Copyright: Copyright, 1996 by BRM
Citation: LIVELINK SYSTEMS, Hypertext by LiveLink Systems


Hypertext Application
BackWeb User's Guide

Introduction

Installing BackWeb

Getting Started

Channels

InfoPaks

Downloading InfoPaks

Browsing the Web

Troubleshooting


POB 34059, 5 Mercaz Shatner

Jerusalem 91340, Israel

Tel. 972-2-528274, Fax. 972-2-528356


Introduction

The BackWeb User's Guide provides an overview of the BackWeb interface,  installation procedures and all the information you need to configure and use BackWeb.

How to Use this Guide

What is BackWeb?


How to Use this Guide

The BackWeb User's Guide is organized as follows:

Introduction contains a general overview of BackWeb and the layout of this guide.

Installing BackWeb provides detailed instructions on installing BackWeb.

Getting Started explains how to begin and end a BackWeb session and how to use the BackWeb window.

Channels describes how to use channels and set their properties.

InfoPaks describes the types of InfoPaks, how to use them and how to configure their parameters.

Downloading InfoPaks explains the process of controlling InfoPak downloading.

Browsing the Web describes how to access the Web sites of the InfoPak providers.

Troubleshooting lists problems that may arise when using BackWeb and how to solve them.


What is BackWeb?

BackWeb is an innovative software package that introduces a new media for interaction between users and information providers on the World Wide Web.  You receive free, periodically updated multimedia clips (InfoPaks) on subjects of particular interest.  During the time you are connected to the Internet, the InfoPaks are downloaded to your computer in the background.  These InfoPaks can be InfoFlashes (animations), audio messages, background wallpapers, or screen savers that appear on the screen in different ways during regular work sessions.

You control which types of InfoPaks download, their display frequency and other parameters. Since InfoPaks download using spare on-line bandwidth, and may be displayed when you are off-line, you incur no additional telephone expense in downloading and viewing InfoPaks.

BackWeb displays InfoPaks that have been stored on your local computer's disk.  BackWeb automatically deletes InfoPaks that have been displayed a pre-defined number of times or whose expiration time has passed, and requests more InfoPaks from the BackWeb channels.  You can also, via the BackWeb window, select to keep  or delete certain InfoPaks manually.

What is a Channel?

What is an InfoPak?

The BackWeb Client


What is a BackWeb Channel?
What is a Channel?

Channels are analogous to cable TV channels, that transmit programs chosen by the channel operator.  You may register or terminate your registration to any channel with ease.

The InfoPaks received from the channel are filtered according to criteria you have specified.  Each channel may present you with categories and questions that allow it to send you InfoPaks that best fit your needs.  In addition, the channeled information is downloaded to your computer as various types or media according to your preferences.

Registering to a channel allows you to automatically get updated information without having to retrieve it manually from the Web. Initial registration to a channel may be:

Via the channel provider's Web site.

By specifying its Internet server address in the Add a New Channel window in the BackWeb window.

BackWeb maintains a Web site with a directory of all channels.


What is an InfoPak?

InfoPaks are downloaded from the channels to your computer.  These InfoPaks usually consist of InfoFlashes (animations), audio or visual files for informational, service, entertainment or marketing purposes.

When an InfoPak is being displayed, you can interact with it by clicking on different areas inside the display.  Interaction is intended to reveal more information, or to link directly to the provider's Web page or related Web sites.


The BackWeb Client

Once BackWeb is installed, the BackWeb Client resides in your computer.  The purpose of the BackWeb Client is to:

Contact the BackWeb servers (channels) and request InfoPaks.

Download InfoPaks from BackWeb servers.

Install InfoPaks and have them ready for display.

Display InfoPaks of various types.

Store user's updated parameters, received from the channel registration form.

You can configure how BackWeb accomplishes these tasks by opening the BackWeb window.  There you can:

Set and store the user's configuration and preferences.

List available InfoPaks.

Manually play InfoPaks.

Connect to the Web via the user's Web browser.

Register to channels.

Terminate your connection to a channel.


Installing BackWeb

This section describes how to download, install and upgrade BackWeb on your computer.

Hardware Requirements

Downloading BackWeb

Installing BackWeb

Upgrading BackWeb


Hardware Requirements

Operating System	Windows 95™

Software Size	1.5 MB

Disk Storage	Storage space for each channel is user set during registration; it is advisable to set it no lower than the default value. Note that a channel devoted to video InfoPaks, say, will need more space than a regular channel.


Downloading BackWeb

To download BackWeb from a Web site offering the BackWeb Client, such as the BackWeb Web Site:

1.	Click the appropriate hot spot to download the software.

2.	After clicking the download hot spot, you may get a message box regarding  unknown file types or configurations.  Select "Save to Disk" or "Save File" in the box.

3.	Specify a directory on your local hard disk to place the BackWeb software when prompted.

Step two places BackWeb files in the specified directory.


