Hypertext links
A hypertext link is a "hot" area within a web page that links it to another web page. Links can take several forms: colorized and underlined text (notice the links on this page?), buttons, maps or images. When you click on a hypertext link, the browser takes you to a new page by interpreting the address contained within the link. (Some browsers show the address of the web page at the bottom of your screen). This can be another page on the same server, or on another web server halfway around the world. When the link consists of colorized text, the text turns color (blue to red on many browsers) to indicate it has been activated. This is useful for keeping track of which links you've followed.
Scroll bar
Scroll through the web page by clicking on the up and down arrows along the right hand side of the screen. (If your keyboard has page up and page down keys, they can be used to move a screen at a time in the desired direction).
Icons
In the Virtual Naval Hospital, an icon is a small "thumbnail" image that may represent a larger image, a video clip, a sound file, or a link to another file. Clicking on an icon either activates a link, expands the image to its full size, or launches the helper application that is needed to run the video or sound clip. The progress bar at the bottom of the screen indicates that a video or sound file is loading and shows how the load is progressing. For large files (video files are the largest), be prepared to wait a short while. Click once on the Stop button at the top of the screen to halt the loading of an image.
Not all small images in the Virtual Naval Hospital are icons. Icons are identified by their colored borders. These borders change color after the image has been activated, letting you know that you've viewed the full image.
Image map
An image map is a "hot" image or collection of buttons that loads a new web page depending upon where you click. The map labels indicate where the link takes you.
Location bar
Centered over the viewing area, the location bar shows the full World Wide Web "address" of the Virtual Naval Hospital server, as well as the file name of the web page you are viewing. You'll note as you move through the web pages that these file names change while the first portion of the address remains constant. If you bookmark a particular web page, the browser records the full address, including file name, of that page.
Back button
Each time you move from one web page to another by following links, your browser records those steps. By clicking on the back button, you retrace those steps one link at a time.
Forward button
If, having retraced your steps through the Virtual Naval Hospital, you wish to revisit the pages you viewed earlier, the forward button takes you back along that same path, one step at a time. Note that the links that the back and forward buttons maintain are only good in the current browsing session. Unlike a bookmark, they are lost when you quit the session.
Home button
Clicking the home button takes you to the "home page" of the web server your browser is set to. If your browser has the Virtual Naval Hospital designated as its home page, clicking this button reloads the first Virtual Naval Hospital screen.
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URL: http://www.vnh.org/