pages. Many Web site builders seem to assume that if a visitor managed to reach their site they must know all about using a browser. Well, I learned long ago never to assume! Even if this is your first time using a Web browser on your own you'll find the basic information below to be easy to follow.

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This page last updated
07-Mar-1999

"Secret Tips"

After the basic tutorial a number of tips appear which even some experienced browser users may not be fully aware of. If you already know the basics, it still might be worth your while to check out the "Secret Tips" which appear further down the page.

Now, The REALLY Basic "Stuff"

If you're using someone else's computer or perhaps your own to browse the Internet for the first time, and haven't a clue as to what all of this is about, these are the few basic pieces of information you'll need to find your way around.

Links, Hyperlinks, "Click Here," URLs, Etc.

All of the above are really just terms describing the same thing: Internet addresses. Just as buildings have street addresses and telephones have numbers, every single item accessible on the Internet must have a unique address in order for someone to be able to find it. That address is also just a number (which you'll sometimes see). But, more often a descriptive name is also assigned to locations and items on the Internet to make them easier to find than by using just a number. My Web site, for instance, can be reached by typing in the address name: "http://www.grpmax.com" These addresses not only describe Web site locations, but any accessible pages, files, or features available through that Web site, including the ability to jump from one place to another on the same page.
All you really need to remember is that whenever you see an address, word, or words that are highlighted in a different color (and usually underlined), it typically means that item is a hyperlink, and that by clicking on it you will be taken to the information it refers to. Occasionally, an address will be provided that is not highlighted (such as in the example above). In such cases, assuming it's not just for example purposes, you have to manually type the address into your browser's address window (and press "Enter") in order to use that link. Oh, in case you're wondering about "URL," it stands for "Uniform Resource Locator," and is just the "technical" term for all of the above, and another way of saying: "link."

The Importance of Reverse Gear:
The "Back" Button

Even people who have sometimes used the Internet for awhile don't realize that the "Back" button isn't just an optional feature, it's an integral part of using the Internet and browsing Web pages. While some Web pages are designed so that some kind of menu is always on screen, it's impossible to design into the menu all of the links a visitor might want to go "back" to. Unlike the menus on software programs themselves, which are fixed, it is the person browsing the Internet that determines what many of his or her own choices will be.
It's important to remember that when you've finished viewing a page and wish to return to the page you were on previously, the Web site designer most often expects you to use the Back button to get there. Regardless of whether or not links, or a menu, are provided at the top of a page, the most common practice is for Web page designers to provide you with a link at the bottom of every page that at least takes you to the site's home page. So, if you don't want to use your Back button (or can't), and you don't see other options near the top of the page, try scrolling to the bottom.

"Back" Works On The Same Page, Also

Not infrequently you'll find links that will take you from one place on a page to another place on the same page, like the two I threw in above as examples. This is especially true when viewing extremely long Web pages. Just remember that the Back button works exactly the same way even if you are just moving from place to place on the same page. If, for instance, you are at the bottom of a long page and click on a link that takes you near the top, it is very likely that there won't be a link there that you can click on to get you back. Just use the Back button to return to the spot on the page where you were before. If you'd like to try this out, click on the demo link that follows; you'll be taken to the bottom of this page. Click on that link and you'll return here. You can also try it using the "Back" button! Demo Demo Demo: Click Here!

The "Stop" Button

When you click on a link you are sending instructions over the Internet that tell computers what information needs to be transferred to your computer. Depending on such things as how busy the network is, the speed of your connection, and so on, the process of waiting for these pages, graphics, etc., to be loaded into your browser's window can be lengthy. Sometimes, everything just seems to stop working while you're waiting. If you don't want to wait, and decide to view a different page instead, or perhaps you clicked on the wrong link, simply press the Stop button. The Stop button does often appear in red and can be ominous looking, but don't worry, pressing it won't hurt anything. (The same may not be true of some of the "Stop" or "Cancel" buttons you may find elsewhere.)

The "Refresh" or "Reload" Button

As explained above, when you click on a link you are requesting that the files necessary to display it be transferred to your computer. Once the file that contains a page is loaded into your browser it resides on the hard disk of your own computer. Anytime you want to view a page that's been viewed before, your browser first looks to see if it can load a copy already stored on your own computer. Sometimes that copy may be out of date, and sometimes, even if loading directly from the Internet, pages don't always completely load correctly.
The most common problems are that you can't scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, and/or that pictures or graphics didn't finish displaying on your screen. Clicking on the Refresh button instructs the computer at the other end to transmit a completely new copy of the page to your computer, which usually clears up the problem. There are other applications for the Refresh button too numerous to go into here. Generally, though, they involve pages that change or update constantly with news, advertisements, or graphics. So, as a general rule of thumb, if you are ever in doubt as to whether or not you are seeing what a page is really supposed to look like, or whether you're seeing the most recently updated version of it, try pressing the Refresh button.

Well, the above should be more than enough to get you well on your way. More help is available by clicking on your browser's "Help" menu and/or via the user's manual and other resources readily available to you.

How's The Surf?

Oh, in case you're wondering, yes, the terms "surf" and "surfing" mean the same thing as "browse" and "browsing." I guess, though, that while I'm definitely computer savvy, I'm a little old fashioned in that regard. I just don't see the need for inventing new, "cute" phrases for things for which perfectly good terms already exist?

