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Internet Basics

Table of Contents

Introduction
The Networked Structure of the Internet
Finding a Site on the Net
The Internet Uses Protocols
Favorites
History List
Customize Your Toolbars
Refresh Web Pages
Send a Webpage or URL by Email
Copying & Pasting Text
Save an Image to Your Drive
Copyright
Printing Text & Images
Internet Options
Useful Links

Introduction

This tutorial will provide you with an introduction to the most useful features of a software program called Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE). IE is a Web browser that enables you to interact with the Internet (often referred to as the Net). The Internet enables you to gain access to information in order to learn, work, shop, develop online communities and interact with people all over the world. You can conduct genealogical research, check for the latest weather or stock information, listen to CD's, download new software, pay bills or last week's parking ticket, take a university degree, read newspapers and magazines, send email, buy a car, book your next vacation or use an Internet phone to talk to relatives and friends, in far away places, at reduced rate. The possibilities are endless!

The Networked Structure of the Internet

There is a lot of terminology or jargon connected with the Internet. The following is a short description of network related terms that will help you understand the structure of the Net:

A Local Area Network (LAN) is formed when two or more computers in the same location are joined together. A Wide Area Network (WAN) is formed when two or more computers in different locations are joined. The Internet is an interconnection of networks and devices located throughout the world.
Computers that provide you with a connection to the Internet are called "servers". These machines use a communications protocol called Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) as a standard way of transmitting data.
The Internet is platform independent. This means that it doesn't matter which operating system the server is using (e.g. Unix, Windows NT) because all servers share the common language of the Internet. Data may be transmitted via modem, cable or satellite with each of the servers working in collaboration with one another. The data seldom takes the same path to get from point A to point B; given the immensity of information transferred, the process is relatively error free. The Internet transfers data at the speed of light by way of its fiber optic "backbone". Hawaii is a mere blink away!

Finding a Site on the Net

Each page of a site on the Net has its own Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The URL is somewhat like an address. If you know the URL/address of the site you want to visit, you simply type it into the Address Bar at the top of the browser screen:

You'll note that some of the addresses can be quite long so it is a good idea to make use of your browser's bookmarking capabilities (Internet Explorer calls this feature 'Favorites') so that you can navigate to the site much more quickly in the future.

If you don't know the URL/address of the site you want to visit, you must make use of a search engine like Google (http://www.google.ca) to find the site. To find out more about search engines, check out the Wikipedia article called 'Web Search Engine'.

The Internet Uses Protocols

In order to access information on the Net, a particular protocol must be activated. The necessary protocol is reflected in the URL, which has the following four components:


		protocol://server[:port]resource

      	   	   1         2     3      4

Protocol

The protocol basically defines an action. There are a variety of protocols that are in use on the Net but HTTP is definitely the one that you'll experience most often. Here are a few of the other protocols that you'll likely run across:

http Hypertext Transfer Protocol telnet Terminal Link Protocol

ftp File Transfer Protocol mailto Email Protocol

When you 'surf the Net' you're using HTTP.

Server

This is the Domain Name for the server where the information is being stored. So, for instance, the domain name that provides access to Vancouver Island University is as follows: records.viu.ca

Port

The port further defines the server and is optional. You won't see it used very often.

Resource

This refers to the path that must be followed to find the necessary file or resource after the server has been contacted. It is very much like the directory or folder system used in the Windows environment. Let's look at the following example:

http://www.viu.ca/technology/general/internet_basics.htm

The information is being stored on the server at viu.ca and is in the subdirectory/folder called technology, which is in the subdirectory/folder called general, in a file called internet_basics.htm. Many of the pages on the World Wide Web have an ending or extension of HTM or HTML. The markup language that comprises every web page, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), must be referenced in every filename.

Favorites

This is the Favorites Center button in IE 7.0

Creating Favorites (Bookmarks)

Creating a bookmark for your favorite sight, by adding the URL/address to Internet Explorer's 'Favorites' list will save you lots of time and energy, particularly if you store them in an orderly fashion. It is best to create folders for various topics and then store each page in the appropriate folder.

