Menus in Opera
Like all other applications, Opera's menu structure is where you should go if you wish to perform a number of actions with the application itself and the documents Opera reads. This section contains references and explanations on the different menu entries, as well as an explanation of the context sensitive menus in Opera.
These are Opera's menus
Here are the menus on the menu bar. Each contain a drop down child menu with subsequent children where applicable. Click on the links to go to the explanations.
Also covered in this document are the context sensitive menus in Opera's workspace.
File
The menu containing standard functions that refer directly to the files used in the program.
- New
This menu entry opens a new window in the Opera workspace and gives focus to the URL-line. Note that you can open as many windows in Opera as you wish. - Open...
This menu entry brings up the operating system's standard opening dialog box and lets you open a file from your local disk in the Opera workspace. - Close
This menu entry closes the current active window in the Opera workspace. - Save as...
This calls the operating system's standard saving dialog box to allow you to save the document in the current active window to your local drive. - Save with images as...
This feature is one that is unique to Opera. It calls the operating system's standard save dialog box to allow you to save the document in the current active window to your local drive, but also saves all the images and other media to the same directory so that when you open the document again, it appears just as when you saved it, images and everything in place. - Print...
This menu entry prints the document in the current active window in the Opera workspace. - Print setup...
This menu entry brings up the operating system's standard print properties menu. Use this to print the document in the current active window in the Opera workspace. - Print options...
This brings up the "Print options" dialog in Opera. - Print preview mode
This menu will let you display the "Print preview mode". -
Work off-line
Working off-line sets Opera in a status where it is much more easy to access the cache than it would normally be, while off-line. Its best use is for people who are constantly searching the Internet for information quickly, and then reading it while not connected to the Internet through a sometimes quite costly phone line. This setting can work wonders when combined with a system-specifically set Disk Cache, as described in History and cache in the Preference Menus, because it lets users skim through a number of on-line articles, and then read them in full at a later stage.Naturally, if trying to connect to a page or image that's not in your cache, you will not be able to reach it, but if this happens, Opera will warn you that it's not got this called for item in its cache and ask you whether you wish to go on-line to collect it or not.
- Delete private data...
Pressing this entry on the "File" menu will prompt you with a dialog box that requires your distinction on whether or not to:- Close all windows
Close all windows that are open in the Opera workspace. Mind you, this will not close Opera itself. - Delete all non-persistent cookies Delete all cookies that are set to remain for the duration of the current Opera session only.
- Delete all passwords Delete all passwords that have been used in the browser in order to either use the built-in e-mail client or to perform secure transmissions of data on the Internet.
- Delete all cached documents loaded with passwords or encryption Delete all documents loaded into the cache that contain passwords, such as Web based e-mail services, or that are encrypted, such as online transaction pages.
- Close all windows
- Preferences
Clicking on this entry will bring up the "Preferences" dialog. - Exit
This menu entry closes down the browser.
Edit
Contains the standard editing functions of Opera.
- Undo
If selected, Opera undos the last performed change the program was used for doing. - Cut
Cut part of text from document and place one copy of it on the operating system's clipboard. - Copy
Copy part of the text from the document and place this on the operating system's clipboard. - Paste
Paste in text from the operating system's clipboard. - Delete
Delete text from text field. User manipulative fields only. - Select all
Highlight and select all text in the document. - Find...
Opens the operating system's text searching box in Opera. - Find next
Searches for the next instance of the word you are searching for in the document. - Find previous
Searches for the previous instance of the word you are searching for in the document.
View
Select what to view and how to view it in this menu.
- Hotlist
Toggles the Hotlist pane between:- Docking view
Opens the docked Hotlist pane on the left hand side of the Opera workspace. - Floating
The Hotlist pane will be floating in the Opera workspace, like a normal window. - Off
Closes the Hotlist pane. - Always on top
If checked, the Hotlist pane will always be on top of other windows.
- Docking view
- Button bar
Toggles the Button Bar between:- Simple
Selected buttons on the Button Bar. - Full
All buttons on the Button Bar. - Off
No Button Bar visible.
- Simple
- Status bar
Toggles the Status Bar between:- Top
Status Bar located at the top of the Opera workspace. - Bottom
Status Bar located at the bottom of the Opera workspace. - Off
No Status Bar visible. - Show time
Toggles display of Time on the Status bar.
