Welcome

Welcome to Web Studio!  We are very pleased to introduce to you a programming innovation in the world of Web Site construction and design.  With Web Studio you can drag and drop your way to a professional web site.  The process is quick, easy and allows you total design satisfaction.   From posting on-line greeting cards to creating small business sites, Web Studio is an invaluable addition to your software library.

For more information about Web Studio and other great products from Sierra On-Line, check out our Web site at www.sierra.com.


Web Studio's Desktop

 At the very top of the Window is the menu bar, home to the Web Studio command menus.

Below the menu bar is a group of Galleries. These Galleries contain many of the pieces you’ll use to create your web sites. They also contain templates, text and graphics effects, sounds, and hyperlinks. You’ll see how to use the Galleries later.

Below the Galleries is the workspace. This is where the pages of your web site will be edited. Each page will be displayed in its own window in the workspace.

To the right of the workspace is the Page Palette. The page palette enables you to add additional pages to your site, name the pages, open pages, and delete pages.

Above the workspace is the toolbar. The toolbar contains buttons that duplicate many of the functions contained in Web Studio’s menus. These buttons are duplicated in the toolbar to offer quick access to the functions most used during page creation and editing with Web Studio.

Below the toolbar is the Status Bar. The Status Bar displays help messages, tips, and other helpful stuff.


The Read Me file

We placed a great deal of energy into creating the online help for Web Studio.  However, due to the unique dynamics of software production the manual is often printed before the program is completely finished.  The Read Me file is a great resource for both you and us!  Many last minute tips and instructions can be found in the Read Me file.

You can access the Read Me file at any time by placing the CD in the CD-ROM drive and using Windows Explorer.

•	Go to Start>Programs>Windows Explorer.

•	Click on the CD-ROM to display the contents of the Web Studio CD.

•	Double-click on the Read Me.txt file.


Tip of the Day

The Tip of the Day dialog window will appear and offer tips on how to get the most out of Web Studio. Press the “Next Tip” button to see additional tips.

You can click in the “Show Tips on Startup” check box to make the Tip of the Day dialog not appear on startup.

You can choose Help> Tip Of The Day to see this dialog any time.

Click Close to close the dialog and continue with Web Studio.


Adding
Adding A Background

To add a background to your page, you have to have the Background Gallery displayed. If the Background Gallery is not already displayed, click on the Gallery with the mouse to make it active.

To add a background simply click the mouse on the background of your choice, press and hold the mouse button, drag the mouse down into the page’s window and let go of the mouse button.


Scrolling to view more
Scrolling to view more backgrounds

To see more backgrounds click the arrows on the scroll bar in the Background Gallery. Additional backgrounds will scroll into view.


Changing the colors

If you have a certain color scheme in mind for your web pages, Web Studio’s hue controls make it easy to get the colors you want.

Web Studio offers the unique ability to change the hue of its graphics. Pressing one of the series of small buttons on the upper left of the Gallery will change the hue of all graphics in the Gallery.

Press one of the middle buttons. The status bar shows a progress indicator as Web Studio changes the hues of all of the graphics in the Gallery. Note that only those graphics at the level being displayed are changed, the graphics at all other levels remain as they were.

This ability to change hues effectively multiplies the quantity of art by a factor of eight.


Double-clicking to view more

Some of the Galleries in Web Studio are hierarchical in nature. That means they work in a way similar to file folders in the Windows’ Explorer. If you double-click on one of the backgrounds displayed in the Gallery that has a folder icon in it, it will open an additional group of backgrounds that are similar in nature to the one you double-clicked on.

So, the top level is similar to a table of contents for the Background Gallery. Each Gallery, if double-clicked, opens up many backgrounds with similar characteristics.

To return to the top level, simply click on the Close Folder icon in the upper right corner of the Gallery.

Many of the Galleries that contain graphic page elements are hierarchical just like the Background Gallery.


Adding Objects

Signs and buttons are used to communicate something in a very visual way. Web Studio includes many signs and buttons.

Dividers allow you to a place a visual break between objects or text.  Web Studio has many dividers to choose from.

To see a sign, button, or divider click on the appropriate Gallery tab.

To add the object to your page, simply drag and drop it just like you did with the background.

You’ll note that the object is placed on the page exactly where you dropped it. This is not like backgrounds. The backgrounds automatically expand to fill the entire page. Objects are meant to be a single, unique page element. You can have as many objects on your page as you want.


Moving Objects

Each page element that you drop onto your page is a unique object.  These objects can be moved around the page, resized, stacked on top of each other, aligned with others, etc. It is just like having pieces of construction paper on top of your desk. The only difference is that they are in your computer, you can resize them, you can perform really cool special visual effects to them, and most importantly, they’ll eventually end up on the Internet for everyone to see.

To move an object, you simply click on it, drag it to its new location and release the mouse button.

Click on the sign and drag it. You’ll notice that it will move to the location where you dropped it.


Resizing an Object

You can change the size of any object on your page. Simply select it if it is not already selected, and a series of "handles" will appear around the object.

Moving the mouse over one of the handles, and dragging will create a variety of effects.

•	Dragging a handle in the corner of an object will result in a resize in two directions at once without distorting the object.

•	Dragging the upper left corner to the upper left of the page will result in an object that gets wider and taller and does not distort.

•	Dragging the lower left corner towards the middle of the page will result in an object that gets smaller and taller and does not distort.

•	Dragging the center handle on the right side of the object will result in an object that gets wider or narrower and it will distort.

•	Dragging the center handle of the bottom of the object will result in an object that gets taller or shorter and it will distort.


Selection Handles

You’ll see there are a number of small black boxes on the corners and around the edges of the object you just moved. These are called handles. The handles indicate that the object has been selected. Objects that you drag on to the page become selected. In addition, you can select objects without moving them.

Click on the background of the page.  You’ll see the selection handles are removed from the sign.

Click on the sign. You’ll see the selection handles are again displayed on the sign. You’ll see what you can do with selection handles next.


Adding Special F/X

Web Studio offers many special visual effects to enhance your web pages. Adding a special effect to a graphic or to text is as simple as adding a sign to your page.

Click on the Special F/X Gallery.

You’ll see a number of F/X. To lighten the sign you just added, drag the Lighten effect on top of the sign and drop it.


Using Multiple Efffects
Using Multiple Effects

You can use multiple effects on graphics and text to get really exotic looking results.

Scroll further to the right until the Emboss effect is showing. Drag the Emboss effect onto the sign that was just lightened.

Scroll further to the right until the Blur effects are showing. Drag the third Blur effect onto the sign that was just embossed.

Use the scroll bar to scroll a bit and drag the Flip effect onto the sign.

Try anything that looks interesting.


Hierarchical Windows

Any of the Special F/X windows that contain a yellow folder will lead to more Special F/X.

Double clicking on it will display a number of additional effects.

Drag one of the effects onto the sign. There are a number of effects that will add texture to your graphic.  Click on the Gallery’s Close Folder icon to return to the top.

There are also a number of effects that will change the edges of your graphic. Double-click on the Edges effect. Edge effects include torn paper, burnt paper, brush strokes and more. Try them out one by one, undoing each to see how the next one works.


Undo & Redo

Undo

Playing with the Special F/X Gallery can make a mess of your graphics fast. This is where Undo comes into play.

Web Studio’s Undo command will enable you to undo as many actions as you want, right up to your last save, unless your own system's memory limitation restricts the amount of Undo you can do.

If you’ve added a few FX to your sign, choose Undo from the Edit menu. You’ll see the last effect has been removed. Choose Undo again…you’ll see the previous one has been removed. Choose Undo a few more times. Actually, you could continue choosing Undo until your page was blank again.

Redo

Just as playing with FX can make a mess quickly, undoing too many things can mess things up equally badly. This is where Redo comes in.

Choose Redo from the Edit menu. The last thing you Un-did is undone.

You can Redo anything that you’ve just undone. So continue to choose Redo until you like the way your sign looks.


Adding your Graphics to Web Studio

Web Studio enables you to add an entire folder full of graphics to the My Stuff Gallery. This Gallery is designed to hold all of your favorite graphics, to hold all the graphics for the web project you’re currently creating, etc.

•	To add your graphics to the My Stuff Gallery, simply choose “Load My Stuff Gallery…” from the File menu.

This displays the standard Windows Open dialog.

•	Navigate to the folder that contains the graphics you want to add. Then select one of the files in the folder and press Open.

Web Studio will load all of your graphics into its My Stuff Gallery. The progress indicator in the status bar indicates the progress of the operation.

Once the My Stuff Gallery has been loaded with your graphics you can drag and drop them, change their hue, and do anything you can with other Web Studio graphics.

You can replace the graphics in the My Stuff Gallery any time you wish.


Importing Graphics

To insert a file into your web site, select the Insert menu and go to Insert Picture from File or Insert Picture from Scan.

Insert Picture from File: When you select the Insert>Picture from File command, the standard Windows Open dialog appears.  Its default setting is All Readable Files.  Web Studio reads most common graphic files. If you are looking for a specific file type, click on the arrow next to the Files of Type box to select the type of file you are looking for.

