Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I make the text on a web page larger or smaller?
In Internet Explorer, click the View menu and select Text Size. You will now be able to adjust the size of the text.

How can I receive information faster?
Images take far longer to download than text - so if you don't need pictures, you can choose to load web pages without the graphics. Be aware though, that some web sites are difficult to view without images. To download web pages without any graphics, click on Tools on Internet Explorer's Menu Bar and select Internet Options. Choose the Advanced tab which will display a list of options that can be ticked on or off. Scroll down until you reach the Multimedia section and there you will see a ticked option Show Pictures. Click the ticked box to remove the tick and then click OK. Internet Explorer will now download web pages without any graphics. To turn on the Show Pictures option, repeat the above instructions so that the box becomes ticked once more.

If I've chosen not to show pictures, how can I see a particular image if I choose?
When a web page loads without graphics, your browser displays 'placeholders' to show where the graphics should be. The placeholders look like an empty box the same size as the graphic it replaces. Right-click on one of these and on the pop-up menu that appears, select Show Picture. The image you selected will download and display although the others will remain unchanged.

How can I visit previously viewed web sites?
There are a few different ways. Click on the small down arrow on the right of the address box on the Location Bar to reveal a drop-down list of web addresses (URLs) that have been typed into the Location Bar. Click on any of these URLs to connect to that site.

To reveal the URL of every single page that has been visited over the last few weeks, click the History icon on Explorer's Toolbar. This will open a frame on the left-hand side of the screen displaying headings such as 'Three weeks ago', 'Two weeks ago' etc. Click on any of these headings to reveal a list of URLs. Click on any of these URLs to connect to the site.

If you just want to return to a page or site that was viewed a few pages previously, just use the Back button on the Toolbar.

Can I save the text in a link without going to its site?
Right-click on the link and, from the pop-up menu that appears, select Save Target As... You will now be able to save to any folder or drive on your computer.

Can I link to web sites in a Word document?
If you type a web address or URL into a Word document - ie. an address starting with http:// or www. - Word will automatically make that address into a hyperlink. You will notice that the web address will be highlighted in blue and underlined, just as it would in a web page. Clicking on the web address in Word will launch your browser and attempt to connect to that site. The same goes for e-mail addresses, when clicked on in Word, your e-mail software will launch with the e-mail address already typed in the To: address box.

How can I obtain FAQs on a specific subject?
Click the Search icon on Explorer's Toolbar or visit a search engine site. Include the word FAQ in your search command eg. "Internet and FAQ".

Is the material viewed on the Internet copyrighted?
Assume that it is. Acknowledge the author and web address among your references.

Can I trust the information I find on the Internet?
There is little that will distinguish the online presentation of an expert, amateur or idiot. Use your judgement!

Will the web address (URL) appear on a printout of a web page?
You should find that the URL will print out automatically at the foot of a web page printout. If it doesn't, click the File menu in Internet Explorer and select Page Setup. In the Footers box, type in &u and then click OK. The web pages should now print their URL at the bottom of the page.

What about the addresses of the hyperlinks - can I obtain these on a printout?
Click the File menu and select Print. On the Print dialog box, tick the 'Print table of links' checkbox. You will now get a table of URLs at the end of the printout.

What other extras are available on a printout?
Click the File menu in Explorer, and select Page Setup. You can type in the following codes in either the Header or Footer boxes, depending on where you wish to see the information displayed on a printed page:

How do I search for specific information on the Internet?
Visit one of the many search engines on the web. At the site, type in a keyword or phrase relevant to your search and click Search. The search engine will return a list of links to web sites that should contain relevant information. More details can be found in Searching for Information.

How can I find a particular graphic on the web?
Search engines such as AltaVista and Lycos give you an option to search for images only. At AltaVista, click the Images tab on the home page to search for images. At Lycos, scroll down the page to find a link named Pictures and Sounds where you can search for images. Another method which works with many search engines is to type in image:keyword - ie. if you are looking for an image of a butterfly, type in image:butterfly.

Yahoo! has it's own image library called Image Surfer. The images are divided into six main categories and you can also search by keyword.

Contents: World Wide Web

Skill Check: World Wide Web