Web Pages created with AOLPress

AOLPress is a free WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) Web editing tool that creates clean, simple HTML pages. It was last updated in 1997 - a long time ago in Web time - so it does not support things like style-sheets, Javascript, and DHTML. However, it is a great tool for learning about Web design and for creating pages with lots of pizzazz. Once you have an understanding of the basics, you may want to purchase software like Front Page or Dreamweaver. These Web editors provide templates and other design features that streamline the creation of pages. Or, if you prefer to continue working with AOLPress, you may add Java applets, etc. to your pages after they are published. Anyway, for free, you are getting a pretty great tool!
Below are directions for creating a basic Web page using AOLPress. They include steps for changing background and font colors, re-sizing text, making fancy headings, placing images on pages, adding e-mail links, linking to Internet sites, creating tables, and viewing pages in Internet Explorer. This should be enough to help you design your first Home Page. Two institutes on Web design are scheduled to be held at the junior high during the 2003-2004 school year. During those workshops we will go over the basics and then add animations, snazzy backgrounds, music, and more.

To download AOLPress, go to www.ydegraw.com/aolpress.html. When asked what you wish to do with the program, save it to your desktop. You may then double-click on the AOLPress "carton" to install the program on your computer.

Starting AOLpress If you do not have an icon for AOLPress on your desktop, click Start, then Programs, and select AOLPress from the menu. When the program is open, click File, and either Open (to open a page you have already made) or New and New Page (to start a brand new page).

Changing background colors Change background colors by clicking the Page Attributes button (it has horizontal colored lines) and clicking "pick" in the "background - color" area. Choose the color you like and click OK twice. The background of your page will change color.

Changing font size Type some text. Highlight it. Click on the A+ to make the text larger, on the A- to make the text smaller.

Changing font color Highlight the text. Click on the Custom Color button (it is the button with the multicolored triangles) and select a color.

Fancy headings The Web site we went to for the fancy headings was www.acme.com/labelmaker. Just follow the directions for making your label. Be sure to check "transparent" if you want to see your background through the letters. When you have the label designed, point the mouse at it, click the right mouse button, choose "Save picture as" and save the label-image on the 3½" floppy A-drive. To put the label on your page, click the "Image" button (the 6th from the left), click "Browse" and browse through the image files on your disk. Then click on the name of the file and click OK twice. The label will appear on the screen. Center it if you wish.

Pictures There are thousands of free image files on the Internet. A couple of sites for pictures are: www.gifanimations.com, and www.bellsnwhistles.com but just look around the Internet for lots more. When you find a picture you like, right-click on it, choose "Save picture as" and save the file to your disk. Follow the "fancy headings" directions above to place the images on your page.

E-mail links Either type a message like "Send me an e-mail" or place a mail-picture on your page. Highlight the text or image. Click on the "Link" button (it looks like a piece of chain) and in the "Link to page" box type: mailto:your_email_address (mailto:doej@tantasqua.org). Click OK.

Linking to Internet sites Type the name of the site (EBay, CNN, NBA, etc.). Highlight it. Click on the Link button. In the "Link to page" box type http://www.cnn.com and click OK. Your page will be linked to the Internet. You may not be able to check the link from AOLpress. To make the link work, see the "View a page in Internet Explorer" directions below.

Viewing a page in Internet Explorer Be sure to save your page. To save, click on "File", then "Save as" (or just plain "Save" if you have already named the file). Then minimize the page - use the tiny minus sign in the top right corner of the page. At the desktop, double-click on My Computer, then on the 3½" floppy. Find your page-file and double-click on it. It will open as if it were on the Internet. Links should work and animated pictures will be moving.

Tables These directions are in a table which has two columns and ten rows. If you want to create a grid like this, click on "Table" at the top of the screen. Choose "Create table" and select the number of columns and rows you would like. Click OK. Each cell (rectangle) in the table operates independently from the others so you may have a variety of text colors, sizes, etc.

Click on the yellow disk below for links to some useful sites for adding pizzazz to your page.
If you have problems following any of these directions, let me know. Help is just an e-mail away! :-)

Starting AOLpress	If you do not have an icon for AOLPress on your desktop, click Start, then Programs, and select AOLPress from the menu. When the program is open, click File, and either Open (to open a page you have already made) or New and New Page (to start a brand new page).
Changing background colors	Change background colors by clicking the Page Attributes button (it has horizontal colored lines) and clicking "pick" in the "background - color" area. Choose the color you like and click OK twice. The background of your page will change color.
Changing font size	Type some text. Highlight it. Click on the A+ to make the text larger, on the A- to make the text smaller.
Changing font color	Highlight the text. Click on the Custom Color button (it is the button with the multicolored triangles) and select a color.
Fancy headings	The Web site we went to for the fancy headings was www.acme.com/labelmaker. Just follow the directions for making your label. Be sure to check "transparent" if you want to see your background through the letters. When you have the label designed, point the mouse at it, click the right mouse button, choose "Save picture as" and save the label-image on the 3½" floppy A-drive. To put the label on your page, click the "Image" button (the 6th from the left), click "Browse" and browse through the image files on your disk. Then click on the name of the file and click OK twice. The label will appear on the screen. Center it if you wish.
Pictures	There are thousands of free image files on the Internet. A couple of sites for pictures are: www.gifanimations.com, and www.bellsnwhistles.com but just look around the Internet for lots more. When you find a picture you like, right-click on it, choose "Save picture as" and save the file to your disk. Follow the "fancy headings" directions above to place the images on your page.
E-mail links	Either type a message like "Send me an e-mail" or place a mail-picture on your page. Highlight the text or image. Click on the "Link" button (it looks like a piece of chain) and in the "Link to page" box type: mailto:your_email_address (mailto:doej@tantasqua.org). Click OK.
Linking to Internet sites	Type the name of the site (EBay, CNN, NBA, etc.). Highlight it. Click on the Link button. In the "Link to page" box type http://www.cnn.com and click OK. Your page will be linked to the Internet. You may not be able to check the link from AOLpress. To make the link work, see the "View a page in Internet Explorer" directions below.
Viewing a page in Internet Explorer	Be sure to save your page. To save, click on "File", then "Save as" (or just plain "Save" if you have already named the file). Then minimize the page - use the tiny minus sign in the top right corner of the page. At the desktop, double-click on My Computer, then on the 3½" floppy. Find your page-file and double-click on it. It will open as if it were on the Internet. Links should work and animated pictures will be moving.
Tables	These directions are in a table which has two columns and ten rows. If you want to create a grid like this, click on "Table" at the top of the screen. Choose "Create table" and select the number of columns and rows you would like. Click OK. Each cell (rectangle) in the table operates independently from the others so you may have a variety of text colors, sizes, etc.