This web site is a collection of frames classified and navigated in a hierarchical structure. The site was designed for reasonably contemporary hardware and software. Therefore, if a visitor can afford a computer and internet access, then spending a little pocket change to legally purchase standard text editors will be no problem. This site works with Netscape Navigator even considering that Navigator does deliberately not comply with international standards and is used by less than 10% of clients.

This site deliberately does not use sound to interfere with any visitor's preferred choice. This site deliberately does not use elaborate motion graphics to anger visitors by defeating quick and easy navigation and thereby wasting the visitor's time. And let's face it, "dog and pony shows" are tacky and offensive.

The OSMTH logo of the red cross is not required to be on a white background as specifically shown by the black & white background of the beauseant. A white background to this logo was not specified in any OSMTH vote and not included in any rules or regulations of the Order, past or present. While antiquary tabards were generally white (contrarily many clergy were and are black), this background is not a requirement for the modern invention of the logo. This site uses a black background to lower the energy useage of monitors by an average 25% while visiting this site by not requiring full screen use of monitor electron guns; a consideration that amateur web sites completely ignore.

This web site implements the following features not found in amateurish web sites. Using standard functionality common in virtually ALL sophisticated high end commercial web sites integrating a substantial amount of information, the menu and the heading are stationary to maintain contact with the visitor and to reduce redundancy in data transfer and hence reduce download time and bandwidth usage. Stationary navigation facilitates rapid location within the web site and immediate linkage to other frames without having to "scroll, search, and scratch" and... oh yes... "hope." Unlike most amateurish web sites, the page is designed to fully utilize 800x600 monitors as well as 1600x1200 monitors. It does not leave a tacky "soul patch" down the middle of a high resolution screen or cram the page in the left margin of a 1600x1200 resolution monitor like a left-side scroll bar. Aesthetically, it is specifically designed NOT to look like a side-walk kiosk or taco stand as many amateur sites do.

HARDWARE

640x480 pixel screens were initially widely used in the 1970's and were a workhorse for the 1980's, but this technology has long since been outdated. The standard throughout the 1990's was the 800x600 pixel screen (36%). Accommodation of the rapidly growing web population of 1600x1200 pixel screens as well as those down to 1024x768 is virtually impossible with a window layout for a 640x480 screen. Our web site tracker clearly demonstrates that the net population of higher resolution monitors (63%) is many times greater than the population of 640x480 monitors (1%). Therefore, this web site was designed for 800x600 as a minimum. This service will undoubtedly be limited to a few years as the entire world leaves behind the old 800x600 screens.

The need for a mouse will not be addressed in any detail as they are standard equipment on virtually all computers. However, only the left button, single click function is currently used to navigate within this site. Any other mouse functions are established in the browser.

SOFTWARE

This site is specifically designed for Java enabled browsers, Version 3.0 and up, because browsers are freeware and easily available on the internet. Version 3.0 and up has been available since 1996. Our web tracker has shown that about 3% of the visitors to this site have Java disabled. Therefore, this site has been designed around limited Java capability. However, Java disabled browsers can navigate this site. There have been no Version 2 or lower browsers visit this site, thereby justifying the use of frames. Hyperlinks are provided at the top of primary text frames in the unlikely event a Java disabled browser independently loads a frame. For Java enabled browsers, the independently loaded frame automatically forwards the browser to the main OSMTH web page.

For the benefit of the web surfer it is recommended that the latest versions of the preferred browser are downloaded and installed. This currently means that Explorer 6 and Navigator 7 are recommended. Browser downloads may require 1-4 hours over a dial-up telephone line depending on the browser and options desired as well as the modem speed. So over night downloading is suggested for dial-ups. The benefits far exceed the troubles that may be encountered. Broadbanders most likely already have the latest browser.

OPERATION

Because navigating the web with a narrow vertical or horizontal view is the perfect formula for a headache and failing eyesight, the following browser operation modes are recommended for lower resolution monitors:

1. Maximize the browser window (all school children learn this the first day of using a browser),
2. Make the task bar temporary on mouse over (task bar options),
3. Eliminate the personal tool bar (customizing your browser),
4. Eliminate the personal links bar by making it a drop down window on the menu bar,
5. Eliminate the icon text on the tool bar and minimize the icon size,
6. Eliminate the bookmarks frame,
7. Move the URL address bar to the tool bar and minimize its size to only what is necessary,

   and if you are really maximizing your screen (this is probably not necessary),

8. Temporarily eliminate the status bar,
9. Temporarily eliminate the title bar, and
10. Reduce the size of the scroll bars from a default of 15 pixels to about 10 pixels (customizing your system).

It may be nice to operate one's browser as if one is flushed with money and running a 1600x1200 screen, but lets remember that Templars are symbolized by 2 men on horseback. This is a symbol of efficiency and utility and therefore if one is operating an 800x600 screen it should be utilized most efficiently.

From time to time the web site is updated. Some ISP's and all browsers use a cache method to speed download and display. This amounts to storing the requested page, frame or image file locally on the client's disk drive or on the ISP's server drive in the event the file is requested again and eliminating the necessity of requesting the file from the host server. Unfortunately, when the file on the host server is updated, the update is not requested by the client's server and the client never sees the update. A short term remedy of this fault is to force the request of the updated file by "refreshing" the window for full windowed pages, or "right" click on the specific frame and select the "refresh" option from the pop-up window. "Right" clicking will not work on images and therefore this operation must be performed on a text area of the frame. The long term remedy is to disable the cache method in the browser by slecting "Internet Options," clearing the temporary files, and setting the storage history to zero days.

PRINTING

Certainly one can print a window with a browser function, but this amounts to a "screen grabber" on a framed window and will not show the entire contents of scrolled frames. HTML frames can be easily printed by using the right button click on the desired frame. This will print the entire frame without showing scroll bars, heading, or menu. It is advised, for those with little experience, that the background print option be turned "off" before printing.

When linking to special documents such as DOC's, PDF's, and RTF's, either the visitor has customized his system to recognize that the display of this file requires a word processor or else the browser prompts the visitor to either save the file or specify an application program to display the file. In any case, the document will be printable from the word processor via word processor functions or from the frame via a right click on the desired frame. Background printing must be disabled.

BOLD TYPEFACE

Many Templars are older and require special consideration in making every word readable. Bold typeface is our consideration for these people. It would be a shame to disenfranchise such a vital part of this Order simply to have letters as thin as a thread.