Netscape Composer Tutorial
HTML and JavaScript

Strictly speaking, you don't need to know HTML to use the Composer. However, it pays to be familiar with what's really going on inside an HTML document when you're troubleshooting a Web page you're working on. If you don't get the results you want, it's useful to look at the raw HTML file and tags to see what the problem might be.

Quick Links:

HTML Basics

An overview of Composer's use of HTML tags

Formatting in HTML documents consists of tags of plain ASCII text instructions enclosed in angle brackets <>. A format area typically uses two tags: one at the beginning and another at the end. For example, to designate a particular line as a heading, you enclose the heading text inside tags that mark the beginning and end:

<H3>Hello World Wide Web!</H3>

The <H3> tag marks the beginning of text to be considered a level 3 heading (Heading 3); the </H3> tag marks the end of the text heading. Instead of the usual manual way of inserting this tag, the Composer lets you automatically apply an H1 format using the drop-down style list on the Paragraph toolbar, or by choosing Format|Paragraph.

How Composer formats correspond to HTML tags

JavaScript

JavaScript, a Netscape-developed scripting language derived from Java, provides developers with a simplified language to create scripts and small programs. With Composer, you too can take advantage of the power of this scripting language in your Web pages.

JavaScript is a small, property-based scripting language. Scripts written in JavaScript can enhance the features of Web pages, as well as client and server applications. For example, a JavaScript script embedded in HTML can recognize and respond to user-initiated events such as form input and page navigation.

Adding HTML or JavaScript

If you already have an understanding of HTML or Java and want to insert particular tags that aren't available from the Composer's format menus, choose Insert|HTML Tag. A dialog box appears that lets you type the HTML or Java you want to insert at the selected place in your document.

HTML Tag dialog box

When typing tags in this box, press Enter at the end of each line to ensure that your code is easily readable. Click Verify to have the Composer check the HTML you've typed. The Composer checks to make sure you have both opening and closing brackets < > around your HTML, and quotation marks around any attribute text.

This feature is particularly useful for inserting HTML form tags, and Java applet and plug-in code into your documents. Although the Composer does not display these objects, it does insert special HTML tag icons so you know where they are.

HTML tag icons

You can still insert and edit them using the HTML Tag box, and then browse your document to see them. When you view the HTML source, you'll see <SCRIPT> and </SCRIPT> HTML tags around your JavaScript statements.

Tip: Double-click the tag icons to display the HTML Tag box and quickly edit your HTML, Java applet, or plug-in code.

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