Insert Picture from Scan: When you select the Insert>Picture from Scan command, a dialog box gives you a choice of available scanners as well as other input devices, such as digital cameras that support TWAIN.

Background from File: Allows you to import a graphic file as your background.

Background from Scanner: Utilizing your scanner software, it allows you to scan a graphic into the program for use as your Web page background.  This works not only with scanners, but also with any "TWAIN" device, including digital cameras.


Adding Text

Past the decorative fonts you see the “normal” Windows fonts.  The pictures of the letter “A” represent the various fonts on your system.  Decide what font you want your text to have and then drag it onto the page.

A text object is created where you dropped the font.

This text object has many of the capabilities of a word processor. You can change fonts, sizes, styles, paragraph properties, colors, and more.

Web Studio differs from a word processor in that your text object doesn’t take up the entire page or window, unless you want it to. Also, you can add as many different text objects to your page as you want and place them exactly where you want them.


Typing Text

When you drop a text object a blinking text cursor will appear in its upper left corner. This indicates that the text object is active and available for editing.

As you type, your text will fill the text object.  The box will expand downward to accommodate the new text. Web Studio will expand or contract its text objects as required.

There are handles on the text object, just like any object added to your Web pages.  Web Studio keeps track of how deep the text objects need to be, but it allows you to place the object where you want it and to make it as wide as you need it to be. When you initially drop a text object from the Text Gallery, Web Studio will extend the object to the right margin of the page.

Web Studio will “reflow” the text in the object to suit any size, which makes layout very easy.


Selecting a Text Object

Text objects behave just like graphic objects. You can move them, resize them, add special effects, etc. Text objects are different that graphic objects in one major way, you can edit the contents of a text object.

Click on the background of your page to deselect a text object. The handles will go away and the white background of the text object will turn into the background image.

Drag the text object around the page. It will behave just like a graphic object.

In order to tell Web Studio that you want to edit the text object, you simply double click on it.

To activate the text object for editing, double-click on it. You can now add text or edit in other ways.


Changing Fonts, Styles, and Sizes
Changing Fonts, Styles, Sizes and Colors All at Once

Click on the Text Gallery tab. The standard Windows font dialog appears on the left side of the gallery.  Select the text on your page.  Choose whatever font, style, size, color or any combination you wish. Click OK and the changes are made to the selected text.

Font Sizes and the Web

The web was designed originally to use seven font sizes, labeled 1 through 7. This is different than most programs you have used. These sizes correspond to 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, 24 and 36 points.

When you click on the up arrow toolbar you’ll notice that the text size increases from 2 to 3 to 4, for example. Pressing the down arrow of the toolbar decreases the size in a similar fashion.

You’ll see in the standard Windows font dialog that font sizes are available in many point sizes instead of the normal seven Web sizes.  This is done to enable you to choose exactly the font size you want for large headlines. Web Studio changes the size of any text that is not one of the seven Web sizes to the next smallest Web size. If you use a font size larger than 36 points, Web Studio will use size 7. In this way, you can get around the limits the Web imposes when you want a really big font.


Building a Web Site

Building a Web site with Web Studio is a very simple process.  For a visual walk through check the program tutorial by going to Help>Tutorial.  Also, the printed manual offers plenty of "pre" Web site building advice.  Check out chapter 4 "Planning and Creating".


Adding Sounds

Web Studio’s Sound Gallery contains many categories of sounds you can add to your web pages and your page’s objects.

•	Click on the page’s background to de-select the text object you’ve been working with.

•	Click on the Sound Gallery.

This works just like the others you’ve used, simply find something that interests you by scrolling with the scroll bars and then drag it onto the page or object you want the sound associated with.

Press the right arrow on the scroll bar at the top of the Sound Gallery to see additional categories of sounds.

Press on any of the arrows on a categories vertical scroll bar to see additional sounds in that category.

To hear a sound, simply double click on its name. The sound is played.


Text F/X

Drag the desired effect onto your page and a dialog box will prompt you to enter your desired text.  Click OK and the effect will be in place.  To check it out, go to Web>Preview and the program will load the page into a browser where you will be able to view your animated text Java applet.  Here is a breakdown of the effects.

•	Ticker: The text enters from the right and exits on the left giving the "news ticker" effect we see across the bottom of the screen on some TV news stations.  The message repeats.

•	Every Other: The text enters from both left and right in "every other letter" form and is assembled in the middle of the text box.  It then exits in a similar fashion and repeats.

•	Center Expanding: The text is compressed in the center of the text box and then "expands" to regular readable status.  It repeats the pattern of compression and expansion.

•	Up and Over: The text is brought up from the bottom of the text box one letter at a time until the message is complete.  It then exits by scrolling out of the left side of the text box and repeats.

•	Scroll Up: The text is brought up from the bottom of the text box one letter at a time until the message is complete.  It then disappears and is repeated.

•	Type In Order: The text is actively "written" in the text box from left to right.  It appears as if someone is typing the message.  Message disappears and is rewritten.

•	Scroll Left: The text enters one letter at a time from the left until the entire message is displayed.  This effect works well with short two and three word messages.

•	Track Fade: The text is actively "written" left to right and is actively "erased" right behind.  The effect is similar to running a flashlight along a wall of words in a dark room.  You only see the words in the flashlight beam.

•	Tracker: The text is displayed in full but the letters are highlighted one at a time, left to right, by a different color.

•	Mixed Up Multi-Line: The text is assembled as the letters fall into place from all over the text box.  They are then scattered in different directions only to be assembled again.  Also called Coalesce.

•	Mixed Up Mouse Over: The text is scattered all over the text box.  When the visitor places the mouse over the box the letters fall into place to spell out the message.  When the visitor moves the mouse cursor away from the box the letters are once again scattered.


Slide Shows

 (Double click on the Slide Show to see the Slide Show Gallery.)  By dragging a slide show onto your page, you can present a series of images in slide show fashion for the visitors to your Web site.

•	There are 6 varieties of slide shows to work with.  Each one offers a different effect when changing slides.

1. 	Slide Regular

2. 	Push

3. 	Slide

4. 	Split

5. 	Swap

6. 	Fade

•	Drag the slide show onto your Web page and position it where you want the images to appear.

•	Once you release the mouse cursor, the Slide Show dialog box will appear.

•	SLIDE SHOW DIALOG BOX

•	Change Slides: There are 3 "change slides" options.

1.	Automatically every 10 seconds: The images will change every 10 seconds on the finished Web page.

2.	By Using Next and Previous Buttons: Two buttons will appear on the finished Web page and allow the visitor to page through the slides at their discretion.

3.	By Clicking on Slides with the Mouse: The user clicking on the slide with the mouse button changes the slides.

•	Select Background Color: You can customize the background or background of the slide show by choosing one of the two options.

1. 	Use Page’s Color:  Sets the current Web page background as the slide show  background

Note: the page's background color is the default. If there is no background color, but a background graphic, it uses white as the default.

2. 	Select Custom Color: Clicking this button brings up the standard Windows Color Dialog, allowing you to set any Windows color for your slide show background.

•	Once you have set the slide style and background color, click Next.

•	Adding Images to the Slide Show: You can add slides (or "attach files") to the slide show in the Attach Files dialog box.

•	Add Files to the List: The list of files or images that will play in your slide show can be created and added to by using this button.  Click the button and add files using the Open Dialog.

Note: For best results, make every attempt to use only small graphics for your slide show. You don't want your visitors to leave your site because the graphics are taking a long time to load.

Usage Tip: You can add multiple files in a folder by holding down the CTRL key and clicking on the files with the mouse.  The files will become highlighted and you can add them at the same time.

•	Delete Files from the List: Highlight one or several of the files that you wish to remove from the slide show and click the Delete Files from List button.

•	Verify Files from List: This verifies that the files are still where they were when the slide show was originally made.

•	Once finished click the Finish button and the slide show will now appear on your Web page.  You can see how it looks and functions by going to Web>Preview Web Site.

Note: The slide show will resize itself to accommodate the largest width graphic and the largest height graphic so you don't have to make them all the same size. In addition, it will allow you to add any type of graphic format that Web Studio supports. It will then look at the format and, if it isn't a JPEG, it will create a JPEG and put it in the same folder the original graphic was in.


E-mail Links

E-MAIL: (Double click on the E-mail tab to see the E-mail Gallery.)  This group of E-mail objects makes it extremely easy for you to ensure that you will get E-mail feedback from visitors on your Web site.  By dragging any of these objects onto your Web page, you create an E-mail link to our mailbox.  When a visitor clicks on this object, their E-mail software will start and produce an E-mail with your E-mail address in the “To” box.  All they need do is write the letter and click Send!

•	Drag any of the E-mail objects to your Web page.

•	A dialog box will prompt you to add your E-mail address.

•	Enter your address, or the address of where you wish this E-mail to go, and click OK.

You may test the E-mail link by going to Web>Preview Web Site and clicking on the E-mail link.


