Starting Out with Netscape Composer: Step by Step 

1. Create a folder on your computer or disk called "Web Pages" or something equally descriptive. It is easiest to manage your web site if all of the web page files (including graphics) are kept in one folder. 
2. Start up Netscape. (Netscape Navigator is on the desktop; you can also find it by clicking Start - Programs - Netscape Communicator - Netscape Navigator.)` 
3. Click File - New - Blank Page. The web page editor (actually a separate program called Netscape Composer) will open with a blank page. 
4. Click Format - Page Properties - General: The title is different than the file name; it displays at the top of the screen when you view the page in a web browser. Enter a descriptive, user-friendly title. (If you don't do it at this point, you will be prompted to do it later.) 
5. While you're here, click the Colors and Background tab and click to change the colors if you wish. Note that color and background settings can be also saved for new pages. White or subtly colored backgrounds work best. 
6. Type some text (since this is just a test, we won't format it now). 
7. Save the page. (File - Save). The name of the main page of your site should be index. or default; this makes it easier to link to your page. The other pages can have any name you like, but avoid using spaces or special symbols in the file name. The extension ".htm" is automatically added by Netscape; all web page files must end with ".htm" or ".html". 
8. You can see how your page will look in a web browser by clicking the Preview button. At this point, there's not that much difference, but when you add links to your page you will need to preview to test them. 
9. Close the editor (File - Exit). Netscape Navigator will still be open in the background; keep it open for now. 
10. To go back and edit the page you created, click File - Open Page in Navigator. The default action is to "browse" the page in Navigator, but since we want to edit the page, click next to Composer. Then click Choose File and locate the page you just created. Double-click the file to select it; then click Open. 

Formatting Text 

Tip One: The easiest way to format text is to type (or copy and paste) all of the text first; then select and format the text afterwards. 

Tip Two: Formatting for web pages is more limited than word processor formatting, and the commands are similar in most web page programs. 

11. Normal and Headings 1-6: Apply heading styles to give your page an outline-type structure. The other styles are rarely used (except for Normal, which is the default). 
12. Fonts: "Variable Width" indicates that the default font (usually Times New Roman) will be used. You can use any font that you like, but be aware that if the person browsing your web page does not have that font installed on their system, it will show up as plain text. Some common fonts are: Times New Roman, Courier, Arial (PCs), Helvetica (Macs). 
13. Size: This works the same way as any word processor, only you have limited choices. 
14. Color: Click this menu to see a variety of basic colors that you can apply to your text. For more options, click the Other button. (FYI: If you point at one of the basic colors without clicking, you will see the color code definitions that are used in "raw" HTML.) 
15. Bold 
16. Italic 
17. Underline 
18. Remove formatting: Handy for fixing errors from files you have converted -- select the text that you want to "start over" with and click this button to make it plain. However, this command won't work with some things like headings; in those cases, select the text and choose Normal from the Headings menu (#1 on this list). Also remember the Undo command (located on the Edit menu) that will undo your last mistake. 
19. Bulleted list 
20. Numbered list (the numbers display as # while you are editing) 
21. and 12. Decrease Indent and Increase Indent -- the closest you can get to margins and tabs in basic HTML. Unfortunately, margins and tabs from programs like Word do not convert well into HTML. 
13. Alignment: Left, Right, and Center. This will work with both text and graphics when they are selected. 

Hyperlinks (a.k.a. links) 

Hyperlinks are a way of connecting files -- click on a hyperlink, and another file will display. Both text and graphics can have hyperlinks. In order to create a hyperlink, you need to know how to identify the file or web site you are linking to. 

There are two types of links: internal and external. Use internal links to connect files within the web pages you are creating. Use external links to connect to other web pages on or outside of the MSU-Billings web site. 

In the example above, the pages index.htm and resume.htm are being created by the same person. The links are internal. The School of Hard Knocks web site is an external link. 
To create a hyperlink (with Netscape Composer): 
1. Select the text or graphic that will be the link. 
2. Click the Link button (identified with the "chain link" metaphor in this program and most others). 
3. If you are making an internal link, type the name of the file on your site that you are linking to in the Link Properties box. If you don't know the name of the file, click Choose File to locate it. 
4. If you are making an external link, type the full address of the web site you are linking to. For example, to link to the MSU-Billings main web site, type http://www.msubillings.edu/ -- 
5. -- But wait a minute -- aren't your pages a part of the MSU-Billings web site? Why wouldn't linking to the main page of this site be an "internal" link? If I have confused you, think of it this way -- use internal links ONLY for web pages that you have control over -- you create them, edit them, and store them on your computer. Use external links with the full Internet address (http etc.) for everything else. 
6. To make a link to an e-mail address, use the same procedure but type mailto: followed by your e-mail address in the Link Properties box. Don't use any spaces; for example, mailto:webmaster@msubillings.edu 

