WebSpider is available only to
Windows 3.1 users. It is used to create and design documents to
be viewed over the World Wide Web (WWW). Documents for the Web are
written in the Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML), which is a text-based
language. HTML documents, unlike word processor documents, can be
viewed over many different platforms using various Web browsers.
HTML is simple ASCII text with embedded tags.
These tags allow you to add graphics to your text, change the appearance
of the text, and create hypertext links. The WebSpider allows you
to create such HTML documents without having to learn HTML.
Note: WebSpider is used only
by Windows 3.1/3.11 platforms for creating, viewing and editing
HTML documents. HTML documents are created, viewed and edited in-line
on Windows 95/NT platforms.
WebSpider makes formatting an HTML document
as easy as formatting any regular text document. You can use its
convenient toolbar and menus to apply styles, headings, links, lists,
forms, and insert images. WebSpider automatically inserts tags,
without making you aware of the HTML implementation. Therefore,
HTML tags are defined, but not displayed.
The Editor displays the HTML in a WYSIWYG format
(What You See Is What You Get), meaning the created documents appear
in the Editor as they will appear when viewed in the Browser.
The advanced editing features are fully supported
for HTML 2.0 files or files created in the WebSpider. HTML syntax
validation and the WYSIWYG viewing also supports HTML 3.0 files.
WebSpider can be used with other NetManage applications
to publish your own HTML pages for the World Wide Web (WWW). Refer
to online Help for details on Publishing HTML pages.
Formatting Text
WebSpider provides a quick and easy way to format
text. The typical word processor functions are available through
the Edit menu: cut, copy, paste, delete, find and replace. All of
these options are documented in the online Help. In addition, HTML
formatting tools are available: character styles, paragraph styles
(including various headings), document styles and lists.
Character Styles
Character styles apply the following style options
to the characters selected:
Bold
Italics
Underline
Strong (HTML tag)
Used to emphasize text. The display implementation
is Browser dependent. The common implementation is Bold.
Cite (HTML tag)
Used to mark citations. The display implementation
is Browser dependent. The common implementation is italics.
Fixed Font (HTML TT tag)
Indicates that the text should be displayed
using monospace (fixed size) font. The font is Browser dependent.
The common implementation is Courier.
Strikethrough (HTML S tag)
Size
Character styles are accessed through the Format
menu. Refer to online Help for details on applying these styles.
Paragraph Styles
Paragraph styles apply to the paragraph containing
the current selection. The HTML editor creates tags specifying how
to format that paragraph.
The following styles are available:
H1 to H6 : Defines
text in relatively different size fonts for emphasis. H1 is the
larger font, common implementation is bold. Each of these styles
becomes progressively smaller. H6 common implementation is smaller
than the normal font.
Preformatted : Defines
that the current paragraph should be displayed in a fixed font,
and that no Browser adjustments should be performed on this text.
For example, Browsers will usually eliminate white space such
as double spaces and tabs. In a preformatted paragraph, no adjustments
will be performed. The common implementation uses the Courier
font.
Address : Defines
that the current paragraph should be displayed as an Address.
The common Browser implementation is italic. This style is often
used for email addresses.
Normal : Defines
that the current paragraph should be displayed as a regular paragraph,
no styles applied.
Paragraph styles are accessed through the Format
menu.
Left Indent and Center
The Left Indent and Center styles are applied to blocks of text,
to format their justification. Indent styles are accessed through
the Format menu or button bar.
Document Styles
Document styles apply to the whole document.
You may set a background image (wall paper) for your document or
the following colors: background color, text color, link color.
Visited link color and active link color.
Document styles are accessed through the Format
menu. Refer to online Help for details on applying these styles.
Lists
WebSpider allows you to create different types
of lists to enhance text. All lists are indented from the left.
The list styles available are:
Ordered : Automatically
inserts item numbers.
Unordered : Automatically
inserts bullets.
Dir : Bulleted list similar to the Unordered
list, consisting of short items, typically up to 20 characters
each. Items in a directory list may be arranged in columns, typically
24 characters wide. The common browser implementation is as an
Unordered list.
Menu : Bulleted
list of items with typically one line per item, making it more
compact than the ordered list style. The common browser implementation
is as an Unordered list.
Increase List Indent creates a nested list by
moving a list item right by one tab stop. Decrease List Indent moves
a nested list item back (to the left) one tab stop.
Note: Increase and Decrease
List Indent commands will be available only when cursor position
is in a list.
Links
Links are used to create a jump (hyperlink)
from the selected text to another specified document or Internet
resource. Links are used to reference any resource on the Internet.
