The World wide Web
Terminology
Getting Started
Icons and Tool Bars
Printing , Mailing and Saving Files
Visiting URL’s (Web sites)
Using Bookmarks
Search Engines

The WORLD WIDE WEB (WWW or WEB ) brings to individual users the power of networked information systems to their local computer. A hypertext interface (a browser) makes navigating and viewing the contents of this global information system both easy and powerful. The WEB is not a place, or a single resource housed at some location. The WEB is literally millions of resources managed at dispersed sites all over the world, interconnected through the use of standard protocols. WEB browsers are used to move between and view the contents of these sites. The WWW model gets over the frustrating incompatibilities of data format between providers and users by allowing smart systems to negotiate a common format between a browser and server. This allows a variety of applications to co-exist, to work in a cooperative manner and to make full use of them across the web.

In these lessons, you will learn to use one of two browsers, either Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer.  You will have several opportunities.  You can:
     (1) learn about navigation on the Web;
     (2) take a tour of sites helpful in family resource management;
     (3) tour useful sites for the small, micro, and home-based business owner; and/or
     (4) take off on your own to explore whatever you want.
Wherever you decide to go you will explore both local and remote locations to retrieve information resources. You may need to learn some new terms and develop new skills. These skills will become nearly automatic after you have had an opportunity to practice them in this class.

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Terminology

To use the Web, let’s first get comfortable with the definition of few new words. The following terms will be used throughout this fact sheet.

Web - is networked information resources that can be navigated and viewed through the use of standard network protocols such http. - is networked information resources that can be navigated and viewed through the use of standard network protocols such http.

http - Hyper-text-transfer-protocol allows for common navigation between networked sites and the movement of information resources. This is the most common protocol used on the WEB. Hyper-text-transfer-protocol allows for common navigation between networked sites and the movement of information resources. This is the most common protocol used on the WEB.

Hyper-text - These are words or icons (graphical symbols) that are programed to preform certain functions. They lead a user from one information element to another in an intuitive manner.  - These are words or icons (graphical symbols) that are programed to preform certain functions. They lead a user from one information element to another in an intuitive manner. 

html - Stands for Hyper-text Markup language. It is used to create text documents for presentation through the WEB. The markup codes look similar to those found when reveal codes is turned on in WordPerfect. You may find html just referred to as htm at times.  - Stands for Hyper-text Markup language. It is used to create text documents for presentation through the WEB. The markup codes look similar to those found when reveal codes is turned on in WordPerfect. You may find html just referred to as htm at times. 
Example:

Homepage - This is the first page you typically enter when you call up a site.  All computers that access the internet or web are set to display a certain homepage when you start the web.  The hompage is a method of displaying information resources and is created using an html editor.  A HomePage can contain text, graphics, full motion video and sound elements. - This is the first page you typically enter when you call up a site.  All computers that access the internet or web are set to display a certain homepage when you start the web.  The hompage is a method of displaying information resources and is created using an html editor.  A HomePage can contain text, graphics, full motion video and sound elements.

URL (web site) - Universal Resource Locator is the addressing information for WEB resources. These are the addresses you have seen popping up in magazines and on TV.  A typical URL looks something like http://www.aafcs.org/. (web site) - Universal Resource Locator is the addressing information for WEB resources. These are the addresses you have seen popping up in magazines and on TV.  {A typical URL looks something like http://www.aafcs.org/.}

Web Browsers or Browsers - These are the programs used to navigate the Web.  It provides the means to travel of "surf" the WWW. Information is organized into pages and is presented graphically; usually a combination of plain text, images, and text-based links to other pages.  In 1998 there are two primary browsers.  Netscape is a product of Netscape Communications Company.   Netscape is Windows based and runs on Windows ‘95 and ‘98 as well. MicroSoft Internet Explorer is the other primary browser.  There are a number of other browsers available.  If you are an America On-Line customer, they have developed their own browser although it is based on the Microsoft Explorer. 

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Getting Started

In this section you will learn how to set up your WEB browser on your computer on campus and later at home so that it brings up the Extension HomePage.
Montana Extension staff - You must complete this section successfully in order for the rest of the class to be of value to you.

Starting Netscape
First, double click on the Network Folder in the left section of your screen.

Next double click on the Netscape Navigator icon from your Windows interface. The computers in the labs across campus are set at the Montana State University web page at:

www.montana.edu.

