Introduction to Netscape Composer

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Earlier, we've discussed Web browsers, such as Netscape Navigator. We've learned that a Web browser is a computer program that allows us to view Web pages on the Internet. Web browsers are able to recognize Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), the primary language of the World Wide Web, and interpret it as comprehensible text, graphics, and other things that you can see on your computer screen. A Web page, also known as a hypertext document, is an electronic file that contains elements that users can select, usually by clicking a mouse, to open another document. HTML uses codes to dictate how text and other objects should appear on a browser. Essentially, an HTML document is a simple text file. Therefore, the only software you need to compose one is a plain text editor like the SimpleText application on the Macintosh. To get a feel of what it's like to design a simple Web page using HTML, please view Sample Home Page. Although you don't need to know the HTML language to design a Web page, having a working knowledge of it will help you in the long run in modifying and troubleshooting your Web pages.

Although HTML is one of the easiest computer languages to learn and to use, designing Web pages using just HTML can be very time consuming and complicated, especially if the Web page has many elements, such as tables, frames, forms, and so on. Fortunately, there are many HTML editing programs available that can help you create Web pages, by insertng HTML codes for you as you design your page. Netscape Composer is a good example of a WYSIWYG ("What You See Is What You Get") Web editor. As the name suggests, what you see in the editing environment is what your Web page will resemble when viewed on a Web browser. It is very similar to using a word processing program! In this unit, you'll learn how to design a Web page using Netscape Composer. Click on a topic below to begin your Composer tutorial!

Starting Up - Starting up Netscape Composer
Composing Web Pages - Creating HTML documents using Composer

1. Formatting Text and Paragraphs - Changing fonts, styles, and paragraph alignments to enhance how text appears on your Web page

2. Page Title and Page Properties - Specifying general page properties and selecting colors and backgrounds

3. Inserting Horizontal Lines - Adding lines to help separate contents on a page

4. Inserting Tables - Using tables to help organize information on a page

5. Inserting Images - Adding graphic files to liven up your Web page

6. Inserting Hyperlinks - Adding links to direct visitors to other Web pages or sites

Viewing Web Pages - Checking to see what your Web pages look like on a Web browser
Uploading (Publishing) Web pages - Publishing your Web pages to the Internet
Toolbars - Getting the most out of Composer's toolbars
Customizing Your Composer - Setting your Composer's preferences

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