- Top
- Window bar
Toggles the Window Bar between:- Top
Window selection bar is located at the top of the Opera workspace, just beneath the menu bar - Bottom
Window selection bar is located at the very bottom of the Opera workspace. - Left
Window selection bar is located all the way to the left of the Opera workspace. - Right
Window selection bar is located at the right of the Opera workspace. - Off
Window Bar is disabled.
- Top
- Progress bar
The Progress Bar is toggled through this menu entry.- Top
The Progress Bar is located at the top of the windows in the Opera workspace. - Bottom
The Progress bar is located at the bottom of the windows in the Opera workspace. - Off
Disables the Progress Bar.
- Top
- Scroll bars
Enables or disables the scroll bars on the Opera windows. - Local news button bar
Choose to view local button bars for the news reader window, or not. - Source
Open the source of the page you are in for inspection in your chosen Source viewer. - Frame source
Open the source of the frame you are in for inspection in your chosen Source viewer. - Full screen
Places Opera in Full Screen Mode.
Navigation
The program's standard navigation features are accessed through this menu.
- Back
Go to the previous document in the active window's history. - Forward
Go to the next document in the active window's history. - Stop
Stop loading of the current document in the active window. - Home
Go to the home page defined in the "Set Home..." dialog. - Reload
Reload the current document in the active window. - Reload every
A new feature of Opera 5's, it is now possible to set Opera to reload a Web document automatically at a timed interval.- Enabled
If you wish for Opera to reload a Web document automatically, please enable the feature here. - Custom...
This option will take you to the automatic window reload dialog box. - 00:05 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 5 seconds. - 00:15 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 15 seconds. - 00:30 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 30 seconds. - 01:00 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every minute. - 02:00 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 2 minutes. - 05:00 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 5 minutes. - 15:00 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 15 minutes. - 30:00 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 30 minutes.
- Enabled
- Reload all documents
Reload all the current documents in all the active windows. - Set home...
Opens the dialog to set the home page(s) in Opera. - Goto document...
Open the "Goto document" window. - Add to bookmarks...
Add the current document in the active window to the active folder in the Hotlist.
Bookmarks
A list containing the entries of your Bookmark list.
- Add current document here...
Add the current document in the active window to the current folder in the Hotlist. - Set as active folder
Set the current Hotlist folder as the Active Folder. - Open all folder items
Open all the bookmarks in the current Hotlist folder. - More items...
Spawns a child window for folders in the Hotlist which contains more than a set number of bookmarks.
The Opera internal e-mail client should be used from this menu.
- Compose...
Opens a blank e-mail window in which to compose an e-mail. - Check
Check your e-mail provider's server for new e-mail. - Check all accounts
Check all your e-mail accounts in Opera for new e-mail. - Send queued
Send queued e-mail from the active account. - Send queued from all
Send queued e-mail from all accounts. - Find...
Opens the "Find..." dialog box allowing searches through your e-mail account(s). - Filters...
Opens the "E-mail Filters" menu. - New Account...
Creates a new account in the Opera internal e-mail client. - Import...
Import e-mail from other e-mail applications into Opera's internal e-mail client. - Visit OperaMail.com
Open a window and go to OperaMail, Opera Software's free Web-based e-mail service!
Messaging
Opera's instant messaging client is controlled by the options in this menu.
- Status
This sub-menu shows your current status. Use it to select another status.- Online
Select this option to connect to the ICQ server and go "online". (If you are already in the process of connecting to the ICQ server, this option will display as "Connecting...".) - Off-line
If this is selected, Opera disconnects itself from the ICQ server. - Away
Use this to let others know you are away from your workstation. - Not available
While this should be used to signal that you are not currently available for chat. - Occupied
This option will show you as occupied with something. - Do not disturb
And this will give others trying to chat with you the message "Do not disturb". - Invisible
Other users will not be able to see you. To them, you will appear not to be logged on.
- Online
- Connected users
This option spawns a sub menu of the connected users you have on your contact list. If none of the users on your contact list are online, this option will be grayed out. - Find user...
Select this to be taken to the Mirabilis Web site's White Pages. - Change account
If you have several ICQ accounts set up within Opera, use this option to jump between them. - New account...
This option will take you to the Add new instant messaging account. - Edit active account...
