Helpful Tools

We have gathered together useful tools and information that will help you utilize the MERLIN Project website.

Downloading Files

Downloading refers to the process of transferring files (e.g. programs or document) from the internet to your local computer. Almost everything you do on the Web is some form of downloading --it's as simple as clicking your mouse. When you access a web page, you are actually downloading the document and all its associated graphics from a web server.

Another way to download files is to click on the link to the file with your right mouse button (or hold the mouse button down if you are using a Mac), and select Save Target As from the pop-up menu. You will be prompted to save the file to your hard drive/ You need to remember where you save the file so that you can find it later.

If you don't already have one, create a Download Files folder by opening Windows Explorer, highlighting your hard drive (typically the c: drive), then selecting File/New/Folder When the folder appears, name it Download Files.

Saving an Image

Once a graphic or photo is displayed on your monitor, you may want to save it for future reference. Here's how to do it:

Place your cursor over the graphic.

Windows users: Click your right mouse button. A pop-up box appears. Macintosh users: Click and hold the mouse button until the pop-up box appears.

Save the image to your hard drive by selecting the Save Picture As option.

You can accept the current file name or rename the file. (Graphic files are usually in .gif or .jpg format.)

Compressed and Self-Extracting Files

With software, you will be downloading files that have been compressed. These may be individual files or groups of files that have been compressed into a single file. This is done to save downloading time and disk space. If the files have been compressed, you need a separate software utility to decompress them, such as WinZip.

Self-extracting. These files do not require a separate software program to run -- .(Macintosh .sea or DOS / Windows .exe extension). Once you have downloaded them to your computer, you can install the program by double clicking on the file and following the instructions.

PDF Information

The MERLIN Project website makes use of Adobe PDF files. This convenient format allows brochures, applications, word processing files, etc. to be quickly formatted for distribution via the web.

In order to read a PDF file, you must have the freely distributed Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. To download the software, please visit:

Download Adobe Reader

After downloading the software, you need to:

1) exit your browser software
2) locate the downloaded file and double-click on the icon to install the Reader software
3) follow the installer directions to install the PDF Reader product
4) reopen your browser software, and
5) access the PDF file.

Once the software is installed, you may view PDF files at any site on the web.

If you want to download a PDF document and save it to your computer, you need to right-click on the PDF document link, and then choose the Save Target As option, and save the document to your computer.

To print a PDF document, use the standard Windows print command, File - Print within either your browser, or Adobe Reader. You can also print a PDF Document directly from the Windows Explorer by right-clicking on the PDF document, and then choosing the Print option.

Playing Audio Files

The MERLIN Project has sound clips available on-line from our 'Coast-to-Coast AM' broadcasts. They have been produced in the Windows Media Audio (wma) format, which provides relatively good sound quality with small file sizes.

In order to listen to the audio files, you must have the freely distributed Windows Media Player installed on your computer. To download the software, please visit:

Download Windows Media Player

After downloading the software, you need to:

1) exit your browser software
2) locate the downloaded file and double-click on the icon to install the Media Player software
3) follow the installer directions to install the Media Player product
4) reopen your browser software, and
5) click on the sound file to play the audio clip.

Once the software is installed, you may play any audio file located on any site on the web.

If you want to download an audio file and save it to your computer, you need to right-click on the sound clip link, and then choose the Save Target As option, and save the file to your computer.

The MERLIN Project Research Group

P.O. Box 1241 - Seabrook, NH 03874

Call Toll Free (866)-298-7688