Internet Tips and Tricks

any=20 = words =20 exact=20 phrase

Find Text in Page =20

Finding = online help=20 for Microsoft Office applications =20 (posted=20 02/12/03)

When you=20 have a question about a Microsoft Office application, the = first=20 resource you're likely to use is the applications Help menu. = Each=20 application's Help menu offers a number of ways to search = for=20 answers and explanations. You can ask the Office Assistant a = question or search through the Help contents and index. With = Office=20 2000 and more recent versions, you can even link to = information on=20 the Internet. However, when the Help menu doesn't provide an = adequate answer to your question, don't give up--check out = the=20 Microsoft Knowledge Base, a searchable database of technical = support=20 articles covering Microsoft products, at http://support.microsoft.com= /search.=20

For = additional support,=20 visit Microsoft Product Support Services at http://support.microsoft.= com/directory.=20 Here you'll find a collection of personalized support = options=20 available for home, education, and business customers; = partners and=20 resellers; developers; and IT professionals. The answers are = out=20 there... you just have to know where to look for = them!

A secret = shortcut to=20 quickly and easily close a browser window =20 (posted=20 02/04/03)

If you're=20 using Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator, you can = quickly close=20 the active browser window using the secret keystroke [Ctrl]W = ([command]W on a Mac). Not only can this help you exit your = browser,=20 but you can also use it to quickly dispose of pop-up ads = (just make=20 sure the ads are the active browser window). You can also = use this=20 secret keystroke to close Windows Explorer, My Computer, = open=20 folders, and open documents within most desktop = applications.=20

Increase = your browsing=20 speed by viewing only text (posted=20 02/03/03)

Most of the=20 time you spend on the Internet, you probably welcome the = addition of=20 graphic elements, such as digital photographs. However, if = your=20 Internet connection is bogged down and your browsing speed = is=20 frustratingly sluggish, you can speed things up considerably = (even=20 if it's only temporarily) by eliminating pictures from your = view. To=20 do this in Internet Explorer 5 or later, choose Tools | = Internet=20 Options, and then click on the Advanced tab in the Internet = Options=20 dialog box. Scroll down within the Settings window until you = see the=20 Multimedia category. Then, remove the check mark from the = Show=20 Pictures check box, click Apply, and then click OK to close = the=20 dialog box.If you're using Netscape Navigator 4 or later, = choose=20 Edit | Preferences, and then click on Advanced in the = Category=20 panel. Next, remove the check mark from the Automatically = Load=20 Images option and click OK to close the dialog = box.

Now when=20 you open the next Web page, it will load much faster but = without any=20 pictures. If you want to return to a graphically rich = cyberspace,=20 simply replace the check mark for the appropriate option in = the=20 Internet Options or the Preference dialog = box.

Copyright (c) 2001 Element K Content LLC = Inc. All rights = reserved. For additional EK = Journals=20 online information, access EK Journals on the Internet = (http://www.elementkjournals.com)

Create a = shortcut to=20 preaddress common emails = (posted=20 01/28/03)

Are there a=20 couple of people you email continually--perhaps a friend or = a=20 colleague? If so, you can save time by creating a desktop = shortcut=20 that creates preaddressed messages using your default email = client.=20 Just right-click on a clear area of the Windows desktop and = select=20 New/Shortcut from the shortcut menu. In the Command Line = text box,=20 type mailto: followed by an email address=20 (mailto:int@zdjournals.com, for example). Click Next and = type a name=20 in the Select A Name For The Shortcut text box. Click = Finish, and=20 the new shortcut appears on your desktop. When you = double-click on=20 the shortcut, your default email client opens with the = address you=20 specified in the To: text box. Simply complete and send the=20 preaddressed message as you normally would.

Cutting = your Web=20 graphics down in size (posted=20 01/22/03)

The larger=20 in file size a Web graphic is, the longer it takes to load.=20 Unfortunately, the speed offered by cable modems and DSL = (digital=20 subscriber lines) isn't available to everyone yet, so the = size of=20 your graphics still needs to be a consideration when you're=20 designing your Web site. If your page takes too long to = load,=20 potential visitors will be tempted to bail out. One way to = limit=20 file size is to limit your graphics' resolution to 72 dpi. = This is=20 the standard resolution for most computer screens and is the = optimum=20 resolution that they'll be able to output.

