Using the Internet Browser

The AT&T eMaintenance application is accessed using an Internet browser such as Netscape or Microsoft IE. See System Requirements for browsers supported in AT&T eMaintenance.

This section provides the following tips on using the Internet browser:

Browser Features
Using Frames
Using Pop-Up Windows
Printing from Frames and Pop-Up Windows

Additional information about your Internet browser is available by clicking the "Help" option on your Internet browser's menu bar.

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Browser Features

This section describes some generic features found in Netscape and Microsoft browsers:

Adding a Bookmark
Maximizing the Internet Browser
Using the Reload (Refresh) Function
Using the Mouse Pointers
Using the Mouse Buttons
Using Unsupported Browsers

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Adding a Bookmark

Make a bookmark for the AT&T eMaintenance Login screen with the following steps:

While the AT&T eMaintenance Login screen is displayed in Netscape, use your left mouse button to click "Add Bookmark" on the menu bar.
An option menu appears.
Slide the pointer to the "Add Bookmark" or "Add to Favorites" selection and release the mouse button.
The bookmark, "AT&T eMaintenance Login" is added to your list of bookmarks.
Now you can use the bookmark to access the AT&T eMaintenance Login screen instead of typing the Universal Resource Locator (URL) in the "Location" field.

Note: If the AT&T eMaintenance Login screen does not appear on the first screen of bookmarks, you can simplify access to AT&T eMaintenance by moving it up the list using one of these methods:

Go to your list of bookmarks and use the "Edit" options (cut and paste) to move the bookmark to the top of the list.
Use the drag-and-drop method to move the bookmark:
- If you are using Netscape, click "Bookmarks" on the drop-down menu, then click "Edit Bookmarks."
- If you are using Microsoft IE, click "Favorites" on the main menu. Click once with your left mouse button on the bookmark you want to move. Holding your left mouse button down, drag the bookmark to the position where you want it to appear, and release the left mouse button.

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Maximizing the Internet Browser

You can maximize the Internet browser to use the full screen of your computer's monitor.

In Windows95 or later, click on the maximize/minimize icon, the center button on the right side of the Internet browser's title bar. (In older versions of Microsoft Windows, the maximize/minimize icon is represented by an arrow.) The Internet browser appears on your entire screen, allowing more space for each frame.

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Using the Reload (Refresh) Function

The Reload (or Refresh) function reloads an entire document (specified in the URL in the Location or Address field at the top of the Internet browser) based upon information in the cache. The reload reflects changes made after the original loading.

Refresh or reload your screen by one of the following methods:

To use your browser's Reload or Refresh feature, click "Reload" or "Refresh" on the menu bar.
The page is updated based on information in the cache.

In Netscape, if pages that should be in the cache take longer to load than they should, make sure the cache preference for document comparison is not set to "Every Time," because this verification process requires a network connection each time the page is loaded. See Configuring Your Internet Browser for more information.
To retrieve the latest copy of a page regardless of information in the cache---the page is verified through the network instead---hold down the "Shift" key and click "Reload" or "Refresh."
To reload a frame, follow this procedure:
1. Click in the desired frame.
2. Select "View" from the menu.
3. Select "Refresh" from the View pull-down menu.

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Using the Mouse Pointers

The mouse pointer is represented by different icons at different times. The appearance of some pointers is customized according to the chosen desktop theme.

The following list supplies information about each icon:

Normal Select Pointer - represented by an arrow, this icon is shown when you are able to select from the screen.
Text Select Pointer - represented by an I-bar, this icon is shown when the pointer is positioned on text that you may highlight to select or in a text-entry field that allows you to enter information.
Busy Pointer - often represented by an hourglass (or customized icon), this icon is shown when an action is being processed by the system. You are not allowed to start another action while the busy pointer is present. However, you are able to click "Stop" on the toolbar or to minimize the Netscape application.
Hypertext Link Pointer - represented by a hand, this icon is shown when positioned over a hypertext link.
Resize Pointer - represented by a double-sided arrow with two parallel lines through the middle, this icon is shown when the pointer is positioned on the edge of a frame and you are allowed to change the size of the frame(s).

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Using the Mouse Buttons

In the Internet browser, the left and right mouse buttons are used for different actions.

Left Mouse Button - is the button on the left side of the mouse when the cord is pointed away from you. This button is used to select an icon or a link and to access a pull-down menu.
Right Mouse Button - is the button on the right side of the mouse when the cord is pointed away from you. This button is used to access an options menu. When the pointer is positioned in a frame, the "Back/Forward" option appears. When the pointer is not positioned in a frame, the available options vary.

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Using Unsupported Browsers

This version of AT&T eMaintenance is designed to work on Netscape Communicator 4.7x or 6.1; or Microsoft IE version 5.01 (upgraded with patch from version 5.0), version 5.5, or version 6.

Note:

Older versions of Netscape, Microsoft IE, and other browsers are not supported.

You may be able to access AT&T eMaintenance through another browser. However, we cannot guarantee that all the functionality will be available with another browser.

