Tables
Using tables is the only way to organize a web page both horizontally
and vertically. If you examine professionally designed web pages
by commercial and nonprofit organizations, you will find that they
almost all make sophisticated use of tables. Often, there will be
tables within tables within tables. Sounds complex? Not
really. This instruction assumes that you will be using either Mozilla 4.1 or Netscape Communicator 4.7x
Getting started-
Start with a web page that has both text and photos. The text
should make sense, and the photos should reinforce the content of the
text.
Put the cursor on the page, not in the middle of the text (above or below it would be fine).
Make the Table- here are a couple of ways to do it.
1. Choose the INSERT menu, select TABLE
2. Click on the table icon in the tool bar
(over to the right, looks like a window, says table underneath it)
3. Right click, choose INSERT and TABLE (Netscape)
Set the Table Properties-
number of cells = horizontal spaces in the table - set it to two (or three if you want to get funky)
number of rows = vertical lines in the table - set it to two (more will be added below)
Border - set it to 0 pixels
Click OK
The table will appear with dashed lines indicating the borders, cells and rows.
Place the picture-
Right click on the picture. Choose CUT
Put the cursor in the top row, right or left. Choose Paste.
Place the Text-
Choose the first main idea or paragraph of the text. It should relate to the photo.
Select the text. Cut the text.
Put the cursor in the top row cell next to the picture. Choose Paste.
Align the Text-
Right click in the text. Choose TABLE CELL PROPERTIES.
On the right is CONTENT ALIGNMENT.
Vertical should be set to top.
Horizontal should be set to left.
Align the Photo-
Right click on the photo. Choose TABLE CELL PROPERTIES.
On the right is CONTENT ALIGNMENT.
Vertical, choose either Top - Middle - Bottom.
Horizontal, choose either Left, Center or Right. Justify will force the text to have even justification - don't use it.
Add a Row-
Put the cursor in the bottom righ cell.
Press the tab button.
If that doesn't work, hit the backspace to remove the tab. Then:
Right click on the bottom right cell.
Choose TABLE INSERT and ROW.
Conclusion-
There are lots of interesting things that you can do with tables, but
this should get you started. Fuss around with it, but don't get
too crazy when you are working close to a deadline. Look at the
html code that is causing the table to work. Try the same
technique in Netscape and Mozilla. Compare the code. Try it
in Microsoft Word and FrontPage. How do the different programs
write code for the same thing? How would you write it in Notepad?
