Creating Web Pages with Netscape Composer

 

 

Netscape Composer is a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) web page editor. The benefits to using Netscape Composer is its relative ease of use and the fact that it is free. Composer is included in any new installation of Netscape 7.1 and higher. You can download the latest version of the Netscape browser at Netscape's Home Page.

What if I already have Internet Explorer?

Having Internet Explorer selected as your internet browser does not prevent you from using Netscape Composer. The easiest solution is to download Netscape in addition to your regular browser. If you wish to keep your current browser but also use Netscape Composer, simply click "No" when the installation asks you if you would like to make Netscape your default browser. This will allow you to open Netscape and create web pages using Composer but still browse the internet with your favorite browser.

What is the downside to using Netscape Composer?

There are really two downsides to using Netscape Composer. The first issue is that Netscape Composer is a very limited web page editor. It is designed for beginners who will be happy with a simple page. If you are looking for powerful features, look somewhere else. But if you just want a simple web page with audio and graphics, this program will fit the bill.

The second downside is how Composer links pictures and files. Composer will prompt you for the files you want to include on your page such as pictures, sounds, and Word documents. It will display a "browse" icon that will allow you to search your hard drive and select the file you wish to include. When you preview your page, everything will display normally. However, when you upload your site and view it on another computer, you notice that your files do not appear. This is due to the fact that Composer has set up the link to your hard drive instead of directly to the file. This is easy to fix if you will take the time to look at the HTML code. All you have to do is delete everything in front of the file name. An even simpler solution is to type the name of your file in when requested instead of browsing and selecting the file. You should only include the name of the file and the extension (i.e., "mypicture.jpeg"). This will solve having to go back and change the code later.

How do I get started using Composer?

Andy Rush has created very nice tutorial on Mary Washington College web site. This tutorial includes a step by step process with graphics demonstrating how to create web pages with graphics, links, and tables. Another tutorial site for Composer is the Dickinson College web site. Once you have mastered these steps, creating a web site with Composer will be a breeze.