Installing BackWeb

Once all the BackWeb files are decompressed into the specified directory, double-click on the setup.exe file to install BackWeb on your computer.

Once BackWeb is downloaded and installed on your PC, it automatically runs at system startup.  The BackWeb icon appears on the right hand side of the Windows 95 task bar (notification area).

Following the installation, you are automatically taken to the BackWeb Quick Setup.  The BackWeb Quick Setup allows you to customize BackWeb to meet your specific needs.

The BackWeb Quick Setup takes you through the following steps:

View a sample InfoPak.

Specify which types of InfoPaks should be played automatically.

Add new channels from the BackWeb channel directory.

Specify the default disk space you wish to allow for the storage of InfoPaks on each channel.


Upgrading BackWeb

BackWeb upgrades are downloaded from the channels automatically as InfoFlashes.  The upgrade InfoFlash displays and allows you to upgrade BackWeb immediately or to wait until a more convenient time.  If you specify that you wish to upgrade, BackWeb is upgraded and automatically begins a new session.

If the upgrade is not performed via the InfoFlash, when you open the BackWeb window, a message box displays.  You are asked if you wish to upgrade immediately.  If you specify that you wish to upgrade, BackWeb is upgraded and automatically begins a new session.   Otherwise, the above step is repeated every time you open the BackWeb window until you upgrade or delete the upgrade InfoFlash.


Getting Started

This section discusses the basic operations required to run BackWeb on your computer.

Starting a BackWeb Session

Opening the BackWeb Window

The BackWeb Window

Customizing BackWeb

Adding a Channel

Controlling & Interacting With InfoPaks

Closing the BackWeb Window

Suspending & Resuming Downloading

Stopping & Restarting the Auto-Player

Shutting Down & Restarting BackWeb

Uninstalling BackWeb


Starting a BackWeb Session

Once BackWeb is downloaded and installed on your PC, it automatically runs at system startup. The BackWeb icon appears on the right hand side of the Windows 95 task bar (notification area).

You do not need to open the BackWeb window to activate BackWeb.  Once BackWeb is running and the BackWeb icon appears in the task bar, BackWeb will automatically download and/or display InfoPaks according to its current configuration.  You need to open the window only to change BackWeb configuration, add/delete channels or play InfoPaks manually.


Opening the BackWeb Window

Double click the BackWeb icon to open the BackWeb window:

The BackWeb window consists of three panes:

Channels

InfoPaks

Downloads in Progress

You can choose which of these panes you want displayed as well as the screen proportions between them by dragging the borders separating the panes.


The BackWeb Window

The BackWeb window is used to monitor and control the operation of BackWeb.

The Toolbar

Drop-Down Menus

Pop-Up Menus

The Channels Pane

The InfoPaks Pane

The Downloads in Progress Pane

The Status Bar


The Toolbar

The BackWeb window includes a toolbar with common options for quick access.


Drop-Down Menus

BackWeb provides the following drop-down menus from the menu bar:

BackWeb.  Provides access to the BackWeb home page, allows you to shutdown BackWeb and close the BackWeb window.

Controls.  Allows you to start and stop the auto-player, suspend downloading of InfoPaks and define the setup parameters for BackWeb.

Channel.  Enables you to join channels manually or via the Channel Directory, open a channel's Web page or registration page, enable or disable a channel or view its properties.

InfoPak.  Enables you to replay the previously played InfoPak, play or stop playing a selected InfoPak, remove the current BackWeb wallpaper, save, delete and view the properties of an InfoPak.

Help.  Provides access to Help information and allows you to quickly set up BackWeb.


Pop-Up Menus

Pop-up menus can be accessed by positioning the cursor on an object (such as a channel, an InfoPak, or an InfoFlash being played), and clicking on the right mouse button.  Pop-up menus include common, frequently used commands specific to the object being clicked on.


The Channels Pane

The Channels pane displays a list of all the channels that you are registered to.  The first item in the Channels pane is "All Channels", which displays all InfoPaks in the InfoPak pane.  Selecting a channel causes the InfoPaks Pane to display the list of InfoPaks for this channel.

To the left of the channel may be one of the following symbols:

x 	The channel is currently not receiving new InfoPaks.

>> 	The current download is from this channel.


The InfoPaks Pane

The InfoPaks pane displays a list of all the InfoPaks that have been downloaded and currently reside on your computer.  The InfoPaks displayed are from the selected channel in the Channels pane or from all of the channels if "All Channels" was selected.  The display is organized in columns containing the properties of the InfoPak.

To the left of the InfoPak may be the >> symbol, indicating that the InfoPak is active.


The Downloads in Progress Pane

The Downloads in Progress pane displays the InfoPaks that are currently being downloaded.


The Status Bar

The Status Bar of the BackWeb window contains the following information:

Short help about the selected command.

Total number of InfoPaks from the selected channel.

Number of new InfoPaks from the selected channel.


