Nowadays, most of you are using a browser such as Netscape or Internet Explorer to access files for your courses. What happens when you access a file depends on how you have configured your browser. Here's some general ideas about what can happen. The description below is in terms of Netscape, but similar things will apply in Internet Explorer.
1. There are only a few types of files that Netscape can open without "help." These are .html files, .htm files, .txt files, and certain kinds of graphics files.
2. Netscape is able to recognize certain other types of files and start up a helper application that can show the contents of the file. Your browser probably does most of the following.
| opens .xls files using Excel |
| opens .doc files using Word |
| opens .pdf files using Adobe Acrobat Reader |
Your browser may automatically start an application when it thinks it recognizes an extension or it may ask you whether you want to open the file.
3. If you want your browser to recognize a new extension (like .mpp for Microsoft Project, or .mtb for Minitab), you may have to change its configuration (In Netscape, use Preferences).
4. If you just want to download a file and don't desire to open it immediately, you can always do so. Here is an approach that will work with any recent version of Netscape or IE: Place your mouse cursor over the link to the file, press the right mouse key, and then select from the dropdown menu "Save Link As..." (or in IE,"Save Target As...")
Revised, November 1, 1998, by Jane Hagstrom