Photo Corrections Wizard

Drag the camera icon on to a photo or graphic background and the Photo Correction Wizard will appear.

•	Read the introduction and click Next.  You will be presented with two options.

1.	To "auto correct" the image, click on the Give it a Try button.  If you like the results, click the Next button until the dialog box disappears.  If you are unhappy with the results, click Undo.

2.	 To manually edit the image click on the Next button.  A series of slider bars controlling different parts of the image, contrast, brightness, hue, etc. will be presented allowing you to manipulate the image.

•	At any time you may click Cancel to stop the editing process.

•	At any time you may click the Back button to reedit with a specific slider bar.

If you are unhappy with the effect after you have added it to your Web page, click Edit>Undo Special Effect.


GeoCities Folder

(Double click on the Geocities to see the GeoCities Gallery.) For those of you who work with GeoCities, we have created a simple way for you to add a counter or feedback form for your site. Simply drag any of the desired objects to your web page, fill in the appropriate information (usually a user name or E-mail address) and when posted to the web, they will automatically count visitors, or "hits", on your web site, or allow for a survey or questionnaire to be submitted.  There are 3 styles of Feedback forms, Quick, Easy, and Complete, and they all offer a different depth of information.  Drag one onto your site and see which style you prefer.

• Reminder: You must put your web site on GeoCities or these forms will not work.  They 	were created for GeoCities only.


AOL Folder

(Double click on the AOL to see the AOL Gallery.) For those of you who work with AOL we have created a very simple way for you to add a counter or feedback form to your site.  Simply drag any of the desired objects to your web page and fill in the appropriate information (usually a user name or E-mail address).  When posted to the Web, they will automatically count visitors, or "hits", on your web site, or allow for a survey or questionnaire to be submitted. There are 3 styles of Feedback forms, Quick, Easy, and Complete, and they all offer a different depth of information.  Drag one onto your site and see which style you prefer.

• Reminder: You must put your web site on AOL or these forms will not work.  They were created for AOL only.


Last Modified Date

Drag this onto your Web page and a small statement informing your visitors when you last updated your site will automatically be placed on your page.  This is a great way to show that you are actively keeping up your web page and will encourage repeat visitors, as web surfers want to see new things each time they visit. Mention that it is added at the very bottom of the page, below all other page objects. Also, if you drag this onto a page that already has one, it will replace the old one with a new one that has the current date.


Search Engine

This allows you to place a search engine portal, or doorway, on your page.  This allows any visitor to your site the opportunity to search the entire Web from your site, using the search engine of their choice! The Search Engine becomes live in the Web preview and on the Internet.


HTML Object

 (For Advanced Users) This allows you to set a placeholder on your Web page for an HTML object.  After placing the object on your page, right-click over it and choose properties.  Enter your HTML into the HTML object properties dialog by typing or pasting from the Windows clipboard.

Note: You can also import the HTML from any txt, rtf, htm, or html file on your hard drive.

      When you preview your Web page, the HTML object will be active.


Links

By dragging this handy time saver on your page you will place a hyperlink to each of the pages in your Web site automatically. They are added at the very bottom of the page, below all other page objects.  If you have a 3 page Web site then the list will be PAGE 1, PAGE 2, PAGE 3.  If you have named the pages, it will use the page names.

   You can add this to one, some, or all of your pages. Also, if you drag this onto a page that already has links, it will replace the old three page with new, updated page names.


Calender
Calendar

Two kinds of calendar are available to you, one that displays the entire month, with the current date highlighted, and one that shows the date, month, and year.  Adding these to your site is particularly helpful around the Holidays when we all need a reminder that we are running out of time to get those cards sent off.

The Calendar becomes live in the Web preview and on the Internet.


Date

The Date will become live when the Web site is played or posted to the Web.  The exact date will be displayed for your web page visitor.

The Date becomes live in the Web preview and on the Internet.


Clock

The clock will become "live" when the Web site is built and will display the exact time when your visitor arrives to see what is happening on your page.

The Clock becomes live in the Web preview and on the Internet.


Overview
Overview of the Cool Stuff Tab

The Cool Stuff Gallery is a collection of effects that make your web pages come alive.  Slide shows, Animated Text effects and E-mail links make the pages spring to life!  Clocks, Calendars, and Counters can enhance the interactivity of your page and let you see how many people are visiting!

Because many of the Cool Stuff objects contain Java scripting, they won't be able to be viewed in 3.0 browsers. Unless you have checked Supress JavaScript error messages in the Advanced section of your Web Site Properties dialog, you will also receive error messages when you attempt to Preview a Web Site containing JavaScript with a 3.0 browser.


Overview
Overview of Animated GIFs

GIF stands for Graphic Interchange Format, a standard file format for storing digital image information on a computer.  GIFs compress image information, so GIF files require less disk space.

 Animated GIFs work a lot like the early movies.  Two or three images are played fast enough to fool the eye and create the illusion of movement.  Web Studio comes with over 100 Animated GIFs to liven up your Web pages.  Place one in the top corner of your Home page and people will remember your site.


Adding Animated GIFS to Your Pages

1.	To add an Animated GIF, click on the Animated GIF Gallery tab.

2.	Scroll through the many choices and, when you decide on one you like, simply drag it into place.

3.	To see the GIF work go to Web>Preview.  This will activate your Web site, allowing you to view your Animated GIF in action.  To get back to Web site building, go to File>Close Window.


Overview of Links

Links are the heart of the Web.  By clicking them you can visit other pages, download files to your computer, and automatically send someone E-mail.  Here is a rundown of the various links on a Web site:

•	Intrasite Link: This is a link that leads to another page within the site you are visiting.  If you construct a 5-page web site you should place an intrasite link to all 5 pages on your Home page.  In addition, each page should have an intrasite link back to the Home page.

•	Intrapage Link: Often called "Anchors", these are used to link sections of a single page together.  If you wish to have a "link" that takes visitors back to the top of the page they have been reading, you should use this link.

•	External Link: This link will connect you to another Web site.  Many Web sites contain a set of "favorite links" to external Web sites.  If you have a favorite Web site, place a link to it on your page to share it with others.

•	E-mail Link: This is a link that will start the E-mail software on a visitors computer and place a specific E-mail address in the To field in an E-mail.  This makes correspondence or feedback very easy on the user as all they have to do is type a message or comments and click the send button.


Creating and Adding Links

Creating and Adding Links to Your Web pages

You can add links to your Web Studio Web pages in two ways.

1.	DRAG AND DROP

•	The easiest way is by dragging the link from the Link gallery onto the image or text that you wish to be the gateway for the link.

•	To place the link on an image, open the link gallery, and find the link you wish to use.  Press the mouse, holding down the button, and drag the link over the image you wish to "link".  Now, release the button.  A colored box should now appear around the image, indicating that you have made a successful link.

•	To place a link on text, open the link gallery and find the link you wish to use.  Double-click on the text and, using the mouse, highlight the specific word or words you wish to use as the link.  Now, drag and drop the link onto the highlighted text.  Click your mouse once away from the text any your "linked" text should now be a different color from the rest.  This will indicate you have a successful link.

2.	RIGHT-CLICK

•	Right-click over an object and choose properties.

•	Click on the link tab.

•	Manually type in the Web address in the Link URL box.  Remember to include the entire address.  Example: http://www.sierra.com.  If you leave out any elements or mistype the URL the link will not work.

Click OK and a colored box should appear around your image or the text will become "colored" to indicate that a link has been added.


About Photos and Clip-Art

Photos

Web Studio offers several folders of beautiful photos to add to your Web pages.  Double-click on any folder to display the contents in the Gallery.  Many different subjects are included.  You can resize and reshape the photos and once placed on the page you can create cool image effects using the Special F/X gallery.

Be careful not to add too many photos to any one page. This can result in slow download times for visitors!

Clip-Art

Clip-Art is a term to differentiate photos from “graphics”.  Here you will find a wonderful collection of graphics to choose from.  Since graphic files tend to be less complex than their photographic counterparts, you can usually add more graphics and not suffer from extremely long download times.

Just drag and drop any graphic onto your Web page and you can resize, reshape, and apply the Special F/X to it.


File Menu Commands

•	New Web Site: This will prompt you to save your current Web site, if necessary, before opening a new Web site.  It will create a new one-page blank Web site for you to begin construction.

•	Open Web Site: This will prompt you to save your current Web site, in necessary.  From here you can open a previously constructed Web site from your hard drive.

•	Close Web Site: Prompts you to save your currently open Web site.  If it is the first time you are saving the file, you will be asked to name your file. Click cancel if you don't want to save the site.

•	Close Window: Closes the current active window by removing it from the desktop. To open the page again, just click on it in the Page Toolbar.

•	Save Web Site: Saves the current web site.  The Save As Dialog Box will launch if this is the first time you are saving the file.  If it is a "resave," you will not be prompted to name the file.

•	Save Web Site As: Saves the current web site under a different file name.  This is a good way to save a backup of your important Web site to a floppy disk or folder on your hard drive!

