TIGERX.COM Public Internet Library: America Online 4.0 Simplified

TIGERX.COM Internet Public Library

America Online 4.0 Simplified

America Online, in our opinion is the easiest, funnest and most universal online service. With 10 million users, and locations throughout the United States and the world, there is almost always a local access number to connect so that you do not pay for a toll call just to check your email. If you never leave the town you live in or the computer you are at, you might find a cheaper, local internet service provider (ISP). But if you travel often from one town or state to another, especially those of you with laptops, AOL is a blessing. You can go from town to town or state to state and almost always find a local number to dial into. In either case, AOL has 24-hour tech support, a wide network of internal content, and all components of the internet such as newsgroups, email, chat and the world wide web are all intergrated.
Signing on to America Online:
From your desktop click on the AOL icon, it will probably say "AOL 4.0" or "America Online". Once it is fully opened, be sure the screen name you wish to use (this is also your email address) is highlighted in the box. If it is not the name you wish to use, click on the box and the list of other names you use for your AOL account will pop down, you have a total of 5 names/email addresses you can use, but you have to create them. This is assuming more than one is created. Next click or use the tab key to the password box, type your password (it will just appear as asterisks for your security) and then hit enter or click the SIGN ON icon.
BEFORE you do anything, remember one simple thing: if you type CTRL + K, this will give you the keyword, or you can just click the KEYWORD icon all the way in the upper right hand corner of the AOL screen. This simple command will allow you to type anything, and get to it like a shortcut (for example if you type CTRL + K OR hit the KEYWORD icon, a screen will pop up, type WEB and you will get to the world wide web, or to anything, if it exists on AOL).
One other quick & easy reference item, the long white field below all the icons that says "Type Keyword or Web Address here and click Go" is your way to get to a website quickly -- just click in the field and it will turn blue, and the first letter you will type will wipe it out and allow you to type the URL or webaddress you wish to access -- try it, and type www.tigerx.com -- then you will see that website pop up.
CTRL + Key Fucntions
CTRL + A Highlights ALL text for you to copy (see CTRL+C)
CTRL + C Copies text from anywhere (web, AOL news article, conversation, etc.) and stores it temporarily for you to Paste (CTRL+V) to another application or email.
CTRL + F Finds information you may want from AOL (software, content, magazines, etc.)
CTRL + G Gets the profile of someone so you can see who you are talking to if they send you a message or if you just care to browse profiles for common interests, use Keyword=Profiles
CTRL + I Creates an Instant Message to send someone if the are online
CTRL + K Keyword for easy searching of any/all content and items on AOL
CTRL + L Locates an AOL member online if you do not have a Buddy List (Keyword=Buddy View)
CTRL + M Creates a new EMail to send
CTRL + N New text document that you can save or attach, acts somewhat like a word processor or notepad
CTRL + O Opens any item from your hard drive (documents, photos, logs, etc.) to view/review
CTRL + P Prints any active document you may have open (website, email, etc.)
CTRL + R Reads any new email you may have.
CTRL + S Saves a document, text or graphic
CTRL + V Pastes any text you may have from doing the CTRL+C command (copy, see above)
Let's look at the America Online 4.0 (AOL 4) interface with the icons starting at the top from left to right:
Mailbox icon that is labelled READ: This will show you any new mail just by clicking on it. If it is lit up with the flag sticking up and a letter in the mailbox "you've got mail", and if the sound is working on your computer, you will hear a voice say "You've got mail" once you sign on to AOL. By also clicking on this icon, even if you do not have email, you can see and check the status of old emails, sent emails and new ones if there are any. This is accomplished by just clicking on the tabs labelled New Mail to check for new mail, Old Mail to look at or re-read old mail you once read. And the Sent Mail tab will show you mail you sent to a friend or business associate and you can re-read that or check the status as to if they read it, but that feature only works for addresses you send to on AOL. (They must also be on AOL).
Paper & Pencil icon labelled WRITE: This, very simply will allow you to write a new email. In the Send To: area just type the person's email -- for example, mine is justin@tigerx.com -- but my address on AOL is JRCX -- so if you wanted to send me email on AOL you would have to only type JRCX -- but if you were using an online service DIFFERENT from AOL you would have to address it JRCX@aol.com -- The Copy To: field is if you want to send it to more than one person. If you put that person's email address in parenthesis (justin@tigerx.com) it will be a Blank Carbon Copy, meaning, that the people on the list will not see who else got the email. The Subject field is just that, a subject, but its not even necessary to fill in anymore. The subject might be "Tomorrow's Meeting" or "Thank you" or whatever you want it to be, but curse words are not allowed. The next field, the largest, is where you type your message. When you are done typing your message, just click the Send Now icon on the right hand side of the email. You will receive conformation that the email was sent and you just click the OK button. We will get into the fonts, attachments and other email functions on AOL 4.0 in another section.
Envelope icon labelled MAIL CENTER: Similar to the first mailbox icon labelled READ, you can choose the read new email, old email, check on sent mail, change your preferences and a number of other options.
Printer icon labelled PRINT: This simply prints the document you have open such as an email, a website, article online or other features on AOL. A screen will pop up asking you printer information, but if you only have one printer, just click OK and the document will print.
File Cabinent labelled MY FILES: This will allow you to log chat sessions, file email, and check on newsgroup postings.
AOL Logo/Man icon labelled MY AOL: This will give you a number of options for personalizing your America Online application including screen names, passwords, font colors, content, and other options you may not even ever use.
Heart/Folder icon labelled FAVORITES: This is a feature known on most other internet applications as a Bookmark. This allows you to save your "Favorite" visited places to return to at another time. Let's face it, the web contains hundreds of millions of pages, and you cannot remember ALL the addresses to all those that interest you. So, on any area you look at in AOL, there is a little red check/heart in the upper right hand corner of the area you are in. Click on it, and you will add the item you are looking at to your Favorite Places Folder. Later on, click on the Favorite Places Folder Icon and you will see there listed all of the places you want to return to. Just drag the mouse down to the item description and release. Soon you will be at your one of your favorite places!
AOL Logo icon labelled CHANNELS: You will see this screen when you sign on. It includes a wide variety of interests including News, Weather, Sports, Entertainment, Games, Lifestyles, Computing, etc.
People icon labelled PEOPLE: This feature allows you to search AOL members profiles. For example, if you are looking for someone to chat or email with about cigars, cars or skiing, you can Search AOL Member Directory for keywords such as cigars, cars or skiing or whatever subject you are interested in. You can also change your own profile to reflect interests. Its a good rule of thumb not to inclue information that is too personal. Never include last names, or street address information. With this feature you can also enter chat rooms with other people online who are discussing general or specific topics.
Dollar Sign ($) icon labelled QUOTES: Personal Finances, stock quotes, and other finanancial information. This unique feature also allows you to make a portfolio of stocks, real or play, so you can keep an eye on the stock, how it increases or decreases, earns, looses, etc.
Telephone icon labelled PERKS: These are on and offline offers exclusive to AOL members which includes discounts, vacation packages, memberships and clubs.
Sun/Cloud icon labelled WEATHER: Find the weather in your town, or the town/state/country you are travelling to. Included are temperature maps of the United States, storm information, sattelite and radar images.

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