"Secret" Tip #1: If At First You
Don't Succeed, Click, Click, Again!

Often you'll click on a link or menu selection and nothing happens, or at least so it seems. First, remember that it takes time for the system to work. When you click on a link you are requesting that information be sent to your computer from a computer somewhere else. If using your company's network that computer might be across the room, down the hall, or in another building. And when using the Internet the pages you are requesting might be travelling from halfway around the world. Somewhere on your screen can usually be found a "working" and/or communications status indicator. If you are using Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator the graphics that make up the logo in the upper right-hand corner will move during the entire time a request is being processed. Depending upon how many other people are using the system, and how busy the network is, it can sometimes take quite a few seconds before the requested page appears in your browser.
Also, anything on your screen which is "click-able" usually contains "dead" areas, meaning that nothing happens when you click there. You might click on a button, and it might even change shape or making a clicking sound, without anything happening. So, always try to click in the center of any click-able link, button, or graphic.

Lastly, remember that as efficient as the system is, it's not perfect. Sometimes you'll click exactly on the center of a link or button and still nothing will happen. An error message may even appear stating that your browser is unable to access that address, or open that page, etc. It is not uncommon after this happens, though, to try clicking one or two more times and for the link to work after all! Occasionally, due to the system being extremely busy or maintenance being performed somewhere along the network, a link may not even work for many minutes or hours, but will function normally afterward.
Try to keep the above in mind anytime you have problems with a link that doesn't appear to work properly. However, if you've tried clicking on the link a number of times without success, especially if you wait and try again later and the results are the same, then you should report the problem to the organization or individual that operates the Web site. In the case of organizations, the system administrator or person in charge of maintaining the system is often referred to as the "Webmaster."

"Secret" Tip #2: Typing In
URLs (Web Addresses) By Hand

If you need to access a specific Web page other than a site's main or Home Page, then you must type in the address exactly as indicated. For instance, the Web address for the page you are viewing is:

http://www.grpmax.com/pac_mainfiles/browser1.html

HOWEVER, when you want to go to a main or home page here is a tip that can save you some grief. The address for most home pages ends with one of several common suffixes, or extensions, such as: index.html; index.htm, home.html, or home.htm. Because there is more than one such extension you should avoid typing the last portion of the address whenever possible. This is because if the actual suffix used by a given home page is different than the one you type in, your request may result in an error message, and the page not displaying. The most common suffix is "index.html" However, as explained above, this is only one of several possibilities. For instance, to gain initial access to this site the "home.html" suffix must be used. So, typing:

"http://www.grpmax.com/index.html"

would result in an error message and the home page would not be found or displayed. Fortunately, virtually all systems default to the correct suffix when the user leaves it off, and the address is completed for you automatically. So if you type:

"http://www.grpmax.com"

leaving off any suffix, the system will automatically take care of the rest. Note that in addition most systems also automatically add the "http://" prefix, as well as taking care of the "/" at the end. Occasionally, however, you may have to manually type these in for the address to be accepted as correct. For those interested in knowing, "http" stands for "Hypertext Transfer Protocol," and, yes, the slash is "backwards" from the one normally used with computers. When specifying directory, folder, and address locations on the hard drive of your "local" computer, the "Backslash" (\) is used. The "Forward slash" (/) indicates that you are accessing network resources remotely on another computer via an intranet or the Internet.

"Secret" Tip #3: The Sequence of Visited Links

Sometimes its easy even for those who've been browsing the Web for awhile to end up somewhere they didn't expect to be when using the "Back" and "Forward" buttons. These buttons maintain a temporary memory of each page you visit, one at a time, so that you can easily move backward or forward to review any page you visited previously during the same session. Many people don't realize, though, that whenever you use the Back button to go back, AND then click on any link on any page, the memory of links stored by the Forward button (sometimes called the "Next" button) is broken. Once the Forward link has been broken you'll notice that the Forward button appears grayed out, which means it's no longer available. The memory of links to all the pages you haven't yet used the Back key to go back to are still there, but not the pages going forward.
Another less temporary memory (called the "History" by browsers) is maintained of ALL pages that you browse. However, its main use is to let you quickly get back to pages when you know which page you are looking for. If you don't know the name or address of a page you found interesting, you literally have no choice but to click on each page in your browser's history list until you find the right one!

If you are just randomly browsing various Web pages strictly for the fun of it, and don't care whether you can easily find your way back to any of them, don't worry about how you follow links. But if you are looking for specific information or doing research, etc., where you'll want to quickly be able to go back and forth between pages you've visited, try to think ahead about the best approach. For instance, even if you do take care to create one long continues sequence of pages (by not using the Back key until you're done), you probably wouldn't want to take the time to use the Back and Forward buttons to navigate to a site you visited 50 pages ago! That's where your browser's "Bookmark" or "Favorites" button comes in. Use that feature to store the pages you need more of a long-term or permanent ability to get back to.

If you have a fairly good idea ahead of time of the kinds of pages you'll be browsing, and the number of anticipated pages is small enough that it would be ideal if you could use the Back and Forward buttons to navigate through all of them, then try NOT to use the Back key until you are completely finished with your browsing session. That way, even if you disconnect from the Internet, you'll be able to use the Back and Forward buttons to review all of the pages you visited earlier, at your convenience.