Setting Other Browser Options

This chapter describes the various types of options and preferences that you can set in Netscape Browser, and how these options are used. (For detailed help on Netscape Browser options, refer to Using the Option Window.)

Improving Speed and Efficiency

This section describes various Netscape Browser options that relate to making Netscape Browser faster and easier to use.

Making Netscape Browser Your Default Browser

You can make Netscape Browser your default browser to ensure it is used whenever an application tries to display a Web site or when you open an HTML file. Making Netscape Browser your default browser allows it to automatically open common file formats and protocols used on the Internet. Common Internet file formats and protocols include the following:

• Image Files: JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, ICO, and MNG
• Internet Document and Language Files: HTML, XML, XHTML, and XUL
• Internet Protocols: HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, Chrome, Gopher

During installation

You can make Netscape Browser your default browser when you install it. After installation is finished, Netscape Browser checks to see if it is the default browser for any of the common Internet file formats or protocols. If it isn't, you are asked, "Netscape Browser is not currently set as your default browser. Would you like to make it your default browser?" Click Yes to make Netscape Browser the default browser. If you click No, you will be prompted with this question each time Netscape Browser starts, unless you deselect the checkbox "Check at startup next time, too."

After installation

If you did not select to make Netscape Browser your default web browser at installation (or another browser overrides this setting), you can make Netscape Browser the default as follows:

1. From the Tools menu, select Options.
2. Choose the General panel.
3. In the Default Browser group box, click the Check Now button to have Netscape Browser check whether it is currently set as your default browser. If not, it displays a prompt asking whether you want to make it the default.
4. Click Yes to set Netscape Browser as your default browser.

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Automatic Loading

When you bring a web page to your screen, Netscape Browser automatically loads (starts up) several features that help interpret web pages, specifically, Java and JavaScript. These features can make web pages more lively, but they take time to load.

To learn how to turn off Java and JavaScript, refer to Blocking Pop-ups, Java, and Images and to Site Controls.

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Changing Cache Settings

Your computer stores copies of frequently accessed pages in the disk cache. This way, the computer doesn't have to retrieve the page from the network each time you view it.

To set the size of the cache or to clear it :

1. Open the Tools menu and click Options.
2. Under the Privacy panel, click Cache.
3. Enter a number in the Cache field to specify the size of the disk cache. To clear the cache immediately, click Clear Cache.

Important: A larger disk cache allows more pages to be quickly retrieved, but more of your hard disk space is used.

To refresh a page at any time:

• Click the Reload button in the browser's Navigation Toolbar. The computer checks the network to make sure you have the latest version of the page.

Tip: When you quit Netscape Browser, it performs cache maintenance. If maintenance takes longer than you wish, try reducing the size of the disk cache.

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Getting the Latest Software Automatically

Netscape Browser can notify you when updates for your software are available, and it can install the updates automatically. Netscape Browser can also inform you when a new version is available.

To set these options:

1. From the Tools menu, select Options.
2. On the Advanced panel, scroll down to Software Update (if no subcategories are visible, click to expand the list). Check the appropriate subcategories:
   Periodically check for updates to:
   • Netscape
   • My Extensions and Themes
   • Notify me of downloaded updates
   • Notify me of available updates
3. Click OK.

For more information on these fields, refer to window help.

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Using a Mouse Wheel

If your mouse has a mouse wheel, you can control how the mouse scrolls within a page.

To set your scrolling options:

1. From the Tools menu, select Options.
2. On the Advanced panel, scroll down to Browsing (if no subcategories are visible, click to expand the list). Check the appropriate subcategories:
   • Use autoscrolling
   • Use smooth scrolling
3. Click OK.

For more information on these subcategories, refer to window help.

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Using Quick Launch

Quick Launch shortens the time it takes for Netscape Browser to start. When Netscape Browser uses Quick Launch, the Netscape Browser logo icon is present in the taskbar.

Netscape Browser Quick Launch Icon

When you installed Netscape Browser, you were given the option of enabling or disabling Quick Launch. If enabled, Quick Launch loads part of Netscape Browser into memory when Windows first starts (and each time Netscape Browser first starts up). Quick Launch allows Netscape Browser to stay in memory after you close all Netscape Browser windows. This lets Netscape Browser quickly start up when you need it, without having to load all of Netscape Browser. If your computer is low in memory, you can disable Quick Launch to conserve memory.

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Setting Proxies

Many organizations block access from the Internet to their networks. This prevents outside parties from gaining access to sensitive information. The protection is called a firewall.

If your organization has a firewall, the browser may need to go through a proxy server before connecting you to the Internet. The proxy server prevents outsiders from breaking into your organization's private network.

Before you start:

• If there's a proxy configuration file at your workplace, ask the system administrator for its URL.
• If there's no proxy configuration file, ask your system administrator for the names and port numbers of the servers running proxy software for each network service.

To set the browser to work with the proxy:

1. From the Tools menu, select Options.
2. Click the General category (if not already displayed).
3. Click the Connection Settings button.
4. On the Connection Settings window, you can specify your proxy settings either by entering the information directly in the Manual proxy configuration fields, or by entering a URL that includes your proxy information. For more information, refer to the field help.
5. Click OK on the Connection Settings window.
6. Click OK on the General panel.

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April, 2005

Copyright 1994-2005 Netscape Communications Corporation.