Options for Saving Web Information: Pros and Cons

Overview

So...what's best for you? If depends partly on:

• what computer you're using,
• what browser you're using, and
• whether you'll need to take the addresses to use on a different computer or browser.

Netscape Bookmarks

Disadvantages:  The Netscape bookmark file is buried in a maze of directories or folders, so if you need to make a copy of it, it can be a challenge to find! Also, that long list of pre-set bookmarks can be discouraging when you try to find your own saved bookmark URLs which are at the end of a long, long list!

Microsoft Explorer Shortcuts

Disadvantages: You can only use "shortcuts" from a Windows 95 computer. If you need to save Web addresses an take them to a different kind of computer or operating system, you can't use shortcuts. You can move shortcuts from one Windows computer to another, but they are buried in a maze of subdirectories and they only work with Explorer - not with Netscape. 

Copy and Paste URLs

Disadvantages: The process of copying and pasting is more of a hassle than using the built-in features of your browser. You have to use the skills of highlighting, copying, switching programs, and pasting. Though not difficult once you get the hang of them, they're a bit complicated and maybe even intimidating for beginners! 

Summary

Netscape Bookmarks

Notes: Netscape saves addresses as "bookmarks". The bookmarks go in a file called bookmark.htm
In Netscape 4, this file is kept in the Netscape directory or folder. On my Windows computer, it's in:
c:\program files\netscape\communicator\program\defaults\bookmark.htm
But I don't actually have any bookmarks of my own there: there may actually be more than one bookmark.htm file if you use Windows, depending on whether more than one user is enabled for Windows. (If Windows asks you to enter a user name and password when you start Windows, that means multiple users are enabled in Windows.) In this case, Netscape keeps separate directories with information - including bookmarks - for each user. For example, my bookmarks are in:
c:\program files\netscape\users\krieg\bookmark.htm

Why bother with this information? Just so you can find where you put your bookmarks when you need them! If you want to make a copy of the bookmark file and you use a login name with Windows, you'll need to look for the netscape\users\xxxxx directory, where xxxxx is the login name you use.

On the Macintosh, there is normally only one version of the bookmark file, and that lives in the folder where Netscape is installed.

With Netscape 4, the bookmark file comes with a large number of pre-set bookmarks. You can delete these, but you should be aware that on Windows, the first section of bookmarks in the file, titled "Personal Toolbar Folder" is actually used to create buttons on the "Personal Toolbar" - usually the toolbar nearest the page viewing window of the browser. The bad news is, if you delete these, the buttons will no longer be shown. The good news is, you can put your own bookmarks in that folder to create your own personal buttons. (Could that be why they call it the "Personal Toolbar"???)

Managing your Bookmarks in Netscape

Netscape for Windows bookmarks are saved as HTML files. This means that - if you know how to manipulate HTML - you can format them, add graphics, and generally make your organization of them fun. However, even if you don't know HTML, you can organize the bookmarks using the Netscape bookmark viewer.

Here is information about the Netscape Bookmark Viewer for Windows, from the Netscape Handbook:

Bookmarks are maintained in lists, each list is represented by a bookmarks file. The menu item Edit Bookmarks produces a Netscape Bookmarks window with its own menu bar offering options that allow you to build and maintain a bookmark list. Any changes you make to the currently active bookmark list are saved and available the next time you start Netscape. You can maintain multiple bookmark lists, each with its own set of titles linked to favorite pages, though only one bookmark list can be active at a time.

In the Netscape Bookmarks window, you see bookmark icons and folders that resemble files and directories in the File Manager. A folder represents a hierarchical menu header. Icons in a folder correspond to the menu items under a header. Double-click on bookmarks to access pages, drag-and-drop icons to arrange your bookmarks, and use bookmark menu items to create and modify bookmark items.

You create a hierarchy by creating a folder in the list (choose Item/Insert Header from the bookmark window's menu bar). Once you have created a folder, you can drag an existing bookmark into the folder or choose Item/Insert Bookmark to add a new bookmark. An item in a folder appears as a submenu. An item in a folder contained in another folder appears as a submenu of a submenu, and so on.