•	Save Web Page as Graphic: This command allows you to save the entire page as a Windows bit-map (BMP) file.

•	Save Web Site to Internet: This command does two things.  First, it builds your web site in HTML code.  Second, it launches the Web Studio Uploader that will save your files to the World Wide Web.

•	New Page: Adds a new blank page to your Web site.

•	Delete Page: Deletes the current, active page from your Web site.

•	Print Setup: This command brings up your printer software and allows you to make basic printer adjustments such as paper-size, orientation, and paper source.

•	Print Page: This command allows you to print your web site page.  This is a nice addition to any company information sheets, family letters, or if you just want to check the layout of your pages.

•	Load My Stuff Tab: If you have a folder on your hard drive or on a floppy disk that contains a collection of graphics and photos you wish to work with, you want to choose this option.  This will load the entire contents of the folder into the My Stuff Gallery, cutting your design time significantly.  Simply click here, go to the folder of your choice, double-click on one of the graphics and Web Studio will load the entire folder.

•	Web Site Properties: Displays the Web site properties box.

•	Quit: Closes Web Studio.  If you have an open web site, you will be asked if you want to save the current document.  If you do, click "Yes", if you do not, click "No".  Web Studio will now shut down.


Edit Menu Commands

•	Undo: Undoes your last action.  The menu text will specify what is being "undone".  This feature has no limit, so you can undo all of your actions right up to the point you opened the web site or the last time you saved the site.   In addition, each page has a separate undo list that is independent of all the other pages so, making changes on one page or undoing changes on one page does not affect any other pages.

•	Redo: This will undo your undo!  The menu text will notify you what is being "redone".

•	Cut: Cut will place the image or text you have chosen to the Clipboard and remove it from the page you are working on.

•	Copy: Copy will place a duplicate of the image or text that you are working on to the Windows Clipboard, allowing you to paste it into another web page or another program.

•	Paste: Paste will place the item you have placed on the Windows clipboard on the active page on your screen.  You can paste multiple copies of your image or text simply by right-clicking and choosing paste multiple times.

•	Paste as Background: Allows you to paste the selected image as your background.

•	Clear: Clear will delete the image or text from the page.  To undo Clear, simply choose Edit>Undo Clear.

•	Select All: Select All selects every item on your web page, text, graphics, and photos.  This allows for a group move or a group cut or copy.

•	Check Spelling: Checks the spelling of all selected text objects.  You may use Edit>Select All to select all text objects in your document.


View Menu Commands

•	Galleries: The check mark indicates the status of the Galleries.  By removing the check mark, the Galleries will disappear.  This comes in handy if you wish to view the entire web page that you are working on.  Recheck to add the Gallery list to your screen.   Click to on the Gallery name to check and uncheck the display.

•	Page List: The check mark indicates the status of the Page List.  Checked adds the list to the desktop and unchecked removes the List.  The Page List is on the right side of the screen and allows you to see and select the web pages on your site via a simple click on the desired page.

•	Main Toolbar: The check mark indicates the status of the Toolbar.  The Toolbar is displayed directly above your web page.  It contains Icons or buttons that enable basic editing and web page building functions.  For a full graphical breakdown of the Toolbar and what it does, check out the section devoted to building your web page: The Main Toolbar

•	Status Bar: The Status Bar allows you to move your mouse cursor over items and have information about that item displayed in the status bar.  Again, a check will activate the status bar and removing the check will hide the status bar from view.

•	Play Sound: Sounds are played only when you double click on a sound in the gallery or when a sound is dropped on an object or the background.

•	Show Links: This will either hide or display the link boxes that surround any icon, sign, button, or photo that has had a link added to it.  When the check mark is visible, there will be a colored box around the graphic.

•	Show Sounds: This works exactly like Show Links. It will show a colored box around the object if it has a sound linked to it.


Insert Menu Commands

•	Text from File: Allows you to import a text file to your page.

•	Picture from File: Allows you to import a graphic file to your page.

•	Picture from Scanner: Utilizing your scanner software, it allows you to scan a photo into the program for use on your Web page.  This works not only with scanners, but also with any "TWAIN" device, including digital cameras.

•	Background from File: Allows you to import a graphic file as your background.

•	Background from Scanner: Utilizing your scanner software, it allows you to scan a graphic into the program for use as your Web page background.  This works not only with scanners, but also with any "TWAIN" device, including digital cameras.

•	Sound from File: Allows you to import a sound file and place it on an object or the background.

•	Add My Own Link: Allows you to add a URL hyperlink to your My Links folder in the links gallery.  You can add any valid URL, such as http addresses, mailto addresses and FTP.


Format Menu Commands

•	Font: Allows you to alter the selected text on the page.  Displays the standard Windows Font dialog box.

•	Text Background Color:

•	Transparent Text Background: Default option.  Makes the Text appear on the background.

•	Text Background Color: Allows for a colored box to be placed behind the text.

•	Text Color: Changes the color of the selected text.

•	Left Justify: Aligns the selected paragraphs to the left margin of the text box.

•	Center Justify: Centers the selected paragraph in the text box.

•	Right Justify: Aligns the selected paragraph to the right margin of the text box.

•	First Line Indent: Automatically indents the first line in the selected paragraphs.

•	Hanging Indent: Indents all lines except the first line in the selected paragraph.

•	Paragraph Indent: Indents the entire selected paragraph.

•	Note: Choosing one of the indents multiple times increases the amount of indentation. Once it hits a certain point, it removes the indentation entirely.


Object Menu Commands

•	Transparent: Changes the transparency of an object.

•	Transparent Color:

•	Transparent White: This is the default setting.  Any white in the object is transparent.

•	Choose Color: Allows you to change which color is transparent.

•	Align Left Sides: Aligns two or more objects on the left side; it aligns to the left most object.  Similar to a Snap to command.  To select two or more objects hold down Shift and select each object with the mouse.

•	Align Right Sides: Aligns two or more objects on the right side; it aligns to the right most object.  Similar to a Snap to command.  To select two or more objects hold down Shift and select each object with the mouse.

•	Align Tops: Aligns two or more objects on the top; it aligns to the topmost object.   Similar to a Snap To command.  To select two or more objects hold down Shift and select each object with the mouse.

•	Align Bottoms: Aligns two or more objects on the bottom; it aligns to the bottommost object.   Similar to a Snap To command.  To select two or more objects hold down Shift and select each object with the mouse.

•	Make Equal Size: Makes the selected objects the same size; it uses the first object selected as the size to use.  Hold down Shift and select each object with the mouse.

•	Bring the Selected Object to the Front: This moves the selected item to the top layer of your web page.

This effect enables you to overlap objects, stack objects on top of one another for special effects, and put a text object on top of a graphic to create a sign or to annotate the graphics.

•	Send the Selected Object to the Back: This moves the selected item to the bottom layer of your web page.  If you choose this command and wish to undo its effect, simply right-click and choose Undo Send to Back. This effect enables you to overlap objects, stack objects on top of one another for special effects, and put a text object on top of a graphic to create a sign or to annotate the graphics.

•	Move Selected Object Forward: Moves the selected object one layer forward.

This effect enables you to overlap objects, stack objects on top of one another for special effects, and put a text object on top of a graphic to create a sign or to annotate the graphics.

•	Move Selected Object Backward: Moves the selected object one layer backward.

This effect enables you to overlap objects, stack objects on top of one another for special effects, and put a text object on top of a graphic to create a sign or to annotate the graphics.

•	Remove Link: Removes the hyperlink from the selected object.

•	Link Info: Gives detailed information about the object's link.

•	Remove Sound: Removes sound from the selected object

•	Object Properties: Displays the object properties dialog.

•	Page Properties: Displays the page properties dialog.


Web Menu Commands

•	Preview Web Site: This command builds your Web page in the Web Studio browser, giving you an exact replica of your site.  Here you can see how the site will work on the Web.  You can check for broken links, missing links, and any layout inconsistencies.

•	Back: This takes you back to the previously viewed Web page.

•	Front: Advances you to the next Web page.

•	Stop: Stops the current Web page from loading into the browser.

•	Refresh: Reloads the current page into the browser.

•	Back To Preview: Returns you to the first page of the previewed Web site from current Web page.

•	Go To: Opens a URL dialog box.  From here, you can type in any URL and visit another site.


Window Menu Commands

•	Cascade: Choosing the Cascade command will arrange your windows in a cascading or descending fashion with the active Web page (the one you are working on) in front.

•	Tile: Choose Tile and each Web pages on your site will pop up in its own window "tiled".  This is a nice way to see all of your pages at the same time within your workspace.

•	Arrange Icons: Choosing the Arrange Icons command will arrange any windows you have minimized along the bottom of the screen.


Help Menu Commands

•	Tip of the Day: Tip of the Day starts up each time you start Web Studio.  This is a default setting.  You can uncheck this option at any time if you would rather not see the Tip of the Day.  To reactivate the Tip of the Day, go to Help>Tip of the Day, and place a check mark in the "Show Tips at Start Up" box.

