Citation: (c) Copyright 1995-1996 America Online, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.


America Online Help Contents
Using America Online

•	Tips and Tricks

•	Online Security (Never reveal your password)

Getting Connected

•	Setting up America Online to work with your modem

•	Setting up the telephone connection

•	Using TCP/IP to connect

•	Connecting from outside the United States and Canada

•	Troubleshooting


Tips and Tricks
General Tips and Tricks

•	Using e-mail

•	Getting around online

•	Reading offline

•	Managing your account

•	Using America Online when you travel

•	Recommending America Online to a friend

Communicating with other members

•	The Member Directory

•	In chat rooms

•	Instant Messages

•	Buddy Lists

Getting the most out of America Online

•	FlashSessions

•	The Log Manager

•	The Download Manager

•	The web browser

•	The Personal Filing Cabinet

•	Customizing the software


Managing your account

•	About Parental Controls

•	Getting billing information

Managing passwords

•	About your password

•	Changing your password

Managing screen names

•	Adding or deleting screen names

•	Creating member profiles


For using the member directory
The Member Directory

•	About the Member Directory

Using the Member Directory

•	Searching the member directory

•	Creating member profiles

•	Determining if a friend is currently online


For using FlashSessions
FlashSessions

•	About FlashSessions

Setting up FlashSessions

•	Selecting tasks and screen names

•	Storing FlashSession passwords

•	Starting a FlashSession immediately

•	Scheduling FlashSessions to run later

Using FlashSessions

•	For e-mail

•	To read newsgroups offline

•	For downloading


Using America Online when you travel

•	Obtaining local access numbers

•	Signing on from a friend's computer


For chat rooms
In chat rooms

•	Hearing sounds played in chat rooms

•	Playing sounds in chat rooms

•	Sending Instant Messages (IMs)

•	Blocking incoming Instant Messages


For using e-mail
Using e-mail

•	What's my e-mail address?

Reading e-mail

•	Reading e-mail offline

Composing e-mail

•	Composing e-mail offline

•	Using automatic quoting in your e-mail responses

•	Changing fonts and typestyles in your e-mail

•	Adding Favorite Place hyperlinks to your e-mail

Sending e-mail

•	Sending e-mail you have composed offline

•	Sending e-mail to Internet addresses

•	Sending e-mail to multiple recipients

•	Sending blind carbon copies of your e-mail

Organizing your e-mail

•	Saving copies of your e-mail

•	Adding names to your address book

•	Creating mailing lists


For using Instant Messages
Instant Messages

•	About Instant Messages

Using Instant Messages

•	Sending Instant Messages (IMs)

•	Saving Instant Message conversations to a file

•	Blocking incoming Instant Messages


For downloading files
The Download Manager

•	About the Download Manager

Using the Download Manager

•	Placing files in the Download Manager

•	Downloading the files in the Download Manager

•	Using FlashSessions to download files

•	Locating files on your computer after downloading

Setting Download Manager preferences

•	Changing the Download Manager preferences

•	Changing the destination folder for downloaded files


For using the web browser
The web browser

•	About the World Wide Web

•	About the web browser

Using the web browser

•	Starting the web browser

•	Going directly to a web site

•	Using Favorite Places

Setting web browser preferences

•	Configuring the web browser

•	Changing your default home page

•	About Advanced Preferences

•	Controlling the size of the web browser cache file

•	Using Helper Applications


For using Favorite Places
Getting around online

•	About Keywords

•	About Favorite Places

Using Keywords and Favorite Places

•	Using Keywords

•	Marking a site as a Favorite Place

•	Returning to a Favorite Place

•	Adding Favorite Place hyperlinks to your e-mail


Using Buddy Lists
Buddy Lists

•	About Buddy Lists

Using Buddy Lists

•	Creating Buddy Lists

•	Starting the Buddy List monitor

•	Adding names to existing Buddy Lists

•	Removing names from existing Buddy Lists

•	Deleting an entire list

Setting Buddy List preferences

•	Changing Buddy List preferences

•	Maintaining your privacy


The Log Manager

•	About the Log Manager

Using the Log Manager

•	Reading and responding to message board posts offline

•	Reading news articles and other text items offline

•	Saving Instant Message conversations

•	Saving conversations from chat rooms and auditoriums


Reading offline

•	Reading e-mail offline

•	Reading news articles and reference texts offline

•	Reading message boards offline

•	Reading Internet newsgroups offline


Customizing the software

•	Controlling the size of your art database

•	Controlling the size of your Personal Filing Cabinet

•	Controlling the size of the web browser cache

•	Setting preferences


Contents
Using America Online

•	Tips and Tricks

•	Online Security (Never reveal your password)

Getting connected

•	Setting up America Online to work with your modem

•	Setting up the telephone connection

•	Using TCP/IP to connect

•	Connecting from outside the United States and Canada

•	Troubleshooting


Troubleshooting
If your modem...

reported no dial tone

is not accepting the commands

detected a timeout

would not initialize

If the number dialed...

is busy, not answering, or failed to respond

did not connect to the access company

If...

the final connection step did not complete

you don't know which com port your modem is using

your screen name is not visible on the Sign On screen

your account is already signed on

Other ways to get help

Using AOLDIAG

Using the FAXLink Service

Using the Technical Support BBS

Getting help online

Calling Technical Support


Changing your setup

•	Setting up America Online to work with your modem

•	Setting up the telephone connection

•	Connecting from outside the United States and Canada

•	Using TCP/IP to connect


Where else to get help

•	Using the FAXLink Service

•	Using the Technical Support BBS

•	Getting help online

•	Calling Technical Support


Reaching an outside line
To reach an outside line

 1	On the Sign On screen, click Setup.

 2	Click Edit Location.   (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 3	Check Use the following prefix to reach an outside line:

 4	Verify that the default prefix is correct and that there is a comma after the prefix.


Disabling Call Waiting
To disable Call Waiting while you are online

 1	On the Sign On screen, click Setup.

 2	Click Edit Location.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 3	Check Use the following command to disable Call Waiting:

 4	Verify that the default prefix is correct and that there is a comma after the prefix.

More information about this topic


More information about disabling Call Waiting

•	Typical codes are *70 for Touch-Tone service and 1170 for rotary service.  Contact your local telephone company for the deactivation code in your area.

•	When you sign off and your modem hangs up the phone, Call Waiting is reactivated.

•	If you do not disable Call Waiting while you are connected to America Online, you will lose your connection if you receive an incoming call.


Local Access Number
About local access numbers

The local access number is the telephone number your modem dials to connect to America Online.

Depending on your particular location, the nearest access number may or may not be a local phone call. You should confirm this with your phone company.

Important surcharge information


Connecting via TCP/IP
To connect via TCP/IP

 1	Establish your SLIP or PPP connection, if necessary.

 2	On the Sign On screen, click Setup.

 3	Click Edit Location.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 4	In the Network list box, click TCP/IP.

About TCP/IP


About TCP/IP

TCP/IP is a communications format for transferring data on a network.  You can use TCP/IP (if it is available on your computer) instead of your modem to connect to America Online at no extra charge.  Connecting to America Online with TCP/IP is often faster than the usual modem-based connection process, and it will not interfere with your use of other TCP/IP tools like Netscape(c) or Mosaic(c).

If you have a local area network (LAN), ask your system administrator if you have TCP/IP capabilities.

You may also be able to obtain a modem-based TCP/IP connection (called either a SLIP or a PPP connection) from a local Internet service provider.  To locate an Internet service provider in your area, try contacting a local university, or looking in a computer magazine or the business and computer sections of a local newspaper.  To download a listing of public access Internet providers, go to Keyword: QuickFind and search for PDIAL.

