W e b N a v i g a t o r

WebNavigator is a web-browser for OS/2 Warp.
Our main design goal was (and is) to create a fast and small browser. WebNavigator allows you to work on-line and also has strong features for working off-line.

WebNavigator is similar to the IBM WebExplorer and tries to supply the same features but in a more easy to use way. There is also a lot of new functionality in WebNavigator that you will not find in WebExplorer. Some features are modeled after Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer while some are unique to WebNavigator. WebNavigator use the same programming set (API) as WebExplorer and therefore supports the same level of HTML as your current WebExplorer installation.

Don't forget to read the Tips, tricks and limitations chapter.

NOTICE: This manual is a draft shipped with the WebNavigator 2.0 public beta. It may be incomplete and contain errors.

Table of content

Requirements
Installation and upgrades
How to start WebNavigator
The menu bar
The button bar
The edit bar
The status bar and hover on links
About the settings notebook
Using the quicklist
The quicklist file
Tips, tricks and limitations
Files
How to contact us
Disclaimer, license information

Requirements

WebNavigator requires IBM OS/2 Warp 3 or Warp 4.
WebNavigator also requires IBM TCP/IP (via LAN or dial-up) and WebExplorer 1.03 or later installed.

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Installation

Installation instructions

Registration

Please note that the registration information is saved in the WEBNAV.INI file. If you lose this file you must reenter your registration information.

The registration is per copy and it is illegal to use the same registration on different machines/copies of WebNavigator.

Please note that support is only available to registered users.

If you are interested in site licenses or customized versions of WebNavigator please contact us for further information.

Upgrade

If you are a registered user of WebNavigator 1.1x and wants to keep your old setting please follow this procedure.

As a registered user you may also delete the ORDER.TXT file and the PURCHASE.EXE and PURCHASE.APP file. You may also remove the program object in the WebNavigator folder "On-line registration" and the "How to register".

Un-installing

Note: WebNavigator does not make any changes to system files like CONFIG.SYS nor OS2.INI.


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How to start WebNavigator

Start the program WEBNAV.EXE or start the program object. You may put this program (its program object, or a shadow of the EXE file) in the startup folder if you wish. The first time you start the program you should go to the Options -> Settings... menu item and set at least your homepage and e-mail address on the addresses tab.

Please note that the unregistered version runs only 20 minutes at a time.

You may use a link as parameter to the program. Please note that local html files need no be prefixed with file:/// but on-line links must be prefixed with http:// or ftp:// when specifying a parameter.

You can also drop a WebExplorer URL object on WebNavigator:s program object.

There are several command line switches available for WebNavigator:

The first time WebNavigator is started it will create the WEBNAV.INI file in the directory where the WEBNAV.EXE file is placed. The file will be found even if you start WebNavigator from another directory.

Items added to the QuickList will be saved in a file called QUIKLIST.DAT, this one also in the EXE directory. Though this is a text file we do not recommend you to edit it with a text editor. Any error in the structure of the file might stop WebNavigator from starting.


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The menu bar

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The button bar

The button bar contains 17 button that mimics menu items. They "gray out" when the function they represent is not available and gets highlighted (looks pushed) when a function is "on".
When you place the mouse-cursor on top of a button a small window (hover-box) appears that tells you what this button represents.

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The edit bar

The edit bar is an edit field where you can enter a link (URL). It is updated each time you try to reach a link. If you type a link (an URL) that is not reachable or you miss-spelled it the text is kept for you to edit.
When you press the Enter key WebNavigator checks the URL and may sometimes change the layout of the text you typed. This is to ensure that the link complies with the URL conventions.

The edit bar is also a combination box where you find a list of all visited links. Press the down button on the right of the edit bar and then select the link you wish to go to. The list of visited links are preserved between invocations of WebNavigator and therefore allows you to browse through a history of visited pages/links.

There is a maximum of 500 items in the visited links list. When the maximum has been reached the oldest link will be discarded and all linked will be pushed down and the the new link will be placed at the top.


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The status bar and hover on links

The status bar gives information when loading a document with status information and the name of the link currently under the mouse pointer.

When loading a document the status bar changes to reflect the current status. It shows the amount loaded of the document text in a blue bar and the status of the graphics load threads in a red bar. The red bar may sometimes (depending on the amount of threads you have selected) look a bit funny since it will not show the total of the graphics loaded but only the total per thread.

During the download of a file the statusbar gives you information regarding the status of the download. The status bar will also show a blue bar giving the amount of the file transferred. If the server supports file size information you will see information regarding file size and percentage, time left. If your server does not support this you will only see bytes loaded and CPS (characters per second) rate.

When printing the status bar show a static text and the document windows is disabled. This is to prevent errors in printing since WebNavigator can not allow you to select another document while the current is printing.