If you wish to change anything with the setup of the account you are currently in, use this option. It will take you to the Instant messaging account dialog. - Delete active account
Finally, this option deletes the ICQ account you are currently in. Use it only if you are certain you wish to delete the account.
News
The Opera internal news reader has useful commands located here.
- New
Opens a new news reader window. - Previous article
Go to the previous article in message thread. - Next article
Go to the next article in the message thread. - Reply
Reply to the poster of a message to a news group. - Followup
Follow up on a posted message with your own posting to the message thread. - Forward
Forward a news group posting to someone by means of e-mail. - Post
Post a message to the news groups you are currently in and start a new thread. - Catchup
Mark current messages as read so that the next time you receive message from the group, you'll only receive those messages who are new since the catch up was performed. - Mark as read
Mark selected messages as read. - Mark as unread
Mark selected messages as unread. - List old articles
Choose either to list all articles in a group including old articles, or only unread articles. - List all groups
Choose either to show all groups or only those to which you are subscribed. - Show threads
Toggle showing the relationship threads between the messages in the current group. - Refresh newsgroup listing
As it says, this option refreshes the newsgroup listing.
Window
Certain windows are accessed through this menu, along with containing some general window functions.
- New
Spawns a sub-menu containing the following options:- Document
Opens a new document window in the Opera workspace. - E-mail
Opens a new e-mail window in the Opera workspace. - News
Opens a new news reader window in the Opera workspace.
- Document
- Special window
Opens the following special windows:- Transfer
Open the Opera Transfer window and make it the active window. - History
The contents of the global history are listed and ready to explore here. - Plug-ins
See which plug-ins you have got installed in Opera and the file types the plug-ins accept, amongst others. - Cache
Browse and view the documents, images and other things that are in the Opera Cache folder here. - Java Console
The Java Console comes as Opera gets native Java, in a sense, as an option. This window's use is mainly for people writing Java Applets, and not of much interest for the average Opera user.
- Transfer
- Duplicate
Make a new window with the same contents as the active window in the Opera workspace. - Create linked window
Creates a new window the contents of which will be the pages whose links you click in the current window. This feature is very useful if you are on a page with a lot of links you want to explore as it allows you to use the parent window as a listing of links. - Cascade
Cascade all the windows in the Opera workspace with this menu entry. - Tile vertically
Tile windows in the Opera workspace vertically. - Tile horizontal
Tile the windows in the Opera workspace horizontally. - Minimize all
Minimize all the windows in the Opera workspace. - Restore all
Restore all the windows in the Opera workspace. - Close all...
Close all the windows in the Opera workspace with this menu entry. - Save windows...
This menu option will take you to the save window settings dialog. - List all...
If you have more than eight windows open in Opera, you can use the "Windows..." menu to manipulate them.
Help
General information about Opera and the on-line documentation can be found here.
- Contents
Go to the main page of the Opera Help. - Keyboard
Opens the page detailing the highly useful keyboard shortcuts available in Opera. - Tip of the day...
Show the "Tip of the Day" box. - Purchase Opera
If you wish to purchase a license for your copy of Opera, please use this link to be taken to our online Purchase Page. - Register Opera...
When you purchase a License for your copy of Opera, this is where you need to go to Register your copy of Opera and unlock it after the evaluation days have ended. - Opera on the web
Hotlink to the following Web pages:- Homepage
The start page of the Opera Software AS Web site at http://www.opera.com/ - Support
The on-line Support Site with many helpful hints and tricks as well as serious troubleshooting when something goes wrong. - Contact
Goes online to show you the way to contact Opera Software AS.
- Homepage
- About Opera...
Lists information on your installed Opera version, such as Opera user directory, the settings file and the individuals and organizations that have helped make Opera what it is today!
The Context Sensitive Menus
Context sensitive menus, or "right-click menus" if you will, are ways Opera's different parts can be manipulated to fit the users wishes. The following sections explain several of these menus in detail.
- The Default workspace menu
- The Workspace document menu
- The context sensitive forms field menu
- Images and links
- Context sensitive bar menus
- The context sensitive menus in the Hotlist pane
The Default workspace menu
The default workspace menu is the one that appears when you right-click on an empty part of the Opera workspace, i.e. a part of the "background" in the field where Opera's windows are found.
This menu is identical to the Window menu that can be found on Opera's menu bar, and will let you perform actions such as opening a new document window, cascade or tile windows, or save all the open windows in a window settings file, just to name a few options.
