Understanding Settings and Restrictions

Internet service providers, Internet content providers, and corporate administrators can specify default settings for their users before installing the browser. You can specify these settings in Stage 5 of the Internet Explorer Customization wizard. For example, you might want to:

• Specify server lists for components such as Chat and NetMeeting.
• Determine which programs are used for electronic mail and for placing Internet calls, and set up a page to update your users periodically.
• Predetermine the user's connection settings. If you need to manage multiple connection settings, consider using the Connection Manager Administration Kit, and then importing your custom profile.

Corporate administrators

If you are a corporate administrator, you can also set policies and restrictions that help you manage bandwidth, control the behavior and appearance of Internet Explorer, and determine which features users can change.

For an illustration of this feature, see System Policies and Settings.

The ability to set policies and restrictions helps you extend the power of the Customization wizard. For example, they eliminate the need to specify settings individually on each user's computer. And if different sets of users have unique needs, you can create Profile Manager (.ins) files for different sets of users.

You can set policies and restrictions in two ways:

• In Stage 5 of the Customization wizard.
• In the Profile Manager, using automatic configuration.

  To use the Profile Manager, create a new user profile or open an existing profile. Then, expand the folders until you see the setting or restriction that you want to change. You can find more information about each Policies and Restrictions category by clicking the folder for the category.

With automatic configuration, browser settings and restrictions are maintained at the location that you specify in the Customization wizard or in the Internet Options dialog box. To check this location on your user's computers:

1. Click the Tools menu in the browser.
2. Click Internet Options.
3. Click the Connections tab, and then click LAN Settings.

Verify that the Use automatic configuration script option is selected, and check the path in the Address box.

You can set restrictions in the following categories:

• Wizard Settings: Represents the pages of the Internet Explorer Customization wizard. These pages enable you to specify settings and make changes through automatic configuration.
• Internet Settings: Contains settings from the Internet Options dialog box, such as security, ratings, and connections, as well as channels and browser menu settings.
• Web Desktop: Enables you to determine how users can interact with the shell, or visible part, of their operating system. These settings control how users manage files, how their Start menu appears, how they use printers, and how they manage other everyday tasks.
• Subscriptions: Enables you to control bandwidth and how users work with subscriptions and channels. The settings are helpful if you are concerned about server load.
• NetMeeting, Chat, Outlook Express: Enable you to control bandwidth, server settings, and the appearance of these components.

Note

• If you are familiar with .adm files, you can use the policies and restrictions you have set up in your own .adm files by clicking Policy, and then clicking Import. You can find .adm files that you can customize in the appropriate language for the IEAK Policies folder.