Customizing BackWeb

When using BackWeb, there are several questions that you should address.  What is the maximum amount of disk space you would like to allocate for InfoPaks?  Do you want BackWeb to change your own background wallpaper automatically?  Do you want to receive audio InfoPaks?

Such questions and others can be determined by using the BackWeb window to:

Add channels and delete them.

Enable and disable interaction with channels.

Set up channel properties, such as display types and disk space.

Monitor and control downloading of InfoPaks.

Control various InfoPak parameters, such as automatic playing.

Play InfoPaks manually, stop running InfoPaks and mark InfoPaks as "keep" to disable the automatic delete.

Delete InfoPaks.

Suspend BackWeb activities (download and automatic playing).

Connection Settings

Storage

InfoFlashes & Audio

Screen Savers

Wallpapers


Connection Settings

To define the connection communication settings, select Setup from the Controls menu or click the Setup button on the toolbar.  Click the Connection tab.  The following dialog box displays:

There are three communications parameters that you can set:

Internet Connection.  Select either a Permanent (Local Area Network) or Dial-up modem connection to indicate what type of Internet connection you want to use.

Click the Advanced button, the Advanced Settings dialog box displays.

The Advanced Settings dialog box allow you to choose between the following:

BackWeb selects the UDP port automatically.

You can define the UDP port that the client will use when communicating with the BackWeb channels.  This option is provided for the user whose network contains a Firewall.  In this case, choose a port and ask your system administrator to configure the Firewall to allow UDP communication to the chosen port number.

Dial-Up Schedule.  If you have chosen to use a dial-up connection, you may select either to use your existing dial-up times to download InfoPaks, or specify a dial-up schedule especially for BackWeb.  Press the Dial-Up Schedule button to specify a dial up schedule.  The BackWeb Dial-Up Times dialog box displays.

Define a dial-up schedule by checking the connection days and specifying hours when BackWeb should automatically initiate an Internet connection.  Specify a connection name, for example, UUNET.  The following options are available:

Setting up a new connection.

Using an existing connection (chosen from the list of connections in the Connection Name field).

Modifying an existing connection using the Properties and User buttons.

Setting redial parameters using the Redial button.

For more information on defining and modifying dial-up connections, refer to Windows 95 documentation.

Network Priority. This option allows you to change the priority of BackWeb in relation to other networking applications.  BackWeb can be set to give higher priority to other networking applications, utilizing the network when it is free, so as not to interfere with the processing of other network applications.  When using the network normally, BackWeb assigns itself the same priority as other network applications.


Storage

To control the amount of disk space used for storing InfoPaks on your hard disk, select Setup from the Controls menu or click the Setup button on the toolbar. Click the Storage tab.  The following dialog box displays:

Specify how many MB of disk space you wish to allocate each channel that is downloading InfoPaks.  This amount can be changed at any time for any channel using the Properties item in the Channel menu.

The total disk space allowed for all of the channels is automatically calculated and displayed.


InfoFlashes & Audio

To control the display frequency of InfoFlash and audio message InfoPaks, select Setup from the Controls menu or click the Setup button on the toolbar. Click the InfoFlashes & Audio tab.  The following dialog box displays:

The following settings can be customized:

Automatic Playing - Specify if you would like to play InfoFlashes and/or audio messages  automatically.

Playing Frequency

Specify the minimum time interval (in minutes) between InfoFlashes or audio messages.  An InfoFlash or audio message will not be automatically played until the specified time has elapsed.

Specify the time interval (in seconds) that the keyboard and mouse have to be idle before an InfoFlash or audio message is played.

Sound - If checked, BackWeb enables sound in InfoFlashes.  If unchecked, InfoFlashes play silently, and automatic playing is disabled for audio messages.


Screen Savers

To control the interaction with screen saver InfoPaks, select Setup from the Controls menu or click the Setup button on the toolbar. Click the Screen Savers tab.  The following dialog box displays:

You can customize the following screen saver options:

Automatic Playing.  Check to use BackWeb screen savers in place of your system screen savers.

Interaction.  With conventional screen savers, a mouse movement or click causes the screen saver to disappear, enabling you to continue working.  BackWeb supports this option, but you may, if you prefer, allow mouse interaction with screen saver InfoPaks.

Sound.  Enable or disable sound in screen savers.


Wallpapers

To control wallpaper InfoPaks, select Setup from the Controls menu or click the Setup button on the toolbar. Click the Wallpapers tab.  The following dialog box displays:

You can customize the following wallpaper options:

Replacement Policy.  Specify if you want the wallpaper to be replaced automatically by BackWeb and how often it should be replaced.

Idle Time.  Specify how long the keyboard and mouse have to be idle for the wallpaper to be replaced.


Adding a Channel

There are two ways to add a channel:

Via the channel provider's Web site (recommended).

Directly through the BackWeb Window by specifying an IP address or host name of a BackWeb server on the Internet.

For your convenience, BackWeb provides an updated list of channels by accessing the BackWeb channel directory list which is maintained at the BackWeb Web Site.  From this list you can access the channel's Web site and register from there.