The Workspace document menu
The workspace document menu is a menu that shows up when you press CTRL + M or right-click on a document in the Opera workspace. This menu contains a host of options and features, detailed below:
- Back
Go to the previous document in the active window's history. - Forward
Go to the next document in the active window's history. - Stop
Stop loading of the current document in the active window. - Home
Go to the home page defined in the "Set Home..." dialog. - Reload
Reload the current document in the active window. - Reload every
A new feature of Opera 5's, it is now possible to set Opera to reload a Web document automatically at a timed interval.- Enabled
If you wish for Opera to reload a Web document automatically, please enable the feature here. - Custom...
This option will take you to the automatic window reload dialog box. - 00:05 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 5 seconds. - 00:15 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 15 seconds. - 00:30 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 30 seconds. - 01:00 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every minute. - 02:00 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 2 minutes. - 05:00 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 5 minutes. - 15:00 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 15 minutes. - 30:00 minutes
If set, Opera will automatically reload the page every 30 minutes.
- Enabled
- Add to bookmarks...
Add the current document in the active window to the active folder in the Hotlist. - Copy address
This menu entry will copy the address of the current document and place it on the operating system's clipboard. - Copy text
Copy part of the text from the document and place this on the operating system's clipboard. - Frame
This menu entry spawns a sub-menu that contains options for the current frame of the document.- View source
Open the source of the document in the frame you are in for inspection in your chosen Source viewer. - Save as...
This calls the operating system's standard saving dialog box to allow you to save the document in the current active window to your local drive. - Validate HTML
Use this entry to have Opera upload the source code of the current document to the W3C's HTML Validator. - Add to bookmarks...
Add the current document in the active frame to the active folder in the Hotlist. - Copy address
This menu entry will copy the address of the current frame document and place it on the operating system's clipboard. - Reload
Reload the current frame document in the active frame. - Load all images
Load all the images in the current frame anew. - Maximize
If selected, the active frame will be maximized, breaking free from the framed document structure. Press the back button on the button bar to reverse the effect.
- View source
- Background
This menu entry spawns a sub-menu that contains options for the background of the document.- Save...
Use this menu entry to bring up the operating system's standard "Save as..." dialog to save the background image on your local drive. - Copy
Copy the background image and place this copy on the operating system's clipboard. - Copy address
This menu entry will copy the address of the background image and place it on the operating system's clipboard. - Reload
Reload the background of the current document in the active window.
- Save...
- Duplicate window
Make a new window with the same contents as the active window in the Opera workspace.
The context sensitive forms field menu
Although this is a feature that is often overlooked by Opera's users, this context sensitive menu is well worth the effort to get to know. The main part of this menu's functionality is tied to the Personal information part of the preferences.
- Undo
If selected, Opera undos the last performed change to the text in the forms field. - Cut
Cut part of text from forms field and place one copy of it on the operating system's clipboard. - Copy
Copy part of the text from the forms field and place this on the operating system's clipboard. - Paste
Paste text from the operating system's clipboard into the forms field. - Delete
Delete text from forms field. User manipulative fields only. - Insert address
- Full name
Inserts your full name, concatenated from your first name and last name. - First name
Inserts your first name only. - Last name
Inserts your last name only. - Address
Will insert your address. - City
Will insert the city in which you live. - State
Will insert the state in which you live. - Country
Will insert the country in which you live.
- Full name
- Insert contacts
- Telephone
Enters your telephone number. - Telefax
Enters your telefax number. - E-mail
Places your e-mail address in the field. - Homepage
Places the URL to your home page in the field. - Special 1
Enters whatever is set to be "Special 1". - Special 2
Enters whatever is set to be "Special 2". - Special 3
Enters whatever is set to be "Special 3".
- Telephone
- Select all
Highlight and select all text in the forms field.
For more information regarding this feature in Opera, please read the section on Personal information in the Preference Menus.
The Image content menu
The image content menu pops up when you press CTRL + M or right-click on an image in a document in Opera.
- Show image
If the image has not been loaded, or is loaded but not displayed, use this entry to show the image. - Save image...
