Creating a New Document

HTML documents are the building blocks of your Web site. One way to create a HTML document is by opening a new document. When Dreamweaver is first opened, a blank document should automatically be displayed. Sometimes, it may be necessary to start a new document yourself. The File menu contains the option to do this. Click File to open the menu.

The first option New displays a new blank document. If the program doesn’t open a blank document for some reason, or an additional blank document is needed, this option could be used to display one. Notice and remember the New from Template and Import options in the file menu as well. You will be using these options to create HTML documents later on in the tutorial.
Working to Define Page Properties
Now we will begin to create the Homepage for your Web site. Before you begin define some of the general properties of the page. Use the Page Properties dialogue box accessed from the Modify menu. Click Modify, then Properties. The Page Properties dialogue box allows you to specify the general characteristics of the document such as the name that will appear on the Web browser’s title bar, background color, background images, and other elements of the Web pages. It also allows you to set the default text and link colors.

If you don’t set theses options, the default settings on each viewer’s browser will use its default colors and settings and produce inconsistent results. Right now you are just going to specify the title of the page. Later on we will specify the default colors using another Dreamweaver tool. As you may be beginning to realize, there are many different ways to perform many of the same tasks with this software program.

Type the name of the page into the appropriate box. Use the name of your Website and the word “Home” after it. Click OK and the name will now be displayed in the upper left hand side of the title bar. That way when the file is worked on, stored in your folder, or being displayed on the published Web site it will be easily identified. (Untitled-1*) will appear next to the newly named page. The * (asterisk) will appear next to the newly named page and means the file has been changed but is not yet saved. When you save this document later you will assign a file name to it at that time. After you set the page properties, the next step is to add elements such as text and images to the document.

  Important note: It is important to keep the document visually pleasing and easy to read. Difficult and complex designs with cluttered, confusing layouts, and difficult to read fonts will make it stressful for your audience to process the information on your Web site. This will not encourage people to read further, explore your Web site in depth, not to mention return for a repeat visit.

For more information, enroll for Dr. Kitalong’s Visual Documentation Class (ENC 4218) at UCF through the English Department at Coburn Hall. Special permission may be required.

 
...Now back to our tutorial.