Neat Net Tricks Issue #105
July 1, 2001 

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IN THIS ISSUE:

01.  Blocking cookies
02.  Hardware compatibility check
03.  Surf Secret
04.  The Incredible Emailer
05.  Batch files to run commands
06.  Web update display enhanced
07.  They Don't Always Work Department
08.  Process Viewer
09.  SurfSaver
10.  Why does it hurt when I do this?
11.  Friskit
12.  PDF alternatives

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01.  BLOCKING COOKIES.  Cookies are those electronic bits of data
that are implanted on your hard drive when you visit many sites.
Mostly they are quite benign and enable the site to recall your
name, account data, and so on, without the need to reenter the
information each time you return to the site.  Your browser will 
block all cookies if you wish, but that greatly impedes navigation
throughout much of the Web.  Here's another innovative way to deal
with them in Netscape Communicator.

Locate the cookies.txt file in your browser path, usually Program
Files/Netscape/users/(username).  Examine the file with any text
editor, delete the ones you don't want, and save the rest back to 
the same folder.  Write-protect the file by right-clicking on it, 
select Properties, check Read-Only and click OK.  From your browser 
screen, click Edit|Preference, and under Advanced, make sure that 
Accept All Cookies is selected. Those sites setting cookies, in 
effect, believe the cookie is accepted, and Netscape does not issue
an error message when the file cannot be written to.

02.  HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY CHECK.  Before running out and buying
a printer, scanner, or other peripheral, check out whether the
hardware is compatible with Win98/NT4/WinMe/2000.  Microsoft's site
at http://www.microsoft.com/hcl will let you do just that.

03.  SURF SECRET offers to restore privacy for Win95/98/NT/ME/2000.
It clears Netscape and IE cache, cookies, and toolbars, IE history,
and AOL cache and cookies.  It empties the Recycle Bin, temporary
folders, Start Menu and Documents, and the last Find/Run folder.
This application also clears tracks in instant messaging software
such as AOL, MSN, and ICQ.  It clears unsecure Java applets and
ActiveX components to prevent Java and ActiveX tracking.  You can
program it to run automatically or at designated intervals and to
retain "friendly" cookies such as those you need to keep your home
page or often-visited sites fully accessible. It can operate in
passworded stealth mode to remain undetected by others.  A 30-day
free trial is at http://www.surfsecret.com .

04.  THE INCREDIBLE EMAILER.  This software is offered to "dress 
up your email with pictures, drawings, and graphics."  While I'm a
diehard believer in keeping email readable at the lowest common 
denominator, you and your correspondent can certainly engage in a
little consensual artistry if both are willing.  The Incredible 
Emailer works with existing email applications, except AOL, 
Hotmail, and Eudora.  You can do what this one does (add photos,
graphics, text, special effects, draw freehand, add captions and 
objects, modify photos, etc.) with any good text and graphics 
editor.  But this software provides an easy interface, a lot of 
clip art, and a free try at http://www.toolfactory.com .

05.  BATCH FILES TO RUN COMMANDS. Instead of using the Start and
Run line to enter a command to start programs, consider batch
files instead.  Create the batch file with NotePad, invoking a
.exe program that will run from that command line.  Save the
file with the extension .bat and place it in the c:\windows\
command folder.  Go to that file using Windows Explorer and right
click on it.  Click on Properties and the Program tab, check the
Close on Exit box, and click on OK.  To trigger your new .bat 
file you can enter just its name (without the extension) in the
Start|Run box; or, for even greater convenience, make a shortcut
to the .bat file on your desktop.

06.  WEB UPDATE DISPLAY ENHANCED.  You may recall a recent NNT tip
for finding when a Website was last updated by entering in the 
address/location bar "javascript:alert(document.lastModified)"
(without the quotes).  A reader suggested improving on that one by
creating a file as follows in NotePad:

[InternetShortcut]
URL=javascript:alert(document.lastModified)

then, save the file as "last_modified.url" (without quotes) in
c:\windows\favorites.  You can then access this little feature 
through Favorites in your MS Internet Explorer.

07.  THEY DON'T ALWAYS WORK DEPARTMENT. A good idea on the surface, 
Audio Notes Recorder at http://www.xemico.com claims to solve all
your problems with taking voice notes, providing digital and analog
cassettes right on your desktop.  Sounds slick, except I never got
it to work, and, after several tries, their tech support folks
threw in the towel as well, saying I'd have to solve the problem 
"locally."  Alas.

08.  PROCESS VIEWER.  This free application for Windows 95/98 at
http://www.blehq.org views all active processes, not just those 
typically viewed with Ctrl+Alt+Del.  Terminate any desired
applications, copy their paths to the clipboard, view and change 
their priorities and properties, register/unregister as a service, 
and create scripts.

09.  SURFSAVER.  They call it "The Filing Cabinet For Webpages" and
SurfSaver is free at http://www.surfsaver.com .  It's a browser add-on
for MSIE and with it you can store Web pages as permanent archives in
searchable folders.  The Pro (paid) version works with Netscape as 
well as MSIE, removes ad banners, and adds more storage options, 
network and import capabilities.  The SurfSaver folks claim a real
advantage, given the "here today, gone tomorrow" of the Internet. It's
also a blessing for those whose on-line time is limited - just snatch
Web pages for later viewing when the clock isn't ticking.

10.  WHY DOES IT HURT WHEN I DO THIS?  I'm not sure you can get the
answer at Doc Clay's Pain & Posture Clinic, but it's worth an office
visit at http://danke.com/Orthodoc/ .  The site is "for pain relief 
and postural alignment in children, teens, and adults"; a title in 
itself almost a cure for insomnia.  But there's some good information 
on treating carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, low back pain, and just
about anything that might be caused by sitting at the computer too 
long, reading and writing about postural alignment and such.

11.  FRISKIT.  The player at http://www.friskit.com/ works with Real
Player and searches the entire Web for music, streaming and playing
that music in samples or complete selections instantly and continuously.
You can search on a particular artist, musical genre, or pre-created 
mix.  Choose the length of streams desired, send songs to friends, 
save songs as bookmarks, and use Friskit as a jumping off place to the
other Websites hosting the music you stream through this technology.

12.  PDF ALTERNATIVES.  When we see a PDF file, we think of Adobe
Acrobat, just as with zipped files we think of WinZip.  But there are
alternatives to both.  With PDF, the stuff of which eBooks are made,
if you're only needing a casual PDF writer and not interested in 
purchasing the Adobe Acrobat, there are at least two PDF writers that
might suffice: Free PDF at http://www.webxd.com/zipguy/freepdf.htm
and GhostScript at
http://www.gospelcom.net/iv/glw/wi/resources/aquiring_pdf.htm#ghostscript .
Remember, Acrobat is free for reading pdf, but the full package necessary
to write into that format costs $249 but still a worthwhile product if
you're going to do a lot of work in that arena.

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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.
