Bookmarks (in Netscape Navigator) or Favorites (in Internet Explorer) are shortcuts within your web browser to your favorite web pages.

Setting up mail in your browser

Under the Option menu in Netscape, you'll find your Mail and News Preferences. If you're using Explorer, it will walk you through the set-up the first time you try to send mail. This is where you can configure the E-mail settings, as well as enter information about your server and your user name.

The mail and SMTP server name to use at SFSU is sfsu.edu

Setting up news in your browser

Usenet newsgroups are discussion forums that run the gamut from computer tips to political discourse to movie star worship. You first need to go to the Mail and News options menu and enter your server information.

The news server to use at SFSU is news.csus.edu

General preferences

General Preferences (under the Options menu in Netscape) or Options (under the View menu in Explorer) allows you to set the default views in your web browser.

Installing helper apps and plug-ins

Helper apps are separate stand-alone programs that allow you to view graphics, hear sounds, or experience multimedia files. Plug-ins extend the capabilities of your browser from within, allowing it to read certain kinds of files that create effects embedded in web pages. Follow the plug-in instructions given by your browser - see Help for more information.

Security and encryption

Encryption is the way your computer keeps things you want to keep private (like your credit card number) away from prying eyes. You should not need to change these settings.

Cache size and other settings

Your Disk Cache is where your web browser stores pages that you've accessed recently. In Netscape this setting is found under the Network preferences. The Verify documents setting should be set to 'Every Time' if you are developing web pages to ensure you always see the latest version. If you have a slow modem connection set it to 'Once per Session'

Setting your default home page

When you first run your browser program it will automatically open to a certain address called your default home page. This can be changed under the options menu of the browser. If you want to open pages off-line you should set this setting to None.