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Guide to Using the Web

General Internet and Computer Help and Tools

  • Web browser for DOS — If you use DOS instead of Windows for your operating system, you can still use the web by downloading this free browser.
  • What is?com — Offers a wide variety of information on web management.
  • Yahoo! — Beginner’s Guides to the Internet
  • Beginner's Guide — PBS guide to use the internet is another useful alternative for beginners.
  • Net for Beginners — Offers important tips and information to set up your website.
  • Glossary of Terms — A C|Net Glossary of Internet terms.
  • Benton's Best Practices Tool Kit — This is a searchable directory of tools to help nonprofits effectively use new information technology (such as email and the World-Wide Web).

Why might I want to view a web site in text-only mode?

Some web pages will download more quickly to your computer when viewed in text-only mode. Users with "slow" (under 28.8 kb/s) internet access may find this particularly important. How can you set my computer to work in text-only mode? Read our guide.

How can I access a web site via email?

If you have good email access, but limited web access, then you might find it useful to get web pages by email. There are several services that can help do this, described at http://www.bellanet.org/email.html. We list one here:

Send an email message to <getweb@emailfetch.com> with the body containing one or more requests like:

GET URL

Where URL is the URL of the document you request. If the message contains more than one request, separate each request with a blank line. For example, to get the home page of the Email Fetch service web site, you would send an email to <getweb@emailfetch.com> , with the body of the message containing:

GET http://www.emailfetch.com

After receiving the above message, the GetWeb server would format the Emailfetch home page as human-readable plain-text and send it to you. Any "links" on the web page emailed back to you will be listed by number, such as [1], which are then spelled out on the bottom of the email message. You can use these URLs to request subsequent pages.

For more information about getting web pages by email visit http://www.bellanet.org/email.html, or http://www.emailfetch.com/getweb.html. You could also send an email message to <getweb@emailfetch.com> , with

GET http://www.emailfetch.com/getweb.html

in the body of the message.

How do I download files from the Internet?

For general instructions, about downloading files click here. (From C|Net.).

How can I "Unzip" Files I have Downloaded?

To learn how to "unzip" files once downloaded,  click here. (From C|Net.)

Am I using the latest version of my browser?

Click here if you would like to download the latest version of your Microsoft or Netscape browser. Be sure to check out the system requirements for each browser and to match them against your computer.

What are.PDF files and how can I read them?

This site, and many others, may release publications in Adobe .PDF (Portable Document Format). To view these files you must have the Adobe .PDF Reader, available free from Adobe. Once you have downloaded and installed the .PDF Reader, links to .PDF files will automatically open in your browser.

How do I view files with sound or video?

The use of multimedia files is becoming more popular on the Internet. To hear or view these files you must have a graphics- or sound-card with speakers installed on your computer. In addition, specific software (such as QuickTime or RealPlayer) is required.

Where do I go to search for something on the web?

There are a number of resources available on the Internet to find the sites that you are looking for. Among them are the following:

Free web-based email

The free email service at Hotmail is especially good for those who only occasionally use the internet at other people's computers.

Web Translation and Language Services

Comments?

Please send us any suggestions about this guide to using the web.