PRINTABLE TUTORIAL

Back & Forward Arrows - Think of a web site as a book and you're able to flip through its pages. Click on the Back Arrow to go "backwards" to previously viewed web pages. The Forward Arrow allows you to then flip "forward".

Stop - If a web page takes too long to open, click on Stop to halt the process.

Refresh/Reload - Sometimes web pages open improperly (missing pictures, etc.). Click on the Refresh or Reload icon to give them a second chance to open correctly.

Search - This will bring you to the search engine of your browser's choice. Also check out my links page to see a list of other search engines.

Internal Search Boxes - Some sites offer a way to search for information within that site. Click inside the search box to activate it, type in what you seek and click on the "action button" next to the box which probably says either Go, Search, Find, or Fetch.

Banner Ads - Banner Ads often appear at the top of a web page, but they can also be in the body of a web page. If you click on a Banner Ad you'll be taken to the advertiser's site. Use the Back Arrow to return to the web site. Why do we need banner ads? It is advertising that allows web sites to offer their services and/or information for free, not unlike commercials that make television free for us. They are essential to the freedom of this new frontier.

Index - The index is the table of contents of a web site. Simply click on the topic you desire and the page pertaining to that topic will appear on your screen. Most indexes contain the word Home or Main. If you click on Home or Main you will be returned to the first page of the web site. Internet Tutorial Parts Labeled: cont'd

Netsite/Address Box - This is where you type in a web address that you want to visit. Click once in the box to activate it (everything should become highlighted) and then type in the web address. Hit the Enter or Return key on your keyboard to go to the site. Note: You don't need to type http://, but you may need to type www.

History - Gives you a list of the web sites you have recently visited. You also access this information by clicking on the down arrow at the end of the web site address box.

Close Box - The Close Box functions as it does in any window. If you click it, the window will close. It varies as to whether clicking on the Close Box will disconnect you from the Internet.

Maximize Box - Click the Maximize Box to make the window as large as possible. The advantage is that enlarging the window may eliminate the need for a scroll bar.

Menu Bar - Feel free to click on each item in your Menu Bar to experiment with what it has to offer. For example: If you click on File, a drop menu will appear where you can choose to Print the web page. If you click on View, you can customize how you view a web page.

Tool Bar - Many things offered in a text format in the Menu Bar can also be accessed in a visual format (through icons) in the Tool Bar. For example: There is a Print icon here that will accomplish the same task as clicking on File and then Print from the Menu Bar.

Link - A link is a web site feature that when clicked on will take you to more information on the subject indicated. (A link may bring you to a different web site.) A link is often underlined and a different color to set it apart from other text.

Print - If you click on the Print icon in the Tool Bar the page (or pages) you are viewing will print. To access more options for printing click on File in the Menu Bar, when the drop menu opens below File, click on Print and a print window will open.

Favorites/Bookmarks - When you read a book and want to return to a page to continue reading you simply stick a bookmark in that page. The same is true on the Internet.

The theory of how to save a web site address and retrieve it later is similar with all online services. Click on Bookmarks and/or Favorites and then click on "Add To Favorites", "Add To Bookmarks" or "Add Top Window To Favorites". Perfect! Next time you want to access a bookmarked site simply click on Favorites or Bookmarks and then click on the site name.

Logo - Almost all Internet services/browsers have their logo in the top right corner. When a web page is in the process of opening the logo will spin. This indicates that you should sit tight. The computer is at work. Another way to follow the progress of a page opening is to read what appears in the bottom left corner of the window. Here it will often indicate what percentage of the page that is open.

Scroll Bar - A scroll bar indicates that the window has more to offer than you can see. Almost all web sites have one, either vertically or horizontally. If the scroll bar is ignored, you'll end up not viewing all that the page has to offer.

Here's how to control the scroll bar:

• Place your mouse on the bottom scroll arrow on the right side of the window and click a few times. With each click the image on the screen moves down. If you place your mouse on the arrow at the top of the scroll bar the page moves up. Be careful that the mouse arrow stays within the box that contains the scroll arrow.

• If you hold down the mouse button rather than depressing and releasing it, the window will scroll very quickly. This technique is more difficult to control, but faster than individual clicks.

• Alternatively, place your mouse on the scroll box within the scroll bar and click and drag it up and down. This is faster than using the scroll arrows and is most convenient if you're on a very long web page. Note: Sometimes there are scroll bars within a web site - they function in the same way.

Security Alert - Sometimes you may notice a key or lock in the bottom corner of a web page. This indicates that the web page you're visiting is "secure". This is significant if you are considering giving your credit card information to the web site. A broken key or open lock indicates that the web page is NOT secure.

Home - When you click on the Home icon a web site you've chosen as your "Home" will appear. This is especially handy if there is a particular web site you plan to visit every time you're on the Internet (perhaps mine!).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do NOT mistake your Home icon (that you can customize with the instructions below) with a Home link on a web site. The Home icon brings you to a web site of your choosing. "Home" on a web page brings you to the first page of that web site.

Here's how to customize your Home Page: Below are three different sets of instructions depending on what you use to surf the web. If your service isn't here, not to worry.read through each set of instructions to get a sense of how to set your Home Page. I bet you can figure it out once you've read how it is done.

If you use Internet Explorer.

1. Sign onto the Internet and access my web site.
2. Click on Tools in the Menu Bar.
3. Now click Internet Options.
4. The General Tab should be chosen, if not, click on it.
5. The top portion of the window should say "Home Page". Click the Use Current button.
6. Click OK to confirm your choice.

1. Sign onto the Internet and access my web site.
2. Click on Edit in the Menu Bar.
3. Now click Preferences.
4. "Navigator" should appear at the top of the window. If it doesn't, click on it in the left hand index.
5. Homepage should be chosen. If not, click in the circle (a.k.a. radio dial) to the left of Homepage.
6. Click the Use Current button.
7. Click OK to confirm your choice.

1. Sign onto the Internet and access my web site.
2. Click on MY AOL or Settings.
3. Click on Preferences.
4. Click on WWW.
5. The General Tab should be chosen, if not, click on it.
6. The top portion of the window should say "Home Page". Click the Use Current button.
7. Click OK to confirm your choice.

From now on, all you need to do is click on your Home icon to get to abbyandme.com. Well done! You can follow these steps to change your Home Page at any time.

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