Frequently Asked Questions about the Web browser

Q.
Should I use a certain web browser for the 113 web pages?

A.
You should use Netscape's communicator, which is version 4 of their browser. We may sometimes use the special features of this new browser, plus it probably has bug fixes since the previous version. Also, we don't run any version of Internet Explorer here, so we do not test our pages under that browser.

You should be able to start up communicator with: 

communicator &

If you can't, you can ask for assistance. In the meantime, you could use the older version of netscape (version 3) with: 

netscape &
Q.
When I start up communicator (or netscape), I get an error dialog box that says: 
Netscape has detected a mydir/.netscape/lock file.
...
OKCancel

What does this mean?

A.
This is likely because you have not been exiting Netscape before you log out. To solve the problem, you can:

  1. Choose Cancel from this initial dialog box.
  2. Remove the lock file with: 
    rm ~/.netscape/lock

    at the UNIX prompt.

  3. Restart the web browser.

Also, you'll see the same error dialog if you try to run 2 copies of Netspace while logged in.

So, remember to exit Netscape before you log out. Clicking OK to the error message is usually fine also (but Netscape won't update certain pieces of info while you browse).

Q.
How do I download something from the web?

A.
To download something from the web (using a Netscape browser), do the following:

  1. Go to the page, file, etc. you want to download.
  2. Choose Save As... from the Netscape File menu.
  3. Look in the box marked Selection, if it is already set to store the file in the correct directory with the correct filename, then just click on OK.
  4. If not...
    1. Choose the directory where you want to save the file from the Directory scrollbox. You can do so by double-clicking on the directory (you'll have to double-click fast enough and with the left mouse button). If you do this correctly, it should add that directory to the end of the path in the Selection box.
    2. Click at the end of the path in the Selection box. Add the name you want the file to have to the end of its path, i.e., just type in a file name and leave the beginning (the path part) alone.
  5. Click on OK (or press <RETURN> while the cursor is in the Selection box) and Netscape will save the file.
Q.
I can run netscape, but not communicator?

A.
Netscape and communicator are in different paths on our system. If you can't run communicator, try running it with a full path: 

/usr/local/bin/communicator &
If you want to fix your path variable so that you can run it with just "communicator" come talk to one of us or the Terminal Assistants in the UNIX lab.

BU CAS CS 113 - FAQ - Web browser