Browsing = the Web with=20 keyboard shortcuts for Internet Explorer and Netscape=20 Navigator (posted=20 01/14/03)

There are=20 many ways to navigate through cyberspace. Browser buttons = usually do=20 the job fine, but sometimes it helps to have a few keyboard=20 shortcuts at your disposal. With this in mind, we've = collected a few=20 you can use with Internet Explorer (IE) and Netscape = Navigator on=20 both Windows and Macintosh operating systems.

For = Windows=20 users:

[Backspace]: Return to=20 the previously viewed page
[Alt](Left arrow): Return to = the=20 previously viewed page
[Shift][Backspace]: Advance = again after=20 previously backing up
[Alt](Right arrow): Advance again = after=20 previously backing up
Arrow keys: Scroll slowly through = current=20 page
[Spacebar]: Scroll down one page length (same as = [Page=20 Down])
[Shift][Spacebar]: Scroll up one page (same as = [Page=20 Up]) (IE only)
[End]: Move to the bottom of the = page
[Home]:=20 Move to the top of the page
[Tab]: Select the next = link,=20 button, or text box
[Shift][Tab]: Return to the = previous link,=20 button, or text box

For Mac = users:=20

[delete]: = Return to the=20 previously viewed page
[command](Left Arrow): Return to = previously viewed page
[shift][delete]: Advance again = after=20 previously backing up
[command](Right Arrow): Advance = again=20 after previously backing up
Arrow keys: Scroll slowly = through=20 current page
[spacebar]: Scroll down one page length = (same as=20 [Page Down])
[end]: Move to the bottom of the = page
[home]:=20 Move to the top of the page
[tab]: Select the next = link,=20 button, or text box
[shift][tab]: Return to the = previous link,=20 button, or text box

Check = out the Web's=20 latest and greatest Webby Award winners =20 (posted = 01/07/03)

Each year,=20 the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (http://www.iadas.net/) = sponsors the=20 Webby Awards. The Webby Awards honor the most creative and=20 innovative Web sites on the Internet in 30 categories that = range=20 from Broadband to Politics (there's even a category simple = called=20 Weird). Among the 6th Annual Webby Award winners (for 2002) = are=20 familiar sites, such as Google (http://www.google.com/) = in the=20 Best Practices category, and some you probably have yet to = visit,=20 such as the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection (http://www.davidrumsey.com/)=20 in the Technical Achievement category. So if you're on the = hunt for=20 high-quality Web content, or you just want to see the best = uses of=20 Internet technologies, be sure to visit the Webby Awards = site for a=20 list of link to the best sites the Web has to offer. To = learn more=20 about the Webby Awards and to view past and present winners = and=20 nominees, or to submit your favorite site for nomination, = point your=20 browser to http://www.webbyawards.com/.=20

Refreshing (and=20 reloading) your Web page for the latest = information =20 (posted=20 10/29/02)

Refreshing=20 a Web page (called reloading with Netscape) allows you to = get=20 real-time information back on the page. For example, if you = have a=20 news site open in your browser, you can find out if there = are any=20 breaking headlines by refreshing or reloading the page. To = refresh a=20 Web page to when you're using Internet Explorer by clicking = on the=20 Refresh button on the Standard Buttons toolbar. Alternately, = if=20 you'd rather not use your mouse for the task, simply press = F5. If=20 you're using Netscape Navigator, click the Reload button on = the=20 Navigation toolbar to update the page with the latest posted = data.=20 The shortcut key command for reloading with Navigator is=20 [Ctrl]R.

