Neat Net Tricks Issue # 107 - August 1, 2001 

http://www.NeatNetTricks.com
Reply-To: NNT@silver.lyris.net

IN THIS ISSUE:

01.  Windows key usefulness
02.  Speed Tests
03.  Adobe Acrobat 5.0
04.  Restoring the default browser
05.  Error Messages
06.  WebCopier revisited
07.  Privacy perfected
08.  Hardware compatibility
09.  Mesa
10.  Airport & City Code Converter
11.  Scroll without a wheel
12.  Nupedia
13.  Disk Cleanup

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01.  WINDOWS KEY USEFULNESS.  For many of us, the Windows key 
(with the logo) on most keyboards is little used.  But it will 
add some shortcut versatility if used in conjunction with M to 
minimize all open windows, R to open the Run dialog box, F1 to 
open a Help window, F to open Find Files or Folders dialog box, 
E to open an Explorer window, or, with Shift and M to undo 
Minimize All.  The trick is in trying to memorize all 
these combinations.

02.  SPEED TESTS.  TestMySpeed.com at http://www.testmyspeed.com
provides several hosts on which you can test the speed of your 
Internet connection. The service appropriately reminds you that 
your speed may depend on overall Internet traffic, your 
computer's performance and configuration, cached or non-cached 
data, and the accessed server's location and configuration.  
Like blood pressure, you should check your speed often.  And, 
like blood pressure checks, you can expect some wide variations.

03.  ADOBE ACROBAT 5.0.  Nearly everyone knows by now that the 
Adobe Acrobat creates PDF files, the stuff ebooks are made of.  
We've written a lot about that up-and-coming electronic format, 
but the new 5.0 version does lots more.  Some added features 
include the ability to work in Rich Text Format (RTF) for 
reports and presentations.  You can extract and modify images 
in TIFF, JPEG, and PNG files from PDF documents.  With a click, 
convert files from many other formats to PDF documents.  
Protect confidential documents with passwords, digital 
signatures, printing block, and security controls. Allow 
multiple users to add comments to documents, utilizing Web 
browsers and Acrobat tools and sharing comments on line.  
Acrobat 5.0 has accessibility options for the impaired, 
enhanced output and color controls, and features to capture 
single Web pages or entire Web sites into PDF files with links 
intact.  Customizable tool bars and search features, filters, 
enhanced navigation palettes, and batch processing only 
scratches the surface. You can read for yourself at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/main.html . It's a 
little pricey at $249 (available in all platforms) but, as is 
true for most things in life, you get what you pay for.

04.  RESTORING THE DEFAULT BROWSER.  If you use Outlook Express 
and have upgraded your version, links in email messages may 
launch Internet Explorer when you might be wanting Navigator to 
do the work.  To correct the situation, be sure Communicator is 
closed, and search for the file "prefs.js" in the browser path, 
typically program files\netscape\users\(username)\ . Make sure 
to back up this file before editing.  Then, open it in a text 
editor and look for the line 
"user_pref("browser.wfe.ignore_def_check",true);" and change 
the "true" to "false" (without quotes).  Save the file.  If the 
line is missing from the file, add it with the word "false" 
instead of "true", again, without the end quotes.  Make sure 
the other punctuation is exact.  When you restart Communicator, 
it will prompt whether you want it to be the default browser.  
Answer yes.

05.  ERROR MESSAGES.  The next time Windows 98 or Windows ME 
delivers one of those cryptic error messages, get thee to the 
Error Message Resource Center at 

http://support.microsoft.com/support/windows/topics/
errormsg/emresctr.asp 

where they promise to explain the error.  If they can't, they 
invite you to leave your message so they can research it.  Now 
let's see, what if you get an error in trying to get the site 
to open?  Nahhhh.  You might also check out 

http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/
0,289893,sid9_gci212076,00.html 

for an explanation of the most common error codes and messages.
If you'd like to automate the process and view an explanation 
of error codes as they inevitably occur, a free program, MS 
Windows Error Messages, can be downloaded at 

http://www.gregorybraun.com/MSWinErr.html .

06.  WEBCOPIER REVISITED.  A reader complained that WebCopier, 
featured in a recent NNT issue, is Aureate/Radiate spyware and 
that there is no warning to that effect until after the program 
is installed.  In fairness, the WebCopier folks were asked to 
reply.  They acknowledge that the free version is using the 
Aureate/Radiate advertisement module but deny it's "spyware" 
because the module works only when WebCopier is running, the 
module will be removed when WebCopier is uninstalled, and it 
doesn't collect any personally identifiable information. It 
does use an Internet connection to download ads, but the 
WebCopier company says that's revealed in the license 
agreement, the Readme file, the FAQ, the website privacy policy 
statement, and the website register section.  Nonetheless, the 
company says the next version, which will probably be out by 
the time you read this, will not use Aureate/Radiate.

07.  PRIVACY PERFECTED.  I just spent an hour or so putting 
Don't Panic 4.0 through the paces.  If you're concerned with 
prying eyes, this little download will instantly clean browser 
history, URL history, cache, browser temporary files, cookies, 
recently reviewed documents, and, in fact all of your personal 
history lists.  Click a hot key to hide all Windows, or even 
start up another application.  With Don't Panic you can opt not 
to allow pop-up windows while surfing.  It works with Netscape 
4.x, Internet Explorer 5.x, and AOL 6x browsers on Windows 
95/98/NT/ME/2000.  It took me just 5 minutes to fully 
configure, and there's lots more options not mentioned here.  
You'll like this one. A fully enabled trial version is at 
http://www.panicware.com and yours to keep for $19.95.


08.  HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY.  Don't buy a piece of hardware 
before checking its compatibility with your system.  You 
might be able to determine this at 
http://www.microsoft.com/hcl/default.asp .

09.  MESA is an acronym for Meta Email Search Agent, described 
as "the largest email address book worldwide."  The next time 
you're trying to locate someone's email address, try 
http://mesa.rrzn.uni-hannover.de .  Mesa will do the search 
through Yahoo, Bigfoot, IAF, Populus, Suchen.de, and WhoWhere. 
Actually, the best way to find someone's email address is to 
pick up the phone and call, but that's so untekkie.

10.  AIRPORT & CITY CODE CONVERTER.  If you travel a lot and 
need a ready source for all those confusing airport and city 
codes, they are all right there at 
http://codes.managementreporting.com/ .

11.  SCROLL WITHOUT A WHEEL.  If you don't have a wheel on your 
mouse, you might check out DragAndScroll, a shareware program 
to help you in your scrolling.  It's at 
http://www.kagi.com/ownerworld/dnscr.htm . A comparable program 
for Mac, Smart Scroll, is at http://www.marcmoini.com .

12.  NUPEDIA invites volunteers to assist in writing for this 
gigantic on line encyclopedia at http://www.nupedia.com .  If 
this sounds vaguely familiar, Nupedia was once known as the 
Open Content Encyclopedia and was featured in Neat Net Tricks 
many issues ago.

13.  DISK CLEANUP.  You may be unaware of a handy utility in 
Windows 98 and ME designed to clean your system up by removing 
files no longer needed.  To get there, click on My Computer, 
right click on your hard drive, select Properties and the 
General tab and press the Disk Cleanup button.  A check is 
placed next to useless items and an explanation is displayed 
about these files.  Click View Files to see more detail or OK 
to remove the files.  Clicking on the More Options tab will 
allow removal of unused components and programs.

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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.