To create a bookmark and folder

This is the Add to Favorites button in IE 7.0
Click the Add to Favorites button. You'll see the following menu. Click Add to Favorites.
A dialog box appears:
The name of the webpage you are currently visiting appears in the Name box. You may edit the name to your preference. Click the arrow in the Create in: dropdown box and select an existing folder, then click Add, or create a new folder.
To create a new folder, click on New Folder and enter an appropriate folder name:
Click Create

Accessing The Favorites Center

To make use of the bookmarks in your Favorites Center, complete the following steps:

Click on the Favorites Center icon on the left of the menu bar
Move your mouse down to the appropriate website or folder
To open a page using a New Tab within the same browser window, slide the pointer across the website name and click the arrow button, as shown here:

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Organizing and Managing Your Bookmarks

You may want to delete or rename bookmarks, or to create, move or remove folders.

Click on the Add to Favorites icon and select Organize Favorites in the drop-down menu.
The Organize Favorites window appears:
Drag and drop bookmarks or use the available buttons to perform other functions.
When you are finished, click Close.

Backup Your Favorites List

Why?

IT does not back up local non-roaming profiles

How?

In Internet Explorer, click the Add to Favorites icon and select Import and Export

The Import/Export Wizard dialog box appears.
Click the Next button. Select Export Favorites, click the Next button again.
Select the folder you want to export and click the Next button.
Select a destination drive/folder and click the Next button.
Click the Finish button.

Closing the Favorites Center

You can hide the Favorites Center by clicking anywhere else on the screen.

History List

What is a History List?

The History list lets you explore the pages that you've accessed most recently.

Sort or Search the History Bar

In Internet Explorer (IE) 7.0, click the Favorites Center icon. This button may look different depending on which version of IE you are using.
(History icon in IE 6.0)
Click the History button, or click the adjacent arrow to select a viewing option:

Select a folder to display individual page
Click the page icon to display the webpage, or
Open the page in a New Tab by sliding the pointer across to the right-arrow

Return to the last page you viewed

Click the Back button (IE 7.0 is shown here):

View one of the last pages you visited in this session

Click the arrow to the side of the Back or Forward button
Click the page you want from the list, as shown:

Note that the History section can also be accessed from this box.

Empty the History folder

Click Internet Options on the Tools menu
The General tab is pre-selected
Under Browsing History, click the Delete button

Customize Your Toolbars

The Standard Toolbar

You can add and remove buttons on your toolbar to customize it according to your preferences.

Display the Menu Bar

In the default setting, IE 7.0 does not display the usual Menu Bar we are used to seeing in previous versions:

You can display the Menu Bar by following these steps:

On the bottom right of the toolbar, click the Tools button:
Click Menu Bar
Note: you can follow the same process to hide the Menu Bar

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Add a toolbar button

On the bottom-right of the toolbar, click the Tools button
Hover the pointer over the Toolbars option until the sub-menu appears
Select Customize, as follows:

In the left pane, click a button to be added to the Toolbar, or
In the right pane, click a button to be removed from the Toolbar
Click the Add or Remove button
Click the Move Up or Move Down button to place button in a preferred location on the toolbar
Click the Close button

Links Bar

Display the Links Bar

On the bottom-right of the toolbar, click the Tools button
Hover the pointer over the Toolbars option until the sub-menu appears
Select Links

Add a Shortcut to the Links Bar

Point to the Web page's icon in the Address bar & drag it to the Links bar
Links from the Favorites bar or the Desktop can also be dragged to the Links bar

Remove a Shortcut

Right-click a Shortcut & click the Delete button

Rearrange Shortcuts on the Links Bar

Drag a Shortcut to a preferred spot on the Links bar

Customize Buttons on the Links Bar

Right-click the Shortcut
Click Properties, then click the Change Icon button
Select a different icon, then click OK

Create more space for Toolbars

You can create more space for Toolbars by unlocking them:

Right-click on any grey area in the Toolbar
Select Lock the Toolbars to lock or unlock the Toolbar

Refresh Web Pages

At times, you'll find that a page may not load correctly. In that case, you can stop the loading process.

