How to Add Domain Types to Autoscan List in Internet Explorer (182291)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 2000
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98

This article was previously published under Q182291
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

This article describes how to add domain types to the list of domains Internet Explorer searches when the Autoscan Common Root Domains option is enabled.

NOTE: The Autoscan Common Root Domains option is enabled by default.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

When the Autoscan Common Root Domains option is enabled, you can type only the domain root in the Address box and Internet Explorer attempts to locate the correct Web site by searching different domain types. For example, if you type "microsoft" in the Address box, Internet Explorer searches the domain types in the Autoscan list until a domain name match is found (in this case, www.microsoft.com).

By default, Internet Explorer searches the following domain types when the Autoscan Common Root Domains option is enabled:
  • .com
  • .org
  • .edu
To add a domain type to the Autoscan search list, add the string value "<n>" with a value of "%s.<domain>" and a string value "<n>" with a value of "www.%s.<domain>" (without quotation marks), where <n> is the next available number and <domain> is the domain type, under the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Internet Explorer/Main/Url Template

For example, if you want to add the .gov domain type and there are already 7 domain types listed, add a string value "8" with a value of "%s.gov" and a string value "9" with a value of www.%s.gov.

NOTE: The order in which Internet Explorer searches domains is based on the string value. For example, the domain type associated with string value 1 is searched before the domain type associated with string value 2.

NOTE: For Internet Explorer 6, the .net domain has been added by default and the search order has been changed.

REFERENCES

For additional information about how to use the Autoscan feature in Internet Explorer, click Contents And Index on the Help menu in Internet Explorer, click the Index tab, type "autoscan" (without quotation marks), and then double-click the "Autoscan Common Root Domains" topic.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/5/2003
Keywords:kbenv kbhowto KB182291