Webster XL’s configuration options

The browser can be tailored to your liking in many ways - from default colours to the way downloaded files are handled. To set it up, choose the WebsterXL option on the Configure section of the iconbar menu. Please note that setting these options is not essential, but they allow you to specify exactly how the program behaves and appears, should you wish to do so.

One of the first things that you may well want to change is the main window size/position.

The browser’s choices are divided into sections accessible via buttons down the right hand side of the window. They are as follows:

Caches

Provides control over how much of the information you download when browsing is stored on your hard disc to speed up future access.

Fetchers

There are many different types of information on the Internet of which web pages are just one. It is possible to access several via the browser, and this window allows you to set up which programs are used for the different so-called ‘protocols’. You will want to use WebFetch for most (as they should be fetched via proxy), but some (eg. email) will need to talk to other programs such as your mail software. This is where you configure that!

Decoding

Allows control over multi-tasking interval, and whether HTML extensions are supported.

Lists

HTML has special support for lists of information (such as this one!) complete with indentation for each level of list and the first offset from the edge of the browser. Different list styles are also possible. You can choose the size of the various indents and spacing in the window.

Window

WebsterXL allows fairly extensive control over how and where its main window and toolbar are displayed. These options allow you to set these features, although most users will be happy with the default configuration.

Images

This section allows you to choose which programs are used to convert the images and pictures in the pages that you visit. You may wish to change this should you download faster or higher quality renderers. For example, there are a couple of alternative (faster or less memory) GIF decoders supplied with WebsterXL:

<WebsterXL$Dir>.gif2spr -q %0 %1    This will work with just 64 kb of memory.

<WebsterXL$Dir>.gif2rpc %0 %1 -bpp -1    This needs a larger wimpslot - say 360kb, but is *much* faster and may give better colour rendition.

Misc

This covers options not listed elsewhere, such as handling of Cookies, support for Cerillica's MMK keyboard, and how the browser starts up (banners, windows etc.)

Helpers

WebsterXL can launch external programs to view downloaded files. This can be very useful for multimedia projects where you can use external movie playback software or other viewing software. You can set up an external viewer for a RiscOS filetype, a PC/Unix file extension or both. The area at the bottom of the window allows you to define the behaviour used for that type of file (often Filer_Run is the best as this emulates double clicking on the file). To create a new association, type in the filetype or extension into the space marked New.

HTML Extensions

All these options control whether or not WebsterXL renders the various modern extensions to HTML such as frames and tables etc. Most users will want most these options turned on all of the time.

Colours

Allows you to define the default colours used to render your web pages.

Script

WebsterXL support some JavaScript, and this section allows you to configure how it behaves. You can control the browser's identity, whether it beeps to indicate script errors, and how long it pauses if it gets stuck (at which point you will have the option to continue, or disable the script).