Create a Web Page: MS Word

You don't have to be a programmer to create a Web page. It's simple and fun when you use MS Word. In fact, anyone with Word experience can create Web pages very easily using the features that Word provides.

You can begin with a blank page or an existing document, but it's the Save As Web Page command that converts regular documents into Web pages. Word creates special codes in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) that the Web uses to control how a Web page appears and it does all of this behind the scenes! You don't even have to see them or know what they are!

It's a very simple process, whether you begin with a blank page or an existing document. Follow the steps below and I'm sure you'll agree.

To do so:

1. Open an existing document or type the text for your Web page. Typically you place a heading on the first line and format it with a Heading 1 style.
    
2. Choose File | Save As Web Page. In the dialog box that appears, designate the drive and folder where you want to save the text, as usual.
    
3. Click the Change Title button to open the Set Page Title dialog box, where you specify the text that will appear in the title bar of the Web page.
    
4. Click OK.
    
5. Type a file name, as usual. Notice that the file type is labeled Web Page, rather than Word Document as it usually is.
    
6. Click Save.

Two differences are immediately apparent. The document changes to Web Layout view and you will see a new button on the left side of the Standard toolbar. The New Blank Document button has been replaced by a new button, the New Web Page button. What you don't see is that the document is saved in HTML format, which is what is needed for Web pages.

After you've created your Web page, you can see the HTML tags by choosing View | HTML Source. When you're finished, close the window to return to the document.

(c) Carol Bratt, all rights reserved. Used with permission. Duplication is forbidden without express consent of author. Visit Carol's web site to learn more tips like this one!