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Netscape 7.2 for Windows Configuration

Netscape 7.2

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Description

This application is a "web browser." This means that the user can navigate to any site on the Internet to "look at" and use information that has been made available for public consumption at those sites. The information at these sites is not restricted to textual information but can include a multimedia interface that allows the users to view graphics and video, hear audio, search using keywords, enter information interactively and download files automatically. One of the most significant features of this web protocol is that ALL platforms (Unix, Macintosh, PC and others) can "read" the same files without the necessity of translating them, since the information necessary to display them is embedded in the files themselves and each type of browser "knows" how to read them. This feature makes this an ideal environment for dissemination of information for public use.

To get more information about Netscape consult the on-line help by selecting the Help Menu when Netscape is open.

Basic Configuration

There are numerous ways to configure Netscape to conform to your specific requirements. Five of these options are important for UVa users:

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Home Page

The home page is the web page that appears in the Netscape browser window when you first open Netscape and when you click the Home button located near the top of the Netscape window. You can set the home page to any web page you like. To set your home page to the main University of Virginia home page, while in Netscape, click Edit, Preferences; a Preferences window appears. In the Preferences window, select Navigator from the Category list, and under the Home Page section, enter into the Location: field the web page address http://www.virginia.edu, and click OK.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks refers to Web sites you want to remember. In the process of exploring the Web, you will undoubtedly come upon Web sites that you'd like to revisit. You could carefully write down the site information in the URL field at the top of the Netscape window and manually reenter it the next time you wish to visit that site, OR you could use the menu command Bookmark This Page, which is found under the Bookmarks menu, to save this site information in your own personal "Bookmark list".

Using this option, the next time you want to visit one of your favorite Web sites, you can use the mouse to select that site from the Bookmarks menu and Netscape will automatically make that connection.

Configuring Netscape Mail

Netscape gives you the option of sending and receiving mail, reading news and posting to newsgroups. Netscape is not one of ITC's recommended mail clients, so the directions below how to configure Netscape for sending mail from Web page "mailto" links, and for reading news and posting to newsgroups. ITC's recommended mail client is Mulberry.

The very first time you launch Mail, such as when you click on a "Mailto:" link to send mail from within a Web page (for example mstk3k@virginia.edu), if you have not already set up an account, Mail displays the Account Wizard so you can create an account.

New Account setup wizard window with ISP or email provider selected

Later, you can add additional mail and newsgroups accounts from the File menu of the Mail window by choosing New, then Account.

File menu with New and Account selected.

You can also go to the Window menu and select Mail and Newsgroups.

Below is a summary of the Account wizard setup information. This is only an example. You must use the setting information for your own account.

Account Wizard mail account summary window.

Filtering with Netscape Mail

If you do use Netscape Mail to read mail on a regular basis, you may want to filter certain types of messages to a location other than your inbox (for example, unwanted "spam" types of messages).

1. Go to the Tools menu and select Message Filters.

2. In the Message Filters window, if you have multiple mail accounts, choose the one to which you want to apply the filter, then click New.

3. In the Filter Rules window, type a name for the filter, then specify the types of messages to act on, and the action you want the filter to perform.

5. Select the matching option you want Mail to use: "all of the following conditions" (criteria) you choose, or "at least one" of the conditions.

6. Use the drop-down lists to choose the search criteria (for example, "Subject," "Sender," "contains," "doesn't contain") and then type the text or phrase you want to match.

7. To restrict your filter to messages that only match a certain priority, choose an option for priority from the drop-down list.

8. Click More to add criteria and Fewer to remove them.

9. Use the drop-down list to choose the action you want the filter to perform on the messages (for example, Move to Folder).

10. Choose a destination folder in which to store the messages, or create a new folder.

11. Click OK to confirm your settings.

For more information on Netscape Mail filtering, go to the Help menu, choose Help and Support Center, Using Netscape Mail, then Organizing Your Messages and Creating Message Filters.

Configuring Netscape News

1. Go to the Window menu and select Mail & Newsgroups.

2. Go to the File menu and select New and then Account.

3. The New Account Wizard will open. Select Newsgroup accounts and click Next.

4. Enter your account identity information (the same as for your mail account) in the next wizard screen, then click Next.

5. Enter news.virginia.edu in the Newsgroup Server field and click Next.

6. Enter a convenient name for the new account and click Next.

7. Click Finish in the Account Summary page, or click Back to correct any mistakes.

 

Proxy Server

Instructions on configuring Netscape 6.2 and above for proxy are available on ITC's Netscape 6.2 and above Proxy Server configuration page. Please visit that page for account and configuration information.

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Directory Services

Netscape Communicator can search the "whois" database and display names and e-mail addresses of UVa students, faculty and staff. Netscape Communicator does this via our LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) server.

Configuring Netscape Communicator for Directory Services

1. Go to the Edit menu and select Preferences.

2. From the list, expand Mail & Newsgroups, then select Addressing.

3. Checkmark the Directory Server checkbox and click Edit Directories...

4. In the LDAP Directory Servers window, click Add.

5. In the Directory Services Properties General tab enter the following:

Click OK.

Searching the LDAP Directory

1. Open a new mail message.

2. In the To: field type in the last name of the person you are searching for.

3. A list of choices will appear in a drop down list. There may be more than one.

4. Select the correct address and it will be placed in the To: field.

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Accessing Navigator Mail or News

1. Go to the Tasks menu and select Mail & Newsgroups.

2. The Mail & Newsgroups window will open. You may select your mail account or the news account.

Please remember if you are accessing the UVa news server news.virginia.edu from off grounds via a modem, cable modem or DSL modem, you will need an authenticated news account. for more information go to: http://www.itc.virginia.edu/accounts/createacct.html

For additional help please contact the ITC Help Desk at 924-3731.

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