Welcome to NetObjects Fusion 7, where you'll find everything you need to build and manage your Web sites. You move between its six views using the control bar.
With the tips below you can:  •  Launch site-building and management tools in Online view.  •  Create your site's architecture in Site view.  •  Add content and lay out each page in Page view.  •  Choose the look of your site's buttons, banners, and text in Style view.  •  Manage your site's files and links in Assets view.  •  Generate HTML and upload it to your Web server in Publish view. You'll also find tips that help you:  •  Get started, including how to design navigation  •  Edit HTML, if you want to (it's not required)  •  Upgrade from a previous version

In Online view, you can access the latest e-services, download valuable site-building resources, and keep up with the latest product news and updates.
Services can help build the success of your Web site by gathering valuable information from your site's visitors, analyzing site traffic, promoting your site, and more. When you subscribe to a service that provides reports, you access and manage the reports in Online view. To add a service to your site, use the Services tool in Page view.

In Site view, you create your site's architecture. After you create a Web site, Site view shows your Home page and any other pages in your site.
NetObjects Fusion updates links between your pages as quickly as you adjust their structure. When you want to add content to a page, double-click a page icon to see that page in Page view.

In Page view, you add content and lay out your pages. In the upper left you'll notice two labels for the two areas of your page: Layout and MasterBorder. A MasterBorder is the set of margins that surround your Layout.
Like a template, a MasterBorder contains design elements that a group of pages share, such as navigation bars and banners. Assign a MasterBorder to a range of pages to give them a consistent look. The Layout area is for the page's unique content. The labels change color to show which area you have selected.
To learn how to add content to a page, watch the movie. With NetObjects Fusion you can add any kind of content to your pages: pictures, navigation buttons, tables, sound, video, HTML pages created elsewhere, Java, ActiveX, database records, and much more.
Assign properties for the object or area you selected on the Properties palette. For example, you can add links, HTML, or Dynamic Actions to an object, or set the size of a page area. For a description of any property on a dialog or palette, right-click it and choose "What's This" from the shortcut menu. Or choose Help Topics from the Help menu to explore complete reference information. To see how your site will look to your site visitors, click the Preview button. NetObjects Fusion quickly generates the site's HTML pages and displays them in your browser so you can test them. Choose between Microsoft and Netscape browsers in the NetObjects Fusion Options dialog.

In Style View, you select the right look for your site. When you choose a new look for buttons, banners, and text, your choice instantly appears on every page in your site.
Select a style name in the left pane to see its elements in the right pane. Click the Set Style button to apply the selected style. You can choose among the SiteStyles included with NetObjects Fusion, edit them, or create your own by clicking New. Click Online Styles to review styles available online and download any you like.

In Assets View, you manage your site's files and links, and perform site housekeeping tasks efficiently.
Quickly confirm the location of all external files such as images used in your site, or verify the site's links with a single click. NetObjects Fusion uses aliases for assets, so you can globally replace an item that appears on several pages-such as a picture, an applet, or an external link.

In Publish view, you manage how NetObjects Fusion delivers HTML to your Web server.
First, if necessary, click Publish Settings and identify your Web server's location and how to access it. Then click Publish Site. NetObjects Fusion generates the HTML for your pages, and uploads your site to your Web server with a browser-efficient directory structure. Or choose your own directory structure and other HTML output options. To learn more, watch the movie

To get started with NetObjects Fusion, you can:
•  Learn By Doing. Start with a new Blank site, then follow the step-by-step tutorial in Getting Started to learn all the skills you need to build a site from scratch.    •  Do, Then Learn. Just answer a few questions in the Site wizard and let it build a site for you! Then read the rest of these tips to pick up the techniques you'll need to customize it.

To design navigation, you'll use tools in both Site and Page views. Typically, visitors navigate your site using the navigation bars you place within the MasterBorders of your pages. Depending on how you create your site, you might need to create new MasterBorders to give your visitors access to every page.

If You Know HTML... you can appreciate the work NetObjects Fusion can save you. It can generate Everywhere HTML so your pages look the same in Microsoft and Netscape 4.x, 5.x, and 6.x browsers. Or choose options suited for older browsers, for Netscape browsers only, or Microsoft browsers only.

To tailor the generated HTML, you can mix and match output options for your whole site or individual pages, and place your content in either position-based or text-based layouts. Discover the right mix of output and layout options for your pages in the User Guide. When you need more control, you can reference external HTML pages, which you can edit by launching your favorite HTML editor from within NetObjects Fusion. If you like, NetObjects Fusion can manage your code's assets and file paths, so referenced assets are published correctly to your Web server.

To fine-tune NetObjects Fusion's HTML, use HTML Source tab in Page view. You can add your own HTML or scripts to any object or the page itself and immediately see it embedded in generated code.

If You're Upgrading You can install NetObjects Fusion 7 without removing previous versions. Just install it in a unique folder. When you want to bring sites from previous versions into NetObjects Fusion, see the "Upgrading Your Sites" appendix in Getting Started for the best migration techniques. It also lists all the new features and behaviors so you can put them to work quickly.

Welcome to the NetObjects Community! Those who build Web sites with NetObjects Fusion have an active voice in its development and direction. Visit our newsgroups at www.netobjects.com and share your ideas, suggestions, and concerns. Thank you from all of us at NetObjects!