The current version of Word 97 can be used quite easily as a tool for creating web pages. Most of the features are pretty similar to those used when word processing.

This is the easiest way to make a page. You may already have files you wish to use on the intranet.

Open the document in Word.

Select File then Save As HTML

Getting Started

Produce an outline of your pages on paper. Know what each page is going to be called, what it will contain and how it will be linked to other pages.

Collect any pictures you want to include on the pages. Make sure they are .gif files or .jpg files. Put them all into one folder on your hard drive.

From the File menu select New.

From the templates window that appears click on the Web Pages tab and select "Blank Web Page"

The new page will then open. The toolbars will change slightly to give you a different selection of editing tools:

Setting the Colour Scheme

Web pages do not have to be black text on white backgrounds, you can set up any colour scheme you wish (but bear in mind the sensitivities of the viewer!).

To set the page background click on the "Background" icon, or go to the Tools menu and select Background. From the pop up menu you can select from the list of colours. If you want to mix up your own colour then click on the More Colours button. For a more jazzy effect click on the Fill effects button and choose a texture from the list. If you wish to use your own graphic as a background (.gif or .jpg) then click on Choose Texture and browse to find the file you wish to use.

To set up the text colours go to the Tools menu and select Text Colours. From this you can select the colours of:

• Body Text: This is the main text for the page.
• Hyperlink: This is the colour a hyperlink will be seen as. A standard colour is blue.
• Followed Hyperlink: This is the colour a hyperlink will be seen as if you have already visited it. A standard colour is red.

Remember to choose colours that will stand out from the background.

This works in exactly the same way as a normal word processor. You can align text left, right or centre, change the colour of words and add italics, bold and underlining.

You can also use bullet points or numbered bullets. Again these work in exactly the same way as they would when using Word normally.

HTML, the language used to create web pages, allows six sizes of heading. Heading 1 is the largest, with Heading 6 being the smallest. It is recommended that you stick to these when creating your pages.

To set the heading type, highlight the text you wish to be your heading. Then click on the style box and select the required heading type from the list.

From this box you can also choose other font styles; like blockquotes and citations.

The most important feature of a web page is its ability to be linked up to other pages. These are known as hyperlinks. A hyperlink can take the form of words or you can use a picture.

Before you create a hyperlink, you need to save your page into your Intranet directory (the directory with all the other pages and pictures that make up your Intranet).

Once saved, you are ready to insert a hyperlink.

Type in the word, or words you wish to be seen as the hyperlink, for example :"Go to next page". Highlight this phrase and then click on the insert hyperlink button (or click with the right mouse button and select "Hyperlink".

Enter the name of the file you wish to link to here. The file should end in .htm or .html.

For example index.htm

If you can't remember the name then click on the Browse button to select the file.

If you want to link to another web site then you need to type the full address in (including the http:// bit)

For example: http://www.cornwallis.kent.sch.uk

To make a picture a hyperlink you need to click your mouse on the picture to highlight it, then follow the same procedure as above.

Picture files must be either .gif or .jpg formats. Most paint packages (such as Paintshop Pro) will convert any picture format into these types.

Photographs are best saved as .jpg files. Artwork is best as a .gif.

To insert a picture go to the Insert toolbar, select Picture then From File…

From the file menu that appears, find the picture you want to insert then click on Insert.

Pictures can be moved around and justified in the same way as using Word normally.