These options are discussed in more detail in InfoPaks.


Controlling & Interacting With InfoPaks

The BackWeb window allows you to do the following:

Control various InfoPak parameters, such as the frequency with which InfoFlashes are displayed.  Refer to Customizing BackWeb.

Play specified InfoPaks.

Stop or pause the currently running InfoFlash or audio message.

Delete InfoPaks or mark them as "keep".

View InfoPak properties.

These options are discussed in Channels.


Closing the BackWeb Window

To close the BackWeb window, select Close from the BackWeb menu or click on the Close button on the BackWeb window.


Suspending & Resuming Downloading

Suspending downloading of InfoPaks allows you to pause the downloading of InfoPaks without actually disabling BackWeb for the current session.  While downloading is suspended no downloading of updated InfoPaks takes place.  A crossed-out BackWeb icon appears in the Windows 95 task bar notification area.

To suspend the downloading of InfoPaks, select Suspend Downloading from the Controls menu.

To restart downloading, select Resume Downloading from the Controls menu.


Stopping & Restarting the Auto-Player

The BackWeb auto-player can be stopped and restarted to allow you to suspend the viewing of InfoPaks temporarily.   Downloading of InfoPaks continues even when the auto-player is stopped, but no InfoPaks appear on your screen.  A crossed-out BackWeb icon appears in the Windows 95 task bar notification area.

To stop the auto-player, select Stop Auto-Player from the Controls menu.

To restart the auto-player, select Start Auto-Player from the Controls menu.


Shutting Down & Restarting BackWeb

Shutting down BackWeb disables the BackWeb agent from running on your computer for the current session.  When shut down, the BackWeb icon disappears from the Windows 95 task bar notification area, no InfoPaks appear on your screen, and no downloading of updated InfoPaks takes place.

To shut down BackWeb, select Shutdown from the BackWeb menu.  Click OK to confirm BackWeb shutdown.

To restart BackWeb:

1.	Click the Start button in the taskbar.

2.	Point to Programs.

3.	Point to BackWeb.

4.	Click BackWeb.


Uninstalling BackWeb

To uninstall BackWeb:

1.	Click the Start button in the taskbar.

2.	Point to Programs.

3.	Point to BackWeb.

4.	Click Uninstall.


Note:

Changing the amount of disk space will not affect the existing channels.  New channels will be allotted the specified amount of disk space by default.


Note:

Pressing F1 in the BackWeb screen saver terminates the screen saver without terminating the InfoPak; this allows you to interact with the InfoPak even if you selected the "Exit the screen saver" option.

If you set up your Window 95 to request a password before exiting the screen saver, pressing the F1 key is the only way to interact with the screen saver InfoPak, because mouse movements will terminate the screen saver and display the password pop-up window regardless of the setting in "Interaction".


Note:

While the auto-player is stopped you can manually play InfoPaks.


Channels

This help module describes what channels are, how to use them and how to set their properties.

What is a Channel?

Accessing Channel Properties

Channel Registration

Deleting a Channel

Disabling a Channel

Activating a Channel

Immediate Channel Activation

Assigning Priority to a Channel

Browsing a Channel Home Page

Browsing a Channel Registration Page


What is a Channel?

Channels are used to transmit InfoPaks.   These channels are analogous to cable TV channels, in that the InfoPaks transmit like programs chosen by the channel operator.  You may register to a channel or terminate your registration to any channel with ease.

Registering to a channel allows you to automatically get new and updated information without having to retrieve it manually from the Web.  Initial registration to a channel may be via the channel provider's Web site, the BackWeb site's channel directory or manually via the BackWeb window.


Accessing Channel Properties

BackWeb enables you to specify the channel properties that most suit your needs in terms of connection to the Internet, display on your screen, and storage on your hard disk.

Connection

Types

Advanced


Connection

To define the connection properties of the channel, select Properties from the Channel menu or click the Properties button on the toolbar.  Click the Connection tab.  The following Channel Properties dialog box displays:

The following connection information can be specified:

Channel Identification. View the name, address and Web page of the channel.  You can browse the Web page using the Open Web Page button.

Channel Priority.  Set the channel's priority to low, medium, or high. The channel's priority level determines what proportion of InfoPaks downloaded and displayed belong to a particular channel.

Channel State.  Enable or disable the channel.  Use the Connect to Channel button to activate the channel immediately irrespective of the current state of the channel.  When a channel is disabled, no new InfoPaks are downloaded from this channel.  The current status of the channel is displayed.


Types

To define the types of display properties of the channel, select Properties from the Channel menu or click the Properties button on the toolbar.  Click the Types tab.  The following Channel Properties dialog box displays:

The following display information can be specified:

Download.  Select the types of InfoPaks you wish to receive from the channel.

Auto-play.  Select the types of InfoPaks you would like to auto-play.


