Surf-Ahead keeps your browser busy downloading pages so you don't have to wait for them. Your Internet connection is utilized much more effectively, and pages wait for you — you don't wait for them.

This discussion assumes you're using a mouse configured for right-handed use. If your mouse is configured for the left hand, the functions of the left and right mouse buttons are reversed.

There are two basic steps to browsing using Surf-Ahead:

While you read/use a page, use the right mouse button to click on all the links you're interested in. The pages open in the Page List under your current page, and you remain on your current page. When you're completely done with the current page,

use the Next Page command to go to the next downloaded page (F4 key or * on numeric keypad). Repeat.

If you want to see a page immediately, you can click on its link normally with the left mouse button. The page is prioritized for immediate download, even if you'd previously opened it with Surf-Ahead.

Generally, the more pages you queue for download with Surf-Ahead, the less likely you are to have to wait for a page. You can even Surf-Ahead several pages at once — see Open Selected Links.

Searching with Surf-Ahead

Surf-Ahead is especially useful for searches, because they usually involve clicking several links on a page — and a lot of waiting.

Go to your search page and enter your search key.

As you look through the search results for promising matches, right-click on each of the links you're interested in. As you do this, new pages will open and start downloading in the Page List underneath the page you're on. When you reach the bottom of the search results page, you can right-click the "Next" link leading to the next page of search results.

By this time, your first link will probably be ready, or well on its way. Use the Next Page command (or keyboard equivalent) to start reading that page instantly. When you're done with that page, use Next Page again to go to the next page.

Eventually, you'll reach the next search engine results page — the last link you opened — and you can repeat the process until you've found the goods (or given up and headed to the library).

Your daily reading

Every morning you may sit down at the computer and read your favorite news sites and trade magazines. Instead of waiting as each of these pages downloads, use Surf-Ahead to get them ready and waiting for you.

Use the right mouse button to open each of your news sites from your Favorites, then use the Next Page command. (You can also use a Favorites Book to open all your daily reading sites with one click.)

As you scan each site's table of contents for links to stories you're interested in, right-click them, and then Next Page through the pages. Even on the slowest of connections, reading matter will be ready for you instantly, given the time it takes to read.

Mouse buttons, context menus and the Ctrl key

iRider is set up by default to use the right mouse button for Surf-Ahead (left mouse button on a mouse configured for left-handed use). To access context menus — normally opened by right-clicking — press and hold the right button for a moment, or hold down the Menu key ( ) while right-clicking.

The Tools/iRider Options command lets you change the mouse buttons assigned to Surf-Ahead. You can choose to assign the middle button to Surf-Ahead if you have a three-button mouse. You can also assign neither the right nor middle buttons to Surf-Ahead and instead press the Ctrl key while left-clicking to Surf-Ahead. If you un-assign the right button, it will resume standard Windows behavior.

You can also Surf-Ahead a URL entered into the Address bar by holding down the Ctrl key when you press Enter.

Pages with frames

Some web pages are divided into regions called "frames," and sometimes when you click on a link, only the contents of a frame will change. When you click on a frame-targeted link, iRider displays the indicator shown at right. Ordinarily it's impossible to use Surf-Ahead frame-targeted links.

To override this restriction, hold down the Shift key while clicking frame-specific links. This will force the new frame contents to be opened in a separate page. WARNING: Some websites will malfunction if frame contents are opened into a separate page (usually because the frame needs to refer to its enclosing parent page or to another frame); the frame will also be divorced from any menus or other elements present in the adjacent frames.

Surf-Ahead queues pages for download

When you open pages using Surf-Ahead, iRider usually downloads them sequentially in the order you opened them. This helps to ensure that new pages are ready for you as soon as possible. (If pages always downloaded simultaneously, their competition for network time would result in the first page finishing more slowly.)

If network traffic or a slow server prevents a page from downloading in a timely manner, iRider will start downloading additional pages simultaneously. This ensures that subsequent pages aren't held up waiting for a prior page that's moving slowly, and helps to maximize utilization of your network connection.

When you click links without using Surf-Ahead, they always start to download immediately, and any pending pages opened with Surf-Ahead assume a lower priority for download.

See the Power Tips page for additional tips to get the most out of iRider.