Time-savers for=20 addressing the Internet (posted=20 09/04/02)

You don't=20 have to type http:// each time you enter a new URL in = Internet=20 Explorer's Address box or Open function. For example, if a = friend=20 gives you the URL http://www.ed.gov/technology, you can = simply enter=20 www.ed.gov/technology in the address box, and IE fills in = the=20 "http://" for you. IE also inserts "www" and ".com" for you; = all you=20 need to supply is the middle information. For example, if = you want=20 to get to Element K Journals' site, just enter = elementkjournals and=20 press [Ctrl][Enter]. When making use of this shortcut you = need to=20 keep domain name suffixes in mind. If you're searching for = Yale=20 University, you'll need to enter www.yale.edu, since the = shortcut=20 automatically adds a ".com" at the end instead of the needed = ".edu."

The most = common domain=20 name suffixes are as follows:

.com   =20 commercial business
.edu    educational=20 institution
.gov    government=20 agency
.mil    = military
.net   =20 miscellaneous
.org    non-profit=20 organization

You can also do a simple search by = typing a=20 company name or product directly into the Address box and = pressing=20 [Enter]. Although this method requires very little effort, = it often=20 takes more time than a traditional search through a search=20 engine.

Kid-friendly search=20 engines (posted=20 07/23/02)

Many=20 children begin cutting their teeth on the Internet at a = young and=20 impressionable age. Fortunately, there's a growing = collection of=20 entertaining and educational content on the Internet that's = geared=20 specifically toward kids and various age groups. But = unfortunately,=20 there's just as much content out there that's inappropriate = for=20 young netizens--even potentially dangerous. Chances are, you = won't=20 be able to monitor your kids' Internet activity at all = times, no=20 matter how hard you try. However, there are many tools and=20 techniques that you can use to help you exercise some = control over=20 the Internet content that your kids come into contact with. = One=20 method is to teach them to use a kid-friendly search engine = when=20 they're performing their Internet searches.

These = search=20 engines feature human or automatic content filters: =

Ask = Jeeves Kids: http://w= ww.trainingandeducation.com/www.webbyawards.com
Berits's=20 Best Sites for Children: http://www.beritsbest.com/
Cle= an=20 Search: http://www.cleansearch.com/
Y= ahooligans!:=20 http://www.yahooligans.com/
K= idsClick!:=20 http://www.kidsclick.org

These = search engines=20 feature optional content filters:

AltaVista: http://www.altavista.com/
GO.co= m:=20 http://www.go.com/
Lycos: http://www.lycos.com/=20

Authenticating=20 downloads with Internet = Explorer (posted=20 06/04/02)

Most of us=20 tend to download all types of software and other goodies = while=20 surfing the Internet. However, you can never be too careful = when=20 you're downloading any type of information from the = Internet. As a=20 measure of precaution, you should always use your antivirus = software=20 to scan items you wish to download. In addition, if you'd = like to=20 incorporate an extra security measure when you download = programs,=20 you can configure Internet Explorer 6.x to check whether the = software you're downloading has been digitally signed. If a = digital=20 signature doesn't exist, you'll receive a warning which will = allow=20 you to abort the act of downloading. To activate this = feature,=20 choose Tools > Internet Options from the menu bar, and = then click=20 on the Advanced tab. Next, locate the Security options in = the=20 Settings list box. Select the Check For Signatures On = Downloaded=20 Programs check box, and then click OK. The next time you = download an=20 item from the Internet, Internet Explorer checks the item = for a=20 digital signature and notifies you of its existence or=20 absence.

Incorporate anagrams=20 in your passwords (posted=20 06/04/02)

Nowadays,=20 most service-related Web sites require user registration, = which=20 means you'll often need to conjure up a new username and = password.=20 If you're dry on ideas for a username or password that's = both=20 effective and easy to remember, try using an anagram of a = meaningful=20 name, word or phrase. An anagram is a word or combination of = words=20 that you can make by rearranging the letters in an existing = word or=20 phrase. For instance, by rearranging the letters in "Element = K," you=20 can come up with the anagram "knee melt." Here are some = sites that=20 can help you find anagrams in an instant:

The=20 Anagram Engine:	http://www.easypeasy.com/anagr= ams
The = Anagram Genius=20 Server:	http://www.anagramgeniu= s.com/server.html
Internet Anagram Server:	http://wordsmith.org/anagram

Keep in = mind that an=20 effective password uses a combination of both letters and = numbers,=20 so be sure to incorporate a few digits in your passwords = before you=20 save them. In addition, remember to change your passwords=20 periodically to prevent others from sniffing them out. A = good rule=20 of thumb is to change your password every 30 to 90 = days.