Advanced

To define additional properties of the channel, select Properties from the Channel menu or click the Properties button on the toolbar.  Click the Advanced tab.  The following Channel Properties dialog box displays:

The following information can be specified:

Disk Space.  Specify whether to use the default amount of disk space specified in the general setup or allocate an amount of disk space for this channel.

Urgent Messages.  Specify if you want urgent InfoPaks to be played immediately.


Channel Registration

Channels may be joined in any of the following ways:

Directly from a Web site.

Through the BackWeb Channel Directory.

Through the BackWeb Window manual channel registration.

The list of channels you have joined are displayed in the Channels pane of the BackWeb Window, with their name and current status.

Registration Via a Web Site

Registration Via the BackWeb Channel Directory

Registration Via the BackWeb Window


Registration Via a Web Site

To add a channel from a BackWeb enabled Web site being browsed:

1.	Click the hot spot to add a channel in the Web site;  a registration form displays.

2.	Fill out the form.

3.	Click the Sign-up button to create the link between your computer and the BackWeb site.


Registration Via the BackWeb Channel Directory

To view an updated list of existing BackWeb channels:

1.	Select Add From Directory from the Channel menu or click on the Channel Directory button on the toolbar.  A Web page containing the list of all channels available displays in your default Web browser.

2.	Click on the channel you wish to join; you are connected to the channel's registration page.  Refer to Registration Via a Web Site for details on registering to a channel.


Registration Via the BackWeb Window

To join a channel using the BackWeb window, select Add Manually from the Channel menu.  When joining a channel via the BackWeb window, you have to know the channel's BackWeb server address.

The Next and Back buttons can be used to navigate through the windows and change parameters as needed.

Channel Address and Name

Channel Priority

Download & Auto-Play Options

Storage Space for InfoPaks


Channel Address and Name

After pressing the Next button in the introductory dialog box, the Channel Address and Name dialog box displays.

The following information must be specified:

Channel Server Address.  The server address of the channel you wish to join.  Without this address you cannot join a channel via the Channel Wizard.

Channel Name.  The name you want to give to the new channel.

Press the Next button to proceed to the Channel Priority dialog box.


Channel Priority

The channel priority dialog box allows you to specify the priority of the channel you are joining relative to the other channels that you have already joined.  The priority is used by BackWeb when downloading InfoPaks from the channels.

Click on the priority radio button you want to set for the channel:  high, medium or low.

Press the Next button to proceed to the Download & Auto-Play Options dialog box.


Download & Auto-Play Options

The Download & Auto-Play Options dialog box allows you to indicate if you would like BackWeb to download and play InfoPaks automatically from this channel.

Specify the types of InfoPaks you wish to receive from the channel and if you would like them to be auto-played.  Press the Next button to proceed to the Storage Space for InfoPaks dialog box.


Storage Space for InfoPaks

The Channel Wizard enables you to specify the disk space you want to allocate for this channel.

Specify the disk space for this channel and press the Finish button to exit the Channel Wizard.


Deleting a Channel

If you no longer wish to be registered to a channel and receive InfoPaks from it, you can delete the channel.

To delete a channel:

1.	Select the channel in the Channels pane.

2.	Select Delete from the Channel menu or click the Delete icon on the toolbar.  Click OK to confirm deletion of the channel and its InfoPaks.

OR

1.	Right click on the selected channel.

2.	Select Delete from the pop-up menu.  Click OK to confirm deletion of the channel and its InfoPaks.

Once the channel is deleted, it will no longer appear in the Channels pane of the BackWeb window.


Disabling a Channel

Disabling a channel causes it to pause its downloading activities.  To disable a channel:

1.	Select the channel in the Channels pane.

2.	Select Properties from the Channel menu.

3.	Click Disable in the State section.

OR

1.	Right click on the selected channel.

2.	Select Disable from the pop-up menu.


Activating a Channel

To activate a channel that has been disabled:

1.	Select the channel in the Channels pane.

2.	Select Properties from the Channel menu.

3.	Click enable in the State section.

OR

1.	Right click on the selected channel.

2.	Select Enable from the pop-up menu.


Immediate Channel Activation

To activate a channel immediately regardless of its previous status:

1.	Select the channel in the Channels pane.

2.	Select Properties from the Channel menu.

3.	Click the Connect to Channel button.


Assigning Priority to a Channel

The priority assigned to a channel determines the percentage of InfoPaks received from the channel relative to the other channels joined.

To assign priority to a channel:

1.	Select Properties from the Channel menu.

2.	In the Priority section, select: Low, Medium or High.


Browsing a Channel Home Page

To browse a channel home page:

1.	Select the channel in the BackWeb window.

2.	Select Open Web Page in the Channel menu.

You are taken directly to the channel home page in your Web browser.


Browsing a Channel Registration Page

To browse the registration page of the channel:

1.	Select the channel in the BackWeb window.

2.	Select Open Registration Page in the Channel menu.

You are taken directly to the channel registration page in your Web browser.  The original registration form is opened and all the previous information you provided displays.  You can change existing information or add new information on the registration form.  When the registration form is submitted, the user information is updated with the new information.