•	Tutorial: This starts the program tutorial, which will give you a visual walk-through of how to build your Web pages using Web Studio.


The Special F/X Defined

If you are unhappy with any effect after you have added it to your Web page, click Edit>Undo Special Effect.

Photo Corrections Wizard: when dropped onto a photo or graphical object, the Photo Correction Wizard will appear.

•	Read the introduction and click Next.  You will be presented with two options.

1.	To "auto correct" the image, click on the Give it a Try button.  If you like the results, click the Next button until the dialog box disappears.  If you are unhappy with the results, click Undo.

2.	 To manually edit the image click on the Next button.  A series of slider bars controlling different parts of the image, contrast, brightness, hue, etc. will be presented allowing you to manipulate the image.

•	At any time you may click Cancel to stop the editing process.

•	At any time you may click the Back button to reedit with a specific slider bar.

Shadow: this effect adds a dropped, 3-D shadow to the object. It is useful on headlines as well as rectangular and irregularly shaped graphics. The Shadow effect works best when using a light colored background on your page.

Oil paint: this effect simulates what the object would look like if it had been an oil painting. It is best used on graphics and photographs.

Paint By Numbers: this effect simulates what the object would look like if it had been a paint-by-numbers painting. It is best used on graphics and photographs.

Hue: this effect changes the hues of all the colors in the object. It can be applied multiple times for different color combinations. Applying it eight times brings the object back to its original colors.

Pattern: this is a collection of patterns that can be applied to graphics and text. To use, double click to get to the collection of patterns. Then drag the desired pattern onto the object. Dragging the brick pattern, for example, changes the graphic to look as though it were painted onto a brick wall.

Edges: this is a collection of effects that change the look of the edges of a graphic. To use, double click to get to the collection of edges. Then drag the desired edge onto the object. Some of the edges look like torn paper, burnt paper, ripped edges, brush strokes and more.

Lighten: this effect lightens the object it is dropped on. Lighten can be used multiple times to lighten the object as much as you need.

Darken: this effect darkens the object it is dropped on. Darken can be used multiple times to darken the object as much as you need.

Add Contrast: the effect increases the contrast of the object it is dropped on. The effect can be used multiple times to add as much contrast to the object as you need.

Lower Contrast: the effect decreases the contrast of the object it is dropped on. The effect can be used multiple times to remove as much contrast to the object as you need.

Rotate: this effect rotates the object in 90-degree increments. The effect can be applied multiple times to rotate 90, 180, 270 or 360 degrees. This effect is useful for rotating text so it is vertical and also to rotate dividers to make vertical dividers.

Reverse: this effect reverses an object from right to left. It is identical to creating a mirror image of the object.

Flip: this effect flips an object upside down.

Colorize: this effect brings up the standard Windows Color dialog. Choose a color and then press OK. The chosen color is used to tint the object.

Emboss: this effect uses the object to create a 3-D embossed look. This is what the object would look like if it were stamped onto foil. Interesting effects are created when and embossed object is colorized.

Solarize: this effect applies the photographic solarization effect to the object. Solarization is a “trick” darkroom effect that makes some of an image look normal and the other part look like a negative.

Posterize: this effect applies the photographic posterization effect to the object. Posterization is a “trick” darkroom effect that removes some of the shades of colors to give the look of a poster. Web Studio offers two-color posterization as well as three, four, five and six color posterizations.  Different graphics respond in different ways to posterization. Use Undo to try all of the posterization types to see what works best with each graphic.

Sharpen: this effect sharpens the image. It can be used multiple times to achieve the level of sharpness needed. Adding an extreme amount of sharpness can lead to other interesting effects.

Enhance Edges: this effect highlights the edges of things in the image.

Gray: this effect turns the object into a gray scale version of the original. It can also be called a black and white version of the original.

Invert Color: this effect turns the object into a negative version of the original.

Color Noise: this effect adds random colored dots to the image. It can be applied as many times as desired.

Noise: this effect adds random black and white dots to the image. It can be applied as many times as desired.

Blur: this effect blurs the image. Web Studio offers low, medium and high versions of blur. Blurs can be applied as many times as desired.

Mosaic: this effect pixilates the image. Web Studio offers low, medium and high version of Mosaics.

Halftone: these effects turn the image into a black and white halftone image. A halftone image is like those found in newspapers. They are made up of small dots. Web Studio offers two types of halftones: one made up of round dots and one made up of cross-hatched patterns.


Free Web Sites

Free Web Sites

Several places on the Web offer free space for you to build and post your Web pages.  At last count at least 20 different sites of that nature exist.  Because Web site design and building are becoming more popular, with more people building sites every day, there are many different options available on the Web.

Of the many different sites that offer free Web space, four work very well with Web Studio.  Here they are in no particular order.

Xoom

Xoom at www.xoom.com currently offers 11MB of free web space to anyone who registers.  In addition to your free web space you get a free E-mail address, great offers on graphic packages and an opportunity to participate in the Xoom online community.  It is a great place to start learning and an equally great place to put your Web site after you have made it with Web Studio.

Simply register for your free Web site and Xoom will assign you a URL, or web address.  When you registering be sure to write down your User ID and password as you will need those to "log on" to your site.  You will also need those when you actually upload your Web site via the FTP uploader built into Web Studio.  For more information about Xoom visit their site!

Directions for uploading to Xoom are as follows.  (This is always subject to change.  If you have problems uploading, do not contact Sierra Tech Support.  You will need to contact Xoom Tech Support with uploading problems!)

Uploading to Xoom

1.	Connect to the Internet.

2.	With your Web site open go to File>Save Web Site to Internet.

3.	The program will generate the HTML code automatically.

4.	The Save Web Site to Internet dialog box will pop up.

5.	In the Host FTP Address box type: ftp://ftp.xoom.com.

6.	Leave the Host Directory That Will Contain Your Web Site box blank.

7.	Enter your Xoom User ID.

8.	Enter your Xoom password.  By checking the Save Password box you will not have to enter your User ID or password in the future.

9.	Click OK.

Your Web Site will now upload to the Internet.

GeoCities

GeoCities is one of the largest free space providers on the Internet.  They offer 11 MB of free space, free E-mail, and neighborhood forums for people to chat and discuss Web site building among many other topics.  They also offer lots of fee based upgrades to the site, you can get 25MB for $24.95 a month.

Register with them and then choose a neighborhood, suburb, and block number.   When you registering be sure to write down your User ID and password as you will need those to "log on" to your site.  You will also need those when you actually upload your Web site via the FTP uploader built into Web Studio.

In exchange for the free space GeoCities uses pop up windows that advertise various products on your Web site.  The visitor has to minimize or close the ad window to view yours.

For more information visit them at www.geocites.com.

Directions for uploading to GeoCities are as follows. (This is always subject to change.  If you have problems uploading, do not contact Sierra Tech Support.  You will need to contact GeoCities Tech Support with uploading problems.)

 GeoCities

1.	Connect to the Internet.

2.	With your Web site open go to File>Save Web Site to Internet.

3.	Web Studio will now generate the HTML code automatically.

4.	The Save Web Site to Internet dialog box will pop up.

5.	In the Host FTP Address box type: ftp://ftp.geocities.com.

6.	In the Host Directory That Will Contain Your Web Site box type: /neighborhood/suburb/blocknumber/.  An example would be /Eureka/Concourse/4001/

7.	Enter your GeoCities User ID.

8.	Enter your GeoCities password.  Check the Save Password box and you will not have to enter your User ID or password in the future.

9.	Click OK.

10.	Your Web site will now upload to the Internet.

Fortune City

Fortune City offers a mind-boggling 20 MB of free space to its members.  There is no fee to join.  In addition you get free E-mail and neighborhood forums to participate in.  It is a nice looking site and offers a great introduction to the Web.

Register with them and they will send you E-mail with your assigned URL or Web address.  When you registering be sure to write down your User ID and password as you will need those to "log on" to your site.  You will also need those when you actually upload your Web site via the FTP uploader built into Web Studio.

For more information check out www.fortunecity.com

Directions for uploading to Fortune City are as follows. (This is always subject to change.  If you have problems uploading, do not contact Sierra Tech Support.  You will need to contact Fortune City Tech Support with uploading problems.)

Fortune City

1.	Connect to the Internet.

2.	With your Web site open go to File>Save Web Site to Internet.

3.	Web Studio will now generate the HTML code automatically.

4.	The Save Web Site to Internet dialog box will pop up.

5.	In the Host FTP Address box type: ftp://ftp.fortunecity.com.

6.	Leave the Host Directory That Will Contain Your Web Site box blank.

7.	Enter your Fortune City User ID.

8.	Enter your Fortune City password.  Check the Save Password box and you will not have to enter your User ID or password in the future.

9.	Click OK.

Your Web site will now upload to the Internet.


Posting your Web site on the Internet

Uploading with Web Studio

Web Studio posts your Web site on the Internet for you.

Important Note: Before beginning you will need the following information from your Web space provider.

