Tricks & Tips

Top 10 Internet tips and tricks

You don't need the http:// portion of a web page
When typing an Internet address you do not need to type http:// or even www. in the address. For example, if you wanted to visit Computer Hope you could just type computerhope.com and press enter. To make things even quicker, if you're visiting a .com address you can type computerhope and then press Ctrl + Enter to type out the full http://www.computerhope.com address.
Quickly move between the fields of a web page
If you're filling out an online form, e-mail, or other text field you can quickly move between each of the fields by pressing the Tab key or Shift + Tab to move back a field. For example, if you're filling out your name and the next field is your e-mail address you can press the Tab key to switch to the e-mail field.
Tip: This tip also applies to the buttons, if you press tab and the web developer has designed correctly the button should be selected and will allow you to press the space bar or enter to push the button.
Tip: If you have a drop-down box that lists every country or every state you can click that box and then press the letter of the state or country you're looking for. For example, is a drop-down box of States in the United States you could press u on the keyboard to quickly scroll to Utah.
Use Internet search engines to their full potential
Make sure to get the most out of every search result. If you're not finding what you want try surrounding the text in quotes. For example, if you were searching for 'computer help' this actually searches for pages that contain both computer and help and not necessarily pages that have computer and help next to each other. If you search for "computer help" with the quotes around the search query this will only return pages that actually have computer and help next to each other.
Tip: Many new computer users also don't realize that in every search box you can press enter instead of having to move the mouse button over to the Search button.
Protect yourself and avoid bad web sites
Know your Internet browser shortcuts
There are dozens of different shortcut keys that can be used with Internet browsers. Below are a few of our top suggested Internet browser shortcuts.
- Pressing Alt + D in any major Internet browser will move the cursor into the address bar. This is a great way to quickly enter an Internet address without having to click the mouse cursor in the address bar.
- Hold down the Ctrl key and press the + or - to increase and decrease the size of text.
- Press the backspace key or hold down the Alt key + left arrow to go back a page.
- Press F5 to refresh or reload a web page.
- Press F11 to make the Internet browser screen full screen. Press F11 again to return back to the normal view.
- Press Ctrl + B to open your Internet bookmarks.
- Press Ctrl + F to open the find box in the browser to search for text within the web page you're looking at.
Take advantage of tabbed browsing
Take full advantage of tabbed browsing in all Internet browsers today. While reading any web page if you come across a link you may be interested in open that link in a new tab so it can be viewed later. A new tab can be opened by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking the link or if you have a mouse with a wheel click the link with the middle mouse button.
Try alternative browsers
Most computer users use the default browser that comes included with the computer, with Microsoft Windows this is Internet Explorer. There are several great alternative browsers that are all free to download and use and may have features your current browser does not include. Below are a few of our favorites, try one or try them all.
Install plugins and add-ons
Each of the above alternative browsers also have a large community of volunteers who develop add-ons and plugins that can be added into the browser. Each of these browsers have hundreds of thousands of these add-ons that can do such things as giving you live weather in your browser window, changing its color, and adding additional functionality.
Make sure your browser and its plugins are up-to-date
Each Internet browser can have several additional plugins that give it additional functionality. For example, Adobe Flash is a great way to bring movies and other animated content to the Internet. Keeping these plugins up-to-date is vital for your computer stability and also security. Using the below tool you can quickly verify if your plugins are up-to-date and get links to where to download the latest updates.
Use online services
There are hundreds of free online services that can help make using your computer easier, more productive, and more enjoyable. See our top 10 online services for a listing of our favorites.
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Internet Tips and Tricks

If your internet connection seems slow.
  • Refresh the page. Press the STOP button on your browsers toolbar. Hold down the SHIFT key and click on the REFRESH or RELOAD button on the toolbar.
  • Clear your internet cache:
    When you explore the World Wide Web, your browser keeps track of the pages you've visited and saves them on your hard disk so they'll load faster when you return to them. This saves you time and money because you can view the saved pages without being connected to the Internet. The saved files, your "temporary Internet files," are stored in your disk cache.

    To empty your disk cache
    When you browse, your disk cache can fill up with files you no longer need. Here's how to empty your Internet Explorer disk cache.

    For Internet Explorer:
    1. On the Tools menu of your Internet Explorer toolbar, click Internet Options.
    2. Click the General tab.
    3. In the Temporary Internet Files area, click Delete Files, and then click OK.
    4. Click OK to close Internet Options.

    Netscape Communicator:
    1. Click on EDIT and then PREFERENCES.
    2. Expand the ADVANCED Tab.
    3. Click on CACHE.
    4. Click CLEAR MEMORY CACHE and CLEAR DISK CACHE
    5. Click OK and then reload the page and everything should work fine.
  • Try accessing another page to see if you have access to the internet in general. Try to enter a web address that you would not have been to in a long while as it may run from your cache or proxy server and not give you a correct representation
  • If a page is loading so slowly that you think it may be stuck, click the Stop button on your browser's toolbar, and try to load the page again in a few minutes.
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Why do some web pages take so long to download?
Many factors affect how fast a Web page travels from its Web site to your computer. Web pages may load slowly for these reasons:
  • Your modem transmits data slowly.
  • Traffic on the Internet is heavy.
  • The page's file is large. Some of Butterworths Report series are quite large and will take a while to download. Please be patient.
  • The server and connecting lines used by your online service, your Internet service provider, or the Web site transmit data slowly.
To decrease download time, try these pointers:
  • Get the latest version of your browser software.
  • Buy a faster modem that transmits at a rate of at least 56,000 baud.
  • If a page is loading so slowly that you think it may be stuck, click the Stop button on your browser's toolbar, and try to load the page again in a few minutes.
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If your search results are taking a long time to appear.
  • Refresh the page. Press the STOP button on your browsers toolbar. Hold down the SHIFT key and click on the REFRESH or RELOAD button on the toolbar.
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If your password is not working.
  • Try your username and password again making sure that you use the correct CASE. The username and password are case sensitive only for Lexis.com and New Nexis.
  • Shut down your web browser and re-enter both your username and password being careful of the CASE.
  • Failing the above, please call the Helpline on 1800 999 906 and  provide your company name and surname/username and we will check your password details.
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If you are supposed to be accessing our site via an IP Fixed account but still get a username and password box.
  • This means that you are coming from an IP address that differs from the address that was provided to us by your IT department. Please get your IT department to call the Electronic Helpline on 1800 999 906.
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If, after a search, you get a message "Your search took longer than allowed at this site."
  • This means you have entered a search string that is going to take our servers  too long to complete. Please refine your search string.
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If you are having trouble finding the information you need.
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