The Internet Explorer Window

When the Internet Explorer web browser program is launched, a window similar to the one below is displayed.

You will notice that sometimes when Internet Explorer is run, there is a short delay while the current text and graphics comprising a page is loaded. While this is happening the Windows icon in the top-right corner animates to show you that the web page is being loaded.

The Title Bar

The Title bar shows the name of the current web page. It also contains the window control buttons on the right-hand side. These buttons, Minimise, Maximise Restore , and Closecan be used to control the Internet Explorer window.

The Menu Bar

Each word on the Menu bar represents a different menu. Each menu contains the commands you use to activate features of Internet Explorer. If a command is also found on a toolbar (see below) then the icon representing the command is displayed in the menu too. This makes recognising commands easier.

When you select a command, a short description explaining what the command does is displayed on the Status bar.

The Standard Toolbar

Useful commands for browsing web pages can be carried out using the buttons on the Standard toolbar.

Click	To
	Navigate forward or backward through web pages you have visited. If you position the mouse pointer over the button without clicking, a ScreenTip is displayed, showing which page the button will take you to. To see a list of the last few pages you visited, click the arrow to the right of each button.
	Stop loading a page (for example, if the web page is taking a long time to load).
	Reload the current web page. This is useful if the page has become corrupted for whatever reason or you had stopped the whole page loading and now wish to reload it all. If you are working offline, clicking Refresh prompts you to connect to the internet and download the latest version of the page.
	Go directly to the page that is set as your default Home Page.
	Open the Explorer bar to shown the hierarchy of folders on your computer.
	Display the Search Assistant in the Explorer bar to look for a particular web page.
	View a list of Favorites web pages you have stored for quick access or add a web page to this list.
	Show Windows Media Player in the Explorer bar to play sound or video files or listen to internet radio.
	Show History items in the Explorer bar to access the web pages you have visited recently.
	Send or read email and connect to newsgroups.
	Print a copy of the web page in the web page viewer to your default printer.
	Edit the current web page. Different web page editing applications may be available by clicking the arrow on the button.
	Display the Discussions pane to add and review comments about the web page.

The Address Bar

The Address bar shows the location of the web page you are currently browsing. You can also type a location and click the Go button to access a particular website.

The Links Bar

The Links bar contains shortcuts to useful internet sites. A site can be accessed quickly by clicking a link button.

If there are more links than will fit on the screen, the More Links button is displayed. Click the More Links button to see the rest of your links.

The Status Bar The Status bar displays helpful information while you work. If you position the mouse pointer over a hyperlink to a web page, the actual address of the web page on the internet is displayed. While a web page is being opened, the Status bar displays details of its location and how much of the page has been downloaded (displayed in the browser window).

The Status bar also shows you whether you are connected to the internet or working offline and gives you information about how secure the current website is.

The Explorer Bar

When you click the Folders , Search , Favorites , Media , or History buttons, the Explorer bar is displayed on the left-hand side of the screen.

To close the Explorer bar, click the Close button

Click the currently highlighted button (for example, if the Search bar is shown, click Search again to hide the bar)

To change the contents of the Explorer bar click Folders , Search , Favorites , Media , or History

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