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Creating a "Kiosk" Browser in Netscape Navigator Part 2 [Super Kiosk Mode]

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If you are running Netscape 4.08 or Communicator 4.5, you have the option of running in the "super kiosk" mode. This mode allows you to run Netscape in a frameless browser window -- no frame, no menus, no toolbars. When running in this mode, there is no buttons or menu items available to close Netscape. It can only be closed using shortcut keys like CTRL+Q or ALT+F4. This mode is best suited for those applications, like Web Catalogs, where you want to discourage patrons from closing the application.

Note: As far as I know, the Mac versions of Netscape do not support the kiosk modes - sorry Mac users!

Here's a view of Netscape running in "super kiosk" mode - you can see that there are no buttons or menus that allow you to exit out of Netscape.

The "super kiosk" mode is intiated by using the "-sk" command line option. To set this, in Windows95/98/NT, go to your desktop icon for Navigator/Communicator:
- select Properties
- select Shortcut
- modify Target by adding "-sk" after "C:\Program Files\Netscape\Communicator\Program\netscape.exe" so that it reads:

"C:\Program Files\Netscape\Communicator\Program\netscape.exe" -sk

If you would like to use this method but would still like to include the toolbar to provide functionality to your patrons to browse, print, etc. review Part 1 and follow that tutorial to set your home page using the "kiosk" method. That setting combined with the "super kiosk" mode will create a browser window that cannot be closed with a mouse click and yet still provides functionality for your patrons. Here's an example of the two together:

Written by Andrew Mutch.
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Last Updated July 19, 1999