Chapter 1: Getting started with Navigator Gold ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Until recently, creating Web pages was a time-consuming process of editing a file full of arcane HyperText Markup Language (HTML) codes, viewing the page using a browser, going back to the source file to make changes, viewing it again, and so on until you were satisfied with the result. Navigator Gold makes creating and editing Web pages almost as easy as browsing them. This chapter introduces the Navigator Gold editor and provides an overview of its features. What you see first When you first start Navigator Gold, you are in a browse window. The browse and edit windows each have their own unique set of menu commands and toolbars designed with distinct but allied purposes in mind. You can easily switch between browse and edit windows using commands from each window's File menu or toolbar. The browse window[Image] Note: See the Navigator Handbook for information about browsing, mail, and news functions, as well as information about commands common to both the edit and browse windows (such as, general preferences). Tip: To open an edit window first without going through the browser, type the following at the command line: netscape.exe -edit Starting the editor There are several ways to begin an editing session depending on whether you want to create a new document (begin with a blank page, apply one of the templates, or use the page wizard), edit a page you are currently browsing, or edit a specified file. Note: The templates and Page wizard are located on the Netscape home site. You must be connected to the internet to access them. Creating a new document There are 3 ways to create a new document in Navigator Gold: * Choose File|New Document|Blank. The edit window [Image] An edit window opens containing a blank page. The original browse window remains open behind the edit window. * Choose File|New Document|From Template. A browse window opens containing Web page templates available from the Netscape Web Page Starter site (you can also access this site from the Help menu). Select a template and choose File|Edit Document to use the template as the basis for a new document. * Choose File|New Document|From Wizard. A browse window opens containing the Page wizard. The wizard is a special page on the Netscape home site that walks you through the steps for creating a Web page. When you've completed the steps, you'll have a page that you can then open in the editor and continue building on as your skills improve. Editing the page you're browsing * Click the Edit button (pencil icon) on the browse window toolbar. You can also choose File|Edit Document. The current browse window becomes an edit window containing the document you were viewing. You are prompted to save the document locally before you can begin editing. Editing an existing file * Choose File|Open File in Editor. An edit window opens containing the specified file. The original browse window remains open but behind the edit window. Things you should know The editor provides its own set of toolbar buttons for the most common editing tasks. It also allows various drag-and-drop operations. This section highlights these time-saving features, as well as some important terms and concepts. Browsing vs. creating Web pages Browsing Web pages and creating your own are very different things. When browsing, you don't need to know about the components that make up a Web page; when editing, you do. A Web page is not simply a document containing formatted text and some graphics, such as that produced using word-processing applications. A Web page is an HTML file that * Contains topics that can be linked to from other Web pages. * Might require you to scroll the browse window to view the entire "page." * Can contain links to graphic files, multimedia objects, and other pages. * Can be located on a server so that others can access your information. When you browse the Web, most of the Web pages you view are part of an overall Web presentation or site consisting of one or more Web pages. These Web pages are (typically) linked together in an organized way to create a consistent and pleasing effect. A bird's eye view of a Web site[Image] Some useful terms If you are accustomed to using the Navigator (or any other browser), you are probably already familiar with most of the following terms. If you're new to browsing, these definitions will help you as you begin to create your own Web pages. Term What it means HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is a markup language used to create Web pages---the "lingua franca" of the Internet. You don't HTML need to understand HTML to use the editor, but it's important to know that the editor's features have their basis in HTML. HTML is based on SGML (the Standard Generalized Markup Language). A file written in HTML and viewed in a Web Page browser. Web pages are also frequently called documents. Content The text, images, and objects that make up a Web page. What you're doing when creating your own Web Authoring pages. The Navigator Gold editor is one example of an authoring tool. A pointer in one part of a document that can transport you to another part of the same Hyperlink document or to another document entirely. Hypertext-based online help, such as MS Windows Help operates on the same principle. Hyperlinks are also called links. Uniform Resource Locator is a naming scheme that defines the location of a particular file on the Web. A URL specifies the domain URL name of the Web server where a file resides, the port address to be used for communication, and the directory path to access the file. The end-user side of client/server, client typically refers to a consumer of network Client services of one kind or another. Navigator Gold is a client program that talks to Web servers. A computer on a network that responds to Server service requests, such as allowing access to a requested Web page. Using the toolbars The three toolbars below the menus, File/Edit, Paragraph and Character Properties, contain buttons corresponding to frequently used commands. You can access most of the toolbar commands from the menus, but it's generally quicker to use the toolbars. File/Edit toolbar [Image] Paragraph properties toolbar [Image] Character properties toolbar [Image] You can reposition a toolbar by dragging it to the area you want. Depending on the area to which you move the toolbar, it will either snap into position (the area below the menus), or become a floating palette (anywhere else). Pop-up menus (Windows only) Pop-up menus are a handy way to get to frequently used commands. The commands you can get to is completely dependent on what is currently selected when you right-click. For example, right-clicking while on a link provides you with commands to copy the link or modify its properties. If you right-click while on an image, you'll have quick access to commands to save the image under a new name or display its properties. When the pointer is positioned on You can use the pop-up menu to Change character, paragraph, or list Text properties, insert a new link, or paste from the clipboard. Change link, paragraph, or list A link properties, open the link in a browse or edit window, copy or remove the link, or add a bookmark for the link. Change link, paragraph, or list An image properties, create a link using the image, save the image under a new name, cut, copy, or paste. A horizontal line Change horizontal line, paragraph, or list properties, cut, copy, or paste. An HTML tag Change tag, paragraph, or list marker properties, cut, copy, or paste. Drag and drop (Windows and Macintosh only) Several drag-and-drop operations are available while using the editor. You can * Drag a link from a browse window and drop it in an edit window. This is like inserting a link in the document you're editing. For more information about links, see Chapter 3, "The Hyperlink's the thing." * Drag an HTML file (or multiple files) from the Windows File Manager (Explorer in Windows 95) and drop it in an edit window to create a link to that file. * Drag a link from a bookmark, mail, or news window and drop it in the edit window. For information about these windows, see the Netscape Navigator Handbook. * Drag an image from a browse window and drop it in an edit window. This is the easiest way to add images to your Web pages. * Drag an image file (.GIF or .JPG) from the Windows File Manager (Explorer in Windows 95) and drop it in an edit window to insert the image in the current document. For more information about image files, see Chapter 2, "Working with Web pages." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------