Netscape Composer is an application that can be used to create and publish web pages on a server.  Composer is included with Netscape Communicator and is a free application.  As a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor, Netscape Composer uses toolbars and menus to display formatting options, and the page is created in Composer as it will appear inside the browser.  The benefits of a WYSIWYG editor such as Composer are many, but perhaps the most beneficial aspect is that a user can create attractive, informative web pages without learning the intricacies of HTML coding.  In Composer, a user simply types the page as he/she wishes it to appear in the browser; Composer codes the page for the user as the page is created.
        Netscape Composer includes many options within the program for creating attractive web pages.  Images, tables, and links are easily included in a page by using the buttons in the composition toolbar or by using the pull-down insert menu.  Background colors, font colors and styles, and paragraph styles can be changed by using the buttons in the formatting toolbar or by using the pull-down format menu.  HTML tags can also be included by again using the insert menu.

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        The Formatting Toolbar enables the user to apply paragraph styles and text styles.

1.  The user can create various heading and paragraph styles:

All people smile in the same language (normal)

All people smile in the same language (heading)

All people smile in the same language (formatted)

2.  The user can choose various fonts and sizes:

This font is Comic San MS, size 9

This font is Script MT Bold, size 12

This font is Textile, size 14

All fonts installed on the system are available.
 
 

3.  The user can select various colors for the text by choosing a color from the pull-down menu:

Once a font color is chosen, the color can be altered by again choosing the color menu and changing the shade.
 
 

4.  The user can change the selected text to Bold, Italics, or Underlined text.

Click on the   button to create text that is bold.

Click on the   button to create text that is written in italics.

Click on the   button to create text that is underlined.

To remove all styles in the text, click on the   button.  The text will return to plain text.
 
 

5.  Users can create a bulleted list.

• Click on the  icon in the toolbar.
• Type the first line of text in the list and hit return.
• This creates a new bulleted line.
• Continue until your list is complete.

6.  Users can also create a numbered list:

1. Click on the   button in the toolbar.
2. Type the first line of text in the list and hit return.
3. This creates a new numbered line.
4. The number signs are replaced by numbers when viewed in Communicator.

7.  Users can align text to the right, left, or center.

Pull down the menu and select the type of alignment desired.

This text is aligned to the right.

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        The Composition Toolbar contains buttons that enable the user to change or add elements to the page being created or edited.

By using the Composition toolbar, users can add or change elements within the page simply by clicking on the icons within the toolbar.  Examples of these can be found below.
 

1.  Creating a New Page
        To create a new page, simply click the   button.  This creates a new page in a new Composer window.

2.  Saving a Document
         To save, simply click on the   button.  This saves the page currently being edited.

3.  Previewing a Page
         To preview a page, click on the   button.  This allows the user to view the page as it will appear in Communicator.

4.  Checking the Spelling
         Before publishing a document, it is a good idea to check the spelling within the document.  To check the spelling within the page, click on the   button.

5.  Creating Horizontal Lines
         To create a horizontal line within the document, click on the   button.  This will create a division between portions of the document by using a horizontal line that spans the width of the page.  An example of this can be seen below.

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        To create a link, simply highlight a portion of text, then click on the   icon, which is found in the Composition toolbar.   The Link dialog box will appear.  In the area that says "Link to a page location or local file", type the name of the file to which the text should be linked.  The user can also click "Choose File" and select a file to which the text should be linked.  The Link dialog box will look as follows:

        Links to email addresses can also be inserted within the document.  To insert an email link, the user must first type his/her email address or insert an email image.  Highlight the email address and click on the    button.  In the link to box, type mailto:youremailaddress.  Notice that there are no space between mailto: and the email address.  Once this is typed, click on the "OK" button.  Other users should be able to directly email the person who created the page.

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        Within a document, links can be made to specific portions of text using the Target button, which is found in the Composition toolbar.  To create a target within a page, highlight a portion of the text on the page and then click on the   button.  A Target dialog box will appear.  Within the box, type the target name.  The Target dialog box will look as follows:

The user will then highlight the item that will be linked to that target, click the   button, and choose the name of the target from the list in the lower box of the Link dialog box.  For example:  to create a link within the page that will return to the top of the page, I highlighted Netscape Composer (the first line of text) and then clicked the  button.  A  icon appeared in front of the highlighted words (This icon can only be seen in Composer, not when the page is viewed in Communicator).  I then typed the following sentence:  This is how we can create text that will return to the top.   I highlighted "return to the top" and clicked the   button, selected "Netscape Composer" from the list of targets, and clicked the OK button.  A target has now been created.

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        Images can be inserted into a document to make the document more attractive and eye-catching.  Watch out, however...too many images or animated pictures can cause the eye of the reader to focus on the images rather than the information contained within the page.
        To insert an image into a document, the user must first place the cursor in the desired position.  The image will appear wherever the cursor is positioned.  When the cursor is in the desired place, click on the   button.  An Image dialog box will appear.  In the area that says "Image File Name or Location", type the name of the file or click the "Choose File" button and select the desired file.  Click the "OK" button; the image should appear within the document.  The Image dialog box will look like this:

        Images can be used as a single image or as a background for the entire page.  For example, the following image was inserted as a single image (asdescribed above):

If the user clicks on the box for "Page Background" in the Image dialog box, the image will cover the entire page.  Click here for an example.  It is a bit overwhelming!

        Images placed within the text of a document can be positioned and wrapped around the text using the xyz menu in the Image dialog box.  For example,

This is text positioned along the bottom of the image.
 

This is text positioned along the center of the image.
 

This is text positioned along the top of the image.

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        Tables can be created within a document to display information in an organized, appealing way.  In order to create a table, the user must first position the cursor in the place where the table is going to be created.  When the cursor is in the desired position, click on the    button in the Composition toolbar.  A Table Properties dialog box will appear.  In this dialog box, the user can set the number of rows and columns in the table, as well as setting the width, height, and background color of the table.  The Table Properties dialog box looks as follows:

        Here is an example of the use of tables within a document (click on any of the links to see other reviews of HTML editors):
 

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        Generally, the background color of a document is white by default.  To select another background color or to change the link colors, go to the Format menu and choose Page Properties.  Click on "Use Custom Colors".  Then, click on the boxes next to Normal Text, Link Text, Active Link Text, Followed Link Text, or Background color and a color palette should appear.  Choose the desired color and click the "OK" button.

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        Netscape Composer is a WYSIWYG editor that is extremely user-friendly.  First-time HTML editors will find that the toolbars and pull-down menus make the program quite easy to use.  Images, tables, and links can be added without having to learn in-depth HTML coding.  Background and link colors can be easily changed.  The fact that Netscape Composer is included free with Netscape Communicator makes the application even more appealing.
        Once a user has experimented with creating web documents, they may find that Composer does not include enough options; the user may find that the application has limitations and decide to try another program that is more sophisticated.  However, as a novice "web page creator", I found Composer met my needs.  I was able to create imformative, professional-looking pages using Composer.  I would recommend the program to anyone who wants to learn to create web documents.
 

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