A Web page isn't working or is taking too long to open

Click the Stop button in the uppermost Toolbar (See IE 7.0 image, below)
(Stop button in IE 6.0)

A Web page cannot display or you want the latest version of the page

If you want to ensure that you are seeing the latest version of a Web page (rather than one that is stored in your history cache) you can instruct the browser to access and display the current page by refreshing your screen.

Click the Refresh button in the uppermost toolbar (IE 7.0 shown here)
(Refresh button in IE 6.0)

Send a Webpage or URL by Email

Mail a Web page or Web link (Address)

From the File menu, click Send
From the Send sub-menu, click either Page by Email... or Link by Email...
A new E-mail form appears
Complete the details and click Send

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Copying & Pasting Text

Copy Text or Image

Drag to select text or image, or Ctrl + A to select entire Web page contents
Press Ctrl + C simultaneously, or click the Copy button

Paste Copied Text or Image

Go to application where information is to be pasted
Press Ctrl + V simultaneously, or click the Paste button

Save an Image to Your Drive

Save an image by creating an image file

Right-click the image
Click Save Picture As...
In Save As dialog box, navigate to desired storage location and click Save button

Copyright

Copyright is Important!

Before you download, save or use information from the Net, it is important to know a few things:

Images Are Likely Copyrighted - You Require Permission to Use Them!

It is wise to assume that most things on the Net are copyrighted. That includes hand drawings, logos, photos, and animations to name a few. Don't be fooled by sites that lead you to believe that you can use all their images for 'free'. In many instances, the images have been 'lifted' illegally from other sites. They may include a traceable electronic watermark. Legitimate 'free' sites will have a copyright notice that clearly outlines acceptable use of their product. For example, many graphics artists will let you download and use specific images for non-commercial or educational purposes. In some cases, educational institutions are deemed commercial entities, so payment is required. You will also find sites that allow you to use their graphics, text, video or audio files as long as you adhere to their instructions for displaying copyright information or provide a hyperlink to their Webpage.

Copying/Downloading Information From the Net and Reproducing it is Prohibited - Ask for Permission To Do So

All information on the Net is somebody's intellectual property. For example, it is not permissible to print an article from the Net, reproduce it and then use it as a handout in your class. You also cannot post it on your class Website. Netiquette states that you should ask permission to link to external Websites. VIU has the following information article on reserve:

Obtaining copyright permissions to use screen captures in web-based instructional materials
Leger, Linda. Feliciter. 2001. Vol. 47, Iss. 5; p. 249-251.

This article will provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to request copyright permissions.

You Must Cite Sources

The Vancouver Island University library has an informative online tutorial entitled How To Cite Your Sources (http://libguides.viu.ca/citing). It provides useful examples and links to other sites. You may want to make use of one of the suggested citation style guides as you prepare your materials for the print publications, PowerPoint presentations and Web postings.

Printing Text & Images

Print the entire Web page

Choose Print from the File menu
Choose All and click the Print button

Print one page of a long Web page

In the Print dialog box, click Pages (in Page Range) & type the page number, e.g. 1, 2...

Print a selection

Select the image or text you want to print
In the Print dialog box, click Selection & then click the Print button

Internet Options

Customize Internet Options

Select Internet Options from the Tools menu
Select the General tab
Create Home page tabs
Delete Temporary Internet files
Adjust History settings

Customizing the Home Button

You can easily customize your Home button. It will provide you quick access to a preferred site. Many people use the Home button to jump directly to the Vancouver Island University Web site. It resembles the button below:

(Home button in IE 6)
Home button in IE 7.0
From the Internet Options window, enter the web page to set as your Home page
Click OK

Setting the Default Cache size

IT Services recommends that you change the setting of the IE cache. It will help your system logon and logoff much more quickly. The recommended size is 50 - 250MB.

From the Internet Options window, click on Settings... in the Browsing history section
In the Temporary Internet files section, change the Disk space to use to 50 MB
Click OK
Click OK in the Internet Options window

Useful Links

VIU Library has a number of useful tutorials and resources online which provide discipline-specific journal searching information.

Getting Started - Information for starting your research (http://libguides.viu.ca/cat.php?cid=9926)

Research Guides - Browse by subject for discipline-specific journal searching (http://libguides.viu.ca/)

Be sure to bookmark these sites for future reference.

Note: These services are also available to VIU students!