It was apparent that page code either needed to be downgraded to 'lowest common denominator' or alternative versions of web page were needed for Netscape 6.1, Netscape 4.7, and Internet Explorer 4.0. Therefore, a version optimized for Netscape 6.1 was created, as well as another version compatible for both Netscape 4.7 and Internet Explorer 4.0. (This was before Internet Explorer 6.0 and Netscape 6.2 were available.)

Review of several current web sites and textbooks on Javascript presented different approaches to writing script to first detect a user's browser, and then depending on browser and version, to redirect user to a specific page. In this particular case, none of recommendations or solutions were what was needed. After a good deal of testing and re-testing, following script examples were assembled.

Below are five different examples / variations of some Javascript that is to be placed on a page that is optimized for Internet Explorer 5.5. These scripts will then automatically detect visitor's browser and version, and then automatically direct particular browser in one of three directions. They are;

If a visitor is using Internet Explorer 5.5, to remain on current page.

If a visitor is using Netscape 6.1, to be redirected to a page that has been optimized for Netscape 6.1.

If a visitor is using Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape 4.7, to be redirected to a third page that has been written specifically for either of these browser versions.

Explanatory discussion follows script examples.

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Any of these five different scripts can be utilized. These have been compiled after many attempts at using other suggested scripts that either were too limited, were not applicable to identifying version 5 and higher browsers, or just did not seem to work as anticipated.

All these scripts are a series of conditional statements, which are read by visitor's browser when web page 'ie55.htm' is loaded.

1. The browser reads first statement and if it is Netscape 6.1, it is redirected to page written specifically for Netscape 6.1. If not,

Start at Beginning

Browsers know to interpret Web pages as HTML because of tags. Since JavaScript is contained inside an HTML document, it needs to be set apart with tags.