Neat Net Tricks Issue # 104
June 15, 2001 

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IN THIS ISSUE:

01.  Printing bookmarks
02.  A new innovation in ads
03.  EmpTempFolders
04.  Copying bookmark to IE
05.  LiveManuals
06.  NNT Bulletin Board
07.  Opera's worth singing about
08.  Password storage
09.  Atomic Time Synchronizer
10.  Spyware detector
11.  Terminating the TSR
12.  Spanning disks
13.  About the Ebook

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By the time the next issue of Neat Net Tricks is published, 
ArchivesExpress subscribers will have a new volume with 1,100 
tips (many updated) on disk, a compendium of the past 5 years of
NNT. Now the ArchivesExpress is available in ebook format at no 
added cost. Read it in text or audio, with improved search, 
annotation, and bookmark features.  More details are at 
http://www.NeatNetTricks.com . The new volume and 3 more in the 
next year can be ordered for just $20 (slightly higher outside the
U.S.) at the NNT Store, http://www.NeatNetTricks.com/store .

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01.  PRINTING BOOKMARKS.  Several readers said the tip in NNT 
97, about printing Netscape's bookmarks was far too complicated. 
Another way suggested: Bookmarks|Edit Bookmarks, click any 
folder, click on Copy, right click and open a text editor such 
as NotePad, then paste and print without sending email.  Or, if 
you want to retain the hotlinks, just send an email to yourself 
attaching the bookmark.htm file, which you'll find in the 
Netscape path, typically 
c:/program files/netscape/users/(username)/ .  Once you get the 
email and want to send certain bookmarks to a friend, click on 
Reply, readdress the email, and edit as you wish before 
sending it.

02.  A NEW INNOVATION IN ADS.  ECommerce on the Internet is 
changing as marketers are looking for new ways to capitalize 
on their advertising dollars.  Some search engines are selling 
positions, and some are bidding out ads.  One such, the Jeeves 
Text Sponsorship Network, allows the advertiser to develop text 
for an ad, deposit funds into an account, and then design terms 
that will display the ad whenever someone searches on one of 
those terms.  The advertiser may bid the amount he will pay 
when such a search occurs, and the ad is positioned in one of 
three spots depending on whether he is top bidder or holds 
second or third place.  An online interface keeps tabs on the 
hits and the amount of funds remaining in the account and 
allows full editing capability to change the ad text, add or 
change search terms, and start other ad campaigns. Details at 
http://sponsor.directhit.com/ .

03.  EMPTEMPFOLDERS.  A small utility helps you manage folders 
that contain temporary files left over by other applications. 
It doesn't copy anything to the system folders and doesn't 
touch the registry. Download at 
http://www.danish-shareware.dk/soft/emptemp/ .

04.  COPYING BOOKMARK TO IE.  There are lots of ways of copying 
bookmarks between browsers, but you might like this technique.  
If the bookmark is in Netscape and you'd like to copy it to 
Internet Explorer, open the Netscape bookmark.htm file from IE 
by clicking File|Open File, the browse button, and then browse 
to Program File|Netscape|Users|(user name).  Select the 
bookmark.htm file to open it in IE, then right click on the 
desired bookmark to Add to Favorites.

05.  LIVEMANUALS.  At http://www.livemanuals.com you can 
search by product, product category, or manufacturer to see 
how their merchandise works and get useful warranty and 
support information to include names, addresses, and telephone 
numbers of manufacturers.  User manuals are available on line 
along with interactive help.  The nearest repair centers are 
available.  You can store model and warranty information for 
easy retrieval later if you experience problems.

06.  NNT BULLETIN BOARD.  Newer readers may be unaware of an 
excellent resource for solving computer and Internet problems, 
the Neat Net Tricks Bulletin Board at 
http://www.escribe.com/computing/neatnettricks/bb/ . Just in 
the past few days, for example, you'd learn from the Bulletin 
Board how to deal with desktop icons that suddenly change or 
disappear, or a keyboard character that develops a mind of its 
own.  You'd learn more about when (and how) you should 
reinstall MS Internet Explorer, how to handle a problem 
ZoneAlarm installation, an easy way to store multiple 
addresses in the Outlook Express address book, and what you can 
do when Windows doesn't shut down properly. You're welcome to 
take part, and all we ask is that your comments stay on the 
subject of computers and/or the Internet and that you use a 
legitimate email address when posting.  Well, we ask a little 
more, but it's a free service and full details are in the FAQ 
when you get to the Bulletin Board.