Watch = virtual sporting=20 events online (posted=20 05/29/02)

Are you=20 torn between finishing that important business proposal = before the=20 deadline and watching the big game on the tube? Why not do = both?=20 GameChannel, available at the Yahoo! Sports channel, lets = you=20 monitor the progress of certain sporting events online. = GameChannel=20 is a cool little applet that retrieves game statistics as = they=20 happen and displays them on a virtual playing field. In = addition,=20 GameChannel provides quick access to event scoreboards, = statistics,=20 game logs and more so you can switch between games faster = than you=20 can click a remote control. You can access a sporting event = on the=20 GameChannel by pointing your browser to http://sports.yahoo.com/. The=20 current day's sporting events are listed on the left side of = the=20 page, and any event that supports GameChannel provides a = GameChannel=20 link. Just click on the GameChannel link, wait for the = applet to=20 load, then kick back and enjoy the game ... but don't forget = to=20 finish that proposal.

Store = personal=20 information with IE's Profile Assistant =20 (posted=20 05/21/02)

Internet = Explorer's=20 Profile Assistant enables you to store personal = information,=20 such as your name and email address, so that whenever you = visit a=20 Web site that requires this information, you won't need to = retype=20 it. This feature adheres to the standards set by the = Platform for=20 Privacy Preferences (P3), and no Web site can view or access = this=20 information without your permission. (For more information = about P3=20 standards and technology, see http://www.w3.org/P3P.) = To create a=20 profile with the Profile Assistant, launch Internet Explorer = and=20 choose Tools > Internet Options from the menu bar. Click = on the=20 Content tab and then click the My Profile button in the = Personal=20 Information panel. In the Address Book - Choose Profile = dialog box,=20 verify that Create A New Entry In The Address Book To = Represent Your=20 Profile is selected, and then click OK. Use the Main = Identity=20 Properties dialog box to add the personal information you'd = like the=20 Profile Assistant to store. When you've finished, click=20 OK.

When a Web site requests information from the = Profile=20 Assistant, Internet Explorer alerts you, informing you of = the=20 requesting site's Internet address, the information it's = requesting=20 from the Profile Assistant, how it intends to use that = information,=20 and whether the site uses a secure SSL connection. You can = then=20 choose which information you'd like to permit Internet = Explorer to=20 send to the requesting site.

Understanding eBook=20 formats (posted=20 05/14/02)

Electronic=20 books, or eBooks, are continuing to gain popularity among = tech-savvy=20 bookworms. If you haven't yet had an opportunity to tap into = the=20 world of eBooks, you may be surprised to learn that they = come in a=20 number of different file formats. Some eBook formats, like = PDF,=20 HTML, DOC, RTF and TXT files, are readable on a standard = desktop=20 computer, while others require special software and/or = portable=20 reading devices. The list below contains additional popular = eBook=20 formats and URLs where you can learn more about = them:

Adobe=20 Acrobat eBook Reader:	http://w= ww.adobe.com/products/ebookreader/register.html
Gemstar=20 eBook:	http://www.gemstar-ebook.com/<= /FONT>
hiebook:	http://english.hiebook.com/
MobiPocket:	http://www.mob= ipocket.com/en/HomePage/default.asp
Microsoft Reader:	http://www.microsoft.com/reader<= /A>

Instantly launch=20 Outlook Express' newsreader =20 (posted=20 05/07/02)