When a link appears in the document, the Web Browser uses the link
to go directly to that resource, using the protocol selected when
creating the link. There are three types of links:
menuInternal links jump to a reference in
the same document
Relative links jump to a file in the same
directory
External links jump to a file on another
computer.
To create a link:
Select the text you want to link to the destination
document.
Choose Create Link from the Link menu or
use the icon from the tool bar.
A Link dialog box appears.
Specify the target file location components
(URL). The information that you must supply depends upon the
type of link that you are creating:
Protocol - Select the communication protocol
required to access the destination Host: HTTP, GOPHER, FTP,
FILE, TELNET, MAILTO, NEWS.
For Relative links, select none for
Protocol and leave the Host and Port empty. For Internal
links, select none for Protocol, and leave the Host, Port,
and Path and File Name empty.
Host - Enter the name of the destination
host.
Port - The Port displayed is the standard
port used by the chosen protocol. It is recommended to keep
the standard port.
Path and file name - The destination
file name, including directory path if necessary. Use the
Browse button to select the desired file.
Target in file - Optional, by default
the link transfers to the beginning of the targeted document.
With HTTP and File protocols, it is possible to link to a
specified point inside a document, if it has been defined
as a Target. Enter the Target name you want to link to. Use
this option to link to a different point within the same document.
Username - Enter the appropriate username
for Protocols that require a username for connection.
Password - Enter the appropriate password
for hosts that require a password for connection.
Target file location - The information
that you entered in the Target file location components fields,
automatically appears in this field.
Title - Allows you to provide an alternative
name for the destination document. Enter the name you require.
You can enter the string, if known,
directly into the Target file location field, eliminating
the need to fill in all the components. You may also use
the Browse button to browse for a target file.
Note: It is advised
to enter the details into each of the Target file location
components fields, since the input is automatically converted
into a valid URL, displayed in the Target file field. Advanced
users, or users that know the exact target file location
(URL) they wish to link to, may enter the information directly
into the Target file field.
Test Link - Choose this button to test
the link you just created.
Choose the OK button. The style of the selected text changes
to reflect the existence of a Link.
Note: The Create Link command
is available only when text, that is not already a link, is
selected.
You can test, modify and remove Links - refer
to the online help for details.
Targets
Links automatically jump by default to the beginning
of documents. If you want a Link to jump to a specific part of a
document, you must create a Target at that point. The Link can be
specified to jump to the target. The Create Targets command is accessed
from the Link menu. Refer to online help for details on creating,
editing, and moving targets.
If the Highlight Targets command from the Settings
menu is selected, the Targets in the document will appear in a different
style so that they can be distinguished from the other text. The
reflection of the Targets in the Editor is for your convenience.
The common Browser implementation of Targets
will not display the targets in a different style.
Note: The Create Target command
is available only when text is selected which is not an existing
target.
Forms and Controls
A Form is the computer equivalent of a paper
form that enables the client to interact with a Web page. Forms
enable two-way communication through the use of HTML. You create
a Form in WebSpider and place it on the Web and this information
is returned to the URL specified when the Form was created. Commands
include Create Form..., Edit Form Attributes..., and Select Form.
Forms may contain various Controls, such as
radio buttons, submit buttons, image buttons, text boxes, selection
lists and password boxes. These are interactive building blocks
that can be brought together and defined as Forms. These allow the
user of the Web page to enter information and submit the form. WebSpider
provides ready made controls for easy use. The user just uses the
convenient controls palette and enters the relevant information
into the pop-up dialog box, as in the example below.
After you launch the page on the Web that you have
created it will appear like the example below. See Online help for
more details on Forms and Controls.
Insert Inline Image
You can insert a picture into the document as
an inline image at the current cursor position, and set the image's
attributes. Various graphic formats are supported, but it is advised
to use the GIF format for maximum browser compatibility. If your
graphics are of a format other than the GIF format, you may use
NEWTView to convert the existing graphic to the GIF format. You
can access Insert Inline Image through the Element menu. Refer to
the online help for more details.
WebSpider provides you with a library of icons
and graphics, found in the NETMANAG\WEBSPID directory. To use these
icons or graphics, refer to online help.
Example HTML files
WebSpider provides you with a small library of example
HTML files and graphics in the NETMANAG\WEBSPID directory. To use
this file first open an example file, save as another name, and
edit as you wish.
Spell Checking
You can use the Check Spelling command from the Tools
menu (or use the toolbar icon) to check the current document for
spelling mistakes. Detected errors can be fixed, using one of the
suggested replacements or a replacement of your own. Detected errors
may also be ignored or added as a valid word into one of your dictionaries.
You may set various spell-checking options.
Additional Online Information
The online help file for WebSpider includes
a description of each menu command, plus the following information
in the "How to Use" section:
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