Often I have been surfing the World Wide Web, minding my own business when I happen upon a page that I feel that I particularly need the information from. I stop, select the print button from my browser window, and I feel confident that I have the site copied successfully onto a sheet of white printer paper. Then when I am least expecting it, shazam! The printout only contains information from the Web site's left column, or I only get the banner advertisement that was tucked at the bottom of the web page.

The cause of these problems are frames. Frames split the browser into two or more sections called "cells" or "pages". Each cell is able to display its own web page data separate of the others. Web site creators often use one or more of these pages to display an index of their sites contents or an advertisement, while using a single main page to display content.

All these frames are a great idea until somebody who browses the site decides that they would like to make a printout of the page. Unfortunately, each frame can only be printed separately and users can not always be certain which one is currently selected.

The only way to make sure your printout will contain the information you want is to click your mouse somewhere in that frame before selecting the print option. You may also want to select the Print Preview option before actually printing. That way, you can see what you are about to print before committing it to wood pulp.

Please email comments/suggestions to editor@cyberia.com.

Other newsletter articles