If you use=20 Microsoft Outlook Express as your newsreader, but you don't = use it=20 as your email client, then you can configure exclusive = access to its=20 Newsgroups area by creating a special shortcut. To do so,=20 right-click anywhere on the Windows desktop and then choose = New >=20 Shortcut from the resulting shortcut menu. In the Create = Shortcut=20 dialog box, click the Browse button and locate the msimn.exe = file on=20 your system. On a typical Windows 98 system, you'll find it = in the=20 C:\Program Files\Outlook Express folder. Select the = msimn.exe file,=20 and then click Open to add it to the Command Line text box = in the=20 Create Shortcut dialog box. Next, place the insertion point = at the=20 end of the information in the Command Line text box, type a = space,=20 and then type the following:

/outnews

When you've finished, = the=20 contents of the Command Line text box should resemble the=20 following:

"C:\Program = Files\Outlook=20 Express\msimn.exe" /outnews

(Note: The = pathname may=20 vary depending on your system configuration.) Click Next, = and then=20 type Newsreader in the in the Select A Name For The Shortcut = text=20 box. Finally, click Finish. Your new shortcut appears on the = desktop, and you can launch Outlook Express' Newsreader = feature by=20 double-clicking on it. Keep in mind that you can always move = your=20 new shortcut to a more suitable location if = desired.

Don't be = fooled by=20 Advance Fee Fraud scams (posted=20 05/01/02)

Advance Fee=20 Fraud scams, also known as Nigerian 4-1-9 scams, have been = preying=20 upon unwitting email recipients for some time now. These = scams=20 target innocent email recipients who are likely to believe = anything=20 they read. The scam is to con you into helping an alleged = foreign=20 official "protect" his wealth by transferring a large sum of = money=20 from his foreign account to a new one. In exchange for your=20 services, the alleged official promises to provide you with = a=20 monetary commission of the funds once they've successfully = been=20 transferred to a new account. During the process, the = alleged=20 official asks you to pay for various expenses involved in = the=20 transfer, promising that you'll be reimbursed when the = transfer is=20 complete. Innocent victims who fall prey to these scams can = lose=20 thousands of dollars of their own hard-earned money in hopes = that=20 the payoff will be many times this "advance fee." Many = long-term=20 Internet users have by now developed a trained eye that can = easily=20 spot these kinds of scams. However, if your solution so far = has been=20 simply to delete them from your inbox, why not do one better = and=20 release the hounds upon the perpetrator? Here are some sites = where=20 you can learn more about Advance Fee Fraud scams and do your = part to=20 stop them: (Thanks to Carlyle Thompson and Robert = Smentkowski for=20 contributing to this tip.)

<= /TABLE>

Learning = about=20 Internet RFCs (posted=20 04/23/02)

Internet=20 RFCs (Requests for Comment) written by the IAB (Internet=20 Architecture Board) are working documents that describe how = Internet=20 protocol standards should work. RFCs record the efforts of = working=20 groups in the IAB's Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). = Such=20 groups are responsible for proposing, implementing, testing = and=20 revising the standards used on the Internet. To learn more = about=20 Internet RFCs, check them out on the Web at http://www.ietf.org/rfc.

Open a = bookmark in a=20 new window (posted=20 04/16/02)

Bookmarks=20 and Favorites are handy shortcuts that enable you to access = your=20 favorite Web sites with the click of a button. Their only=20 shortcoming is that they're designed to load in the current = browser=20 window, replacing the Web page you're currently viewing. = Most of the=20 time, this isn't a big deal--unless you want to navigate to = a=20 bookmarked site without leaving the site you're currently = viewing.=20 You'll find that this is often the case when you want to use = a=20 bookmarked search engine. One solution is to open a new = browser=20 window before you click on the bookmark. To do so, choose = File >=20 New > Window from the menu bar (File > New > = Navigator=20 Window in Netscape) or press [Ctrl]N ([command]N on the = Mac).=20 However, in many cases it would be much easier if you could=20 configure your bookmark to open a new browser window = automatically=20 before it loads. If you're using Internet Explorer 5.1 for = the=20 Macintosh, just press [command][option] when you click on an = item in=20 the Favorites menu. However, if you're using IE on a Windows = system,=20 or if you're using Netscape 6, you can launch a bookmark in = a new=20 window by transforming it into a JavaScript bookmarklet. In = IE, open=20 the Favorites menu, right-click on the bookmark you'd like = to=20 modify, and then choose Properties from the resulting = shortcut menu.=20 (In Netscape 6.x, choose Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks = from the=20 menu bar, right-click on the bookmark you'd like to modify, = and then=20 choose Properties from the resulting shortcut menu.) Next, = change=20 the contents of the URL text box (Location text box in = Netscape)=20 to