•	The Host FTP Address.

•	The Host Directory if required by your Web space provider.

•	Your Password.

•	Your User ID.

When your Web site is ready and you are ready to upload follow these directions.

1.	Go to File>Save Web Site to Internet.

Web Studio then turns your pages into a form suitable for the Internet. Once this has been completed, the Save Web Site to Internet dialog appears. This dialog requires a few items that your Internet Service Provider gives you. You don’t have to worry about what these things mean or why Web Studio needs them. Just get them from your service provider and type them into this dialog, Web Studio will do the rest.

2.	Enter your Host FTP Address.

3.	Enter the Host Directory if required by your Internet Service Provider.

4.	Enter your Password.

5.	Enter your User ID.

6.	Click OK.

7.	Web Studio will then connect to the Internet and put your site where it is supposed to go. You may have to enter your User name and Password to connect to the Internet first. Do this, then press Enter.


Design Considerations

Keep your goal in mind

Too often, people forget why the site they're designing is being put up. The purpose of designing a site carefully is not to make it look cool, or win awards. It's to accomplish the intended goal of the site. If you're making a site for yourself or a company, sometimes the goal is simply to distribute information about yourself or the firm. Often, however, the real goal is to sell or advertise some product of yours or the company.

Before starting a project, carefully plan a statement of the goals of the site. How do you know what your goals are? Simple, ask yourself what you would say. This is critical to keeping the project directed and satisfied with the outcome. It also provides a constructive basis for design decisions during the project. When you're in the middle of project, it gets too easy to forget why you're doing it. Having a clearly stated goal goes a long way towards resolving this issue, and can often settle design arguments in a way that all sides agree with.

Design sites, not pages

Although you spend most of your time worrying about pages rather than the site as a whole, your primary concern should be the site's overall design. When starting to design a new site from scratch, you should try to create a design that will make sense to users, that will have a consistent look and feel, and will be relatively easy to extend in the future.

Using a consistent page design across a site can seem "boring" or "uncreative" at first. Stay with it. The consistency of design of a site is one of the factors separating amateur sites from professional ones. Yes, at times you may end up with individual pages that are not as satisfying. But your site will have a consistent look across all pages that will allow users to know immediately when they enter your site, and that will help them remember your site as well.

Content is king

In the end, all the design you do on a site is worthless if the content isn't there for users. Make sure you have good content, and that it's accessible for users. If this requires you to forgo some design resources in order to provide more content, do so. If a user comes to your site, and finds the content they want, they'll probably forgive any minor design flaws. But if the content isn't there, what reason do they ever have to come back, regardless of how "cool" the design is?

Don't link for the heck of it

Finally, remember. Just because you can link, doesn't mean you should link.  Putting in many, many links doesn't help users find what they need. It's important to link in a consistent, well thought out manner that users can easily navigate. If your linking is intelligent, it will allow users to "see" the path ahead of them when navigating to content. Don't make your site a maze of links - instead, make it like the supermarket, where content is organized and categorized in intelligent ways, making it easy for users to find that tidbit they're craving without wandering the aisles endlessly.


The Gallery Overview

The design galleries are your tools for building web pages effortlessly.  Web Studio includes over 20,000 backgrounds, pieces of clip-art, animated GIFs, and photos.  And remember, you can always import your own via the My Stuff folder.

If you see a small yellow folder in the lower right hand corner of any gallery window, double clicking on that window will open a subdirectory or images relating to that graphic.  For example, double clicking on the Yield sign in the Signs Gallery will open another directory filled with traffic signs.  To go back, click on the yellow folder in the upper left-hand corner of the Gallery tab.

The 8 buttons in the upper right hand corner of the Gallery tab are "Hue" buttons.  By clicking on any one of them you change the color of all the graphics in that gallery.


Using the Templates

Sierra Web Studio comes with over 100 ready made Web sites.  These sites can be found under the Templates gallery in the Gallery toolbar.  The idea behind the templates is to offer you a broad set of examples to use or be inspired by for your own Web site.  You will find examples of personal pages, many styles of announcements, and several small business sites.  Templates can be included in any Web site and are used in the following manner.

•	Click on the Template tab in the Gallery list.

•	Choose a desired Template by scrolling through the thumbnails.

•	Drag the one you like onto your Web page.  Instantly, a new page will be added to your Web site and a dialog box will pop up.

•	The dialog box will take you through the design process step-by-step.  You will be prompted to add headlines, text, photos, and graphics.

•	When adding a graphic you will have two "source" options.

1.	From File: This allows you to add a photo that is already saved on your hard drive, a floppy disk, or a CD-ROM.

•	Click on the From File button and the standard Windows Explorer box will appear.

•	Navigate through the directories until you find the folder that contains your graphic.  Double click on that folder to view the contents.

•	Locate and double-click on the desired file.

•	Sierra Web Studio will now add the graphic to your template page.

2.	From Scanner: This option allows you to import a graphic using your Scanner and Scanner software.

•	Click on the From Scanner button.

•	Highlight your Scanner name in the Select Source box and click Select.

•	The scanner software will now start.

•	Follow the directions from scanner manual on how to proceed.

•	When adding text you will have two "source" options.

1.  Manual Entry: This option lets you manually type in the text you want in 	the provided text box.

•	Hit your backspace key and erase all of the example text.

•	Type in the desired text.

•	Click on the Next button.

2.  From File: This option allows you to import a text file from your hard drive, a floppy drive or a CD-ROM.

•	Click the From File button and the standard Windows Explorer box will appear.

•	Navigate through the directories until you find the folder that contains your text file.  Double click on the folder to view the contents.

•	Locate and double click on the desired file.

• NOTE: Make sure that your text files are just that, text files.  Sierra Web Studio recognizes text files only.  It will not recognize Word documents in Word format.  Change these files to a .txt or .rtf file.  To do this, open the document in Word and go File>Save As and change the Save File as Type option to Rich Text Format or Text Only.

•	When the Web page template is finished go to the page and resize the graphics and text, and add the necessary links to connect this page with your existing Web site.


Saving the site on your hard drive

•	When you are satisfied with your Web design, or you are ready to quit working on the project, go to File>Save Web Site.

•	At this point the Save Dialog will appear.  You can now decide where you wish to store your file.

•	Web Studio uses the file extension .ows for its Web sites.  Think of it as .OneWebSite.  So, if you have titled your Web site “Our Family”, it will be saved as OurFamily.ows.  (For an explanation of file extensions check the glossary in the manual.)

•	Navigate through the files into the Sierra folder.  Double-click on the Web Studio Folder.

•	If this is your first web site, make a folder called “My Web Sites” in the Web Studio folder.  To do this click on the yellow folder with the asterisk on it, which will create a new folder, and type any title you want for Your Web sites.  Once created double-click on the folder.

•	Now, with the Save In box displaying My Web Sites click Save.  The path to your Web sites will now be C:\Sierra\WebStudio\MyWebSites.

When you build future Web sites save all the .ows files in this folder.  This is a very good way to keep your files organized.  On the "Notes" page in the manual, write down the name of the folder you created, and you can be assured you will always find your sites.


Previewing your Web site
Previewing your Web site with the Web Studio browser.

•	At any time during the Web site building process you can instantly view your Web site utilizing the Web Studio browser.  This is a great way to see how your site looks and how well the pages interact with each other.  If you have any "broken" hyperlinks you will discover them in the Preview mode.

•	To run the site in the Web Studio browser go to Web>Preview Web Site, or simply press the F5 key.

•	One way to determine that you are looking at the Web site preview is by checking the title bar on the top of the Web Studio window.  It will now say Page 1- (Play 1).  Play will indicate that your Preview is being played.

•	Check out your links, your layout, see how the Animated GIFs work, (if you are using them), and make sure your text looks and reads correctly.  This is the finished product; any mistakes here will be mistakes on the Internet, so check everything closely.

•	To leave the Preview Window you can do one of two things.  First, you can go File>Close Window.  Second, you can click the close window button in the upper right hand corner of the active window.

• IMPORTANT: Don't click the close button on the top title bar or you will close Web Studio, not the Preview!

•	Once you load a Web site into the Preview window, Web Studio automatically saves the HTML construction of the Web site for you in the Sierra/Web Studio/Preview folder.  The folder will have the same name as your Web site.


Saving your site to the Internet

•	Before you load your site to the Internet, make sure you have checked it out with the Web Studio browser and that it is functioning properly.

•	Go to File>Save Web Site to Internet.

•	Web Studio will now build a copy of your Web site in HTML on your hard drive.  By default, Web Studio will place this in your Web Studio/Upload folder.

•	The folder will bear the same name as the title of your Web site.

•	The Save Web Site to Internet dialog box will now appear.

•	Enter your Host FTP Address.

•	Enter the Host Directory.

•	Enter your Password.

•	Enter your User ID.

•	Click OK.

For more information see Posting your Web site to the Internet .


The Page Palette

Web Site Properties button

This button has two functions. First, it displays the name of the currently opened web site. Second, when it is pressed, it brings up the Web Site Properties dialog .

