Creating a Basic Web Page with Microsoft Word XP

by Monique Mennis

 

Microsoft Word will create a powerful web page ideal for the college student looking to become accessible through every medium in the job market. These are step by step instructions to doing so. Remember to save your work regularly!

 

Section 1: First open Microsoft Word

 

 
  • “Document1.doc” will load.

 

Save the file under a new name, use “Index.htm” which allows it to be viewed as your homepage.

 

  1. Left click File…/ Save As and name the file “Index.”
  2. Left click the drop list at the bottom of the Save As window titled Save as type and select Web Page.
  3. The file will now be called “Index.htm.”

 

Viewing a web page under a different name will still be possible, but you must directly link to it (e.g. http://plaza.ufl.edu/yourgatorlinkusername/filename.htm).

 

 

 

Save your work into a new folder so all your picture files and other pages are in the same place.

 

 

Section 2: Now you can begin to create your web page:

 

 

Click Below for How to Add…

 

  • Text
  • Backgrounds
  • Graphics
  • Tables
  • Links
  • Preview

 

 

Adding Text:

 

Simply add text as you would in any word processing program. It is important to consider that the person viewing the page may not have the font you are using, which is why it is wise to use the default font.

 

Word is capable of editing text attributes such as size and color in the menu under Format…/Text.

 

 

 

Adding Backgrounds:

 

Here is a chance to give your page personality. Choose a background that is not distracting to the user, and for a professional document, a solid color is sufficient.

 

How to make a solid color background:

  • Left click Format…/Background and select a fill color.

 

How to make a picture your background:

  1. Left click Format…/Background and select fill effect. Here you can change color gradients, textures and add pictures from your desktop. It is best to use a picture in JPEG or GIF format because these types load quickly.

 

 

Adding Graphics:

 

How to add a picture in JPEG or GIF format:

 
  1. Left click Insert…/Picture.
  2. Choose from one of the options (clip art, from file, etc).
  3. Left click Insert.
  4. You can change position and size of the picture by dragging the mouse, or by right clicking the picture and selecting format.

 

Microsoft Word will change the name of the pictures to Image01, Image02…etc. and save them in a subfolder called “index files,” within the folder your Index.htm file is in.

 

Inserting a Table:

 

Under Table on the menu, choose Insert…/Table.

 

Tables are important tools for organizing text and graphics on the web page. If you have trouble moving a picture to a desired location on the page, you can position it within a table.

 

 

Creating Links to Other Pages:

 

Right click your web page and select Hyperlink. A dialog box pops up with options for inserting hyperlinks.

 

 

You can link to an existing web page, another place on the document, or an email address. Input the text as you want it to appear on the page and input the address of the location you want to link to which should be in “url” format (e.g. http://www.ufl.edu).

 

 

Previewing Your Web Page:

 

When the web page editing is complete you may preview how it would look on the web.

 

  • Left click File…/Web Page Preview.

 

Internet Explorer will open and display your work as it will appear on a web page.

 

 

Section 3: How to Upload To Your GatorLink Web Space

 

This is as easy as saving a file to your computer, but instead of in a folder on your desktop, you will save it to a folder on the web.

 

  1. Close Microsoft Word.
  2. Open the program Internet Explorer.
  3. In the address bar enter ftp://plaza.ufl.edu.
  4. When prompted for username and password, enter your GatorLink information.
  5. You will have access to your web space.
  6. Drag and drop the file Index.htm from the folder you made, as well as the folder containing pictures you may have added into your web space window.
  7. You may store up to 20 MB of data in your account.

 

 

 

Section 4: Viewing Your Web Page

 

  1. Open a browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape.
  2. In the address bar enter http://plaza.ufl.edu/yourgatorlinkusername using your GatorLink username instead of the one given in the example.

 

Your web page should now be visible!

 

 

Trouble Shooting:

 

For any problems encountered we recommend that you:

  • In Microsoft Word XP left click Help…/WordPerfect Help.
  • Perform a search for a title that closely resembles your problem.

 

Another option is to search for help in the Microsoft Office website:

  • Left click Help…/Office on the Web.
  • Left click the appropriate hyperlink for the country your software is from.
  • If selecting United States continue with left clicking assistance in the top left of the web page.
  • Under the heading Browser Assistance select the software that you are currently using.
  • In the next window left click on Word and the Web and search for the heading that will suit your problem.