InfoPaks

This section describes the different types of InfoPaks available, and which InfoPak parameters you can control.  It also explains how to play, view, save, delete and interact with an InfoPak.

What is an InfoPak?

InfoPak Types

Playing an InfoPak

Replaying the Last InfoPak Viewed

Viewing Information on InfoPaks

Interacting with Active InfoPaks

Removing the Current Wallpaper

Deleting an InfoPak

Keeping an InfoPak


What is an InfoPak?

InfoPaks are the various media items through which the channel you've selected communicates to you new information.  InfoPaks usually consist of files containing InfoFlash, sound, text and graphic components for entertainment, informational, or marketing purposes.

The BackWeb agent residing in your local computer organizes and displays these InfoPaks on an intelligent and context-sensitive basis.  Through the BackWeb window, you can control the displays.

When an InfoPak is being displayed, you can interact with it by clicking on different areas inside the display.  Interaction is intended to reveal more information, or to link directly to the content provider's Web page or related Web sites.


InfoPak Types

InfoPaks are defined as one of the following:

InfoFlashes.

Screen savers.

Background Wallpaper.

Audio messages.


InfoFlashes

InfoFlashes are animated content InfoPaks that appear periodically on the screen at idle time or are played manually by the user.  Typically they are in the form of news flashes where a headline or graphic is towed onto the screen.

Clicking on the InfoPak usually displays additional information on the InfoPak with an option to load the Web browser which opens on the relevant page in the content provider's Web site.


Screen Savers

Screen savers are displayed on your screen when the computer is idle, in accordance with your Windows configuration.  Screen savers are dynamic pictures or simple InfoFlashes that are used to prevent pixel burn out on traditional monitors.  They can also help secure your PC against unauthorized use if you setup a screen saver password.  Most commonly, they are a source of entertainment.   Normal screen savers stop and disappear when you enter any keyboard input or move or click your mouse.

The BackWeb screen savers, however, can be set up to allow interacting with the screen saver InfoPaks by clicking on them.


Background Wallpaper

A desktop wallpaper is a picture that appears on the user's screen.  All desktop icons and application windows are placed on top of this picture.  In Windows 95 you have the option of displaying the wallpaper pattern in the center of the screen or tiling the pattern across the entire screen.  For BackWeb wallpapers, the channel determines whether the wallpaper pattern is tiled or centered.


Audio Messages

Audio messages are audio files, played according to the same schedule as InfoFlashes.


Playing an InfoPak

While you are working, InfoPaks will occasionally display on your screen in accordance with your configuration.

In addition, you can manually display a specific InfoPak:

1.	Select the InfoPak you want to play from the InfoPak pane.

2.	Click the play button  [image]  in the toolbar, or select Play from the InfoPak menu.


Replaying the Last InfoPak Viewed

To replay the last InfoFlash or audio message (if applicable), select Replay [last InfoFlash] from the InfoPak menu, where [last InfoFlash] is the name of the last InfoFlash displayed.


Viewing Information on InfoPaks

Information such as the size of an InfoPak and its content provider's Internet address can be viewed using the BackWeb window.

To view the properties of an InfoPak:

1.	Select the InfoPak in the InfoPak pane of the BackWeb Window.

2.	Select Properties from the InfoPak menu.

OR

1.	Right click on the InfoPak

2.	Select Properties from the pop-up menu.

The following types of information categories are available:

General information

Author information


General Information

General information available for an InfoPak includes:

InfoPak name.

InfoPak type (InfoFlash, audio message, screen saver or wallpaper).

Channel name.

Date received.

InfoPak size.

Starts at date and time.  If there is a date and time specified before which the InfoPak should not be auto-played then it is displayed here.

Expiry date and time.  If there is an expiration time, the InfoPak will not be auto-played after this time and will be deleted from the database shortly after.

Number of times the InfoPak has been played.

Last play date and time.


Author Information

Author information on the InfoPak includes:

Content provider name.

Web site address.

Content provider's e-mail address, telephone and fax number.

In addition, you may access the Web site by pressing the Open Web Page button.  This loads the Web browser which opens on the relevant page in the content provider's Web site (refer to Browsing the Web for more information on accessing Web sites).

Additional author information may appear at the bottom of this dialog box, if available.


Interacting with Active InfoPaks

You can interact with an active InfoPak (i.e., the InfoFlash currently displaying on your screen) to get more information.

The interaction may reveal hidden additional information, or may provide a direct link to the content provider's Web page or to other Web sites of interest, such as product review, discussion groups, FAQ lists, etc.

To interact with an active InfoFlash, click on the InfoFlash in any of the areas designated for referencing more information.

