Instructions for Netscape Composer
The "instruction manual" for Composer is located here http://wp.netscape.com/eng/mozilla/4.0/handbook/comp.htm
The templates that we will be using are located here http://wp.netscape.com/browsers/templates/
Right click on the above link and select "Open in New Window." Now
you can switch between these instructions and the page you will be editing.
A "toolchest" for Composer websites is located here http://wp.netscape.com/navigator/vgold3.0/using/index.html
Other templates may be found at
http://www.pt3-usc.org/portfolio/
http://my.qwest.net/nav4/acct_tools/publishing_homepage/template-index.html
http://www.shelbyed.k12.al.us/techtrain/templates/indexex2.htm
http://www.steves-templates.com/templates.html
- These instructions do not assume that you are working with a template. You can create a page from "scratch" using these instructions.
- I do recommend that web authors put everything they plan to use on their web page (text, images, the page itself) in one place. I often use the desktop. When I am finished I save everything in a single folder.
- From Netscape Navigator click 'File' -- 'New' -- 'Blank Page' (this opens Netscape Composer)
- Click 'Format' -- 'Page Colors and Properties' -- 'General' and enter an appropriate Title for your page. Titles should clearly describe content. Enter your name as the author. You can also change the background color here or even use an image in the background. Be careful - busy images and weird colors just make your viewers sick! Click OK when you have entered your information.
- Explore the toolbar options by resting the cursor on the icons to see a pop-up explanation of their function.
- Enter your page content, adjusting font, font size, color, alignment etc. using the toolbar at top.
- Be sure to save your work regularly; it will automatically be saved as type 'html'.
(To edit a template or other existing document, open the document in a browser window and click 'File---Edit page')
Note: you can link to a different place in the document you are working on, to a different file (both html and non-html files) in your webspace or to a site you located on the Internet.
- Highlight the text you want to be linked
- Click the 'Link' icon on the toolbar
- If you are linking to a site on the Internet your must enter the complete URL (i.e. http://www.emporia.edu/communication)
- If you are linking to a file in your personal webspace, enter the name of the file (i.e. papers.htm or slideshow.ppt)
- If you are linking to a different place in the same file you must:
- Create an 'target' at the place you want to jump to by highlighting it and clicking 'Target' icon. Give this target a descriptive name.
- Go back and highlight the text you want to link to this target, click 'Link' icon and select the target. Click OK.
Note: Images on the Web should be one of these file types: gif, jpg or jpeg
- A web page crowded with too many graphics is distracting. Only use the images that you need!
- Do not use large or many images. Keep the total file size of all images on a web page to 100k or less. Each image should be 50k or less.
- Always include the height and width dimensions and alternate text with the graphic.
- Use images no wider than 500 pixels and no higher than 300 pixels.
- Use thumbnails and links where appropriate.
- You must first have some graphic files saved in order to add these images to your webpage. It is easy to save and use graphics you find on the web. Only use images from sites where 'permission to use' is clearly granted. To save graphic files:
- Go to ESU's Web Graphics page for "official" ESU logos, a page I make available to students in Using the WWW, or one of the MANY Free Image Banks available on the net
- Find an image you would like to include in your page
- Right click the image and click 'save image as'
- Select a place (desktop? floppy disk?) and name to save this image file
- Save it!
- At the place in your file where you would like to insert the image, click the 'Image' icon
- Click 'Choose file' and select the image file you would like to insert (must be a gif, jpg or jpeg file)
- Click 'Open' and then 'OK' to insert this file.
- You can now resize the image by clicking on the image and dragging the edges.
- Perform a Spell Check by selecting "Check Spelling" from the Tools menu.
- Always check the appearance and links in your documents before publishing. Just click the 'Preview' icon to open your page in Netscape Navigator. Click on all your links to be sure they are working properly.
Students at Emporia State University are allowed access to web server space for their own personal web pages. The University exercises no editorial or other control over the content of these unofficial web pages, however, all material posted on these pages must adhere to ESU Web Server Policy and Proper Use of Technology guidelines.
You can find the information you need including the application form at http://www.emporia.edu/web/guidelines.htm
- To view your webpage go to this URL: http://www.emporia.edu/communication/students/
Web Page Editing Software
Microsoft FrontPage
Macromedia Dreamweaver
Last Updated July 5, 2007