javascript:void(window.open("BookmarkURL"))
where=20 BookmarkURL is the URL your bookmark points to. For example, = to=20 launch an Element K Journals bookmark in a new window, you'd = change=20 the contents of the URL text box from

http://www.elementkjournals.com

to

<= FONT=20 = color=3D#ff0000>javascript:void(window.open("http://www.elementkjournals.= com"))

When=20 you've finished, click OK. (If prompted by IE to keep the = target,=20 click Yes. If you're using Netscape, close the Bookmarks = window.)=20 The next time you click on the bookmark, it will open in a = new=20 browser window, leaving the current one = untouched.

Using = popularity-based=20 search sites (posted=20 04/08/02)

If you're=20 looking for a way to find the Web's most popular sites, = you've=20 probably tried various search engines and Web directories. = However,=20 no thanks to spamdexing and other tricks that site owners = use to=20 increase their sites' search-engine rankings, you may end up = finding=20 fewer relevant hits than you'd hoped for. If you're in the = mood for=20 a new approach, try these popularity-based search engines = and=20 directory sites:

The=20 419 Coalition	http://home.rica.net/alphae= /419coal/
FTC Tips = for Avoiding=20 Advance-Fee Loan Scams	http://www.ftc.gov= /bcp/conline/edcams/advfee/
Internet ScamBusters	http://www.scambuste= rs.org/NigerianFee.html
National = Fraud=20 Information Center	ht= tp://www.fraud.org/scamsagainstbusinesses/tips/nigerian.htm
Scam o=20 Rama	http://www.scamorama.com/
Urban = Legends=20 Reference Pages	http://www.snope= s.com/inboxer/scams/nigeria.htm
USSS=20 Operation 4-1-9	http://www.treas.gov/usss= /alert419.htm
TruthOrFiction.com	http://www= .truthorfiction.com/rumors/nigeriascams.htm

<= /TR>

100.com:	http://www.100.com/
100hot:	http://www.100hot.com/
10Sites.com:	http://www.10sites.com/
BestCoolSites.com:	http://www.bestcoolsites.com/<= /FONT>
BestSpider.com:	http://www.bestspider.com/=
Greatest100Sites.com:	http://www.greatest100sites.com= /
HotSheet.com:	http://www.hotsheet.com/
The Web = 100:	http://www.web100.com/
Top10Links:	http://www.top10links.com/=
Top5000sites.com:	http://www.top5000sites.com/
Top9.com:	http://www.top9.com/
topfivesites.com:	http://www.topfivesites.com/
WebTop10:	http://www.webtop10.com/

Finding = public access=20 USENET newsgroup servers (posted=20 04/01/02)

Sometimes,=20 your default USENET news host won't carry all the newsgroups = that=20 interest you. If this happens, send an email message to your = Internet Service Provider's (ISP) technical service = department with=20 the name of the USENET newsgroup you'd like to access. In = most=20 cases, your ISP will add the newsgroup to its news server. = If this=20 doesn't work, you can set up a second news server account = that=20 connects to a free newsgroup (NNTP) server. Yahoo! lists = several=20 free USENET servers at:

http://dir.yahoo.com/Computers_a= nd_Internet/Internet/Chats_and_Forums/
Usenet/Public_Access_Usenet_Sit= es/.