Should you wish to save an image, this is the entry to pick. It will bring up the operating system's standard "Save as..." dialog. - Copy image
Use this menu entry to copy the image in question and place the copied image on the clipboard of the operating system. - Copy image address
This menu entry will copy the image's address and place it on the operating system's clipboard for you to paste in wherever. - Image properties...
New to Opera 5 is this, the option to show the properties of an image. Simply select this entry and you will be taken to the Image Properties dialog. - Document
This will spawn a sub-menu containing the Workspace document window.
The Link content menu
The link content menu pops up when you press CTRL + M or right-click on an link in a document in Opera.
- Open link
If you wish to open the link that the focus of the program is on, select this from the context sensitive menu. - Open in new window
If you wish to open the link in a new window, use this instead. - Add link to bookmarks...
Add the current linked document in the active frame to the active folder in the Hotlist. - Copy link address
This menu entry will copy the address of the linked document and place it on the operating system's clipboard. - Save link document as...
This calls the operating system's standard saving dialog box to allow you to save the linked document to your local drive. - Link presentation...
This entry will bring up the Link presentation part of the Preferences. - Document
This will spawn a sub-menu containing the Workspace document window.
The Image link content menu
The image link content menu pops up when you press CTRL + M or right-click on an image link in a document in Opera.
- Open link
If you wish to open the link that the focus of the program is on, select this from the context sensitive menu. - Open in new window
If you wish to open the link in a new window, use this instead. - Add link to bookmarks...
Add the current linked document in the active frame to the active folder in the Hotlist. - Copy link address
This menu entry will copy the address of the linked document and place it on the operating system's clipboard. - Save link document as...
This calls the operating system's standard saving dialog box to allow you to save the linked document to your local drive. - Show image
If the image has not been loaded, or is loaded but not displayed, use this entry to show the image. - Save image...
Should you wish to save an image, this is the entry to pick. It will bring up the operating system's standard "Save as..." dialog. - Copy image
Use this menu entry to copy the image in question and place the copied image on the clipboard of the operating system. - Copy image address
This menu entry will copy the image's address and place it on the operating system's clipboard for you to paste in wherever. - Image properties...
New to Opera 5 is this, the option to show the properties of an image. Simply select this entry and you will be taken to the Image Properties dialog. - Link presentation...
This entry will bring up the Link presentation part of the Preferences. - Document
This will spawn a sub-menu containing the Workspace document window.
The context sensitive Hotlist menu
The Hotlist menu pops up when you right-click on the Hotlist pane.
- Docked
Opens the docked Hotlist pane on the left hand side of the Opera workspace. - Floating
The Hotlist pane will be floating in the Opera workspace, like a normal window. - Off
Closes the Hotlist pane. - Always on top
If checked, the Hotlist pane will always be on top of other windows. - Properties
If selected, you will be presented with the Hotlist preferences.
The context sensitive Button bar menu
The Button bar menu pops up when you right-click on the main Button bar.
- Simple
Selected buttons on the Button Bar. - Full
All buttons on the Button Bar. - Off
No Button Bar visible. - Properties
If selected, you will be presented with the Toolbars preferences.
The context sensitive Status bar menu
The Status bar menu pops up when you right-click on the Status bar.
- Top
Status Bar located at the top of the Opera workspace. - Bottom
Status Bar located at the bottom of the Opera workspace. - Off
No Status Bar visible. - Show time
Toggles display of Time on the Status bar. - Properties
If selected, you will be presented with the Toolbars preferences.
The context sensitive Window bar menu
The Window bar menu pops up when you right-click on the Window bar.
- Top
Window selection bar is located at the top of the Opera workspace, just beneath the menu bar - Bottom
Window selection bar is located at the very bottom of the Opera workspace. - Left
Window selection bar is located all the way to the left of the Opera workspace. - Right
Window selection bar is located at the right of the Opera workspace. - Off
Window Bar is disabled. - Properties
If selected, you will be presented with the Toolbars preferences.
The context sensitive Progress bar menu
The Progress bar menu pops up when you right-click on the Progress bar.
- Top
The Progress Bar is located at the top of the windows in the Opera workspace. - Bottom
The Progress bar is located at the bottom of the windows in the Opera workspace. - Properties
If selected, you will be presented with the Toolbars preferences.
Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee that the instructions in these documents will work on every computer and every platform. Please inform us if you have problems with Opera, but please, first check our online support section, as this section is updated on a regular basis with information about the Opera Browser.
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