07.  OPERA'S WORTH SINGING ABOUT.  Since I first logged on to 
the Net more years ago than I care to admit, I've used 
Netscape's browser and on occasion Microsoft's Internet 
Explorer.  I faithfully downloaded each new version as each 
took over a larger chunk of my hard drive space.  I resisted 
Opera in the early years because, after all, the other browsers 
were free. But with Version 5, I can resist no longer, and in 
fact, unless something significant happens, I may just toss the 
others and satisfy an urge I've long had. For starters, Opera 
is now free, unless you want to pay $39 to kill the ad banners.
It supports JavaScript, email setup is a breeze, it uses Google 
as the default search engine but supports any other, has the 
Mirabilis ICQ built in, has image zoom, multiple windows 
support without draining system resources, and, in short, is 
leaner and meaner with just a 2.08 mb without Java, 9.76 mb 
with (I went for the gusto, but at less than 10 mb it's still 
much trimmer than its competitors).  What do I like best about 
Opera?  I'm torn between two advantages:  one, its very fast 
response, earning the title "The Fastest Browser on Earth"; 
but, just as important, this little browser is very stable.  
I've been driving it hard and it hasn't crashed once (and its 
competitors, at least on my system, can't begin to make that 
claim.)  Try it and see what I mean, at http://www.opera.com .

08.  PASSWORD STORAGE.  If you have entirely too many passwords 
to keep up with (and who doesn't), try the free service and 
store them at http://www.passwordsafe.com .

09.  ATOMIC TIME SYNCHRONIZER.  Set your internal computer 
clock to a time server on the Web such as the atomic time 
maintained by the National Insititute of Standards and 
Technology. Also configure this free utility to automatically 
synchronize time at predetermined intervals on one computer or 
all under a common network.  Get Atomic Time Synchronizer at 
http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/network/ats.htm .

10.  SPYWARE DETECTOR.  Steve Gibson has written a lot about 
spyware and there's still much about the stuff on his Website 
at http://grc.com .  But he's discontinued his OptOut tool and 
recommends a visit to http://www.spychecker.com if you're 
wondering whether a particular program may be spyware.  The 
site has a database and can tip you off before you consider 
installing software.

11.  TERMINATING THE TSR.  Applications that are TSR 
(terminate-and-stay-resident) run in the background and all too 
often help drain resources.  Generally, you can disable 
unwanted applications from starting on boot by clicking on 
Start|Run and entering "msconfig" in the window (without 
quotes), clicking on the StartUp tab, and unchecking those not 
needed (but never uncheck Explorer or systems tray).  That 
doesn't always do the trick, as evidenced by some MS Office 
applications, Real Player, and no doubt countless others.  They 
just keep coming back like the Energizer bunny.  This little 
trick may stop them, though.  Click on Start|Programs|Startup 
and look for the offending application in the Startup folder.  
Right click on it and select Cut.  Go back to the list in 
Start|Programs and look for Disable Startup Items, right click 
on it and select Paste.  Reboot your PC.

12.  SPANNING DISKS.  Days are getting longer (at least in our 
part of the world) and files seem to be longer, too.  If you 
have a file that won't typically fit on a 3.5" diskette, 
consider compressing (zipping) it with a utility such as WinZip.
If it's still too large, you can span the zipped file over two 
or more diskettes as long as your file compression program 
provides that option.  WinZip 8.0 makes spanning a simple 
procedure and prompts you when you need to insert a second or 
subsequent diskette.

13.  ABOUT THE NNT EBOOK.  When I embarked upon writing my 
first ebook a few weeks ago, I honestly had doubts whether it 
would find much acceptance.  After all, as I said in the book, 
the subject of email can be about as exciting as gym socks. You 
can read more about the Neat Net Tricks For Better Email by 
clicking on the icon at the opening page of the NNT Web site, 
http://www.NeatNetTricks.com .

Early reviews have been very encouraging.  Brian Alt, writing 
for Ezine-Tips at http://Ezine-Tips.com wrote in part, "If 
you're new to the Internet, email, or ezine publishing, this 
book is a must-read.  Even experienced publishers may find some 
cool (or 'neat,' as Jack would say) information on how to 
improve the email experience.  The biggest benefit?  The time 
that this information will help you save."  Pete's Free Weekly 
Business Data at http://www.petesweekly.co.za said, "Despite me 
thinking I know a fair amount about the subject, this nifty 
ebook has already saved me an hour this morning - and I reckon 
will save me at least 2 hours/week for the rest of this year ...
The style is light and clean, and very easy to read ... onscreen 
- all 90 pages of it ... an incredible investment.  If you want 
to be an email expert by tomorrow - get this book."

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Just $10 gets 24 issues of Neat Net Tricks PLUS, a special 
edition NNT that deals with just one topic in depth, twice 
monthly.  Get yours at the NNT Store, 
http://www.NeatNetTricks.com/store .

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NNT makes no endorsement or warranty, expressed or implied, with regard
to featured products or services.  Results may vary based on operating
systems and other variables beyond our control.

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Copyright 2001 by Jack Teems.  All rights reserved. Neat Net 
Tricks is registered with the U.S. Library of Congress ISSN: 
1533-4619.
