To run NetSurf, simply double click on the NetSurf application. This will cause the NetSurf icon to appear on the iconbar. Select clicking on this icon will open a browser window. It should be noted that as NetSurf is at a very early stage of development, much of the following information is subject to change without warning.
The section at the top of the window is called the toolbar. It allows quick access to various functions and information. The standard, or Default, toolbar is shown below.
There are several different variations on this toolbar available, eg this minimal one:
In addition to this, NetSurf supports themes, which allow users to customize the look and feel of the program.
Again, it should be noted that, as NetSurf is in development, many of the icons don't do anything yet. In such situations, the following text describes what the icon will do, when the associated feature has been implemented.
URL Bar: The white writable icon on the toolbar is called the URL Bar and it shows the location of the current page. Here, you can enter the address of the page you want to view next.
Status Line: This text displays information to the user. When you move the pointer over a link, this will show the URL that the link points to. The status line also displays information about NetSurf's progress while retrieving a page.
Throbber: This NetSurf logo animates while a page is downloading or rendering. It indicates that NetSurf is doing something.
Back: Clicking on this button, makes NetSurf go back to the previous page in the history list. If you followed a link from one page to another, this button allows you to get back to the first page. | |
Bookmark: Select clicking on this button adds the current location to the bookmarks or favourites. Adjust clicking opens the bookmarks window. | |
Forward: Clicking on this button allows you to advance through the history list. | |
History: Clicking on this button opens a window containing a history tree. Clicking on an item in this window will move to the relevant page in the history. | |
Home: Clicking on this button returns to the configured home page. | |
Print: Clicking on this button will print the current page. | |
Reload: Clicking on this button will make NetSurf fetch and redraw the current page again. | |
Save: Clicking on this button will open a save dialogue box, to allow you to save the page for future reference. | |
Stop: Clicking on this button stops whatever process that window is doing. |
Buttons that are grayed out indicate that their function is unavailable. This happens when you open a new browser window. Since the window will be displaying its first page, there would be no previous page and the back button is grayed out. Also, as this is the first page, the forward button is also grayed out.
NetSurf has two different menus, one is accessed by clicking menu over NetSurf's iconbar icon and the other is opened by clicking menu over a browser window.
The iconbar menu is home to three options. These are Info, Configure and Quit. Info provides a little information about the application, while quit will exit the program, closing all browser windows. The configure option opens a window for configuring NetSurf. This is discussed in greater detail in the Configuring NetSurf section.
The browser window menu contains options relating to the content of that window. Many of these options are unavailable at present as this area of NetSurf is not complete. The following options are currently available:
The navigate sub menu contains options useful for navigating the web.
Navigate > Home This take you back to the NetSurf homepage.
Navigate > Back This has the same function as the back button on the toolbar.
Navigate > Forward This has the same function as the forward button on the toolbar.
You can change the way NetSurf looks and behaves, by configuring the program. The configuration panel is opened by clicking menu over the iconbar icon and selecting Choices.
Note: Screenshot taken on RISC OS Select 3
The Cancel button will close the window, discarding any changes you've made. Clicking on OK will save the new settings and close the window. Clicking on one of the other icons will allow you to configure that aspect of NetSurf.
The browser configuration window contains some general configuration options that apply to the main browser window. Many of these options are unavailable at the moment as NetSurf is still in development.
The proxy configuration window allows you to enable and set an HTTP proxy. You can enter the address and port number of the proxy you want to use.
Note: Screenshot taken on RISC OS Select 3
NetSurf allows you to change the 'look and feel' of its interface. New themes can be downloaded from the NetSurf themes page and you can select your desired theme from this window.
Note: Screenshot taken on RISC OS Select 3