To interact with a screen saver:  If the "Interact with the screen saver" option is enabled in setup, and a screen saver password is not enabled in the control panel, you can interact with the screen saver by clicking on it while it is running.  Otherwise, press F1 to stop the screen saver without terminating the InfoPak, and then click on the InfoPak.

Viewing Additional Information

Viewing Web Sites

Muting an InfoFlash

Pausing an InfoFlash

Terminating an InfoFlash


Viewing Additional Information

To view more information, when available, than is displayed by an InfoPak, click the designated area(s) of the InfoPak.


Viewing Web Sites

Depending on the InfoPak author, you may access related Web site(s).  To view the Web sites offered by the InfoPak, position your cursor on the InfoPak and click the right mouse button.  Look for the Access Web Site item in the menu displayed.

Alternatively, to access the content provider's Web page:

1.	Open the BackWeb Window.

2.	Select a Channel.

3.	Select Open Web Page from the Channel menu.


Muting an InfoFlash

To turn off the sound of an InfoFlash:

1.	Position your cursor on the InfoFlash.

2.	Click the right mouse button.

3.	Select Mute from the pop-up menu.

This will not affect the InfoFlash visually, but works as a toggle for the sound accompanying the InfoFlash.  Only the selected InfoFlash will be mute.  If you do not want InfoFlashes to have sound at all, use the InfoFlashes and Audio folder on BackWeb's setup dialog box to disable sound in all InfoFlashes.


Pausing an InfoFlash

An InfoFlash may be paused during the time it is being displayed on your computer.  This option may be used to give you additional time to view the InfoFlash and its various options or to enable you to finish what you are doing without disturbance.

To pause an InfoFlash:

1.	Position your cursor on the InfoFlash.

2.	Click the right mouse button.

3.	Select Pause InfoFlash from the pop-up menu.

To resume the InfoFlash:

1.	Position your cursor on the InfoFlash.

2.	Click the right mouse button.

3.	Select Resume InfoFlash from the pop-up menu.


Terminating an InfoFlash

If you would like to terminate the InfoFlash before it has run its natural course, select Stop from the InfoPak menu or press the [image] icon on the toolbar.  In this case, you can use Play Last InfoFlash from the BackWeb menu to view an InfoFlash once it has been "ended".

You can also click the right mouse button on the InfoFlash and select End InfoFlash.

In addition, from the pop-up menu displayed by clicking the right mouse button on the BackWeb icon, you can select the InfoPak currently being displayed and select Stop to terminate the InfoFlash.


Removing the Current Wallpaper

If you would like to remove the current wallpaper which BackWeb has displayed on your screen, select the Remove Current Wallpaper item in the InfoPak menu or click the Remove Current Wallpaper icon on the toolbar.


Deleting an InfoPak

InfoPaks will normally be deleted and replaced by fresh InfoPaks automatically as the space on your hard disk reserved for BackWeb fills up.  However, you can manually delete InfoPaks.

To delete a particular InfoPak:

1.	Select the InfoPak from the InfoPak pane of  the BackWeb Window.

2.	Select Delete from the InfoPak menu.

3.	Confirm the deletion.


Keeping an InfoPak

BackWeb replaces old InfoPaks with new ones on a regular basis.   BackWeb, however, enables you to save InfoPaks.

To keep an InfoPak:

1.	Select the InfoPak in the InfoPaks pane.

2.	Select Keep from the InfoPak menu.

Once an InfoPak is saved, this setting overrides any parameters set by the channel operator for limiting the life span of the InfoPak.  The InfoPak will remain on your disk until explicitly deleted or until the channel is deleted.


Downloading InfoPaks

BackWeb includes a file-transfer mechanism for transferring information between the channel server and your computer.  InfoPaks are downloaded automatically during the on-line time of your regular Internet sessions.  BackWeb has a unique algorithm for monitoring the communications link between your computer and the Internet, and transfers small portions of InfoPak information when the communications link utilization rate is low.  This avoids significant interference with other communications applications being transmitted over the link.

You may choose to utilize the network normally.  In this case, BackWeb will download InfoPaks at a normal rate, which may slow down other networking applications.

Viewing the Download Process

Aborting InfoPak Downloading

Suspending Downloading


Viewing the Download Process

You can view the downloading process via the Download pane.

The following information is provided about the InfoPaks being downloaded:

InfoPak name and type.

Where the InfoPak comes from (Channel name).

Download start time.

Total size of the InfoPak.

The percentage of the InfoPak already downloaded.


Aborting InfoPak Downloading

To abort an InfoPak download:

1.	Right click on the InfoPak being downloaded.

2.	Select Abort Download.


Suspending Downloading

BackWeb provides you with the ability to suspend all downloading of InfoPaks.

To pause downloading, select Suspend Downloading from the Controls menu.

To resume downloading, select Resume Downloading from the Controls menu.


Browsing the Web

BackWeb enables you to subscribe to channels linked to sites on the World Wide Web that are of interest to you, keeping you updated with the latest developments in your fields of interest.  This allows you to receive the information that you need without wasting time looking for it.

