Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 Tips #3





*1.   KEEP THEM SAFE 

This tip was submitted by reader Melissa G. 

"I put most of my Internet favorites into the Favorites folder.
 But, I also keep a separate folder for my personal avorites.
 These favorites go into a folder that isn't actually hidden from
 the kids, but they don't know where it is. 

What I do is right-click the pages that I want in my special
 folder and choose Create Shortcut. This makes a shortcut on the
 desktop. When I finish with the Internet session, I run Windows
 Explorer and select Desktop. Then I drag all the newly created
 shortcuts from the Desktop to my special folder. 

I find that this is a very helpful way to keep the Favorites
 folder uncluttered and thought some of the other readers might
 like to try it." 


*2.   DRAG DIRECTLY TO QUICK LAUNCH 

Reader Clay E. suggested the following tip: 

Using Microsoft Internet Explorer 4, you can drag items directly
 from the Start menu to the Quick Launch bar (or to almost
 anywhere). Try this: Click Start, Programs, Accessories. Locate
 Notepad and use the mouse to drag its icon onto the Quick Launch
 bar. Notepad will no longer appear in the Start menu; it will be
 on the Quick Launch bar instead. 

You can use the same method to drag Notepad to the desktop. Or
 you can drag it to the desktop first, and then drag it to the
 Quick Launch bar. You can also drag items from the Quick Launch
 bar to the desktop. 

If you decide to drag some of the Start menu program items to the
 desktop or Quick Launch bar, you may later decide you want them
 back in Start. To do this, you'll need to run Windows Explorer
 and locate the Start Menu folder. Now, locate Quick Launch and
 drag the items from Quick Launch back to
 Start Menu/Programs/Accessories (or wherever you want them in
 the Start menu). 


*3.   DRAG TO START 

In the last tip, we showed you how to drag Start menu items to
 the Quick Launch bar (or desktop). This time, let's look at a
 tip sent in by reader Frank G. 

"Although you might want to save this feature for only a few
 special URLs, you can drag URLs directly from Internet Explorer
 4 into the Start menu. All you have to do is grab the URL with
 the mouse, drag it over the Start button and release the mouse
 button. The URL will appear in the Start menu in the area
 above Programs." 

We agree with Frank, you wouldn't want to use this technique a
 lot because the Start menu would grow too large. It's a way to
 place those special addresses though. 


*4.   HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR PANES? 

Subscriber Steve Y. sends in this Outlook Express tip. 

"You can set up Outlook Express just about any way you want. I
 like to use three panes, but you can set it up for one, two,
 or three. 

To set the Outlook Express appearance, choose View, Layout. When
 the Window Layout Properties dialog box opens, choose which
 panes you want. You can display or hide a folder bar, an Outlook
 bar, a folder list, or a tip of the day. Just select the
 appropriate check box. 

Where do you want the toolbar? On the top, bottom, left, right?
 Simply select the radio button that matches what you want. 


5.   NO UNDERLINING 

Here's a question about the Active Desktop from Becky W. 

"I use the Active Desktop, and I like the single-click option.
 But I don't like the underlining of desktop icons. I recently
 visited a friend who was also using Active Desktop, but none of
 her icons were underlined. How do I get rid of this feature?" 

By default, when you use Active Desktop and choose single-click
 mode, the desktop icons are underlined. To turn off this
 feature, open Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 and choose View,
 Internet Options. When the Internet Options dialog box opens,
 click the Advanced tab. Scroll down through the list of options
 and find Underline Links under Browsing. You'll see three radio
 buttons, Always, Never, and Hover. Always is the default. You
 can select Never if you want no underlining at all, or Hover to
 see underlining only when you move the mouse over an icon. 

After you make your selection, click OK to save your changes and
 close the dialog box. 


*6.   Unlocking an IE4 Easter egg

This week's Internet Explorer Tip
ZDTips: Explore the Net with Internet Explorer 
Have you discovered the Easter egg hidden in IE4's Help menu? If
 not, here's how to reveal it. First, pull down the Help menu and
 choose About Internet Explorer. When the initial animation is
 complete, just hold down the [Ctrl] key as you click and drag
 the "e" icon to the left along the line, down onto the globe,
 and then right into the "Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0" text.
 Doing so will push the text to the right revealing an Unlock
 button. Click the button and enjoy!

Get a free issue of Explore the Net with Internet Explorer!

http://www.cobb.com/forms/etn/cuw1az.htm


*7.   Quick addressing

Here's another way to cut down on the time it takes to enter a
 Web site address in IE 4.0's Address Bar. Type in the "middle
 part" of the address, then press [Ctrl] [Enter], and IE will add
 http://www. before the entry and .com after it. 


*8.   Mouse trapped?

Did you know you can follow hyperlinks in IE without using your
 mouse? [Tab] will move you through the address bar and all the
 links on the page you're currently visiting. If you pass by the
 link you're seeking, [Shift] [Tab] will move you back. To follow
 a link you've selected in this fashion, just press [Enter]. 


*9.   Search Bar shortcuts

When using IE 4.0's Search Bar, you'll notice that the Back,
 Forward, and Refresh buttons only work for the frame on the
 right, not for navigating through your search results. So,
 moving through your search results can be tiresome. However, if
 you right-click in a Search Bar results page, you'll find a
 shortcut menu these options. Selecting Back, Forward, or Refesh
 from this menu, does affect the Search Bar frame. 


*10.   Easier on the eye

Do you find yourself squinting at tiny print on one site, then
 needing to scroll every other sentence to get through the text
 on another? If your eyes could use a break, you'll be glad to
 know you can adjust the font size from site to site. With IE
 4.0, hold down the [Alt] key and press [V][N], then [G] for the
 Largest font size. [Alt][V][N][A] will bring you the Smallest
 font. Your other options include Larger [L], Medium [M], and
 Smaller [S]. The only difference for IE 3.0 is [R] denotes
 Largest font. 