Using TCP/IP to connect


International Access

 1	Obtain international local access number(s) and networks by calling 1-703-264-1184.

 2	On the Sign On screen, click Setup.

 3	Click Edit Location.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 4	Type the local access number(s) into the Phone Number field(s).

 5	Verify that the correct network is selected for each local access number you are using (for example, AOLGLOBALnet).

Important surcharge information

Using TCP/IP to connect


Using the FAXLink Service
To use the FAXLink Service

 1	Dial 1-800-827-5551 from a Touch-Tone phone and follow the recorded instructions to request a listing of all available faxes.

 2	Enter the fax phone number where the documents are to be sent.

 3	After the FAXLink Service has sent the listing, dial the FAXLink number again and order the particular fax you are interested in.

More information about this topic

Other places to get help


More information about the FAXLink Service

•	The FAXLink Service provides resolutions to the most common problems members have.

•	There is no charge for the call or the service.

•	The FAXLink Service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


Telephone Support

•	For technical support, call 1-800-827-3338 or 1-703-264-1184 (outside the U.S. and Canada).

•	For sales and billing questions, call 1-800-827-6364.

•	Our TTY number is 1-800-759-3323 (within the U.S. and Canada).

America Online receives a large number of phone calls for technical assistance.   Often you can get help faster in other ways.


Technical Support BBS

The America Online Techical Support BBS provides connection and troubleshooting information, local access numbers, modem drivers, and the latest releases of America Online software for downloading and upgrading.

•	The BBS is available 24 hours a day, at speeds up to 28,800 bps.

•	Configuration settings for the BBS are 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity.

•	The telephone number for the BBS is 1-800-827-5808.  If you are outside the United States and Canada, the telephone number is 1-703-481-2633.

•	Use XMODEM-CRC as the file transfer protocol if you use Windows Terminal to connect to the BBS.

•	We require communication at 9600 baud or faster to download the larger files on the BBS, such as the current releases of America Online software.

Connecting to the BBS -- Windows 3.1 instructions

Connecting to the BBS -- Windows 95 instructions

Other places to get help


Creating a settings file to connect to the BBS - Windows 3.1
To create a settings file to connect to the BBS -- Windows 3.1

 1	Double-click Terminal in the Accessories program group.

 2	On the Settings menu, click Communications.

 3	Click the proper com port for your modem in the Connector list.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 4	Click the highest baud rate your modem supports in the Baud Rate box.

 5	Check the following settings:

Data Bits - 8

Stop Bits - 1

Parity - None

Flow Control - Xon/Xoff

 6	Clear Parity Check and Carrier Detect and click OK.

 7	On the Settings menu, click Phone Number.

 8	Type 1-800-827-5808 (outside the United States and Canada -- 1-703-481-2633)

 9	Change the timeout value to at least 45 seconds and click OK.

 10	On the Phone menu, click Dial.

 11	To save the settings file for future use, click Save on the File menu.

Windows 95 instructions

About the Technical Support BBS

Other places to get help


What's next?

You may be able to use AOLDIAG, a diagnostic tool, to help you with further troubleshooting.

Other places to get help


AOLDIAG
About AOLDIAG

This diagnostic tool

•	provides information about your computer and modem configuration,

•	allows you to edit your configuration files easily, and

•	fixes a common com port shift problem.

If it is not already included with your America Online software (in the AOL30\AOLDIAG directory), you can download it from the America Online Technical Support BBS.

Other places to get help


Modem Installation Checklist

If you have an external modem:

 1	Make sure the modem's power cord is securely plugged in, and the modem is turned on.  The modems lights should be on.

 2	Make sure the modem cable is securely attached to the modem and to the computer.

For all modems:

 1	Make sure the phone line coming from the wall goes into the modem connection that reads LINE, JACK or TO WALL.

 2	Unplug the line going to the modem and connect it to a phone.

 3	Listen for a dial tone.

Is there a dial tone?

Yes, there is a dial tone.

No, there is no dial tone.

Notes

•	If you have a Meridian, Aspect, Rolm, or other digitial phone system (normally used only in offices), your phone system probably is not compatible with your modem, since standard modems are analog.


Your modem may be defective
Try calling our Technical Support BBS -- Windows 3.1

 1	Double-click Terminal in the Accessories program group.

 2	On the Settings menu, click Communications.

 3	Click the proper com port for your modem in the Connector list.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 4	Click the highest baud rate your modem supports in the Baud Rate box.

 5	Check the following settings:

Data Bits - 8

Stop Bits - 1

Parity - None

Flow Control - Xon/Xoff

 6	Clear Parity Check and Carrier Detect and click OK.

 7	On the Settings menu, click Phone Number.

 8	Type 1-800-827-5808 (outside the United States and Canada -- 1-703-481-2633).

 9	Change the timeout value to at least 45 seconds and click OK.

 10	On the Phone menu, click Dial.

Did the modem connect to the BBS?

Yes, the modem connected to the BBS.

No, it didn't.


Your modem may be defective

Contact your modem manufacturer for more help.


Problem with the phone line

The problem most likely lies in your phone line.  Contact your local phone company for help.


Problem in the final connection step

There is a temporary problem somewhere in the network that is preventing the connection from completing.

Try to connect again later, or try using another local access number.


Anything unusual?
Is there anything unusual about your phone line?

•	I have Call Waiting.

•	I have to dial a prefix to reach an outside line.

•	No, it's an ordinary phone line.


Call Waiting

 1	On the Sign On screen, click Setup.

 2	Click Edit Location.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 3	Clear Use the following prefix to reach an outside line:

 4	Check Use the following command to disable Call Waiting:

 5	Verify that the code to disable Call Waiting is the correct code for your area and that there is a comma after the code.

More information about this topic

Did this fix the problem?

No, I still need more help.


Ordinary phone line

 1	On the Sign On screen, click Setup.

 2	Click Edit Location.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 3	Clear Use the following prefix to reach an outside line:

 4	Clear Use the following command to disable Call Waiting:

Did this fix the problem?

No, I still need more help.


Dialing a prefix to reach an outside line
Prefix needed to reach an outside line

 1	On the Sign On screen, click Setup.

 2	Click Edit Location.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 3	Check Use the following prefix to reach an outside line:

 4	Verify that the default prefix is correct and that there is a comma after the prefix.

 5	Clear Use the following command to disable Call Waiting:

Did this fix the problem?

No, I still need more help.


Verifying your local access number
To verify your local access number

 1	On the Sign On screen, click New Local # from the Screen Name list box.

 2	Click Sign On.

 3	Select access numbers from the database. These numbers will automatically be placed in your setup.

Did this fix the problem?

No, I still need more help.


Check the America Online setup

 1	On the Sign On screen, click Setup.

 2	Click Setup Modem.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 3	Click the modem port your modem is using.

 4	Click your modems name in the Choose Modem list box.

What if I don't know which modem port to select?

What if my modem isn't listed?

Did this fix the problem?

No, I still need more help.


What if my modem isn't listed?

•	You can try using one of the generic Hayes-compatible modem profiles.

•	You can find additional modem profiles online at Keyword: High Speed or on the Technical Support BBS.

•	If you are unable to find a modem profile that works with your modem, you will have to create a custom modem string.


Error Messages Troubleshooter
What error message did you receive?

•	The number dialed is busy.

•	The number dialed is not answering.

•	The access number failed to respond.

•	The final connection stop to America Online did not complete.

•	The number dialed did not connect to the access company.

•	Your modem is not accepting our commands.

•	Your modem detected a timeout.

•	Your modem has reported no dial tone.

•	America Online was unable to initialize your modem.

•	Your account is already signed on

If...

•	Your screen name is not visible on the Sign On screen

Other ways to get help

•	Using AOLDIAG

•	Using the FAXLink Service

•	Using the Technical Support BBS

•	Getting help online

•	Calling Technical Support


Problem with the local access number

If the problem is sporadic, you can try back later or try another local access number.