After having interacted with an InfoPak, or during an InfoPak display, BackWeb gives you the ability to access the InfoPak's Web site for more information, to order a product, etc.  In addition, you can directly access the channel's Web site for more information about the channel provider.

InfoPak Web Site

Channel Web Site


InfoPak Web Site

To access the Web site of an InfoPak:

Right click on an active InfoPak and select Access Web Site from the pop-up menu

OR

Select the InfoPak in the InfoPaks pane of the BackWeb window, select Properties from the InfoPak menu and click on the Author tab.  Click the Open Web Page button if it is activated.


Channel Web Site

To access the Web site of a channel:

Select the channel and select Open Web Page from the Channel menu.

OR

Select the channel, select properties from the channel menu and click the Open Web Page button on the Connection tab.


Troubleshooting

New InfoPaks Are Not Received From Any Channel

New InfoPaks Are Not Received From A Channel

An InfoPak Does Not Display Automatically

No InfoPaks Are Displayed Automatically

Registration to a New Channel Via the Web Browser Does Not Work

The BackWeb Icon is Not Displayed in the Windows 95 Taskbar


New InfoPaks Are Not Received From Any Channel

Possible reasons:

Download is suspended.  Refer to  Suspending Downloading.

All the channels are disabled.  Refer to  Activating a Channel.

Download of all the InfoPak types from all the channels is disabled.  Refer to  Accessing Channel Properties, Types.

The disk space which you have allocated to each one of the channels is full and none of the InfoPaks can be currently deleted.  Refer to  Customizing BackWeb, Storage.

All the channels have no new InfoPaks for you.

Your computer is currently not connected to the Internet.

The Firewall of your organization blocks the BackWeb communication. In this case consult your system administrator. If the system administrator tells you to use a specific port number for BackWeb communication, go to the Connection setting, click on Advanced and determine the UDP port number which is used for BackWeb communication.


New InfoPaks Are Not Received From A Channel

Possible reasons:

Download is disabled.  Refer to  Suspending Downloading.

The channel is disabled.  Refer to  Activating a Channel.

Download of some or all the InfoPak types from this channel is disabled.  Refer to  Accessing Channel Properties, Types.

The disk space which you have allocated to this channel is full and none of the InfoPaks from this channel can be currently deleted.  Refer to  Accessing Channel Properties, Advanced.

The channel has no new InfoPaks for you.

The BackWeb server of the channel is down.


An InfoPak Does Not Display Automatically

Possible reasons:

Automatic play of InfoPaks may be disabled.  Refer to  Customizing BackWeb, InfoFlashes & Audio.

The channel of the InfoPak may be disabled.  Refer to  Activating a Channel.

The type of the InfoPak is disabled globally.  Refer to  Installing BackWeb.

The type of the InfoPak is disabled for the specific channel.  Refer to  Accessing Channel Properties, Types.

The InfoPak is not matured yet, i.e. the channel has explicitly specified that this InfoPak should not be automatically displayed before a given date.

The InfoPak is already expired.


No InfoPaks Are Displayed Automatically

Possible reasons:

The automatic play of InfoPaks is disabled.  Refer to  Customizing BackWeb, InfoFlashes & Audio.

Automatic play of animation is disabled.  Refer to  Accessing Channel Properties, Types.

All channels are disabled.  Refer to  Activating a Channel.

Automatic play of animation in all the channels is disabled.  Refer to  Installing BackWeb.


Registration to a New Channel Via the Web Browser Does Not Work

If your Web browser displays a message saying it has encountered an unknown type of file (application/x-iad), then the table of helper applications in your browser is not set correctly. This might happen if your browser is not supported by BackWeb or you have installed the browser after the installation of BackWeb. In this case you have manually fix the table of helper applications in your browser (refer to the documentation of your browser for more information).

If you are using Netscape and you see the message box saying: "Failed to create temp file", go to the temporary directory which is used by Netscape and delete any unneeded file.  Repeat the registration procedure.


The BackWeb Icon is Not Displayed in the Windows 95 Taskbar

Either the BackWeb client is not running or the Explorer is down. To start the BackWeb client, go to the Start menu and select Programs and BackWeb. If the BackWeb window is opened and the icon is still not displayed in the Windows 95 notification area, shutdown BackWeb and restart it.


Note:

If an InfoPak method has been deactivated in the general properties, a warning is displayed next to the option that has been deactivated and the settings for this method will have no effect.


Note:

If an InfoPak method has been deactivated in the general properties, a warning is displayed next to the option that has been deactivated and the settings for this method will have no effect.


Note:

When you delete a channel, all the InfoPaks already received from the channel are also deleted.


Note:

This option is grayed-out if not supported by the channel.


Note:

The "Open Registration Page" option is grayed-out if the channel does not support updates of the user information.  In this case, you can register to the channel as if you are a new user (using the Web) and fill in all your information including the desired changes.  Your current settings will be replaced.