Netscape Composer is incorrectly called a WYSIWYG (i.e.what you see is what you get) editor. Composer attempts to show the exact "look" of the web page with its preview view. Unfortunately, different browsers display the same HTML differently so WYSIWYG is truly an impossibility on the WWW. You can edit the page under Normal View (shown below), Show Tags, and (HTML) Source. To view what it will look like (somewhat) on the web, use the Preview view.
1. File
In the Netscape Navigator menu bar, click on ‘File’ highlight ‘Edit Page’then click. This will open Netscape Composer.
Composer Window
Open Web Location [Ctrl+Shift+L]
Opens a widows that allows you to enter a web location (URL) or specify a file you would like to open.
Open File [Ctrl+O]
Opens a window that allows you to browse for a HTML file.
Recent Pages
Opens a sub-menu that displays pages that were recently viewed. With this sub-menu you can click on a page and open it in the composer window.
Close [Ctrl+W]
This option closes the document, but leaves composer running.
Save [Ctrl+S]
Allows you to quickly save a HTML document that you have been working on. If the document has not been previously saved, the next option will have to be used first.
Save As
Opens a windows that allows you to browse in order to save a document in a specific file.
Publish
Allows you to publish to a pre-determined site name.
Publish As
Opens a Publish Page window. In this window you can enter information such as Site Name, Publishing Address, HTTP Address of your homepage, and login information in order to publish the HTML document you are working on.
Revert to Last Saved
This will allow you to abandon un-saved changes to "your document" and reload page.
Export to Text
This option opens a window that allows you to browse to a specific file and save a text (.txt) file.
Browse Page
Opens your document in Netscape Navigator.
Send Page
Will allow you to e-mail your page. You must have an email, aol (for example anyuser@aol.com), internet email (for example anyuser@netscape.net), or newsgroup account setup. If not, a wizard will Pop-up and walk you through the email setup.
Print [Ctrl+P]
Opens a window that allow you to set preferences for printing the page.
Print Plus
Opens a Sub-Menu with options to browse Print Central, Printing Supplies, and Printing Services. These web sites contain products and services specifically for printing.
Exit [Ctrl+Q]
This option will exit the composer window.
2. Edit
Undo [Ctrl+Z]
Undoes previous action.
Redo[Ctrl+Y]
Re does previous action.
Cut [Ctrl+X]
Highlighted text will be deleted (copied to the clipboard, cut text can be pasted somewhere else in the document).
Copy [Ctrl+C]
Highlighted text will be copied to the clipboard.
Paste [Ctrl+V]
Copied or cut text can be inserted where cursor is placed.
Delete [Del]
Highlighted text will be deleted but not copied to clipboard for later use.
Select All [Ctrl+A]
Selects, i.e. highlights, the entire document for formatting or deleting.
Find and Replace [Ctrl+F]
Opens a window that allows you to looks for text and replaces it with new text.
Find again [Ctrl+G]
Uses previously input text for look-up and replacement.
Check Spelling [Ctrl+K]
Performs a spell check on the document.
Publish Site Settings
Opens window that allows you to enter settings for publishing: i.e. site name, publishing address, and homepage.
Preferences
Allows you to set preferences for Composer such as appearance and privacy settings.
3. View
Show/Hide
Contains a sub-menu that allows you to customize Composer with toolbars and personal side bars.
Normal Edit Mode
When selected allows you to edit your document.
Show all Tags
When selected allows you to edit your document and highlights all HTML Tags.
HTML Source
When selected allows you to edit Only shows source code, i.e. HTML.
Preview
When selected allows you to edit in preview mode, i.e. exact look of the web page.
4. Insert
Image
This option opens a wizard that steps you through inserting an image.
Table
This option opens a wizard that steps you through inserting a table.
Link
This option opens a wizard that steps you through inserting a Link.
Named Anchor
This option opens a wizard that steps you through inserting a Named Anchor, i.e. Top of page.
Horizontal Line
This option inserts a horizontal line at the insertion point.
HTML
This option opens a window that allows you to insert HTML tags and text to a selected word or string of text.
Characters and Symbols
This option opens a window that gives options for inserting Characters and Symbols, i.e. ®,©,&,¶, or ½.
Break Below Images
Inserts a break below a selected image.
5. Format
Text
Allows you to format your text font, size, style, and color.
Discontinue Text Styles [Ctrl+Shift+Y]
Discontinues text styles and returns to default.
Discontinue Links [Ctrl+Shift+K]
Removes the link on a selected item without removing the text.
Discontinue Named Anchors [Ctrl+Shift+A]
Removes the selected Anchor.
Paragraph
Highlighting this item opens a sub-menu which allows you to use predefined settings for Paragraphs hand Headings.
List
Highlighting this item opens a sub-menu which allows you to enter lists (i.e. bulleted, numbered)into your document.
Increase Indent (Ctrl+])
Increases the indent on a selected paragraph.
Decrease Indent (Ctrl+[)
Decreases the indent on a selected paragraph.
Align
Highlighting this item opens a sub-menu which allows you to align your text i.e. right, left, center, or justify.
Properties
This item opens the properties window which allows you to adjust properties of the selected item (when an object in the document is selected menu item changes).
Page Colors and Background
When selected, this item opens a window which allows you to change the colors of your document (i.e. background, link text, active link text, and viewed link text).
Page Title and Properties
When selected, this item opens a window which allows you to input or edit the title of the page, the author, and a description (title and description are both very helpful when users are performing a search).
6. Table
Insert Select or Delete
When these items are selected they open a sub-menu which allows you to Insert, Select, or Delete table Rows, Columns, and cells.
Join Selected Cells
this item allows you to join two or more selected cells.
Split Cell
When selected, this item allows you to split a selected cell.
Create Table From Selection
When selected, this item opens a windows which allows you to create a table from a selected paragraph.
Table or Cell Background Colors
When selected, this item opens a window which lets you change the color of the selected table or cell.
Table Properties
This option, when selected, opens a window which allows you to set properties of the selected table and/or cells (i.e. background color; table border, spacing, and padding or cell height, width, and style.
7. Tools
Validate HTML
This option opens a new browser which takes you to a third party site to validate your HTML code.
Search
This option when selected opens a sub-menu which allows you to search the web, messages, for addresses, and internet keywords.
Password Manager
When selected, this option opens a sub-menu which allows you to log out, or manage stored passwords.
Download Manager
This option opens a window which allows you to view/manage your downloads (i.e. .html, .doc, .exe, and .gif files).
Web Development
This option when selected opens a sub-menu to operate Java Consoles, and JavaScript Consoles.
8. Window
This drop down menu allows you to open windows such as Navigator (Ctrl+1), Mail and Newsgroups (Ctrl+2), Instant Messenger (Ctrl+3), Composer (Ctrl+4), and Address Book (Ctrl+5). If multiple windows are open this option allows you to toggle between them.
9. Help
Probably the most useful part of the Composer is the help menu. Under the Help and Support Center option (F1) you have indexed help and a help menu sorted by topics. This menu also allows you to view What's New in Netscape as well as register and send feedback.