If you consistently have problems with a particular local access number, please report the problem to us.

If you have the problem no matter what local access number you use, you might have the wrong modem selected in your setup.


Setting up AOL to work with your modem
To set up America Online to work with your modem

 1	On the Sign On screen, click Setup.

 2	Click Setup Modem.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 3	Click the modem port your modem is using.

 4	Select your modem from the Choose Modem list box.

What if I don't know which modem port to select?

What if my modem isn't listed?


About Member Services

Member Services is an unlimited use area of America Online filled with helpful information about using the service and technical help for problems you may be having.  The time you spend in the unlimited use area is not counted against your connect time on America Online. (Telephone surcharges, if applicable, will still apply.)

Notes

•	Go to Keyword: Billing for information about your current online charges.

•	Time spent in the unlimited use area is calculated and subtracted from your connect time when you sign off.

•	For the latest surcharge information, go to Keyword: Access.

Other places to get help


Get billing information
To get billing information

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	Go to Keyword: Billing.

Important information about your password


Telephone surcharges

Telephone surcharges apply in the following instances:

•	If you sign on with a local access number that is outside the continental United States, Hawaii or Canada,

•	If your local access number is a long-distance call, or

•	If you use the United States AOLnet 800 number (1-800-716-0023) or the Canadian AOLnet 800 number (1-800-318-2265) as your local access number.

These surcharges vary and are subject to change.  You can find the latest surcharge information online at Keyword: Access.

Connecting via TCP/IP


Obtaining new local access numbers
To obtain a new local access number

 1	On the Sign On screen, click New Local # from the Screen Name list box.

 2	Click Sign On.

 3	Select new local access numbers from the database. These numbers will be placed in your setup automatically.

More information about this topic

If there is no local access number near you

If you live outside the United States and Canada

Important surcharge information


More information about local access numbers

•	You can also find local access numbers online at Keyword: Access and on the America Online Technical Support BBS.

•	If there is no local access number in your area, you can access America Online from anywhere in the United States at speeds up to 28,800 bps using AOLnet and the number 1-800-716-0023.  (In Canada, use 1-800-318-2265.)  Your America Online account will be charged a surcharge for the entire time you are connected using this number (even during your free trial period).  This surcharge is subject to change.  For the latest surcharge information, go to Keyword: Access.


AOLnet 800 number access

If there is no local access number in your area, you can access America Online from anywhere in the United States at speeds up to 28,800 bps using AOLnet and the number 1-800-716-0023.  (In Canada, use 1-800-318-2265.) Your America Online account will be charged a surcharge for the entire time you are connected using this number (even during your free trial period).  This surcharge is subject to change.  For the latest surcharge information, go to Keyword: Access.

If you live outside the United States and Canada

Connecting via TCP/IP


Using the Keyword function
To use the Keyword function

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the Go To menu, click Keyword...

 3	Type the keyword for the location you want to go to.

 4	Click Go.

Notes

•	Keywords make it possible for you to "jump around" quickly on the service.

•	You can also use Ctrl + K, or click the Keyword icon on the toolbar, to open the Keyword dialog box.

•	You can customize the Go To menu with the keywords you frequently use by clicking Edit Go To Menu.


Reporting a problem with a local access number
To report a problem with a local access number

If you are able to get online, report the problem at Keyword: Access.

If there is no other local access number for you to use, and you are unable to get online, you can report the problem by calling our Technical Support number.


Getting help online
To get help online

Click Member Services or use Keyword: Help to get technical information, information on how to contact America Online Technical Support, as well as answers to frequently asked questions about using the service.

The time spent in the Member Services area is calculated and subtracted from your connect time when you sign off.  (Telephone surcharges, if applicable, will still apply.)

Other places to get help


Determining which com port your modem is using - Windows 3.1
To determine which com port your modem is using -- Windows 3.1

 1	Print this information by clicking Print Topic on the Help window File menu.

 2	Exit Windows.

 3	Type MSD at the C:\ prompt and press Enter.

 4	Type C to find information about your com ports.

 5	Locate the Com Port column that contains YES for Data Set Ready (DSR) and Clear to Send (CTS).  This is your modem com port.

 6	Press the F3 key to exit out of Microsoft Diagnostics.

Windows 95 instructions

Setting up America Online to work with your modem


Determine which com port your modem is using - Windows 95
To determine which com port your modem is using -- Windows 95

 1	Click the Windows 95 Start menu, and then point to Settings.

 2	Click Control Panel.

 3	Double-click the Modems icon.

 4	In the Modem Properties window, click the Diagnostics tab.  You will see your modem listed, and the port it is using.

Windows 3.1 instructions

Setting up America Online to work with your modem


Creating custom modem strings
To create a custom modem command string

 1	Print this information by clicking Print Topic on the Help window File menu.

 2	Use the table below to help you create a modem command string.  The most common commands for these parameters are shown below.  See your modem manual to verify the commands to use for your modem.

 3	Create a Custom Modem Profile.

Parameter	Setting	Usual Command
Data Compression	On	%C1
Error Correction	On	&Q5
Flow Control	Hardware - Request to Send/ Clear to Send (RTS/CTS)	&K3
Local Echo	On	E1
Verbose Responses	Word responses	V1
Extended Result Codes	Respond to dial tone and busy signal	X1 or X4 (preferably X4)
DCD	Track the state of data carrier from the remote modem	&C1
DTR	Monitor DTR	&D2
Notes

•	Your modem string should begin with the AT&Fcommands, and end with ^M (a carriage return).

•	Use all capitals and the number 0, not the letter O.

Using standard modem profiles provided with the software


Creating a Custom Modem Profile
To create a Custom Modem Profile

 1	On the Sign On screen, click Setup.

 2	Click Setup Modem.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 3	Click Edit Commands.

 4	Type your custom modem string in the Setup Modem String box and click OK.

 5	Select Custom Modem Profile in the Choose Modem list.

Using standard modem profiles provided with the software

Other places to get help


Setting up the telphone connection
Setting up the telephone connection

•	About local access numbers

•	About location files

Editing the location file

•	Obtaining new local access numbers

•	Changing the local access number you use

•	Creating multiple location files

•	Disabling Call Waiting while you are online

•	Reaching an outside line


About location files

Location files contain the information the software needs to connect your computer with the America Online host computer -- such as what type of modem you have and what local access numbers to use to connect.

If you have America Online on your laptop computer, you can create separate location files for use at home, at your office, or in the cities you travel to frequently.

Related Topics


Changing your local access number
To change your local access number(s)

 1	On the Sign On screen, click Setup.

 2	Click Edit Location.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 3	Type the new local access number(s) into the Phone Number field(s).

 4	Verify that the correct network is selected for each local access number you are using (for example, AOLnet).

How do I find a new local access number?


Creating new location files
To create a new location file

 1	On the Sign On screen, click Setup.

 2	Click Create Location.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 3	Delete the default name (New Locality) and type a name for the new location file.

For example:  Miami

 4	Type local access number(s) in the Phone Number field(s).

 5	Verify that the correct network is selected for each local access number you are using (for example, AOLnet).

 6	If you need to dial a prefix to reach an outside line, or you have Call Waiting, check the appropriate box.


How do I move the window?
How do I move the Help window?

 1	Click the title bar (the colored area across the top of the window with the words America Online Help) and hold the left mouse button down.

 2	Drag the window to a new location.

 3	Release the left mouse button.


What difference does the network selection make?

Each data carrier network uses its own special set of instructions (or protocols).  If you try to connect to a local access number using the protocols for a different data network, your modem will not be able to communicate with the local access number and the connection will fail.