Depending on your settings the rightmost part of the status bar may show status indicators that indicates if the current page contains any non-supported tags. WebNavigator will recognize frames <FRAMESET>, javascript <SCRIPT> and java <APPLET> tags and inform you of their presents in the current document. You may then use the View -> View document with menu item to display the document in another program (browser).

You may also show a hoverbox ontop of links (in the web-window) to give a more direct feedback. You set this feature with the Options->Show hoverbox on links menu item or its corresponding button bar item ones per session. You may also specify this settings in the settings notebook if you wish to set a persistent setting.

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About the settings notebook

The settings notebook allows you to change the permanent settings. Selecting OK writes these to the INI file at ones. It also update the non-permanent settings for this session.

Note: Some settings requires you to restart the program for them to take effect (They are noted with the (*) sign).

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Using the quicklist

The quicklist is a place where you place your most often visited links. Its shown as a docked window at the left/right of your document or as free-floating separate window.

The quicklist can easily be made visible/invisible by using the View->Show QuickList menu item or the corresponding button in the button bar or by pressing the shortcut key Ctrl-Q. You may also select a default state (persistent) using the Options -> Settings notebook, Show QuickList (News/QuickList tab).

If you are using the free-float quicklist you can see the URL by clicking ones on the QuickList item and then look at the status bar. To load the link (regardless on how the quicklist window is placed) double-click on the wanted item.

You add links to the quicklist either by selection the Add current document menu item (shortcut Ctrl-A) or the corresponding button on the button bar. You may also with a right-click on the quicklist window select the Add link/folder (where you then type in the required information).

The new link/folder is placed after the selected item. If the selected item is a folder the link/folder will be placed at the end of the enclosed links/folders. If the selected item is a link the link/folder will be placed directly after the selected link.

You may also use the OS/2 clipboard to create a new item. Ensure that the clipboard contains one line of text (an URL) and then select the Quicklist->Paste link from clipboard (or the same menu-item in the quicklist context window). A new quicklist item (link) will be created with the created with that URL.

To move or copy a QuickList item use the QuickLisr->Copy/Cut/Paste menu items (also on the quicklist context menu). WebNavigator does not (yet) support drag/drop of menu items.

To change the amount of space the QuickList occupies (left/right aligned quicklist window) place your mouse button on the split-bar (situated between the document-window and the QuickList) and press and hold your mouse button. Now drag the split-bar to the new preferred position and drop it there (release the mouse button). The free-float quicklist behave as any other windows.

To permanently save the new position select the Options -> Save window settings menu item.

To change the color and font of the quicklist window use the Color and Font palettes of the OS/2 System Setup folder. Just drag and drop the font/color you like (to change text color drag with Ctrl pressed) and then select the Options -> Save window settings menu item to save them permanently.

Items in the quicklist gets different representations depending on the URL. A http:// get a earth icon, a mailto: get a mail icon, a file:/// get a file icon and so on. This allows you to keep not only http:// links in your quicklist but any type of URL is easily stored and recognized.

The context menu (right-click on the quicklist window) contains the following items:

Every time WebNavigator starts it loads the quicklist into memory and every time you quit WebNavigator saves the content of the quicklist to the quicklist file (QUIKLIST.DAT). If you want to save it while running the program you can select the QuickList -> Save QuickList to disk now menu item. This menu item is also available in the context menu in the quicklist window.


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The QuickList file

While its possible to edit the QuickList file (QUIKLIST.DAT) outside of WebNavigator (its a pure text file) you MUST follow its structure otherwise WebNavigator might not load.

Before modifying the file, make a backup copy !

The first line contain the version of the QUIKLIST.DAT file. WebNavigator 2.0 uses version 1.04 (104).

Following this are all the quicklist items. Each item contains of eight lines. All must be present.

You cannot have any blank lines in the QuickList file.


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Tips, tricks and limitations

Tips and tricks

• To load a link while a page is loading just click on that link !
  
  
• If a link cannot be reached the text is still in the edit bar for you to edit.
  
  
• To save the document as a URL object drag it to the desktop (or any folder) with the right mouse button pressed. If you wish to save the document as a HTML file then drag with the Ctrl key pressed.
  
  
• The button that switches between font sizes works even while a page is loading.
  
  
• Drag/drop fonts/color from the Color/Font palette in your System Setup folder and drop them on the QuickList window. Select Options -> Save window setting to save them. To change the text color drag a color with the Ctrl key pressed.
• If you prefer loading speed to functionality/stability then install WebExplorer 1.03 instead of an later version. Its much faster and quite stable but lacks some features.

Known problems

• WebNavigator uses the same set of programming API as WebExplorer does. However, some features used in WebExplorer are NOT documented by IBM and therefore we have not been able to use them. We are constantly trying to work around these problems and also try to make IBM understand that they should make these functions available to us and other developers.