Click on Academic Departments under Colleges and Centers. Then click on Agricultural Economics and Economics under the College of Agriculture. Find the link for Faculty List and Areas of Research.

What university granted Marsha A. Goetting a PhD? In what year was the degree granted?

On your computer at home and on campus you can select what home page you want the computer to open to each time.

To change the location of the starting HomePage on your computer click on Options in the tool bar at the top of the page. (Note: If on a public access computer, please check before changing the home page or any settings.)

Then click on General Preferences.

Next, click on the Appearances folder.

In the white window type in the address for the MSU Extension Service homepage or the OCES home page:

http://extn.msu.montana.edu or http://www.dasnr.okstate.edu/oces

Click on OK. Next click on the Home button in the Tool Bar at the top of the Netscape page. This action will take you "home" to the Extension homepage.

Starting Microsoft Internet Explorer
Check your computer screen for an icon called "Internet Explorer."  Double click on that icon and you will taken to a predetermined home page on the Web.  (Below are instructions on how to change that page.  If you are on the Web using a public computer, courtesy suggests you do not change the home page.)

To change your home page

1. Go to the page you want to appear when you first start Internet Explorer.
2. On the View menu, click Internet Options.
3. Click the General tab.
4. In the Home page , enter: http://extn.msu.montana.edu
                                                            or
                                        http://www.dasnr.okstate.edu/oces
5. Click Use Current.

• To restore your original home page, click Use Default.

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Lets move around the Extension homepage to gain experience and learn what each icon on the tool bar does.

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Printing , Mailing and Saving Files
Netscape and Microsoft take advantage of the standard windows interface which allows you to print to a locally defined printer. Select FILE/PRINT from the command bar across the top or press the PRINT button or printer icon on the tool bar. The document currently being displayed will print with all of the text features and graphics. 

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Visiting URL’s (Web sites)

References to the Web are found in many different mediums. Many magazine articles and ads have a references to a web site where you can visit and find more information.

After you’ve launched the Netscape Browser you will find the word, Netsite in the middle of your screen.  If your are using Microsoft Explorer, you will see a line that says Address.  This window indicates the site, or resource, or subdirectory that you are currently looking at. You can modify the contents of this window using your mouse.

Block the entire contents of this box so that all of the text is highlighted. Next press the delete key. The netsite window will now be empty. In Netscape it will will say Go to:, for Microsoft you will continue to see the word "address."

When you discover an address for a WEB site you want to visit, how do you plug that into your browser? Lets start with a fairly easy URL (web site). Type in the following in the netsite or address window:

http://www.consumer.gov

Press enter.

The system will pause momentarily and then you will be transported into the U. S. Consumer Gateway, your link with the federal consumer information.

Take a few minutes to explore the wide range of links under the money icon. Then use the Back button in the tool bar to return your screen to the www.consumer.gov address.

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Using Bookmarks

Both Netscape and Explorer provide the ability to mark locations that you may want to visit again in the future without having to reenter the URL for the site or document. Bookmark (Netscape) or Favorites (Microsoft) let you visit again later when you have time. Bookmarks or favorites are the electronic equivalent of folding over the corner page in a book.

When you discover a resource site that you wish to visit again, you’ll want to create a bookmark or favorite for that location.

For example, select the icon for MONEY in the

www.consumer.gov

site. Under the credit card link, select credit card blocking. Click on Bookmarks or Favorites in the tool box (Microsoft has 2 favorites - an icon and the word in the highest toolbox.  You will work with the word) and select Add Bookmarks or Add to Favorites. This will add the credit card blocking page to your list.

To view the bookmark you created, click on Bookmarks or Favorites. A list of items will be displayed. Select any of the items in the list and press enter or double click with your mouse.

Let’s Review. The Home button on the tool bar will take you to the homepage you selected - in our case the Extension Homepage. Bookmarks or Favorites on the tool bar allows you to add and view your bookmarks. Click on any Bookmark or Favorite (such as Credit Card Blocking) and you will go to that page.

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Merrylee Vukonich
MSU Carbon County Extension Agent

Marsha A. Goetting, PhD, CFP, CFCS
Family Economics Specialist, MSU Extension Service

                                                                                                                                           
The selection of sites is not an endorsement of that company's product or services.  Sites have been selected because they offer useful information.  MSU and OSU do not take responsibility that sites may change.