Chapter 18 -- Using Internet Explorer

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Chapter 18

Microsoft Windows 2000 includes Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5, a tool for accessing Internet resources. You will undoubtedly use it mostly for browsing sites on the World Wide Web, but it also enables you to connect with File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Telnet, and Gopher sites. Internet Explorer is an extremely rich program with a wealth of everyday conveniences and advanced features. We explore most of those features in this chapter.

This chapter assumes that you have the means to access the Internet—that you've installed and set up a modem or that you participate in a local area network that is connected directly to the Internet—and that you've set up a connection to the Internet. For information about setting up an Internet connection, see "Connecting to the Internet."

A Smattering of Internet Jargon

Cache. Temporary local storage of Internet sites you visit.

Cookie. A file containing information about you that helps a Web site customize its offerings in accordance with your preferences or buying history.

Frame. A rectangular area within a Web page that contains its own HTML document.

FTP. File Transfer Protocol, a protocol that lets you transfer files from one computer to another.

Home page. The Web page that appears automatically when you open Internet Explorer (unless you begin by launching an Internet shortcut).

HTML. Hypertext Markup Language, the language used to encode Web pages. HTML settings tell Internet Explorer (and other Web browsers) how and where to render the typography, graphics, frames, and other elements that comprise a Web page.

HTTP. Hypertext Transfer Protocol, the protocol used by the World Wide Web component of the Internet. The prefix http:// at the beginning of an address identifies the associated site as part of the World Wide Web (or as part of an intranet).

Internet shortcut. An icon with an arrow in its lower left corner that looks just like any other kind of shortcut except that it represents a link to an Internet site or to an e-mail recipient.

Intranet. A network that uses the HTTP protocol to distribute information within an organization. An intranet might or might not be connected to the Internet.

ISP. Internet service provider, an agency that enables connections to the Internet.

Link. An area on a Web page that, when clicked, either takes you to another Internet site or lets you send e-mail to a particular recipient. Links can be portions of text, icons, pictures, or other graphic objects. They are often, but not always, highlighted or underlined. You can tell whether an item is a link by putting the mouse pointer over it. If the pointer changes to a hand, the item under it is a link. A link might also appear in a non-HTML document (a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, for example, or an e-mail message) or might be encapsulated in an Internet shortcut.

Offline Web page. A page that is stored on your local hard disk so that you can view the last version you downloaded when your computer isn't connected to the Internet.

Secure Web site. A site that lets you transmit and receive encrypted data.

Security certificate. A statement, issued by a third-party certifying authority, that guarantees the identity of a Web site or person.

Telnet. An Internet protocol that lets you log on to and issue commands to a remote computer.

URL. Uniform Resource Locator, an address that uniquely identifies a World Wide Web page or other Internet resource. For example, the URL for Microsoft's Web site is http://www.microsoft.com/. In this book, we use the more familiar term address as a synonym for URL.

Web browser. A program that, among other tasks, renders HTML documents and responds to links, allowing you to move from one Web page to another while either offline or connected to the Internet. Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator are examples of Web browsers.

Web page. A document encoded in HTML. Web pages are commonly made accessible from other Web pages by means of links.

Web site. A location on the World Wide Web consisting of one or more Web pages.



Running Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Running Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
ISBN: 1572318384
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2000
Pages: 317

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