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The Year 1969. The mandate: turn on, tune in, drop out. The Year 1999. The mandate: log on, plug in. WHAT IS A PLUG-IN? A plug-in is a software program that works with your browser to enhance the browser's capabilities -- and your surfing experience! When your browser comes across an element on a Web page that it can't interpret on its own, it will call on a plug-in to help display that element -- which is likely to be multimedia: audio, video, or animation. WHERE DO YOU FIND PLUG-INS? The first place you'll find plug-ins is on your browser. As multimedia proliferates on the Web, many plug-ins are becoming standard, and they are already installed on browsers. It's very easy to find out what plug-ins your browser has. Netscape Plug-Ins: 1. Go to the "Help" menu 2. Choose "About Plug-Ins" Internet Explorer Plug-Ins: 1. Go to the "Edit" menu 2. Select "preferences" 3. Click "receiving files" 4. Choose "file helpers" And what are you to do with that information? Nothing! You really don't need to know which plug-ins you already have. It's when you don't have a plug-in that you need to take action. WHEN DO I NEED A PLUG-IN? Occasionally, you'll come across a Web page that has content that a plug-in you don't have. Yet. When this happens, the Web page you're on should direct you to a page where you can download the plug-in you need. There are also sites that list all the very latest plug-ins, and link to places from which you can download them. Our advice? Don't bother with speculative plug-ins! Get new or updated ones only when you need them. HOW TO DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL A PLUG-IN IN FIVE EASY STEPS 1. Follow the links from the Web page that requires the plug-in to the site that provides the plug-in 2. Follow the instructions for your computer setup. 3. It's a good precaution to print any instructions for installing the plug-in before you start to download. 4. Once the plug-in program is downloaded, click on its installer icon. 5. Dialog boxes will appear with prompts to guide you through the installation process. You may also want to consider upgrading your Web browser since a newer version of your browser may already have a plug-in that can handle the things you're trying to see or do. WILL PLUGGING IN HURT? Downloading a plug-in should be painless, although it may take some time, depending on the size of the program and the speed of your connection. And you may have to restart your computer to complete installation, so make sure you've saved everything that needs to be saved first. It shouldn't hurt your wallet either: most of the plug-ins you'll need are Freeware or Shareware, and you won't have to pay a penny. Seems a '90s concept can be very '60s too. Later dudes... WHEN DO I NEED A PLUG-IN? Occasionally, you'll come across a Web page that has content that a plug-in you don't have. Yet. When this happens, the Web page you're on should direct you to a page where you can download [glossary] the plug-in you need. There are also sites that list all the very latest plug-ins, and link to places from which you can download them. Our advice? Don't bother with speculative plug-ins! Get new or updated ones only when you need them. print this lesson | back to lesson main page Go to Oxygen's plug-in page and download a new plug-in or upgrade one you already have