Page List

The page list displays each of the pages in the currently opened web site. It displays the page names and show which page, if any, is the “Home Page” of the web site.

Clicking on one of the pages in the page list opens that page’s window and puts that window on top of all others.

Clicking twice on the name of a page allows you to rename the page. Edit the text of the name and press Enter when done.

Right-clicking on a page in the page list toggles the page’s status as the site’s Home Page . If the page is not the Home Page, it becomes the Home page and the page that was previously the Home Page is made a normal page. If the page right-clicked on was the Home Page, it is made a normal page and there is no Home Page. The Home Page is the first page displayed when someone views your web site.  The Home page is put on the web with the name “index.html.”

When the number of pages in the web site reaches the bottom of the page list, the next page added is displayed in a new column of page names.  A horizontal scroll is added at the bottom of the list to enable you to see all of the pages.

Add Page button

Pressing the Add Page button adds a new, blank page to the web site. The new page’s window is displayed and brought in front of all other page windows.

When the number of pages in the web site reaches the bottom of the page list, the next page added is displayed in a new column of pages' names.  A horizontal scroll is added at the bottom of the list to enable you to see all of the pages.

Delete Page button

Pressing the Delete Page button delete the currently active web page.  Since deleting a page cannot be undone, confirmation is required prior to the deletion of the page.


The Main Toolbar

Web Studio Main Toolbar

Open My Own… button

This button enables you to quickly open your own graphic or text or add a link without having to choose it from the File menu.

Editing buttons

These buttons enable quick access to the Cut, Copy and Paste commands.

Undo and Redo Buttons

These buttons enable quick access to the Undo and Redo commands.

Sound button

This button turns Web Studio’s sound on or off.

Paragraph buttons

The first set of buttons provides left, center and right justification to selected paragraphs of text. Note that a text object must be active for these commands to be active, or one or more text objects must be selected.

When the text cursor is blinking in text, pressing one of these buttons sets the justification of only the paragraph the cursor is in.

When text is selected, pressing one of these buttons sets the justification of all the paragraphs contained in the selection.

When one or more text objects are selected, pressing one of these buttons sets the justification of all of the paragraphs in all of the selected objects.

Play button

Pressing the Play button creates your web site and puts it in Web Studio’s web browser.

Play can be used to quickly and easily ensure your web site is going to look and perform exactly as you want it to.


Right Click Overview
Right-Click Overview

Right-Click Context Menus are extensive throughout Web Studio.  Using Context Menus in a program will save you the time of having to go the Program Command Menus again and again.  As you grow more familiar with Web Studio, you will want to use Context Menus more often.

•	Right-Click Context Menus are activated when you use your right mouse button over a specific object or text.  Object specific menus will pop up, allowing you to choose many of the same options available on the Program Menu toolbar.


Right Click Object Context Menu
Right-Click Object Context Menu

This menu pops up for all objects except background and text.

•	Undo: Undoes your last action.  The menu text will specify what is being "undone."  This feature has no limit, other than the limit imposed by your own system's memory.

•	Redo: This will undo your undo!  The menu text will notify you what is being "redone."

•	Cut: Cut will place the image or text you have chosen to the Clipboard and remove it from the page you are working on.

•	Copy: Copy will place a duplicate of the image or text that you are working on to the Windows Clipboard, allowing you to paste it into another web page or another program.

•	Clear: Clear will delete the image or text from the page.  To undo Clear, simply choose Edit>Undo Clear.

•	Bring the Selected Object to the Front: This moves the selected item to the top layer of your web page.  If you have placed a graphic on top of another, this will reverse their order.

•	Send the Selected Object to the Back: This moves the selected item to the bottom layer or your web page.  If you choose this command and wish to undo its effect, simply right-click and choose Undo Send to Back.

•	Move Selected Object Forward: Moves the selected object one layer forward.

•	Move Selected Object Backward: Moves the selected object one layer backward.

•	Transparent: Changes the transparency of an object.  When transparent, it appears to be floating above the background.

•	Transparent Color:

•	Transparent White: Default.  Any white in the object is transparent.

•	Choose Color: Allows you to change the transparent color.

•	Remove Link: Removes the hyperlink from the selected object.

•	Link Info: Gives detailed information about the object's link.

•	Remove Sound:  Removes sound files from object.

•	Properties: Displays the object properties box.


Text Object Context Menu

•	Undo: Undoes your last action.  The menu text will specify what is being "undone."  This feature has no limit, so you can undo all of your actions right up to the point you opened the Web site or the last time you saved the Web site.

•	Redo: This will undo your undo!  The menu text will notify you what is being "redone."

•	Cut: Cut will place the text you have chosen to the Clipboard and remove it from the page you are working on.

•	Copy: Copy will place a duplicate of the text that you are working on to the Windows Clipboard, allowing you to paste it into another web page or another program.

•	Clear: Clear will delete the text from the page.  To undo Clear, simply choose Edit>Undo Clear.

•	Bring the Selected Object to the Front: This moves the selected item to the top layer of your web page.  If you have placed a graphic on top of another this will reverse their order.

•	Send the Selected Object to the Back: This moves the selected item to the bottom layer or your web page.  If you choose this command and wish to undo its effect, simply right-click and choose Undo Send to Back.

•	Move Selected Object Forward: Moves the selected object one layer forward.

•	Move Selected Object Backward: Moves the selected object one layer backward.

•	Font: Allows you to alter the highlighted Text on the page.  Displays the standard Windows Font control panel.

•	Text Background Color:

•	Transparent Text Background: Default option.  Makes the Text appear on the background.

•	Text Background Color: Allows for a colored box to be placed behind the text.

•	Text Color: Changes the color of the highlighted text.

•	Remove Link: Removes the Hyperlink from the selected object.

•	Link Info: Gives detailed information about the object link.

•	Remove Sound: Removes sound files from object.

•	Properties: Displays the object properties box.


Background Context Menu

•	Undo: Undoes your last action.  The menu text will specify what is being "undone."  This feature has no limit, so you can undo all of your actions right up to the point you opened the Web site or the last time you saved the Web site.

•	Redo: This will undo your undo!  The menu text will notify you what is being "redone."

•	Paste: Paste will place the item you have placed on the Windows clipboard on the active page on your screen.  You can paste multiple copies of your image or text simply by right-clicking and choosing paste multiple times.

•	Paste as Background: Allows you to paste the selected image as your background.

•	Select All: Select All highlights every item on your web page, text, graphics, and photos.  This allows for a group move or a group cut or copy.

•	Page Properties: Displays the page properties box.


Home Page

The Home page is the first page that will be seen when people visit your Web site.  Your Web site must have a home page!


Web Site Properties

    Each web site you construct will have properties associated with it.  These properties will all affect the way your Web site is constructed, loaded, and viewed on the World Wide Web.  You can edit these properties by going to the Page List Toolbar and clicking on the Untitled button.  There are three tabs of information for the Web Site Properties.

1.	General

•	Web Site's Title: Place the name you wish to give your website here.  This name will grace the "title" button in the page list toolbox and will be the name your web site is saved under the Save dialog.

•	Page Settings: These refer to the specific page layout your site will have when being visited on the Internet.

•	Minimum Page Size: This sets the parameters for your web pages’ width and height.  By increasing the height of your web site you increase the vertical size of your web page, which will require the visitor to scroll up and down your web page.  The same holds for the width, by increasing the number in the Width box you increase the amount of left/right scrolling a visitor must do.

• DESIGN TIP: Ideally, you do not want the page to require much scrolling.  If you have additional content simply add another page to your site.  Visitors don't like to scroll very much.

•	Automatic Page Resize: Here is where you can control the margins or space between the right, left, top and bottom of your browser frame and the Web Site you construct.  The default value is 18 pixels.  By increasing this number you increase the size of the margin displayed on the screen.  By decreasing the number you decrease the margin displayed on the screen.

•	Link Colors:

•	Standard Link Color: This is the color of the box around the link while you are building your site in Web Studio.  Click on the Select standard link color button to change this color.

•	Visited Link Color: This is the color of the box around a link while you are building your site in Web Studio and have already visited the link.  This provides a handy color reference for you to see if your links are working.

2.	Web Search Information

•	Web site's Author(s): Place your name and the name of whoever helps build your site.  This will show up in the HTML source code on the web.  You can see it by viewing your page on the Web and choosing View>Source in Internet Explorer and View>Page Source in Netscape Navigator.

•	Description: Include a brief description of your site in this box.  Again, this will show itself in the HTML source code of your Web page.  This is what the various search engines will display as information about your Web page and or site, so give a few clear details about your site.

•	Key Words: When a search engine looks through all of the thousands of Web sites that exist on the Internet it is the "key words" that it is actually looking for.  So, if your site is about rose gardens type "Roses" and "Gardens" as your key words.  This is the only way that your Web site will be found by a search engine.

3.	Advanced

•	For Transparent and Index Transparent Graphics: This tells the program to use EITHER GIFs or PNGs for non-JPEG files. Since not many browsers fully support PNGs you should use GIFs unless you are confident that your viewers are going to use PNG enabled browsers.

