Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 Tips #8



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*1.   RAISING THE (ADDRESS) BAR         
 
Subscriber John L. sent this tip: 

"I appreciate the recent tips on rearranging the various bars at
 the top of the Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 window. I took a
 recent tip one step further and moved the Address Bar to the
 very top of the window. This way, I don't have to change the
 size of the Address Bar." 

John presents an interesting point--if you move the Address Bar
 to the top of the Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 window, there
 will be plenty of room to display the full-size Address Bar.  

To do this, just grab the Address Bar with the mouse and drag it
 upward to the top of the screen.


*2.   CLEAN UP THOSE LINKS         
 
Subscriber Tom S. sent this Links tip: 

"Instead of putting my Links directly on the toolbar, I've
 created folders on my Links bar with specific topics. For
 example, I have folders named Chat Sites, News & Weather,
 Portals, Search Sites, Misc., and so forth. Whenever I want to
 save a Web site on my Links bar, I save it in the folder that
 matches the topic. 

"Here's the best part--when you click a folder in the Links bar,
 a drop-down menu appears with all the links you have saved to
 that folder. I find this method a real space-saver and a handy
 way to keep links in specific categories." 

That's a great tip, Tom--so we'll also point out that to put
 folders on the Links bar, you first choose Favorites, Organize
 Favorites. Then open the Links folder and click the New Folder
 button (it's the third one from the right). When the new folder
 appears, type a name, then drop the appropriate links inside it.


*3.   UNDERTAKING A RESTORATION PROJECT         
 
Here's a question from reader Gerry N: 

"In a recent tip, you described how to reduce the size of the
 Deleted Items folder in Outlook Express. You suggested deleting
 the Deleted Items mbx and idx files and then allowing Outlook
 Express to create new ones. Does the same apply to the Sent
 Items folder? That is, if you delete the Sent Items mbx and idx
 files, does Outlook Express create them the next time
 you run it?" 

Yes, Gerry. This works for all the original files in the Mail
 folder--Inbox, Outbox, Sent Items, and Deleted Items. Whenever
 you delete any of these files, Outlook Express will create new
 files the next time it runs.


*4.   YOUR IN TO THE INBOX         
 
Reader Sara L. sent this Outlook Express question: 

"When I first installed Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 and
 Outlook Express, Outlook Express always opened to the Inbox.
 Now I've apparently changed something, and Outlook Express opens
 at the Outlook Express folder. Can you tell me how to get the
 program to open at the Inbox again?" 

We sure can, Sara. Run Outlook Express and choose Tools, Options.
 When the Options dialog box opens, click the General tab. Then
 select the check box labeled 'When starting, go directly to my
 Inbox folder' and click OK to close the dialog box and save
 your new settings.  

Finally, quit Outlook Express. The next time you start the
 program, you'll see the Inbox folder.


*5.   GIMME FIVE!

"I would like to try Microsoft Internet Explorer 5. Do I have to
 uninstall Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 before I install version
 5? Can I run Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 and 5 on the
 same computer?"

No, Howard, you do not have to uninstall Microsoft Internet
 Explorer 4 before you install version 5. However, Microsoft
 Internet Explorer 5 will replace your current Microsoft Internet
 Explorer 4 installation. To do this, go to

http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-0404%2C00.html

and click Download to start. As I said (and it bears repeating),
 this will replace your current installation with Microsoft
 Internet Explorer 5.

Unfortunately, you cannot run Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 and
 Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 on the same computer in the same
 operating system. However, if you dual-boot (say between Windows
 NT 4.0 and Windows 98), you could install version 5 in Windows
 98 and stick with version 4 in NT 4.0.


*6.   LOOK BEFORE YOU LOAD         
 
Reader Leo H. asks if there's a way to tell the size of a picture
 before you download it from a Web site. 

The best you can do is check the picture's properties--which
 won't give you the size of the picture in pixels, but will show
 you the file size. (I suspect that's what Leo is looking for.) 

To do this, right-click the picture and choose Properties. In
 Properties you'll see the file name, size, and type. For
 example, the Properties dialog box may display
 something such as  

nzhouses.jpg 

Type: JPEG Image 

Size: 26339 bytes 

After you've consulted the information in the Properties dialog
 box, click Close to dismiss it.


*7.   CAN I GET A MENU, PLEASE?         
 
Reader Amy C. sends this keyboard shortcut tip: 

"I wonder if most people know about using Shift-F10 to open the
 Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 menu. I find this a handy way to
 work with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 without moving away
 from the keyboard." 

Good point, Amy. When you press Shift-F10, Microsoft Internet
 Explorer 4 opens a menu with a number of useful commands and
 options, including the ever-popular Back, Print, and Save To
 Favorites. Give it a try.


*8.   THE POOR MAN'S GUIDE TO READING MAIL         
 
Subscriber Harris P. sent this Outlook Express question: 

"I would sometimes like to open Outlook Express just to read the
 mail. The problem is that Outlook Express dials up the ISP as
 soon as I open the program. Is there a way to get Outlook
 Express to dial only when I ask it to?" 

Outlook Express will do pretty much whatever you ask it to do,
 Harris. In this case, run the program and choose Tools, Options.
 When the Options dialog box appears, click the Dial-Up tab. Then
 select the radio button labeled 'Do not dial a connection' and
 click OK to close the dialog box and save your new settings. 

Finally, quit Outlook Express and restart it. From this point on,
 Outlook Express will not automatically dial the ISP. To get new
 mail messages, you'll have to click Send And Receive.


*9. QUICK CUSTOMIZING         
 
Frank D. submitted this toolbar tip: 

"Most Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 users know that you can
 choose View, Toolbars to select the features you want to have
 on the toolbars. There is, however, a quicker way to get to the
 Toolbars menu--just right-click the toolbar and you'll get the
 same menu that you get by choosing View, Toolbars." 

Another great shortcut, Frank. Thanks for the tip.


*10. THE MORE, THE MERRIER         
 
Reader Lawrence O. requests that we point out how easy it is to
 use ultiple levels of folders in Favorites. 

Very well. Let's say you want to add a folder to your Favorites,
 and let's suppose you often gather information about jet planes,
 so you want a Jets folder. Start by choosing Favorites, Organize
 Favorites. Then click the New Folder button (it's the third one
 from the right) to create a new folder. When the new folder
 appears, type in a name (Jets in this example). 

To add a subfolder, first double-click the new Jets folder to
 open it. Then click New Folder again and name the folder. (We'll
 use Lockheed for this example.) Finally, click New Folder again
 and specify another manufacturer (or any other subcategory).
 Repeat the process to create as many folders as you need.
 When you're done, click Close to dismiss Organize Favorites.

Now you can choose Favorites, Jets to see all the folders you've
 created in this category.
