Netscape Page Composer has many features in common with word processors. You may add and edit text, copy, paste, and even spell check it. To start a new page in Netscape Navigator select, File, New, Blank Page. The cursor is in the upper left hand of the window. You may start typing. Press the Enter (return) key to start a new paragraph.

Formatting Text

The format tool bar allows you to choose the text style, font, font size & color, as well as bold, italic, and underlined. You may also align text on the left margin, right margin or centered.

Windows Toolbar

Macintosh Toolbar

A word of caution regarding fonts, if the person viewing your page is using a computer that does not have the font you specified, a different font will be substituted which could result in a very different looking page. As a rule of thumb, it is best to stay away from exotic fonts.

Just as in your word processor, you may choose the formats before you type the text, or type the text, select it and then choose the formats by clicking on them. For example, to make text bold you would click on the  and type your text. To turn the bolding off simply click on the bold icon again.

To apply formats after the text is typed, highlight the text you wish to format by clicking and dragging with the mouse. Once the text is selected click on the format (e.g. bold) to apply it. This technique also works to remove a format.

There are also keyboard commands to apply formatting. For example, the bold command is ctrl+b (hold the control key while pressing the letter b). Keyboard shortcuts are listed under the menu items, for example, Format, Style, and Bold.

Here is a summary of what each of the tools do:
 

The Styles allows you to select different Headings  This is Heading One This is Heading Six As well as to specify the address format (basically italicized):  john_doe@und.nodak.edu                                 As well as list items:  this is a bulleted item   And Descriptive items (this is the title) and this is the text. it's just a way to get indents

 

	Clicking on the Font item drops down a list of fonts installed on your computer. Note: Font substitution will occur if the computer displaying your home page does not have the same font installed. Macintosh version does not have this button. You can choose your font by going to the Format menu & select Font.
	The font size item allows you to choose the point size of your text.
	Windows: Click on the Font color icon and choose the color from the next menu or click "Other" for a wider selection.
	Macintosh: Click on the Font color icon  and choose the color from the color wheel. Once the color is selected, click OK.

 

	In order, these tools are: Bold Italics Underline and Remove all styles (e.g. you have bold, italicized, underlined text, highlight it and select the Remove all styles to remove all three formats at once).
	Create a bulleted or number list of items.
	Controls left and right indents.
	Clicking on the alignment tool drops down a menu to choose: left center or right alignment This tool can also be used for graphics.

Try It!
 

Naming Your File

When you save a file you give it a filename, such as jwdoe.html. Different kinds of computers use different rules for naming files, but there are a few general rules to follow when naming a web page file.

• The first page (your home page) should be called index.html. The U-web system requires that you have a page called one of the following:

index.html	index.htm	home.html
home.htm	default.html	default.htm

• Stick to letters and numbers. Don't use any special characters like # or %.
• Instead of spaces, use hyphens (-) or underscores (_).
• Use either .html or .htm as the file extension (the last part of a filename).
• Web addresses are case sensitive, so if you name your file MyPage.html, you can't access it online if you try mypage.html.

Saving to a Floppy Disk

You will need to save your page and should do so frequently as you work on it. Choose File, Save As, the following dialog box will appear (please note the subdirectories/folders and file listing may differ). To save the page to your floppy disk in drive A:
 
 

WINDOWS: 1. You will need to choose Drive A: as the "Save in" location, by 2. Clicking on the arrow to drop down the selection box and then use the scroll bar to locate 3. Floppy [A:], Click on A: to change the Save in location. Once you've done that, type the filename* and click Save. The example to the left would result in a file called: myfilename.htm. * Filenames will end with .htm (Composer will automatically add .htm to the name) and should NOT include any spaces.

The Title Dialog Box will appear. Enter a title for your page, for example: J.W. Doe's Home Page (this will appear in the title bar section of your home page, the title of this page is: "U-web Tutorial: Adding Text"). Click OK. Your file is now saved. As you work save the file by choosing File, Save or by clicking the Save icon.

	Macintosh: 1. You will need to choose your floppy disk, by clicking on Desktop if necessary, & choosing your disk. 2. Open the disk.
	1. Enter the filename. Be sure to add the .html or .htm extension. Do not include any spaces or special characters within the filename.  2. Click Save.

Disclaimer Statement:

The following statement will automatically display whenever your home page is accessed.
The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of North Dakota.
 

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