Netscape Kiosk mode

[Andrew J. Mutch]

For those interested in exploring this area more fully, you should know
that Netscape Navigator 4.x implemented some Javascript functions that
allow you to create your own customized navigation bars.  This came in
handy for me when I wanted all the functionality of the Netscape toolbar
while also incorporating a text area to search a database(also done with
Javascript).  The major flaw is that pages will sometimes break you out of
your frameset, causing you to lose your toolbar.

To see an example of this, look at:

http://northville.lib.mi.us/span.htm

If you are using Navigator 4.0, you will be launched into the customized
window, otherwise you'll move into the SPAN database in a more typical
frame environment.

The Javascript functions allow you to:
Move Back
Move Forward
Go Home 
Print
Stop

Some, but not all, of these also work with MSIE 4.0

BTW, I used some Javascript functions to mimic the effect of buttons being
clicked.  It can be a little flaky but it comes close.

Andrew Mutch
Northville District Library
Northville, MI




On Fri, 27 Feb 1998, William Reilly wrote:

> I agree with the basic idea expressed in your comment, that altering the
> users browser on a non-local machine can be a surprise, and to be used with
> discretion.
> 
> I did find however that if I asked for a New Browser Window via the hot-key
> CTRL+N, I did get another browser, which now had the pulldown menus, so I
> could again set the Options for toolbars that I wanted.
> 
> I've also used a memorized hot-key combination when looking at View Source
> windows (which have no menus) to do a Find (CTRL+F) in the source.
> 
> Finally, I had errors at the kiosk with Netscape 4.04, but not with 3.01.
> 
> William Reilly
> 
> 
> At 09:40 AM 2/27/98 -0800, you wrote:
> >It works, but there is nothing more scary than finding your 
> >navigation tools gone because of a web page!!!!
> >
> >This is probably already an unstated thing, but please don't do things
> >like this on anything other than a local machine!
> >
> >Robin
> >-- 
> >********************************************************
> >
> >Robin Gelinson-Zalben
> >Automation Librarian
> >Alverno College
> >Library Media Center
> >Milwaukee, Wisconsin
> >
> >
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> William Reilly                                     wreilly at wn.net
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> Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 			   (617) 491-7126
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