Getting screen names to appear on sign on screen
To have your screen name(s) appear on the Sign On screen

 1	On the Sign On screen, click New User from the Screen Name list box.

 2	Click Sign On.

 3	Enter a screen name from your account and the password for that screen name when prompted for the registration number and password.  The next time you sign on, all of your screen names will appear on the Sign On screen.

Why did this happen?


Why did this happen?

If you reinstalled the software on your current computer or installed the software for the first time on a new computer, your screen names will not be available on the Sign On screen until you sign on for the first time using that software.


Your account is already signed on

This error message will appear under two circumstances:

•	Another screen name on your account is signed on from another computer.  Although you can have up to five screen names on your account, only one screen name can be online at a time.

•	Your America Online session terminated abnormally, and it might take the America Online host computer 5-10 minutes to realize you are no longer connected.  In this case, just wait a few minutes and try again.


Creating a settings file to connect to the BBS -- Windows 95
To create a settings file to connect to the BBS -- Windows 95

 1	Click the Windows 95 Start menu, and point to Programs.

 2	Point  to Accessories and click HyperTerminal Connections.

 3	In the Hyperterm folder, double-click the Hypertrm.exe file.

 4	Type America Online Technical Support BBS as the name for the connection and select the icon you want to use for the settings file.

 5	Type 800 in the Area Code box and 827-5808 in the Phone Number box. If you are outside the United States and Canada, the telephone number is 1-703-481-2633.

Windows 3.1 instructions

About the Technical Support BBS

Other places to get help


Your modem may be defective
Try calling our Technical Support BBS -- Windows 95

 1	Click the Windows 95 Start menu, and point to Programs.

 2	Point  to Accessories and click HyperTerminal Connections.

 3	In the Hyperterm folder, double-click the Hypertrm.exe file.

 4	Type America Online Technical Support BBS as the name for the connection and select the icon you want to use for the settings file.

 5	Type 800 in the Area Code box and 827-5808 in the Phone Number box. If you are outside the United States and Canada, the telephone number is 1-703-481-2633.

Did the modem connect to the BBS?

Yes, the modem connected to the BBS.

No, it didn't.


Are you running under Windows 95?
Is your computer running under Windows 95?

No, my computer is running under Windows 3.1.

Yes, my computer is running under Windows 95.


Contents
The Personal Filing Cabinet

 •	About the Personal Filing Cabinet

The folders

 •	Download Manager folders

 •	Mail folders

 •	Favorite Places folder

 •	Newsgroups folders

Using the Personal Filing Cabinet

 •	Retaining copies of your e-mail

 •	Using the search function

Organizing your Personal Filing Cabinet

 •	Re-arranging folders and files

 •	Adding folders

 •	Deleting items

 •	Controlling the size of your Personal Filing Cabinet

 •	Recovering unused space


Adding folders to your Personal Filing Cabinet
To add folders to your Personal Filing Cabinet

 1	On the File menu, click Personal Filing Cabinet.

 2	Click the location for the new folder.

 3	Click Add Folder.

More information about this topic

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More information about adding folders

 •	If you highlight a folder, the new folder will be created inside the highlighted folder.

 •	If you highlight a document, the new folder will be inserted before the document.


Re-arranging the contents of your Personal Filing Cabinet
To re-arrange the contents of your Personal Filing Cabinet

 1	On the File menu, click Personal Filing Cabinet.

 2	Drag a folder or file to a new location.

Related Topics


Selecting multiple files or folders
To select multiple files or folders

 1	On the File menu, click Personal Filing Cabinet.

 2	Hold down the Ctrl key, and click each item you want to select.

More information about this topic

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More information about multiple selection techniques

 •	Hold down the Shift key and click two non-contiguous items to select all items in between.

 •	Hold down the Ctrl key and click a selected item to undo the selection.


Deleting items from your Personal Filing Cabinet
To delete an item from your Personal Filing Cabinet

 1	On the File menu, click Personal Filing Cabinet.

 2	Click the item you want to delete.

 3	Click Delete.

More information about this topic

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More information about deleting from the Personal Filing Cabinet

 •	To access the Personal Filing Cabinet for other screen names, change the screen name on the Sign On screen.

 •	You can use multiple selection techniques to select more than one item at a time for deletion.

 •	If you delete a folder, you will also delete all items inside the folder.

 •	You can only delete folders you have created in the Personal Filing Cabinet.


About the Personal Filing Cabinet

 •	The Personal Filing Cabinet helps you organize various items retrieved online in FlashSessions (files you have downloaded, incoming e-mail, unread newsgroup messages) and those items queued up for the next FlashSession (files to be downloaded, outgoing e-mail, outgoin  g newsgroup messages).

 •	You access your Personal Filing Cabinet from the File menu.

 •	Each screen name has its own Personal Filing Cabinet, stored in a single file in the AOL30\ORGANIZE subdirectory.   You must use the Personal Filing Cabinet feature within America Online to access the information in this file.

 •	You cannot access your Personal Filing Cabinet if you sign on as a Guest from another member's computer.

Related Topics


Using the search function
To use the search function

 1	On the File menu, click Personal Filing Cabinet.

 2	Click Search.

 3	Specify the search criteria.

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More information about searching

You can use a more limited search function, Find in Top Window on the Edit menu, anywhere on the service.


Archiving your e-mail
To retain copies of your e-mail

 1	On the Members menu, click Preferences.

 2	Click Mail.

 3	Click Retain all mail I send... and/or Retain all mail I read...

More information about this topic

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More information about saved e-mail

E-mail you save in your Personal Filing Cabinet will remain on your computer until you delete it.


Recovering unused space in your Personal Filing Cabinet
To recover unused space in your Personal Filing Cabinet

 1	On the File menu, click Personal Filing Cabinet.

 2	Click Compact.

Why do I need to do this?

Related topics


Why do I need to do this?

When you delete files from your Personal Filing Cabinet, the database file is not compacted, and empty space on your hard disk is not reclaimed until you run this utility.


Controlling the size of your Personal Filing Cabinet
To control the size of your Personal Filing Cabinet

 1	On the Members menu, click Preferences.

 2	Click Personal Filing Cabinet.

 3	Adjust the warning sizes (for the size of the Personal Filing Cabinet and the percent of free space) as desired.

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More information about the size of the Personal Filing Cabinet

 •	Information is not automatically deleted from your Personal Filing Cabinet.  As you no longer want items, you must delete them.

 •	Compacting the Personal Filing Cabinet will reclaim unused space left when you delete items.


Download Manager folders

Files to download -- this folder contains a list of the files you have queued to Download Later while you were online.

Files you've downloaded -- this folder contains a list of the files you have previously downloaded.

Right mouse button menu

More about the Download Manager


Mail folders

Incoming FlashMail -- this folder contains e-mail retrieved in previous FlashSessions.

Outgoing FlashMail -- this folder contains e-mail you have composed offline and queued to Send Later in a FlashSession.

Archives -- Mail You've Sent -- this folder contains all e-mail you have sent if you have checked the Mail preference to save this e-mail.

Archives -- Mail You've Read -- this folder contains all e-mail you have read (either online or after a FlashSession) if you have checked the Mail preference to save this e-mail.

Right mouse button menu


Favorite Places folder

This folder contains the sites you have marked as Favorite Places.  To return to a Favorite Place from your Personal Filing cabinet, open the folder and double-click the site.

Right mouse button menu

More about Favorite Places


Newsgroups folders

Outgoing messages -- this folder contains responses to send to Internet newsgroups during the next FlashSession.

Right mouse button menu


Right mouse menu -- Personal Filing Cabinet
Right mouse button menu -- Personal Filing Cabinet

Clicking the right mouse button within the Personal Filing Cabinet produces a variety of menu options, depending on what folder or file is highlighted at the time.

Don't be afraid to experiment!