As an = alternative, you=20 can access USENET newsgroups on the Internet at Google = Groups=20 (groups.google.com). However, if you'd prefer to use your = newsreader=20 to manage newsgroup subscriptions, you can find free USENET = servers=20 here to at:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=3Den&group=3Dalt.free.new= sservers

Simplify = site searches=20 with a search bookmarklet (posted=20 03/18/02)

Many=20 content-rich Web sites offer search engines that can help = you find=20 what you're looking for at that particular site. The only=20 inconvenience is that you have to navigate to the site = before you=20 can use its search engine. If you've ever wished you could = query a=20 site-specific search engine from any location, you're in = luck.=20 Depending on the engine used by the site you want to search, = you may=20 be able to download or create a search bookmarklet. A search = bookmarklet is a browser bookmark that, instead of simply = targeting=20 a URL, runs a JavaScript command that submits information to = a=20 specific site's search engine and then navigates to the = results=20 page. Using a
bookmarklet, you can search a site without = having=20 to access it beforehand. You can perform a search by = selecting text=20 on a Web page and then clicking on the bookmarklet, or by = clicking=20 on the bookmarklet and then typing your search term in the = resulting=20 dialog box. To learn more about search bookmarklets, visit = the=20 Search Bookmarklets page at the Bookmarklets Web site. Here = you'll=20 find access to a collection of many ready-to-use search = bookmarklets=20 for sites like Yahoo!, CNN, InfoSpace, Dictionary.com and = more, as=20 well as information about how to create your own search=20 bookmarklets.

Bookmarklets - Search = Bookmarklets
http://bookmarklets.com/tools/search/index.phtml

Import = Favorites and=20 cookies with IE 6 (posted=20 03/04/02)

If you've=20 recently upgraded from IE 5.5 to IE 6 or you're switching = from=20 Netscape Navigator to Internet Explorer, there's an easy way = to=20 import your cookies and Favorites from your old browser into = your=20 new one with IE 6's Import/Export Wizard.

First, = launch=20 Internet Explorer and then choose File | Import And Export. = The=20 Import/Export Wizard will open on your screen. Follow the = wizard's=20 screens to import or export your Favorites and cookies from = your old=20 browser into your new one. Once you've finished the short = wizard,=20 click the Finish button and your data will be automatically=20 transferred to IE 6.

Understanding techno=20 babble (posted=20 02/25/02)

As Internet=20 and networking technologies continue to blossom, so does the = technical terminology and jargon that goes along with=20 them.

Sometimes we're able to ascertain the meanings = of new=20 or unfamiliar words and terms based on their surrounding = context.=20 Other times, they might as well be written in Klingon. = When=20 you find you're stumped for the meaning of a particular=20 technology-related term, you can turn to the Internet for = some=20 enlightenment. The following terminology resources can help = you fill=20 in the blanks when techno babble's got you = stumped:

FOLDOC Computing=20 Dictionary:	http://foldoc.doc.ic.ac.uk/fol= doc
The Jargon=20 File:	http://eps.mcgill.ca/jargon/htm= l
Matisse's Glossary of Internet = Terms:	http://www.matisse.ne= t/files/glossary.html
NetLingo = Dictionary of=20 Internet Words:	http://www.netlingo.com/
TechEncyclopedia:	http://www.techweb.com/encyc= lopedia
Webopedia:	http://www.webopedia.com/
whatis.com:	http://whatis.techtarget.com/<= /FONT>

Maintain = security by=20 disabling AutoComplete (posted=20 02/25/02)

If the=20 AutoComplete feature is enabled in the later versions of = Internet=20 Explorer, each password that you type into a Web page will = be filled=20 in automatically each time you visit that page until the = password is=20 deleted. The AutoComplete feature is a handy time-saver if = you=20 frequently need to fill in details on Web forms because it = can also=20 be configured to automatically enter personal information on = forms=20 so you only need to enter the information once. However, it = can=20 create a security breach if you access confidential = information or=20 sites on the Web with usernames and passwords.

To = disable the=20 AutoComplete feature for usernames and passwords, open = Internet=20 Explorer and choose Tools | Internet Options, and then = select the=20 Content tab. Under the Personal Information panel, click the = AutoComplete button and in the AutoComplete Settings dialog = box,=20 below the Use AutoComplete For heading, deselect the User = Names And=20 Passwords On Forms option, and then click OK. You'll now = need to=20 supply usernames and the corresponding passwords whenever = you access=20 secure Web sites on the Internet.

