2.1 Network Menus & The Network Browser

When we refer to Network Menus within this site, we are referring to a toolbar that can exist in several applications. Presently, Network Menus is often sited within a web browser such as Internet Explorer. Alternatively, we have created our own a special web browser, which is based on Internet Explorer, called Network Browser. Whilst the primary purpose of this browser is for development, if you’d rather not add the Network Menus toolbar to Internet Explorer just yet, you can instead run the Network Browser. The Network Browser is not as fully featured as Internet Explorer, and none of your additional Internet Explorer toolbars will be available.

2.2 Installing Network Menus

Network Menus is distributed as an installable package, and the latest downloadable version is available from http://www.network.ltd.uk/Browser/. If you are using Windows NT (including Windows 2000, XP and 2003) you will need to have the appropriate permissions in order to install Network Menus, i.e. you will need to be an Administrator or Power User.

1. Download the Installer from this page, and save it to your desktop.
2. Double-click the installer icon.
3. Step through the installation wizard. Click next to reach the next screen (but review the licence agreement carefully)
4. You will be asked whether you want to install the Network Browser, the Internet Explorer toolbar, or both. When upgrading, you should choose the same options as when you first installed. If you wish to un-install a component, please use the un-installer separately.
5. Once completed, you will be prompted to click the “Finish” button.

2.3 Starting Network Menus

The default settings for the installer are to install Network Menus as both an Internet Explorer toolbar, and as part of the Network Browser.

2.3.1 Network Browser

To start the Network Browser:

1. Open the Start menu, and select “Programs“ or “All Programs” if you are running Windows XP.
2. Select “Network Browser” from the “Network Ltd” menu.

2.3.2 Network Menus for Internet Explorer

If you chose to install Network Menus as a toolbar in Internet Explorer, it should appear automatically. Indeed, the installer normally starts Internet Explorer for you, and introduces you to Network Menus step-by-step. If you are not sure, try loading Internet Explorer now. If you cannot see the Network Menus tool bar, or should you wish to remove the Network Menus tool bar, adopt the following procedure:

1. Load Internet Explorer in the usual manner (if it is not already loaded).
2. On the menu bar (usually at the top of the screen), choose “View”.
3. Hover over the “Toolbars” menu, and click on “Network Menus”.

After first installing the toolbar, it may be necessary to jiggle around with the other toolbars in Internet Explorer in order to arrange them in a satisfactory manner. Sometimes the toolbars have been locked, preventing their movement. If you are unable to move the toolbar or toolbars, check that your toolbars haven't been locked:

1. On the menu bar, choose “View”.
2. Hover over the “Toolbars” menu, and click on “Lock The Toolbars”.
3. There should not be a tick next to “Lock The Toolbars”.

Once you have arranged your toolbars to your liking, it is often a good idea to lock them again, in order to prevent an accidental mouse click from re-arranging the tool bars into an unsatisfactory configuration. Simply repeat the above, except ensure that there is a tick next to the “Lock The Toolbars” option. In either case, Network Menus will now load, and the following instructions apply to both the toolbar within Internet Explorer and Network Browser.

2.4 Start-up Wizard

Once Network Menus has been installed and run whether in Internet Explorer or indeed the Network Browser, you should be introduced to the software step-by-step. Firstly, you will need to enter your user name and password. If you signed up to Network Menus directly, you should have been sent an e-mail containing your user name and password. Please consult your e-mail for these details. If, however, you are using Network Menus internally, please consult your Network Menus administrator for further details (it may be prudent to check your e-mails first!). Tip: Your user name is often your e-mail address, or your work user name if you are connecting to a server within your company's Intranet. Having connected to the server, you may be prompted to synchronise with the server. You are recommended to select “Yes”. This process retrieves the latest version of your menus from the server. Next, you will be prompted as to whether you wish to import your existing “Favourites”. This option imports your collection of favourites web sites stored in Internet Explorer, and creates a new menu called “Imported IE Favourites”. They will appear in the group that you choose. All being well, you will now be ready to work with Network Menus.