Clearing your web browser’s cache

Written by eric on November 23, 2007. Posted in User Guide, Using the Internet. No Comments »

A web browser is a software-based application used to view webpages on the World Wide Web. When you use your web browser to view a webpage, the browser saves a copy of the webpage on your computer’s hard drive; this is called caching.

When you make a return visit to the webpage, your browser pulls the information from its cache files rather than retrieving the information over your internet connection again; in this manner, the browser loads the webpage more quickly and uses less bandwidth. However, if the webpage has been updated since your last visit, the version saved in your browser’s cache may not reflect recent changes made to the webpage.

If you have made recent changes to your WebSpawner webpage but do not see those changes when you view your webpage, your browser is likely showing you a cached copy from a previous visit. For this reason, it is sometimes necessary to clear or empty your browser’s cache so the browser will load a fresh copy of the updated webpage upon your next visit.

Clearing your browser’s cache may also free up space on your computer’s hard drive.

Following are instructions on how to clear your web browser’s cache for several popular web browsers. Note that some browsers, such as Internet Explorer, refer to the cache as “Temporary Internet Files.”

Internet Explorer Version 6 for Windows

1. Click on the Tools menu, pull down and release on Internet Options.
2. The General tab should be visible (if not, click on it).
3. Under Temporary Internet Files click the Delete Files button.
4. Click OK, and then click OK again to close the Internet Options window.

Internet Explorer Version 7 for Windows

1. Click on the Tools menu, pull down and release on Internet Options.
2. The General tab should be visible (if not, click on it).
3. Under Browsing History click the Delete button.
4. Next to Temporary Internet Files click the Delete Files button.
5. Click Yes and then click the X button to close the window.
6. Click OK to close the Internet Options window.

Netscape Navigator Version 9 for Windows

1. Click on the Tools menu, pull down and release on Options.
2. In the Options window, click on Privacy.
3. Under Private Data click the Clear Now button.
4. In the Clear Private Data window, click to check the Cache box if it is not checked already; then click the Clear Private Data Now button.
5. Click OK to close the window.

Firefox Version 2 for Windows

1. Click on the Tools menu, pull down and release on Options.
2. In the Options window, click on Privacy.
3. Under Private Data click the Clear Now button.
4. In the Clear Private Data window, click to check the Cache box if it is not checked already; then click the Clear Private Data Now button.
5. Click OK to close the window.

Firefox Version 2 for Mac

1. Click on the Firefox menu, pull down and release on Preferences.
2. Click the Advanced icon, and then click the Network tab.
3. Under the Cache section, click the Clear Now button.
4. Close the window.

Safari for Mac

1. Click on the Safari menu, pull down and release on Empty Cache.
2. When asked if you are sure you want to empty the cache, click the Empty button.

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Where’s the Refresh / Reload button?

Written by eric on November 1, 2007. Posted in User Guide, Using the Internet. No Comments »

One common question received by WebSpawner Customer Support is:

“I can’t find the Refresh or Reload button… where is it?”

The Refresh or Reload button is in the toolbar of your web browser program. When clicked, it forces the browser to load a fresh copy of the webpage being viewed from the webhost’s server. This is helpful if you have made changes to your webpage but are unable to see the changes when your view the page (which would be due to your web browser displaying a locally cached copy of the page from a previous visit). Clicking Refresh or Reload while viewing your webpage should cause your browser to display the most recent version of the page, including your changes.

The Refresh or Reload button is usually located very close to the Address Bar.

In Internet Explorer version 6, the Refresh button can be found just above the Address Bar… it has two green arrows like this:

In Internet Explorer version 7, Microsoft has relocated the Refresh button to the right side of the Address Bar:

Users of Mozilla’s Firefox browser for Windows can find the Refresh button to the left of the Address Bar, represented by a single blue arrow curving in a circular direction:

The Mac version of Firefox has a Refresh button with a very similar appearance and location as the Windows version, as shown here:

For those who prefer Apple’s Safari browser on their Macs, the Refresh button is a colorless circular arrow in the familiar left-of-the-Address-Bar location:

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