•	Use Graphic Interchange Format (.GIF) files: GIF files are the current standard on the web.  Along with JPEG files, GIFs are the dominant standard on the Internet because of their clarity and small size.

•	Use Portable Network Graphics (.PNG) files: PNG files are an emerging standard.  This choice is included to keep Web Studio contemporary as the standards evolve on the Internet.

Note: As of press time PNG files are only supported by Internet Explorer version 4.0+.

•	When Creating Your Web Site's Pages: Which version of HTML you decide to use impacts the way your pages are laid out on the Web.  For some design specifics read each option.

•	Use HTML 3.2 only: You should use this if you know your site won't be viewed with 4.0 browsers. Using this results in fewer objects/graphics in each page and a smaller site since no 4.0 HTML is used. Overlapping objects can result in larger, but fewer downloads.  The disadvantage is that only 7 font sizes are available. If you choose a size other than one of those, the browser will change it to the closest size it supports and the page will have some minor reformatting, but it is done "gracefully."

•	Use HTML 4.0 only: Choosing this option will result in Web Studio generating the Web site in version 4.0 of HTML only.  4.0 should be chosen only if you know viewers will have 4.0 or higher browsers (in a company for example). Advantages are objects/graphics may be smaller, but there may be more of them. Another advantage is that when 4.0 is used the user can choose any point size for text as opposed to the 7 standard sizes in 3.2. This is actually the biggest advantage to using only 4.0.

•	Use HTML 3.2 and 4.0 only: Choosing this option will result in Web Studio generating the Web site in HTML 4.0 and 3.2.  This is the default setting for any Web site that you build as it provides the greatest compatibility with all of the browsers. Everyone should be able to see the pages exactly as the Author intended. This should be their choice.

•	Suppress JavaScript error messages: This will prevent JavaScript error messages from popping up on your Web sites.  Many browsers are not JavaScript ready and any site that contains a JavaScript can cause a stream of error messages.  This option can decrease the JavaScript error messages and allow your visitor to enjoy the rest of your site.


Simple Guidelines
Simple Guidelines for Web Page Building

A. Text and hypertext links should be readable against the background. Use proper spelling and punctuation.

B. Background colors and patterns help a page stand out, but they can be in the way if they make it hard to load or read. Bear in mind that many readers will be viewing your page at 256 colors, so any higher-resolution colors will be lost and may create undesirable effects.

Never use a background that is too loud. A background should simply complement the design of a page, not detract from its content. Backgrounds that are low in contrast (not a big difference between the light and dark hues) work well. Backgrounds that don't have too many colors and are monochromatic (all colors close to the same hue) also do well.

C. Graphics and animation can brighten a page, but keep them simple for quick downloading.

D. Page dimensions should be no larger than the browser window size; keep in mind that many readers have their screen resolution set to 640 by 480 pixels.


Web Toolbar

Web Studio Web Browser buttons

Go To URL Button

This button brings up a dialog that enables entering the URL to any site on the web. Enter the URL and press enter and Web Studio’s web browser will go to that URL.

Back Button

When this button is pressed, the web browser moves to the previous web page in its history list. This functions exactly like Internet Explorer’s and Netscape's Back button.

Next Button

When this button is pressed, the web browser moves to the next web page in its history list. This functions exactly like Internet Explorer’s and Netscape’s Next button.

Reload Button

When this button is pressed, the web browser reloads the page currently being displayed.

Stop Button

When this button is pressed, the web browser stops loading the page it is in the process of loading.


Sierra On-Line Tech Support

Contacting Sierra for Technical Support

 See Help Menu Commands

If you experience any problems with Web Studio, Sierra On-Line has a full library of help documents available electronically.  You can download them from Sierra’s home page on the World Wide Web at http://www.sierra.com by following the on-screen information.

Other options include leaving a message for Sierra’s technical support staff at the web site above by accessing the technical support message boards, or E-mailing to home@sierra.com with a complete description of the program, your system, and the problem you are experiencing.

You can also receive your document via our automated faxback service.  Call (425) 644-4343, choose to use the automated technical support system and follow the voice instructions provided.  You will be faxed a catalog of all of the documents that we have to offer and you will then be able to get the documents you need.  If you prefer, you can also fax us at (425) 644-7697 with your document request.

For phone assistance, you can reach Sierra Technical Support at (425) 644-4343 between 10:00 am and 6:45 pm, Monday through Friday, Pacific Standard time.  Please have the program installed and be at your system when you call.  Customer Service can also be reached at the following address:

Sierra On-Line

PO Box 85006

Bellevue, WA 98015-8506

If you are in Europe, please contact our office in England. The Customer Support number is (0118) 920-9111, between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.   The fax number is (0118) 987-5603.  Customer Service can also be reached at the following address:

Sierra On-Line Limited

2 Beacontree Plaza

Gillette Way

Reading, Berkshire

RG2 OBS United Kingdom

If you do contact Technical Support, please be in front of your system and ready to answer the following questions.

1.	What is the specific problem?

2.	What is the specific error message, if any?

3.	At what point in the program does it occur?

4.	What speed is your processor?  (example: 486/66, P-100, P200, etc.)

5.	How much RAM do you have?  (16MB, 32MB, etc.)

6.	How big is your hard drive, and how much of that is free space?

7.	Do you regularly run Windows Scan Disk and Disk Defragmenter?


Web Studio Troubleshooting

Common Web Studio Error Messages

1.	I can’t find my Web site on my hard drive!

•	Web sites are saved with a .ows file extension.  Go to Start>Find>Files and Folders and type in *.ows.  Click the Find Now button and a list of Web sites will emerge.

2.	I can’t find my Web site on the Internet.

•	Make sure that you are entering the correct URL or Web address.  Check with your ISP and make sure you have the correct Web address written down.

3.	When I try to send my site to the Internet I get error messages.

•	Make sure you have the correct FTP address, host directory, user ID and password.  One typo and the FTP process will not work.

4.	When I drag an image from the My Stuff gallery I get an error message.

•	The My Stuff folder contains "thumbnails" of the images on your hard drive.  If you move or replace an image on your hard drive and attempt to add the image to your Web page you will get an error message because Web Studio cannot find the image file.  Reload your My Stuff tab.

5.	When I create the web site via Preview or Save To Internet I get an error message.

•	There are some limitations in the conversion process and Web Studio may experience problems with some .Wav files.  If you get an error message citing “conversion” problems or “failure to build table”, try a different sound on your Web page.

6.	When someone else views my Web site it takes a long time to appear.

•	Many factors can play a part in this.  Make sure that you do not have too many photos on your Web pages.  This can result in slow downloads of your pages.

7.	When I view my Web site I only see a list of folders.

•	Web Studio allows you to upload several sites to your Web Page and view them as a directory list. These directories or folders are a list of the Web sites you have uploaded to the Internet.  Simply click on one of these folders to view the site. It will be a lot easier on your visitors, however, if you give them the Internet address or URL of the home page of one of your sites and not the page where the folders reside.

8.	When I view my Web site on the Internet my graphics are transparent even though I chose them to not be transparent.

•	This is caused by overlapping graphics.  When Web Studio builds the Web site in HTML 3.2 it treats all overlapping graphics as one and renders the unique properties of each image void.  Go to the Web site properties box and click on the Advanced tab.  Click on HTML 4.0 only.  Now, re-save your Web site to the Internet.

9.	I can't place a graphic on the top, bottom or side of the page.

•	Due to the many different ways that browsers load pages, you cannot place images or text on the very edge of your Web pages.  Web Studio will automatically place them at the outer most limits of your Web pages for you.

10.	On my free Web site there is a banner that overlaps my layout.

•	This occurs when one of the free Web site providers places a banner of their own on your page.  If you have built the page in HTML 4.0, which allows for overlapping graphics, you may experience this problem. Go to the Web site properties box and click on the Advanced tab.  Click on HTML 3.2 only.  Now, re-save your Web site to the Internet.

11.	When I view my page on another machine the Font is different and the layout is a mess!

•	If you choose an unusual font for your site there is a very good chance that when people view your site with their computers the Web page layout will differ greatly because their Web browser used the "closest" font it could find for the one you specified.  When in doubt use the standard Windows fonts such as Arial and Times New Roman.

12.	  My Web site does not show up on search engines.

•	The best way to ensure your Web site will appear in search engines is to actively register your site with the specific search engine companies.  Go to any of the popular search engine sites and you will find information on how to include your site on their search engine.

13.	  I don’t know my User ID or password when saving site to Internet.

•	Contact your Web space provider, or check your E-mail for their welcome letter which often contains that information.

14.	  Some of my HTML effects don’t work on all browsers.

•	 Some discrepancies will occur between different versions of Internet browsers currently available.  While Sierra Web Studio developers have attempted to create a product that reflects all of these versions, some features may not be available for each separate browser.  We recommend that you contact the manufacturer of your particular browser for specific limitations and possible updates.