About the Download Manager

The Download Manager allows you to queue a list of files you want to download.   You can then download all the files at one time, or schedule a FlashSession to download the files at a later time.

Your account is charged for the time it takes to download all files in the Download Manager, whether or not those files originally came from the unlimited use area..  To avoid being charged for downloading files located in the unlimited use area, always use the Download Now icon while you are in the unlimited use area.

Where can I learn more about downloading?

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Sending e-mail to multiple recipients
To send e-mail to multiple recipients

 1	On the Mail menu, click Compose Mail.

 2	Separate the e-mail addresses of the recipients with a comma.

For example:   AOLMember1, AOLMember2, AOLMember3

Related Topics


Sending blind carbon copies
To send a blind carbon copy

 1	On the Mail menu, click Compose Mail.

 2	In the To: (or CC:) field, enclose the e-mail address(es) of the recipient(s) of the blind carbon copy in parentheses.

For example:  (AOLMember1, AOLMember2)

More information about this topic

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More information about blind carbon copies

•	You can combine regular recipients and blind carbon copy recipients on the same list.

For example:  AOLMember1, (AOLMember2)

In this example, AOLMember2 will see that the e-mail was addressed to AOLMember1, but AOLMember1 will not know that AOLMember2 received a blind carbon copy.

•	Recipients of blind carbon copies will not see the names of any other recipients of blind carbon copies.

For example:  (AOLMember1, AOLMember2, AOLMember3)

In this example, AOLMember1, AOLMember2,  and AOLMember3 will each see their name on the e-mail they receive, but not the names of the other two recipients.

•	As the sender of the e-mail, you will always see all names on the e-mail (even those who received blind carbon copies) -- whether you look at Mail You've Sent or mail in your Personal Filing Cabinet, or if one of the e-mail recipients forwards a copy of the e-mail back to you.


Placing files in the Download Manager
To place a file in the Download Manager

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	Locate a file online that you want to download.

 3	Click Download Later.

Where can I learn more about downloading?

How do I start the download?

How do I download the file in a FlashSession?


Downloading files in the Download Manager
To download the files in the Download Manager

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the File menu, click Download Manager.

 3	Click Start Download.

How do I tell the Download Manager which files to download?


Changing the Download Manager preferences
To change the Download Manager preferences

 1	On the File menu, click Download Manager.

 2	Click Download Preferences.

Related Topics


Changing the destination for downloaded files
To change the destination for downloaded files

 1	On the File menu, click Download Manager.

 2	Click Select Destination.

 3	Double-click the folders in the Directories list box to select the directory where you want files to be placed after future downloads.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 4	Click OK.

More information about this topic

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More information about the destination for downloaded files

If you click Download Now when you download a file, you will be prompted to select the directory where you want to place the file.


Locating files after downloading
To locate a file after you download it

 1	On the File menu, click Download Manager.

 2	Click Show Files Downloaded.

 3	Click the file you are having trouble finding.

 4	Click Show Status to see where the file was placed when you downloaded it.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

More information about this topic

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More information about downloaded files

All files you download are placed in the default download destination directory (AOL30\DOWNLOAD) or another folder that you have specified to be the download destination directory.


Creating mailing lists
To create a mailing list

 1	On the Mail menu, click Edit Address Book.

 2	Click Create.

 3	In the Group Name box, type the name you will use to refer to this mailing list.

For example:  My online friends

 4	In the Screen Names box, type the screen names and/or Internet e-mail addresses of the people you want to include on this mailing list, separating each name with a comma.

For example:  AOLMember1, gnnmember@gnn.com, AOLMember2

Related Topics


Sending Instant Messages
To send an Instant Message

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the Members menu, click Send an Instant Message.

 3	In the To: field, type the recipient's screen name.

 4	Type your message.

 5	Click Send.

More information about this topic

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More information about sending Instant Messages

•	You cannot send an Instant Message (IM) to someone who is not online at the time.

•	You can click Available? before you send your IM to determine if the person is online.


Determining if a friend is currently online
To determine if a friend is currently online

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the Members menu, click Locate a Member Online.

 3	Type your friend's screen name.

Using Buddy Lists


Creating member profiles
To create a member profile

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	Go to Keyword: Profile.

More information about this topic

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More information about your member profile

•	Your screen name is not listed in the searchable Member Directory until you create a member profile.

•	You can add as much or as little personal information as you want to your member profile.


Searching the member directory
To search the Member Directory

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the Members menu, click Member Directory.

More information about this topic

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Blocking incoming Instant Messages
To block incoming Instant Messages

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the Members menu, click Send an Instant Message.

 3	Address the Instant Message (IM) to $im_off

 4	Type at least one character in the message field.

 5	Click Send.

More information about this topic

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More information about blocking Instant Messages

•	IMs are blocked for the current session only.

•	To unblock incoming IMs, repeat the procedure but send the IM to $im_on


Adding names to your address book
To add a name to your address book

 1	On the Mail menu, click Edit Address Book.

 2	Click Create.

 3	In the Group Name box, type the name you want to use to identify this person.

For example: Jerry from California

4	In the Screen Names box, type the person's screen name or Internet e-mail address.

For example:  AOLMember1

Related Topics


Changing your password
To change your password

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	Go to Keyword: Password.

Notes

•	Anyone who knows your password and screen name can sign on to your account.  No one from America Online will ever ask you for your password (or your credit card number) while you are online. You should never reveal your password to anyone online.

•	You should change your password frequently.

Related Topics


Playing sounds in chat rooms
To play sounds in chat rooms

 1	Enter a chat room in the People Connection.

 2	Type {S and the name of a .wav file in your \AOL30 directory in the text entry box at the bottom of the screen.

 	For example, to play the "Welcome" sound you hear as you sign on to America Online:

 Type  {S welcome

 3	Click Send.

More information about this topic

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More information about chat room sounds

•	Your computer must have sound capability before you can hear .wav files played in chat rooms.

•	Only those in the chat room who have the same .wav file on their computers (in the \AOL30 directory) will hear the sound.

•	If you do not want to hear the sounds other members are sending, you can turn off chat room sounds by clicking Preferences on the Members menu, then clicking Chat.


Hearing sounds played in chat rooms
To hear sounds played in chat rooms

 1	On the Members menu, click Preferences.

 2	Click Chat.

 3	Check Enable chat room sounds.

More information about this topic

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Sending e-mail to Internet addresses
To send e-mail to an Internet address

 1	On the Mail menu, click Compose Mail.

 2	In the To: field, type the Internet addresss of the recipient of your e-mail.

For example:  gnnmember@gnn.com

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What's my e-mail address?

•	Your e-mail address (for friends with America Online) is your screen name.

For example: AOLMember1

•	Your e-mail address (for friends who do not have America Online) is your screen name (without any capitalization or spaces) followed by @aol.com

 For example:  aolmember1@aol.com


Signing on from a friend's computer
To sign on from a friend's computer

 1	On the Sign On screen, click Guest from the Screen Name drop-down menu.

 2	Click Sign On.

 3	Enter a screen name and password from your account when prompted.

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More information about the Guest function

•	The time you spend online as a Guest is charged to your account.

•	You cannot access your Addressbook, Personal Filing Cabinet, or your Favorite Places when signed on as a Guest from another computer (because this information resides on your own computer).

•	You cannot use FlashSessions or the Download Manager when you are signed on as a Guest.


AboutFlashSessions

FlashSessions allow you to go online (immediately or at times you designate) to:

•	send and retrieve e-mail,

•	send and retrieve newsgroup messages, and

•	download files you have collected in your Download Manager.

To access FlashSessions, click Set Up FlashSession on the Mail menu.

More information about this topic

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More information about FlashSessions

•	Each screen name has its own incoming mailbox, outgoing mailbox, and Download Manager.