There are two graphics formats that are used on the web: GIF (pronounced with a hard or soft G) and JPEG (pronounced "Jay-Peg"). 
GIFs are usually the best format for graphics with a few solid colors, such as logos. GIF files end with the extension .gif 
JPEGs are the best for graphics with many colors such as photographs. JPEG files end with the extension .jpg 
How can I get GIF and JPEG graphics? 
1."Borrow" them from other web sites: Right-click on a picture and the option to save it will usually appear on the shortcut menu ("Save Image As" or "Save Picture As"). If you definitely plan to use the picture in your web page, save it in the folder you have created for web page files. However, when you are considering using other people's graphics, always assume they are copyrighted unless otherwise noted. 
2. Take photos and scan them: Some departments have scanners available to convert photos to computer graphics. The Computer Annex has two. If the scanner does not have the option to save a file as a GIF or JPEG, use Photoshop to convert the graphics or ask the Web Coordinator for assistance. 
3. Convert existing graphics: If you have access to Photoshop, you may be able to open and save an existing graphic in the GIF or JPEG format. (To save as a JPEG, click "Save As" on the File menu; to save as a GIF click "Export -> GIF 89 Export" on the File menu.) Of course, Photoshop is not the only program with this capability; if you use another program for graphics, check its help files. The Web Coordinator can assist departments who have digital logos and need them converted to the web format but don't have the program to do it. 

As the Web Coordinator establishes a new design for the main MSU-Billings web site, new MSUB-specific graphics will become available. For now, visit the World Wide Web Toolkit at http://www.msubillings.edu/tool/ to find official logos and campus photos. 

To add an image to your page: 
1. Click the place on the page where you want the image to be. 
2. Click the Image button on the top toolbar. 
3. Type the name of the image file or click Choose File to locate it on your computer. Make sure that the "Leave image at the original location" box is unchecked. 
4. If Netscape Composer adds extra junk in front of the image file name (beginning with "file:///C:\" for example), you can delete it. 

* example of what to delete is highlighted; the file name is left alone * 
To make the page accessible to people using screen readers or text-only browsers, add a text description of the image by clicking the Alt Text/LowRes button and typing in the "Alternate text" box. For example, if you have a picture of your staff, below is an appropriate example of "alternate" text: 

Click OK and click OK. The image will appear on the page. You can make it bigger or smaller by clicking it once and pointing to the corners, then clicking and dragging. However, this will sometimes distort the image. Please do not distort the MSU-Billings logos by resizing them; several sizes are available. 

"Tweaking" your page using properties 

Every element on your page -- text, links, paragraphs, lists, images, and the page itself -- has properties that you can modify. Think of properties as adjectives that describe a noun. For example, the title of a page is a page property. The file name or web site address that a link points to is a link property. An image has height and width properties, as well as alternate text properties, alignment properties… etc. 
You can edit most properties by right-clicking on an element on your page. For example, right-clicking the image below gives you access to Image Properties and Paragraph/List Properties. You can also find some properties at the bottom of the Format menu. 

As you edit your pages, you will find yourself thinking more and more in terms of properties. For example, say that a web site you have linked to has changed its address. You don't need to completely delete the text link and create a new one; you can right-click the text that is the link and choose Link Properties. Then edit the address. 

Here are some advanced properties in Netscape Composer that you may want to know: 
1. Character Properties: Strikethrough, Superscript, Subscript 
2. Image Properties: Text alignment and wrapping , Width and Height resizing, Borders 
3. Paragraph/List Properties: Choose bullet styles and alignment 
Although there are many programs you can use to make web pages, all of the properties you are allowed to use for elements on web pages are more or less the same. This is because all web pages must be in the HTML format and HTML limits the properties you can use. If you would like to see the "raw HTML" behind your pages, click View - Page Source. All web pages are based on code just like this. 

To learn how to do TABLES in Composer go to Trinity University
http://www.cs.trinity.edu/~thicks/Communicator/Composer3/#Netscape%20Communicator%204.xx

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