Connecting to Resources by Using Internet Explorer

Browsers are fast becoming a ubiquitous interface to every type of resourcefrom HyperText Markup Language (HTML) files, eXtensible Markup Language (XML) data, and FTP files, to network shares, network and local printers, local files and folders, and more. For the 70-270 exam, you are expected to have the skills to connect to a network server's shared folders, open web folders, and access a variety of network resources using Internet Explorer. Table 11.3 lists the methods you should know.

Table 11.3. Accessing Resources Via a Browser

Command	Sample URL	Usage
http://	http://www.microsoft.com	Downloads HTML files from Internet web servers and displays the file within the browser.
https://	https://www.microsoft.com	Downloads HTML files using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) so that the information exchanged is secured.
ftp://	ftp://ftp.microsoft.com	Downloads a file from an FTP server.
File://	File://server/share/folder/file	Opens the file specified from a network server.
http://	http://printserver/printers	Displays a list of the printers that are being shared by a computer configured with IIS for sharing printers.
http://	http://PrintServer/Printer	Opens the printer page for the printer.

Exam Alert

Handling passwords with a URL How to type a URL correctly is a favorite exam question. When you open a file using FTP, for example, you may need a password. Because Internet Explorer doesn't support password prompting, you need to supply that password within your URL. In this example, the correct syntax is ftp://user:password@ftpserver/url-path.

One of the configuration options you have when you use Internet Explorer is to set the Privacy options. Privacy options refer to cookies, and the higher the privacy set, the lower the number of cookies you will receive. A cookie is a small file that retains information about a person who visited a website. The website leaves this file on your computer, and through it, is able to track personal data about you. P3P, or the Platform for Privacy Preferences, is the specification developed to require websites to clearly express how they will use collected personal data. Internet Explorer v6 uses the P3P specification to form the basis of its advanced cookie filtering. To use cookie filtering, in the browser window, click the Tools menu and select Internet Options. Click the Privacy tab and move the slider to the level that complies with your organization's privacy policy. For example, the High level blocks all cookies that do not have a compact privacy policy, and blocks all cookies that use personally identifiable information without consent.

Blocking Pop-ups with the Updates from SP2

One of the additional features of SP2 is the Pop-up Blocker that is added into Internet Explorer. This addition eases the frustrations of many an Internet user. After SP2 is installed, you can configure how the Pop-up Blocker feature functions by opening the Tools menu, selecting the Pop-up Blocker submenu, and then clicking Pop-up Blocker Settings. The Pop-up Blocker Settings dialog box opens, as shown in Figure 11.13. (This option is not available if the Pop-up Blocker is currently off.) The other option in this submenu is to Turn Off the Pop-up Blocker (if it is turned on) or Turn On the Pop-up Blocker (if it is turned off).

Figure 11.13. You can allow pop-ups from certain websites by editing the Pop-up Blocker Settings.

To allow pop-ups from a certain website, type the URL in the Address of Web Site to Allow text box, and then click the Add button. You can select whether to display the information bar and play a sound when a website's pop-up is blocked. The Filter Level list box enables you to select whether to block all pop-ups (High), most pop-ups (Medium), or just the pop-ups that are from non-secure sites (Low).