•	You cannot use FlashSessions if you signed on as a Guest.

•	FlashSession settings (schedules, actions to be performed, etc.), apply to all screen names.


Setting up FlashSessions
To select tasks and screen names

 1	On the Mail menu, click Set Up FlashSession.  (If you are new to FlashSessions, the FlashSession Walk-Through window will appear.  Click Expert Setup to continue with the instructions below.)

 2	Check the tasks you want performed during the FlashSession (for example: Retrieve unread mail).

 3	Click Select Names.

 4	Check screen names and type passwords to be used for the FlashSession. (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

More information about this topic

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More information about setting up FlashSessions

•	Anyone who has physical access to your computer can sign on to your account if you store your password.

•	If you choose not to store your passwords, you will have to sign on to America Online with each screen name and start a FlashSession manually.


Composing e-mail offline
To compose e-mail offline

 1	On the Mail menu, click Compose Mail.

 2	Complete the Compose Mail screen.

 3	Click Send Later.

How do I send e-mail I composed offline?


About the web browser

The web browser is an interactive user interface that allows you to access information located on the World Wide Web.

Related Topics


Retrieving e-mail to read offline
To retrieve e-mail to read offline

 1	On the Mail menu, click Set Up FlashSession. (If you are new to FlashSessions, the FlashSession Walk-Through window will appear.  Click Expert Setup to continue with the instructions below.)

 2	Check Retrieve unread mail. (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 3	If you are offline, click Select Names and select the screen names and passwords for the FlashSession.

 4	Click Activate Session Now.

More information about this topic

Now what do I do?


Sending e-mail you have composed offline
To send e-mail you have composed offline

 1	On the Mail menu, click Set Up FlashSession.  (If you are new to FlashSessions, the FlashSession Walk-Through window will appear.  Click Expert Setup to continue with the instructions below.)

 2	Click Send outgoing mail.

 3	If you are offline, click Select Names and select the screen names and passwords for the FlashSession.

 4	Click Activate Session Now.

More information about this topic


Using FlashSessions to download the files in your Download Manager
To download files in a FlashSession

 1	If you have not already done so, select files for downloading.

 2	On the Mail menu, click Set Up FlashSession.  (If you are new to FlashSessions, the FlashSession Walk-Through window will appear.  Click Expert Setup to continue with the instructions below.)

 3	Click Download selected files.

 4	If you are offline, click Select Names and select the screen names and passwords for the FlashSession.

 5	Click Activate Session Now.

More information about this topic

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Retrieving unread newsgroup messages
To retrieve unread newsgroup messages

 1	On the Mail menu, click Set Up FlashSession.  (If you are new to FlashSessions, the FlashSession Walk-Through window will appear.  Click Expert Setup to continue with the instructions below.)

 2	Click Retrieve unread newsgroup messages.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 3	If you are offline, click Select Names and select the screen names and passwords for the FlashSession.

 4	Click Activate Session Now.

More information about this topic

Now what do I do?


Sending outgoing newsgroup messages
To send outgoing newsgroup messages

 1	On the Mail menu, click Set Up FlashSession.  (If you are new to FlashSessions, the FlashSession Walk-Through window will appear.  Click Expert Setup to continue with the instructions below.)

 2	Click Send outgoing newsgroup messages.

 3	If you are offline, click Select Names and select the screen names and passwords for the FlashSession.

 4	Click Activate Session Now.

More information about this topic


Selecting newsgroups to read offline
To select newsgroups to read offline

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	Go to Keyword: Internet.

 3	Click Newsgroups.

 4	Click Read Offline.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 5	Select newsgroups from your Subscribed Newsgroups to add as Newsgroups to Read Offline.

Now what do I do?


Starting FlashSessions
Starting a FlashSession immediately

•	Running a FlashSession for just one screen name

•	Running a FlashSession for all selected screen names


Running FlashSessions for one screen name
To run a FlashSession for one screen name

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the Mail menu, click Set Up FlashSession.   (If you are new to FlashSessions, the FlashSession Walk-Through window will appear.  Click Expert Setup to continue with the instructions below.)

 3	Check the tasks you want performed for the screen name you signed on with (For example, Retrieve unread mail).

 4	Click Activate Session Now.

 5	Click Begin.

Related Topics


Running FlashSessions for all selected screen names
To run a FlashSession for all selected screen names

 1	If you are online, sign off America Online.

 2	On the Mail menu, click Set Up FlashSession.  (If you are new to FlashSessions, the FlashSession Walk-Through window will appear.  Click Expert Setup to continue with the instructions below.)

 3	Check the tasks you want performed during the FlashSession (For example, Retrieve unread mail).

 4	Click Select Names.

 5	Check screen names and type passwords to be used for the FlashSession.

 6	Click Activate Session Now.

 7	Click Begin.

More information about this topic

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Scheduling FlashSessions to run later
To schedule a FlashSession to run later

 1	On the Mail menu, click Set Up FlashSession.  (If you are new to FlashSessions, the FlashSession Walk-Through window will appear.  Click Expert Setup to continue with the instructions below.)

 2	Select tasks and screen names for the FlashSession.

 3	Click Schedule FlashSession.

 4	Check Enable Scheduler.

 5	Select the days and times you want FlashSessions to run.

 6	Make sure the America Online application is open (not signed on) at the scheduled time.

More information about this topic

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Reading and responding to newsgroup messages offline
To read and respond to newsgroup messages offline

 1	On the File menu, click Personal Filing Cabinet.

 2	In the Newsgroups folder, double-click newsgroups messages you want to read.

 3	Highlight a section of text, if you want to quote it in your response.

 4	Click Reply (or Reply to Author).

 5	Compose your response to the quoted material.

More information about this topic

Now what do I do?


Reading e-mail offline
To read e-mail retrieved in a FlashSession

 1	On the Mail menu, click Read Incoming Mail.

 2	Double-click the e-mail item you want to read.

 3	Highlight a section of text, if you want to quote it in your response.

 4	Click Reply (or Forward).

 5	Add your response to the quoted material.

 6	Click Send Later.

Now what do I do?


Using automatic quoting in e-mail responses
To use automatic quoting in e-mail responses

 1	Open the e-mail message you want to respond to.

 2	Highlight the section of text you want to quote in your response.

 3	Click Reply (or Forward).

 4	Add your response to the quoted material.

More information about this topic

Selecting the quoting style you want to use


More information about automatic quoting

•	America Online style quoting places two quoting marks at the beginning and end of the quoted section.

<<This is an example of the America Online style of quoting.>>

•	Internet style quoting places one quote mark at the beginning of each line of the quoted section.

>This is an example of the

> Internet style of quoting.


Using automatic quoting for newsgroup responses
To use automatic quoting for newsgroup responses

 1	On the File menu, click Personal Filing Cabinet.

 2	In the Newsgroups folder, double-click the newsgroup message you want to respond to.

 3	Highlight the section of text you want to quote in your response.

 4	Click Reply (or Reply to Author).

 5	Add your response to the quoted material.

More information about this topic

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More information about automatic quoting in newsgroup replies

Automatic quoting in replies to newsgroup messages is only available on messages retrieved in a FlashSession and responded to from the Personal Filing Cabinet.


Selecting the quoting style for e-mail responses
To select the quoting style for e-mail responses

 1	On the Members menu, click Preferences.

 2	Click Mail.

 3	Check (or clear) Use AOL style quoting in mail.

More information about this topic

Using automatic quoting in e-mail responses


Starting the web browser
To start the web browser

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	Go to Keyword: Internet.

 3	Click the World Wide Web icon.

Related Topics


Going directly to web sites
To go directly to a web site

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	Go to Keyword: Internet.

 3	Click World Wide Web.

 4	Type the URL directly into the web browser text entry field and press Enter.

Related Topics


More information about URLs
What's an URL?