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Using Frames

Frames are a design feature of the Internet browser that display web pages divided into multiple, separate regions. Some tips on working with frames are provided in this section:

Resizing Frames - the relative size of the frames may be altered by positioning your pointer on the edge of the frame so that the resize pointer appears (see Using the Mouse Pointers for the various types). Click with your left mouse button, move the border, and release the mouse button.
Using Scrollbars - a scrollbar appears to the right and/or bottom of a frame when needed. Since the screen size limits how much information you are able to view at one time, scrollbars enable you to scroll through and view the entire contents of the frame. Each scroll bar contains two arrows and a slide box.
Click on either arrow or click on the slide box and move it up or down or right or left to scroll through the information.
Using the Back Function in Frame/Forward in Frame option - this option provides a function specific to frames that is similar to the role of "Back" and "Forward" buttons on your browser's menu bar. Click, using your right mouse button, while the pointer is positioned in a frame.
An option pop-up appears with the choices: "Back" and "Forward."
"Back" displays the contents of the previous frame. "Forward" displays the contents of the next frame. If either option is unavailable, it appears grayed out.

The following options are available from the menu that appears when you click on the right mouse button. However, we do not recommend that you use these options. (These options are not available if you are using a workstation.)

Using the Add Bookmark option - this option provides a function specific to frames that is similar to the role of Netscape's "Bookmark" button. To add a bookmark:
1. Click, using your right mouse button, while the pointer is positioned in a frame.
  An option pop-up appears.
2. Click "Add Bookmark."
  A bookmark to this specific frame's information is added to your Netscape Bookmarks list.
Using the Internet Shortcut option - this option provides a function specific to frames that is similar to the role of the Windows95 or Later Shortcuts option. To create an internet shortcut:
1. Click, using your right mouse button, while the pointer is positioned in a frame.
  An option pop-up appears.
2. Click "Internet Shortcut."
  A Create Internet Shortcut form appears, showing the descriptive text and URL for this particular frame's information.
3. Click "OK" to add the shortcut to your desktop or click "Cancel" to exit the form without creating a shortcut.

AT&T eMaintenance has two additional frame options: "Save Background As" and "Set as Wallpaper." (These options are not available if you are using a workstation.)

Using the Save Background option - this option allows you to save the current background of the Title Frame to a graphics file. To do so:
1. Click, using your right mouse button, while the pointer is positioned in the Title Frame.
  An option pop-up appears.
2. Click "Save Background."
  A Save As form appears, allowing you to specify a file name, a file type, and a directory to which to save the background graphic.
3. Enter the information or select the defaults and click "Save," or, to exit the form without saving the graphic, click "Cancel."
Using the Set as Wallpaper option - this option allows you to save the Title Frame to your Windows95 or later desktop wallpaper. To do so:
1. Click, using your right mouse button, while the pointer is positioned in the Title Frame.
  An option pop-up appears.
2. Click "Set as Wallpaper."
  Your Windows95 or later wallpaper changes to this graphic.

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Using Pop-Up Windows

Some AT&T eMaintenance options open up a screen in a pop-up window that resembles the Internet browser, but lacks the buttons. The screen for creating a ticket, for example, appears in a pop-up window.

A pop-up window contains the browser's Main Menu across the top of the window, along with the icons for minimizing, maximizing, and closing the window. Menu items work the same as in your primary browser; however, some menu items may not be available in the pop-up window and thus are grayed out.

To print from a pop-up window that is not divided into frames, see Printing from Pop-Up Windows (without Frames).

An AT&T eMaintenance pop-up window may be divided into two frames. Frames in pop-up windows work the same as the AT&T eMaintenance frames in your browser. See Using Frames and Printing from Pop-Up Windows (with Frames) for more information.

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Printing from Frames and Pop-Up Windows

You can print the information in any individual frame on an AT&T eMaintenance screen, the information within any individual frame in a pop-up window, or the entire contents of the pop-up window if it is not divided into frames. Choose one of the following links for a specific procedure:

Printing from Frames
Printing from Pop-Up Windows (without Frames)
Printing from Pop-Up Windows (with Frames)

Note:

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Printing from Frames

To print the contents of a frame, follow this procedure:

Click anywhere in the frame.
The "Print" button is now visible (active).
Click "Print."
The "Print" selection form appears.
On the "Print" selection form, select the printer to which you want to print, printer properties, number of copies, and print range.
- If you select "All," the entire contents of the frame prints, including information that may scroll off the screen if the information is in table format.
- If you select "Pages from/to," only the information that paginates within the page range selected prints.
Click "OK" to start printing or "Cancel" to close the "Print" selection form.

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Printing from Pop-Up Windows (without Frames)

To print the contents of a pop-up window that does not contain frames, follow this procedure:

Click "File" in the Main Menu on the pop-up window.
Click "Print."
The Printer Selection Form appears.
On the Printer Selection Form, select the printer to which you want to print, printer properties, number of copies, and print range.
- If you select "All," the entire contents of the frame prints, including information that may scroll off the screen, if the information is in table format.
- If you select "Pages from/to," only the information that paginates within the page range selected prints.
Click "OK" to start printing or "Cancel" to close the Printer Selection Form.

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Printing from Pop-Up Windows (with Frames)

To print, frame by frame, the contents of a pop-up window that contains two or more frames, follow this procedure:

Click anywhere in the desired frame.
Click "File" from the menu bar near the top of the pop-up window.
Click on "Print Frame."
The "Print" selection form appears.
On the "Print" selection form, select the printer to print from, printer properties, number of copies, and print range.
- If you select "All," the entire contents of the frame prints, including information that may scroll off the screen if the information is in table format.
- If you select "All," only the visible portion of the frame prints if the information is in text format.
- If you select "Pages from/to," only the information that paginates within the page range selected prints.
Click "OK" to start printing or "Cancel" to close the "Print" selection form.

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