ICONSnet User Guide: Related Software

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Browsers

Because ICONSnet is a WWW program, the way that you view and interact with it depends upon the browser that you use. The best and easiest way to use ICONSnet is with a graphical web browswer. The two most widely-used browsers are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Both are available free of charge to educational institutions, so you might want to try both and see which one you like better.  (Another option is Opera, which is a much smaller program and can run successfully on 386 machines.)

Versions of Netscape Navigator greater than 2.0 and Microsoft Internet Explorer greater than 3.0 support word wrap in the text boxes, which is a very useful feature when you are typing messages. (Word wrap does not affect how messages are formatted after they have been sent.) You can customize the displays of both browsers to suit your tastes. Browsers also control printing functions. To print a page using Navigator or Internet Explorer, simply click on the print button, which is located on the browser menu bar. (If you would like to print a conference, click on the print button each time you load a page with new messages.)

Users that do not have computers capable of running a graphical browser can use a text browser such as Lynx. 

Security considerations:  ICONSnet runs on a secure server using the Secure Sockets Layer protocol.  All data sent between your computer and the ICONS webserver will be encrypted using a private key.

The ICONS security certificate is compatible with Netscape 4.0 and greater and Internet Explorer versions above 3.02. Older versions may work, but might require an update. Thawte Consulting, the issuer of the ICONS certificate maintains a browser compatibility page at http://www.thawte.com/certs/server/browsers.html.

There is currently no packaged version of Lynx for Win32 machines that supports SSL. Experienced computer users can compile a customized version of Lynx. If you cannot run a browser that supports SSL, please contact ICONS to discuss your access options.

Word Processors

If you are using a graphical browser, any word processor can be used to prepare messages to be sent later in ICONSnet. No special formatting is required (although tabs may not work). To use, simply open your word processor, type your message (or open your already-prepared text file), and cut or copy the text. Then, open the ICONSnet window, click on the Send Message button, specify recipient(s), issue(s), and subject, and click in the text box. Then, paste the text into the box. You are free to edit this message until you click the Send button.

Spell Checking

Neither ICONSnet nor any web browser supports spell checking. However, you may be able to use a plug-in program. For Win3.1/95/98, try Spell Checker for Edit Boxes, which is available from http://www.quinion.com/mqa/spell.htm.

HTML

The ICONSnet program converts the text of your message to HTML (Hypertext Markup Language--the language of the WWW) before posting it for retrieval by the other ICONSnet users. If you are familiar with HTML, you can use HTML tags to provide special emphasis to words or phrases or to provide links to useful web sites. You can also include useful and appropriate graphics (such as maps or tables of data). The graphic must be loaded on a web server other than the ICONSnet server. Please consult an HTML manual (for example, http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/General/Internet/WWW/) for instructions on using HTML.

Before using HTML codes, please make sure that you have double-checked your work.   A mistake could adversely affect the display for other users.  Do NOT use HTML codes during real-time conferences.

http://www.icons.umd.edu/help/net13.html
Last modified: March 2, 2001