The URL, or Universal Resource Locator, is a path for locating sites on the World Wide Web.  For example, http://www.aol.com is the URL for the America Online Home Page.


Marking sites as Favorite Places
To mark a site as a Favorite Place

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	Locate a site that you want to mark as a Favorite Place.

 3	Click the [image] icon on the title bar of the window.

Related Topics


Returning to Favorite Places
To return to a Favorite Place

 1	On the Go To menu, click Favorite Places.

 2	Double-click the site you want to return to.

Related Topics


Changing your default home page
To change your default home page

 1	On the Members menu, click Preferences.

 2	Click  W W W.

 3	Type the URL of the site you want as your default home page.

Related Topics


Changing the default settings for the web browser
To change the default settings for the web browser

 1	On the Members menu, click Preferences.

 2	Click  W W W.

More information about this topic

Related Topics


More information about setting browser preferences

•	In most cases, it will not be necessary to select Helper Applications, since the America Online software will decode most of the sound and graphic formats in web documents automatically without the use of Helper Applications.

•	Selecting No Graphics will increase the speed of the web browser.


About Advanced Preferences

America Online's web browser makes use of local caching (storing of web pages on your hard drive) to speed up the viewing of documents on the World Wide Web.  If you elect to cache web pages locally, the web browser will not have to reload graphics and text that are already in your cache file when you return to a web page you have already viewed.  However, if the web browser detects that the web page has been updated since your last visit, it will reload the page.

More information about this topic

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More information about caching

•	The larger your local cache, the more web pages are stored, and the faster the web browser will display sites that you have previously viewed.

•	You can elect not to cache web pages locally if you have limited disk space.

•	You should purge the cache if you decrease its size.


Using Helper Applications
To use a Helper Application

 1	On the Members menu, click Preferences.

 2	Click  W W W.

 3	Click Helper Applications.

 4	Associate a type of file with the external application you want to read that type of file.  For example, if you associate .GIF files with a graphics program, when you download a GIF file from a web site, the graphics program will be called to read the file instead of the America Online GIF viewer.

More information about this topic

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More information about Helper Applicatons

The America Online software will decode most of the sound and graphic formats in web documents automatically without the use of Helper Applications.


About the World Wide Web

The World Wide Web is an information retrieval system that links documents located on computers connected to the Internet, making the information easily accessible with a web browser.

Related Topics


About your password

Anyone who knows your screen name and password can sign on to your account, and leave you to pay the bill!  America Online employees will never ask for your password (or credit card number) online.  Your password should be easy for you to remember, but not for others to guess, and you should change it often (at Keyword: Password).   The best passwords are combinations of letters and numbers.

NEVER REVEAL YOUR PASSWORD TO ANYONE

Related Topics


About Parental Controls

Parental Controls enable the master account holder (the permanent screen name that was created during your first sign-on to America Online) to restrict access to certain areas and features on America Online for one or all screen names on the account.  Once Parental Controls have been set for a particular screen name, they are active each time that screen name signs on. Changes can be made by the master account holder at any time.

Go to Keyword: Parental Controls and familiarize yourself with the controls that are available to help you make your child's online experience a safe and positive one.

Related Topics


Creating or deleting screen names on your account
To create or delete a screen name on your account

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	Go to Keyword: Names.

More information about this topic

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More information about screen names

•	The Master screen name (the first screen name you selected when you registered your America Online account) cannot be deleted or changed.

•	Your account can have up to five screen names, each with separate passwords, mailboxes, Personal Filing Cabinets, and Favorite Places.

•	If you delete a screen name from your account, it cannot be re-used for up to 6 months, by you or anyone else.


Adding Favorite Places hyperlinks to your e-mail
To add a Favorite Place hyperlink to your e-mail

 1	On the Mail menu, click Compose Mail.

 2	On the Go To menu, click Favorite Places.

 3	Drag the Favorite Place you want to mention in your e-mail from the Favorite Places window, and drop it into your e-mail message.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

Why would I want to add a hyperlink?

Related Topics


Why should I add a hyperlink to my e-mail?
Why would I add a hyperlink to my e-mail?

If you have found an interesting place on America Online, or the World Wide Web, why not share it with a friend?  If you place a hyperlink reference in your e-mail, your friend will be able to click on the hyperlink and go directly to the information you have found -- right as they are reading your e-mail.


Recomending America Online to a friend
Sign on a Friend

You can get free hours credited to your account when you introduce a friend to America Online.

Get details and order the software for your friend at Keyword: Friend.


Storing FlashSession passwords
To store FlashSession passwords

 1	On the Mail menu, click Set Up FlashSession.  (If you are new to FlashSessions, the FlashSession Walk-Through window will appear.  Click Expert Setup to continue with the instructions below.)

 2	Click Select Names.

 3	Check the screen names you want signed on during the FlashSession.

 4	Enter passwords for the screen names you checked.

More information about this topic

Related Topics


Creating Buddy Lists
To create a new Buddy List

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the Members menu, click Buddy Lists.

 3	Click Create.

 4	In the Buddy List Name field, type a name for this list.

For example:  My AMC friends

 5	In the Enter a Screen Name field, type the America Online screen name of a friend that you want to add to the list.

For example:  AOLMember1

 6	Click Add Buddy.

 7	When you have finished adding screen names to the list, click Save.

 8	In the Buddy List main window, click View to see if any of your buddies are currently online.

More information about this topic

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Maintaining your privacy
To maintain your privacy

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the Members menu, click Buddy Lists.

 3	Click Preferences.

 4	Select options to limit which members can add you to their Buddy Lists.

 5	Click Save.

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Removing names from existing Buddy Lists
To remove a screen name from an existing Buddy List

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the Members menu, click  Buddy Lists.

 3	In the Buddy List Name box, double-click the list that contains the screen name you want to remove.

 4	In the Buddies on List box, click the screen name you want to remove.

 5	Click Remove Buddy.

 6	Click Save.

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Adding names to existing Buddy Lists
To add a screen name to an existing Buddy List

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the Members menu, click Buddy Lists.

 3	In the Buddy List Name box, double-click the list you want to add to.

 4	In the Enter a Screen Name field, type a screen name to add to the list.

 5	Click Add Buddy.

 6	Click Save.

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Deleting a Buddy List
To delete an entire Buddy List

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the Members menu, click Buddy Lists.

 3	In the Buddy List Name box, click the list you want to delete.

 4	Click Delete.

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About Buddy Lists

A Buddy List is a list of your online friends.  Once you create a Buddy List, you will be notified when one of your buddies signs on or off.  You can send Instant Messages directly from the Buddy List window, or use the Locate button to help you join a buddy in a chat room.  By setting Buddy List preferences, you can control who can add you to their Buddy List.

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Starting the Buddy List monitor
To start the Buddy List monitor

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the Members menu, click Buddy Lists.

 3	If you have not already done so, create a Buddy List.

 4	Click View.

More information about this topic

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More information about Buddy Lists

•	The Buddy List View window shows which of your buddies is currently online.

•	After you have set up your Buddy Lists, the Buddy List window will appear each time you sign on.  If you prefer to only see it occasionally, you can change your Buddy List preferences.


Changing Buddy List preferences
To change your Buddy List preferences

 1	Sign on to America Online.

 2	On the Members menu, click Buddy Lists.

 3	Click Preferences.

 4	Select preferences to customize your Buddy Lists.

 5	Click Save.

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Reading log files
To read a log file

 1	On the File menu, click Open.

 2	Double-click the log filename you want to read.

More information about this topic


Reading log files
To read a log file

 1	On the File menu, click Open.

 2	Double-click the log filename you want to read.

More information about this topic

How do I compose responses offline?


What's the name of the log file?