• If you have full window drag enabled do not re-size the Webnavigator window at the corners. On some video cards this might hang your computer. The same applies to WebExplorer and is a bug in the WebExWin API.

• When moving backward/forward through visited pages you will always be placed at the top of a visited page even if you had previously scrolled down. This problem is solved in some versions of WebExplorer but IBM has not documented how to use it.
  
  
• The Warp 4 link top level menu item is not documented by IBM and does not work by itself. However the links popup menu works as they should in WebNavigator.
  
  
• Code page support (wxViewCallLoadCP) is not documented by IBM.
  
  
• Do not run WebNavigator (or WebExplorer) with Neologic Network Suite. There is a incompatibility that makes one of them to use up all CPU. Do NOT run them at the same time!
  
  
• Some versions of the WebExp API has problems with the "Use palette management settings" in the Options->Settings->Display menu. If your document windows turns black be sure to disable palette management.
  
  
• When installing Warp 4 ontop of Warp 3 or installing a Warp 3 version of WebExplorer on top of Warp 4 the messages in WebNavigator might be wrong. You must remove the old EXPLORE.CAT file from your hard-disk !
  
  
• When using the New Browser Window menu item please note that changes in one "session" might not be saved. Only changes in the last "session" (the window closed last) will be saved!

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Files

The main file (WEBNAV.EXE) creates a WEBNAV.INI file with its current settings in the same directory as the EXE file.

This INI file is NOT dependent of the drive/directory and can easily be transferred with the EXE file to any drive/directory. The QuickList file (QUIKLIST.DAT) and the latest visits file (VISITLST.DAT) may be transferred in the same way.

Please note that the directory where the EXE file resides cannot currently be write protected.


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How to contact us

Please do not hesitate to contact us at any of the following:

Our homepage

http://www.jmast.se/

Technical support, technical questions

Lennart Carlson (mail@jmast.se)

(Please note that support is only available to registered users.)

General questions, beta programs

Martin Alfredsson (jma@jmast.se)

Our mail address

JMA Software Technologies
P.O Box 2345
SE-403 15 GOTHENBURG
SWEDEN

Our phone/fax

46-(0)70-6278410
46-(0)31-195260


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Disclaimer

Software
WebNavigator is NOT free software.
Unregistered versions of WebNavigator may not be used for more than 30 days.

Unregistered versions of WebNavigator may be distributed to remote FTP or networked sites without the explicit written permission of the JMA Software Technologies. Distributed versions of WebNavigator must contain the entire unmodified distribution. JMA Software Technologies is not responsible for modifications made to the distribution without the explicit written permission of JMA Software Technologies.

Registered versions of WebNavigator may not be distributed in any form for any reason.


Use
You, the site or licensed individual, may use one copy of the software product specified above ("Software") on a single computer. You may use the Software on a network provided you have licensed Software equal to the maximum number of copies in use at one time. The Software is "in use" on a computer when it is resident in memory (i.e., RAM) or installed (executable and other files) on the hard disk or other storage device. Software installed on a server for distribution purposes only is not considered "in use." The Software may not be used beyond the licensing period.


Restrictions
You may not alter, merge, modify or adapt this Software in any way including disassembling or decompiling. You may not loan, rent, lease, license, or distribute this Software or any copy. You may not transfer the Software, license, documentation, media, or copies.


Copyright
All intellectual property rights in this Software and user documentation are owned by JMA Software Technologies and are protected by copyright laws, other applicable copyright laws, and international treaty provisions. JMA Software Technologies retains all rights not expressly granted.


Limited Warranty
JMA Software Technologies makes no warranty or representation, promise or guarantee, either express or implied, statutory or otherwise, with respect to this Software or user documentation, including its quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose.

The warranty and remedies set forth herein are exclusive and in lieu of all other, oral or written, express or implied. No Software dealer, distributor, agent or employee is authorized to make any modifications or additions to this warranty.


Limitation of Liability
Because software is inherently complex and may not be completely free of errors, you are advised to verify your work and to make backup copies of your work. In no event will JMA Software Technologies be liable for direct, indirect, special, incidental, economic, cover, or consequential damages arising out of the use of or inability to use the Software or user documentation, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. In no case shall JMA Software Technologies liabilities exceed the total sum of the Software and licensing agreement.

JMA Software Technologies is not liable for the usage of the Software. JMA Software Technologies is not liable or responsible for information, data, documents, or images retrieved, generated, stored, copied, or traversed that have copyright or are proprietary, pornographic, restricted and otherwise illegal. All ownership and rights to retrieved, generated, stored, copied, and traversed materials are retained by their original owners, unless otherwise explicitly stated.


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This document was written using StarOffice for OS/2 and was last updated October 19, 1997.