Creating Web Pages

What You Need

To turn your documents into Web pages, all you need you need is MS-Word 97, MS-Word 2000 (with the HTML filter installed) or Wordperfect 8+. If you do not have any of these word processors, you must use Netscape Composer (a simple HTML Editor that comes with the full Netscape Communicator download). Click here for these separate instructions.

Regarding use of MS-Word 2000 to create Web pages, DO NOT use the standard Word 2000 Save As...HTML feature. This feature add lots of unnecessary code that can create make reading these files difficult for some browsers. To avoid this problem, you must download and install the Word 2000 HTML filter, available at the Microsoft Website:

http://office.microsoft.com/downloads/2000/Msohtmf2.aspx

Once the HTML filter is installed, you can convert your Word documents as 'clean' Web pages by first saving the file as a Word document, then using the following Menu commands: File -> Export To -> Compact HTML (see below)

Steps

1. Compose your document as usual, allowing word wrap. If you document includes section headings, you can/should use Heading styles (Level 2, 3 and 4 should suffice). You can also use tables, as long as you keep them simple (avoid merged cells or tables within tables).

2. AVOID the following (they do not translate well to HTML):

• tabs
• columns
• special fonts (stick with the default, usually Times Roman)
• text double spacing (you can/should used double carriage returns/enters between paragraphs)
• paragraph styles other than 'normal'

3. Save your document first as a regular Word/Wordperfect document.

4. After saving your document as a regular Word/Wordperfect document, save it again as a Web/HTML page:

• In Word 97 (with Web Extensions): File -> Save as HTML
• In Word 2000: File -> Export To -> Compact HTML
• In Wordperfect 8+: File -> Save as... -> File type = HTML

5. When following the steps in #4 above, you will be asked to supply a filename. The filename will vary according to its contents, where your plan to upload it, and your instructor's directions. However, the following rules always apply to naming Web files:

• Simple Web files are always identified by the extension ".htm" or ".html" (no quotes). Make sure you add the appropriate extension if your software doesn't do it for you automatically.
• use only letters and numbers in file names. Never use blank spaces (a bad habit that Windows allows). The only 'special' character you can/should use is the underscore ("_"). Use it to separate words instead of a blank space. Incorrect: "file name/mine.htm" (contains space and "/" disallowed) Correct: "my_file_name.htm"
• filenames on Web servers can be case sensitive - so it is best to avoid mixing upper and lower case letters
• File names can be up to 256 characters long
• The file name "index.htm" or "index.html" is reserved as the default file name in UNIX Web server directories (Windows servers use "default.htm" This means a simple URL address that includes a server directory only will automatically display the index.htm file if it is available.

5. To edit the Web page you created, simple load the HTML version (extension is *.htm or *.html), make your changes and resave it using the procedures outlined in Step #4 above.

Separate Instructions If Your Word Processors Does Not Save Web Pages

If word processor does not save pages in Web format, try the following (requires Netscape Composer, the Web page editor that comes with Netscape Communicator):

1. Open your document in your word processor. Make sure the text formatting is simple, as described in Step #2, above
2. Open Netscape Composer (a blank document window will appear)
3. Switch back to your word processor and select ALL your text (usually Edit->Select All)
4. While still in your word processor, select the Copy command (usually Edit->Copy)
5. Switch back to Composer and paste your text into its document edit window (Edit->Paste)
6. Use the Formatting Toolbar in Composer to make any needed changes in your Web page
7. Save the file as an HTML document (File -> Save as... -> File type = HTML)