The = taxman=20 cometh (posted=20 02/18/02)

If tax=20 season has you tied up in knots, you might be surprised to = learn=20 that the IRS feels your pain. In response, it offers a = comprehensive=20 collection of tax information online at http://www.irs.gov/. Here, = you can=20 research all sorts of tax-related questions and concerns. = For=20 example, you can:

Get = the latest tax=20 news:	http://www.irs.gov/news/index= .html
Calculate = your=20 withholdings:	http://www.irs.gov/ind_info/wh/<= /A>
Download=20 tax forms:	http://www.irs.gov/form= s_pubs/index.html

and much = more. You can=20 even find out how the income tax you paid last year was = distributed=20 at http://www.irs.go= v/tax_edu/tax_rcpt/index.html. =20 So stop putting off tax preparation and get yourself = in-the-know.=20 The more you know about tax preparation, the more = comfortable you'll=20 become with it; the more comfortable you are with tax = preparation,=20 the less likely you'll be to put it off until the last=20 minute.

Having = fun with your=20 digital photos (posted=20 02/13/02)

If you're = looking for=20 something creative to do with your digital photos, the = Internet=20 offers many possibilities. For example, at = HallmarkStories.com (http://www.hallmarkstories.com/<= /A>),=20 you can upload your digital photos to create albums, = magazines, snap=20 books and photo cards online and have them professionally = printed=20 and delivered to your doorstep. Hewlett-Packard's Creative = Projects=20 page (http://www.homeandoffice.hp.com/hho/us/eng/creative_projects.html) = offers a huge collection of online project kits that you can = use to=20 dress up your photos for fun or functionality. Kodak = PictureCenter=20 (http://playground.kodak.com/)=20 enables you to upload, store, manage and edit your pictures = online,=20 as well as share them with friends. PhotoIsland.com (http://pacific.photoisland.com/<= /A>)=20 is loaded with photo project opportunities, including online = albums,=20 eCards, gift projects and professional = printing.

Additional=20 photo storage, sharing and project sites include:

<= /TR>

FotoTime:	http://www.fototime.com/
Kodak = PhotoNet:	http://kodak-com.photonet.com/
MyNetPhotos.com:	http://mynetphotos.com/
PhotoLoft:	http://www.photoloft.com/
Snapfish:	http://www.snapfish.com/

Deleting = individual=20 sites from your browser history = (posted=20 01/21/02)

The history list that's = built=20 into most browsers can be a handy tool for relocating Web = pages=20 you've recently visited but haven't bookmarked. = Occasionally,=20 however, you'll find that the History feature works against = you by=20 revealing your whereabouts to others who share your = computer. One=20 way to cover your tracks is to clear the history list each = time=20 you've finished surfing. However, while this all-or-nothing = approach=20 prevents others from seeing where you've surfed, it also = prevents=20 you from using the history list to find a page whose URL you = can't=20 remember. An effective compromise
is to delete only those = sites=20 you don't want other users to know shopping online for a = birthday=20 gift for your roommate, you'll want to remove all traces of = where=20 you shopped and what you bought from your browser's history = list. By=20 removing only select items from your browser history instead = of=20 deleting the whole thing, you can retain quick access to=20 recently-visited sites you might want to share or access = again. To=20 remove a single history item in Internet Explorer, click the = History=20 button on the Standard Buttons toolbar (Explorer Bar on the = Mac) to=20 display the History pane. If you're using Netscape, choose=20 Communicator | Tools | History from the menu bar (Tasks | = Tools |=20 History in Netscape 6) or press [Ctrl]H to open the History = window.=20 Sort the history list as desired to group same-site or = same-date=20 links together. As an alternative,
you can search the = history=20 list for keywords by clicking the Search button in Internet=20 Explorer's History pane (Windows versions only) or by = choosing Edit=20 | Search HistoryList from the History=20 = windo