Web Browsers
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Web Browsers

After your initial installation of Kubuntu, the default web browser is Konqueror. This is not your only choice however, as you have the ability to install other browsers such as Firefox or Opera. This section of the Internet documentation will cover the basics of Konqueror as well as Firefox including the installation of Java™ and Flash®. More detailed assistance in this area can be researched at http://www.ubuntuforums.org, http://www.kubuntuforums.net, as well as https://help.ubuntu.com/community.

Konqueror

Konqueror, not only a file manager or universal viewing application, is an Open Source web browser in which Kubuntu uses by default. Konqueror supports Java™ applets, JavaScript™, CSS 1 and 2.1, as well as Netscape® plugins (i.e., Flash® and RealVideo® plugins). Konqueror uses a very capable HTML rendering engine called KHTML. To access Konqueror, you can either click on the button in the Kicker (KDE application starter panel at the bottom of the desktop), or you can access it by going to KMenuInternetKonqueror Web Browser.

Bookmarks

Procedure 1. Importing

  1. Open Konqueror by going to KMenuInternetKonqueror Web Browser.

  2. Open the Bookmark Editor by going to BookmarksEdit Bookmarks.

  3. In Bookmark Editor go to FileImport.

    Import Options

    You can import IE, Opera, Mozilla, Netscape, KDE2/KDE3, Galeon, as well as All Crash Session bookmarks by selecting the corresponding choice in the Import menu.

  4. Select the import option that best suits your setup and then close the Bookmark Editor.

Procedure 2. Exporting

  1. Open Konqueror by going to KMenuInternetKonqueror Web Browser.

  2. Open the Bookmark Editor by going to BookmarksEdit Bookmarks.

  3. In Bookmark Editor go to FileExport.

    Export Options

    You can export to IE, Opera, Mozilla, Netscape, or HTML bookmarks by selecting the corresponding choice in the Export menu.

  4. Select the export option that best suits your setup and then close the Bookmark Editor.

Java

  1. Install the sun-java5-plugin package. Please see Appendix A, Installing Java for Internet use.

  2. Once Java is installed and configured on the system, open Konqueror by going to KMenuInternetKonqueror Web Browser.

  3. Go to SettingsConfigure Konqueror.

  4. In the left window, scroll down and select the Plugins label. In the Netscape Plugins section, press the Scan for New Plugins.

  5. Congratulations, you now have Konqueror and Java properly configured and ready for use.

Flash

Procedure 3. Installing Adobe Flash automatically

  1. Go to a website that contains embedded flash controls (i.e., http ://www.flash-game.net and you will be prompted to install the plugin through the KDE plugin wizard.

  2. In the KDE plugin wizard the Macromedia Flash Player 9.0 should be highlighted. Press the Next button.

  3. At the Plugin license screen, select the I agree radio button and press Next.

  4. After the installation has completed, press the Finish and then reload the page. Flash is not installed.

Procedure 4. Installing Adobe Flash manually

  1. Install flashplugin-nonfree which will download and install the latest Adobe® Flash. To install please see Appendix B, Installing Flash for Internet use.

  2. Once installed go to Konqueror by going to KMenuInternetKonqueror Web Browser.

  3. Go to SettingsConfigure Konqueror.

  4. In the left window, scroll down and select the Plugins label. In the Netscape Plugins section, press the Scan for New Plugins.

  5. Restart Konqueror and enjoy using Flash.

Procedure 5. Installing Gnash

  1. Open Adept Manager by going to KMenuSystemAdept Manager Manage Packages.

  2. When prompted to enter a password, enter your user password and press OK.

  3. Locate the Search box just under the buttons at the top of the window and type konqueror.

  4. Locate the package named konqueror-plugin-gnash and select it. Press the Request Install button.

  5. Locate the the Apply Changes button in the top toolbar and press it.

  6. After the installation is complete close Adept Manager. Gnash is now installed and ready to use. Note that Gnash is still very early in development so functionality is limited. Please review the Gnash website at http://www.gnu.org/software/gnash/ for more information.

Firefox

Firefox 2 is the second generation award-winning Web browser created by Mozilla.

Installing

  1. Open Add/Remove Programs by going to KMenuAdd/Remove Programs.

  2. When prompted for your password, enter your user password and press OK.

  3. To the right of the Search box is a drop down selection. Select Any Suite.

  4. In the left hand window select Internet.

  5. In the main window select Firefox Web Browser and then press the Apply Changes button.

  6. Once installation is complete press the Quit button to close Add/Remove Programs.

  7. To access Firefox, go to KMenuInternetFirefox Web Browser.

Bookmarks

Procedure 6. Importing

  1. Open Firefox by going to KMenuInternetFirefox Web Browser.

  2. Open the Bookmarks Manager by going to BookmarksOrganize Bookmarks....

  3. Open the Import Wizard by going to FileImport...

  4. Under the Import Bookmarks from section select either Opera if you are using Opera or From File to import from other browsers. Once you have selected press Next

  5. You should have been presented the Import Complete step of the Import Wizard. Press the Finish to complete the import.

  6. Close the Bookmarks Manager application.

  7. Access your Opera imports by going to BookmarksFrom Opera and select a bookmark.

Procedure 7. Exporting

  1. Open Firefox by going to KMenuInternetFirefox Web Browser.

  2. Open the Bookmarks Manager by going to BookmarksOrganize Bookmarks....

  3. Start the export by going to FileExport...

  4. Select the directory you want to save the bookmarks.html and press the Save button.

Java

Flash

Procedure 8. Installing Adobe Flash automatically

  1. Go to a website that contains embedded flash controls (i.e., http ://www.flash-game.net and at the top of the page you should see the drop down that states "Additional plugins are required to display all the media on this page."

  2. At the top of the page press the Install Missing Plugins....

  3. At the Plugin Finder Service, Adobe Flash Player should be checked. Check it if is isn't and press Next.

  4. At the Plugin Licenses dialog select the I agree radio button and press the Next button.

  5. If everything installed correctly you should have a dialog that states that Adobe Flash Player Installed. If so press the Finish button. This completes the automatic installation.

Procedure 9. Installing Adobe Flash manually

Procedure 10. Gnash

Accessing help:/ Links

Konqueror has the ability to handle help:/application_name links and open the applications documentation. By default this isn't configured for Firefox but can easily be done by referring to the following procedure.

  1. Start Firefox by going to KMenuInternetFirefox Web Browser.

  2. In the address bar (press Ctrl-L) type about:config and press Enter.

  3. Right click on the list, select NewBoolean.

  4. In the dialog box type network.protocol-handler.external.help, press the OK button, and then select true and press the OK button.

  5. Right click on the list, select NewString .

  6. In the dialog box type network.protocol-handler.app.help, press the OK button, and then type khelpcenter and press the OK button.

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