1) Launch Netscape Communicator

2) Click on 'Edit', scroll down to 'Preferences' and release the mouse button

3) Click on the 'Category', 'Appearance', 'Fonts'

4) Check the third box under " Sometimes a document will provide its own fonts"

5) Under 'Appearance' check the appropriate box depending on how you wish the navigation buttons at the top to appear. The best (IMHO) seems to be both text and pictures.

6) Unless you wish to download Email or USENET news upon starting it is best to simply start Navigator. The other components that make up this version of Communicator may be started later - Click 'Communicator', scroll down and pick your favorite.

7) Under colour the defaults may be used unless the usual grey, blue & black scheme is not to your liking.

8) Under 'Languages', leave as is unless English is not to your liking.

9) Under 'Applications' leave it alone! Every time you add a new 'Helper' application to Netscape the application will add itself within this section.

10) Under 'Mail & Groups', 'Messages', choose if you wish to send HTML encoded documents (this depends on whether the bulk of your recipients use an Emailer capable of reading HTML) and/or if you wish to include the original message in your reply by default (always a good choice).

11) Pressing the 'More Options' button displays the screen below. Choose the options checked here if you know what's good for you :-)

1. Under 'Mail Server', fill in the correct data. In the example below the 'Leave Messages on Server after retrieval' is checked. Generally one usually clears the Mail server of messages. In this case since I rarely use Netscape Mail I will, at a later time, retrieve the same messages using my primary Emailer, Eudora after which I let that application clear the Mail server. Of course if one was paranoid about losing mail it is possible to keep two copies of ones Email - One using Netscape and one using some other application. As well, with mail filters it is possible to selectively download Email to further customize the precedure.

13) Pressing 'More Options' is not required as Netscape sets most defaults automatically during its installation.

14) Under 'Groups Server' fill out the required data.

15) Under 'Directory' choose 'Address book' which is part of Netscape on your local machine. All the rest are WWW sites and may be accessed only when online.

16) Under 'Offline' it is easiest to choose 'Ask Me' since one tends to leap on and off the 'Net.

17) Under 'Offline' 'Download' its all up to your personal choice when viewing USENET news. Most people find it easier to use a dedicated USNET reader such as NewsXpress much like most people still read their Email with a dedicated Emailer such as Eudora.

1. Under 'Advanced' :

• Check Java only if you are aware of the security risk it poses.
• Check 'Automatically Load Images' if you wish to see pictures
• Enabling Javascript poses some risk much like Java.
• Enabling Stylesheets is both safe and recommended.
• Uncheck Autoinstall to prevent applications from installing within Netscape as helper applications without your knowledge.
• Make sure you have checked 'Send Email addresses anonymous FTP password' or you will, in many instances, be unable to download software and/or files.
• Under 'Cookies' it is usually safe to 'Accept all cookies that will be sent back to the originating server' Declining ALL cookies may mean that some sites will not be displayed correctly. If you have a concern about privacy I recommend an Application called http://www.luckman.com

14) Under 'Cache' choose 'Once per session' unless you are composing HTML. When composing HTML you will want to choose 'Every time' so that ammendments to your files will show immediately allowing you to see the results.

15) Under 'Proxies' choose 'Direct connection to the Internet' unless security is an issue. When checked this option will slow down your session. Some ISP's require proxy settings - if unsure contact your ISP tech support for details.

111

16) Under 'Disk Space' the defaults should be fine.

17) Pressing the 'More Option' button allows you to choose how long USENET headers remain on the Server before being deleted. Note that your ISP may delete these headers before you might wish regardless of your settings.

END of Configuring Netscape Communicator 4.01a

If you would like to be informed of the latest How To . . . titles you may subscribe to our 'Users News' mailing list. We never give out your subscription information. This list is infrequent with perhaps twelve issues per year. Please click here.