Bookmarks are maintained in lists, each list is represented by a bookmarks file. (You can maintain multiple bookmark lists, each with its own set of titles linked to favorite pages, though only one bookmark list can be active at a time.) The menu item View Bookmarks produces a Bookmark List dialog box offering options that allow you to build and maintain a bookmark list. Press the Edit>> button (More Options on the Macintosh) to see all available options. Any changes you make to the currently active bookmark list are saved and available the next time you start Netscape.

You can organize and customize items in the Bookmarks menu through the Bookmark List dialog box. Bookmark menu items can be arranged hierarchically. The dialog box permits you to create a hierarchy by creating header items in the list (press the New Header button and type in a name), then indenting bookmark items below the new header.

The Up and Down buttons (arrows on Macintosh) control the line position and indention of bookmark items. An item indented one deep in the bookmark list appears as a submenu of the header in the menu. An item indented two deep in the list appears as a submenu of a submenu, and so on. You can also exchange bookmark lists with other Netscape users by using the Export Bookmarks and Import Bookmarks buttons

MS Explorer Shortcuts

Copy and Paste URLs

Windows: Copy and Paste

1. With your mouse-pointer, click in the Location box in the control panel area of the browser's window. This should highlight the URL (usually it turns blue).
2. Copy the URL to the system "clipboard". Here are two ways to do it:
• Using the menus: from the Edit menu, select Copy
• Shortcut key: While holding down the <Ctrl> key, tap C (for Copy).
3. Open a text or word-processing file. To start a new text file in Windows 95:
• Click the Start button to see Windows 95's start menu.
• Select Run on the start menu
• In the Run window, type:
• notepad
• and press the <Enter> key or click on the OK button. In a moment, a next "notepad" should open up.
4. Put a title and some identification in the text document - for example,

W11h - WWW Hands-on 2, Sarah Strong, CIS 100 sec.99
W13h - WWW Treasure Hunt Addresses, Sarah Strong, CIS 100 sec.99
and press the <Enter> key a couple of times to give yourself some room
5. Paste in the URL that you copied from the browser. Again, there are two ways:
• Using the Edit menu, select Paste
• Using the keyboard, hold down the <Ctrl> key and tap V
6. Save the file using the File menu's Save or Save As options. Make sure the file is saved on your diskette, rather than on the hard drive of a lab computer.

Macintosh: Copy and Paste

1. With your mouse-pointer, click in the Location box in the control panel area of the browser's window. This should highlight the URL.
2. Copy the URL to the system "clipboard". Here are two ways to do it:
• Using the menus: from the Edit menu, select Copy
• Shortcut key: While holding down the <Command> key, tap C (for Copy).
3. Open a text or word-processing file. To start a new text file on the Mac:
• Launch a ord processing program such as Claris Works, MS Works, MS Word, etc. (There are several ways to do this, including icons on the desktop, a launcher, or the Apple menu.)
• Create a blank word processing document if the program doesn't do it automatically.
4. Put a title and some identification in the text document - for example,

W11h - WWW Hands-on 2, Sarah Strong, CIS 100 sec.99
W13h - WWW Treasure Hunt Addresses, Sarah Strong, CIS 101 sec.99
and press the <Enter> key a couple of times to give yourself some room
5. Paste in the URL that you copied from the browser. Again, there are two ways:
• Using the Edit menu, select Paste
• Using the keyboard, hold down the <Command> key and tap V
6. Save the file using the File menu's Save or Save As options. Make sure the file is saved on your diskette, rather than on the hard drive of a lab computer.

Audience:

Objectives

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of at least two methods of saving URLs
• Discuss details of at least one method for saving URLs
• By following these guidelines, save a list of URLs

Module W08c: Saving Web Addresses

Author:

Laurence J. Krieg

Institution:

Department of Computer Information Systems, Washtenaw Community College

History:

Original: June, 1998; this version: Monday, 31-Aug-2009 11:48:00 EDT

Copyright:

Copyright © 1998, Laurence J. Krieg.

Instructors: You may point to this file in your Web-based materials.
Students: you may make a copy for your personal use.
All other uses: contact the author, Laurence J. Krieg for permission.