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Internet Explorer 5.x Basics
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Print Web Pages

IE5 is very versatile - you can print the page as you see it, portions of text from the document, selected pages from the document, pages linked to that page - and more. In IE 5.5 Microsoft added a Print Preview

Copyright Issue: It's better to be safe than sorry, so assume that all material on an Internet document (graphics too) is copyrighted. That means it's O.K. to print for your private use, but not for reuse or redistribution (without the creator's permission). Some sites will state that material is free for the taking.

The Print Dialogue Box

Select File | Print and review the options

  • As laid out on screen: Print what you see on your screen and no more. If one of the frames is not in view, you must page down to print it separately.

  • Only the selected frame: Print a frame - all pages or selected pages if you want only part of the "document".

  • All frames individually: Print one by one - not recommended.

IE 5.5 Print Preview

Look ahead with the IE5.5 preview feature.

1. Select File | Print Preview
2. Page forward and back.
3. Increase and decrease the magnification.
4. Add a header and footer.
5. Change the page setup.
 

Print

  • Selection: Highlight text on a page and print only that selection.

  • Print all linked documents: Print the currently displayed page and the hyperlinked pages. Use this option with caution - you may end up printing more linked pages than you want. A better option is to print a table of the documents linked to the current page.

  • Print table of links: Lists links on that page. Can be a handy reference.

Printing the Page Background

IE does not automatically print Web page backgrounds (the colour, texture, or picture that appears behind the text and graphics of a Web page). This is a good thing since printing a background with a web page takes time, uses up ink, and can make the printed page hard to read.

If you wish to also print the background, use Print Background Color and images under Tools | Internet Options | Advanced.

Exercise Exercise: Print a Web Page

  1. Print this web page. Click File | Print.
  2. In the Print Frames area, select As laid out on screen.
  3. Click O.K. The web page will print.

Exercise Exercise: Print Selected Items

  1. Highlight the instructions in the box below with your mouse.

    Click on the beginning of this sentence. Hold down the mouse button and sweep it over this text - then let go. The text should be highlighted.

  2. Click File | Print.
  3. In the Print Range area choose Selection.
  4. Click O.K. The selection will print.
  5. Click somewhere else in the web page to de-highlight the selection.

Exercise Exercise: Print a Single Frame

  1. Click File | Print.
  2. In the Print Frames area choose Only the selected frame. (Don't worry if the Print Frames illustration does not change to indicate the selected frame.)
  3. Click O.K. The active frame will print.

Print button Print from the Toolbar

Use the Print button to print a non-framed page or, at a framed site such as TIG, a framed page. Click in the frame you wish to print with your mouse to select it and hit the Print button.

Where to next?

Learn how to navigate between pages.

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