The default name for a session log file is session.log

The default name for a chat log file is chat.log


More information about reading a log file

•	If your log file is larger than 64K, you will not be able to read it with the America Online application -- use a word processing program to read it.

•	You can print the log file after you open it by clicking Print on the File menu.


Logging message boards and text items
To open a log file for message board posts

 1	On the File menu, click Log Manager.

 2	In the Session Log section of the dialog box, click Open Log.

 3	Click OK in the Open Log dialog box to create a file named session.log.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 4	If you are offline, select Set Up & Sign On from the Go To menu, and sign on to America Online.

Now what do I do?


To log message board posts
To transfer message board posts to the log file

 1	Open the message board posts you want to read offline.

 2	When you are finished, click Log Manager on the File menu.

 3	In the Session Log section, click Close Log.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 4	Close the Log Manager window.

 5	When you are finished online, sign off America Online.

How do I read the log file?


Logging message boards and text items
To open a log file for text articles

 1	On the File menu, click Log Manager.

 2	In the Session Log section of the dialog box, click Open Log.

 3	Click OK in the Open Log dialog box to create a file named session.log.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 4	If you are offline, select Set Up & Sign On from the Go To menu, and sign on to America Online.

Now what do I do?


logging message board posts
To transfer text to the log file

 1	Open the text items you want to read offline.

 2	When you are finished, click Log Manager on the File menu.

 3	In the Session Log section, click Close Log.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 4	Close the Log Manager window.

 5	When you are finished online, sign off America Online.

How do I read the log file?


About Logging
About the Log Manager

The Log Manager enables you to transfer online text to a file you can read or print offline.  You can transfer text from:

•	News or reference articles

•	Message board posts

•	Instant Message conversations

•	Chat rooms and auditoriums

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Recording Instant Message conversations
To open an Instant Message log file

 1	On the File menu, click Log Manager.

 2	In the Session Log section of the dialog box, click Open Log.

 3	Click OK in the Open Log dialog box to create a file named session.log.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 4	Check Log Instant Messages.

Now what do I do?


logging Instant Message conversations
To log the Instant Message conversation

 1	Continue your Instant Message conversation.

 2	When you have finished your conversation, click Log Manager on the File menu.

 3	In the Session Log section, click Close Log.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 4	When you are finished online, sign off America Online.

How do I read the log file?


Recording chat sessions
To open a chat log

 1	On the File menu, click Log Manager.

 2	In the Chat Log section of the dialog box, click Open Log.

 3	Click OK in the Open Log dialog box to create a file named chat.log.  (Move this help window if it is in the way.)

 4	If you are offline, select Set Up & Sign On from the Go To menu, and sign on to America Online

Now what do I do?


logging chat sessions
To log the chat session

 1	Enter the chat room or auditorium you want to log.  You can do other things on the service while the chat is being logged, so long as the chat window remains open.

 2	When that chat is finished, click Log Manager on the File menu.

 3	In the Chat Log section, click Close Log.

 4	Close the Log Manager window.

 5	When you are finished online, sign off America Online.

Now what do I do?


Composing message board posts offline
To compose your message board posts offline

 1	Open the America Online application, but do not sign on.

 2	On the File menu, click New.

 3	Compose your message board posts.

 4	Select Set Up & Sign On from the Go To menu, and sign on to America Online.

 5	Highlight sections of the text you composed, and use the Copy and Paste functions from the Edit menu to transfer your posts to the message boards.


Reading message boards offline
To read and respond to message boards offline

 1	Open a Session Log file.

 2	Open the message board posts you want to read offline.

 3	Close the log file.

 4	Sign off America Online and read the log file.

 5	Compose your message board posts.

 6	Sign on to America Online and transfer your posts to the message boards.

Take me through step by step


Using FlashSessions to read newsgroup messages offline
To use FlashSessions to read newsgroup messages offline

 1	Select the newsgroups you want to read offline at Keyword: Internet.

 2	Activate a FlashSession to retrieve unread newsgroup messages.

 3	Read (and respond to) the messages in your Personal Filing Cabinet.

 4	Send outgoing newsgroup messages in a FlashSession.

Take me through step by step


Reading and responding to newsgroup messages offline
To read and respond to newsgroup messages offline

 1	Select the newsgroups you want to read offline at Keyword: Internet.

 2	Activate a FlashSession to retrieve unread newsgroup messages.

 3	Read (and respond to) the messages in your Personal Filing Cabinet.

 4	Send outgoing newsgroup messages in a FlashSession.

Take me through step by step


Using FlashSessions for e-mail
To use FlashSessions for e-mail

 1	Activate a FlashSession to retrieve e-mail that is waiting for you.

 2	Read and respond to your e-mail offline.

 3	Activate a FlashSession to send your outgoing e-mail.

Take me through step by step


Reading and responding to e-mail offline
To read and respond to e-mail offline

 1	Activate a FlashSession to retrieve e-mail that is waiting for you.

 2	Read and respond to your e-mail offline.

 3	Activate a FlashSession to send your outgoing e-mail.

Take me through step by step


Reading news articles and other text items offline
To reading news articles and other text items offline

 1	Open a Session Log file.

 2	Open the news articles or text items you want to read offline.

 3	Close the log file.

 4	Sign off America Online.

 5	Read or print the log file.

Take me through step by step


Saving Instant Message conversations
To save Instant Message conversations to a file

 1	Open a Session Log with the Log Instant Message option checked.

 2	Continue your Instant Message conversation.

 3	Close the log file.

 4	Sign off America Online and read or print the log file.

Take me through step by step


Saving conversations from chat rooms and auditoriums
To save conversations from chat rooms and auditoriums

 1	Open a Chat Log.

 2	Keep the chat room or auditorium window open while you do other things around the service..

 3	Close the log file.

 4	Sign off America Online and read or print the log file.

Take me through step by step


About Instant Messages

An Instant Message is an immediate and private one-on-one communication with another member of America Online who is online at the same time you are.

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About Keywords

Keywords make it possible for you to jump around quickly on the service, without having to remember exactly how you got to a certain place online.   As you explore America Online, notice the keywords associated with your areas of interest.  When you want to return to the area, you can go directly there using the keyword.

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About Favorite Places

Favorite Places allow you to mark and return to the sites (either within America Online or on the World Wide Web) that are of interest to you.

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About the Member Directory

The Member Directory is a searchable database with information about America Online members who have chosen to create a member profile.  Your screen name is not listed in the Member Directory until you create a profile.

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Changing the fonts or typestyles in your e-mail
To change the font or typestyle in your e-mail

 1	On the Mail menu, click Compose Mail.

 2	Type the text of your e-mail message.

 3	Highlight a section of text.

 4	Click the effect you want to use from the icons at the top of the message field.

More information about this topic


More information about using fonts and typestyles in e-mail

You can also click the right mouse button and select from the menu that appears.


Controlling the size of your art database
To control the size of your art database

 1	On the Members menu, click Preferences.

 2	Click Graphics.

 3	Adjust the Maximum disk space to use for online art as desired.

More information about this topic

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More information about your online art database

•	The default size of your online art database is 10 megabytes.

•	As the MAIN.IDX file reaches the maximum size you have set, artwork with the oldest access date is discarded to make room for new artwork.


Controlling the size of the web browser cache
To control the size of the web browser cache

 1	On the Members menu, click Preferences.

 2	Click W W W.

 3	Click Advanced.

 4	Adjust Maximum disk space to use for cache as desired.

More information about this topic

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Setting preferences
 To set preferences

 1	On the Members menu, click Preferences.

 2	Click the type of preference you want to set.

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Download 101

We've set up special place in Member Services all about downloading.  You can even download a few files to get your feet wet.  Take all the time you need to become comfortable with downloading, because the time you spend there won't be charged against your connect time.

To get there, go to Keyword: Download 101.