Creating a New Web Site

Creating a web site is easy with CorelWEBSite.Builder.

The first time you start CorelWEB.SiteBuilder you will be asked to do one of the following things:

  1. Open an existing web site,
    (Use this option only if you have CorelWEB.SiteBuilder files already.)
  2. Create a new web site,
    (Use this option to create a new web site "from scratch.")
  3. Retrieve a web site using URL or file name,
    (Use this option to copy an existing seb site to your local drive for editing.)
  4. Exit CorelWEB.SiteBuilder.

Once you have started CorelWEB.SiteBuilder you can create new web sites by using the New button on the Toolbar, or the menu choices outlined below, to create a folder in your WBStyles folder using the name you specify. It contains a .web file containing the name of the web, the filename of the first page, and the publishing method and information. The Open dialog looks for a .web file to open your site for editing later. If you delete your .web file, it will not appear on the list, even if you still have the actual HTML files.

  1. Click Web New.
  2. Type a name for your web.
  3. Specify which page you want to use as a starting point for your web site.

    The name you enter will be the filename for the page you want to use as the starting point. Most browsers look for INDEX.HTM or DEFAULT.HTM automatically, so you do not have to type them into your browser. If you click Other and type a different filename, you will need to specify that filename inside your browser.

    It's important to remember that the names you choose are filenames. If you want to publish two or more web sites to the same folder or to Corel Intranet Server, and you use the name INDEX.HTM (or DEFAULT.HTM) for a new web site, you'll overwrite any previously published INDEX.HTM (or DEFAULT.HTM) that still exists in the folder or Corel Intranet Server. To avoid this, click Other and specify a unique name for each new web site you create.

  4. Select the type of web site you want to create.
  5. Select the visual style you want to use in your web site.

    If you want to, you can change the Visual Style later on by choosing a different style from Visual Styles on the Toolbar.

Now that you've got the structure set up, you can choose options for the web site, like a title, background, and text colors.

  1. Select the top entry in the layout window.
  2. Click Edit Properties, then click the Page tab.

    If you have an element selected in the layout window, clicking Edit Properties will open the Properties dialog specific to that element. Be sure to select the first page of the web site.

  3. Type a title for the web page. This title will appear in the heading bar of your browser.
  4. Click Color and select a color for a solid page background.

    or

    Specify the filename of the graphic file you want to use as a background in the Image text box. Images override the background color, unless you are using transparent images.

  5. Specify the colors you want to use for each type of text in your web site. Your text color settings will override the settings in your browser.

Using Web/Page Templates

CorelWEB.SiteBuilder includes several predesigned templates that make it easy to create professional-looking, attractive web sites in just a few easy steps. After you have selected a template and set the basic format and style, enter your own content for an impressive, eye-catching web site. Each of the templates is a page containing components; they are not items that you can add to a page. You can edit the components you added using the HTML and image editors you specify in Properties.

To use predefined templates for your web site,

  1. Click the Web/Page Templates tab.
  2. Click the template you want to use from the category list.
  3. Select the component you want to appear on your web page from the component gallery, then drag it into place on the framework in the layout window.

    As you drag a component into the layout window, a line below an item means the component will appear below the selected item, and at the same level. A line above an item means the component will appear above the selected item, and at the same level. A box around an item means the component will appear as a child of that item, one level below it.

  4. If necessary, follow the instructions to finish adding the component.
  5. Repeat steps 2-4 as needed to complete your web site.
  6. Add your own content, images, and other files.

Adding Predefined Content Components

CorelWEB.SiteBuilder comes with several pre-coded HTML objects that you can easily insert into your web site. Each of these contents is part of a page; they are not pages themselves.

  1. Click the Content tab.
  2. Click the type of content item you want to add from the category list at the bottom left.
  3. Select the component you want to appear on your web page from the icons in the component gallery on the bottom right, then drag it into place in the framework in the layout window.

    As you drag a component into the layout window, a line below an item means the component will appear below the selected item, and at the same level. A line above an item means the component will appear above the selected item, and at the same level. A box around an item means the component will appear as a child of that item, one level below it.

    When you add components that require extra information (like files to find, location of a CGI script, applications to use, and so on), CorelWEB.SiteBuilder uses QuickTasks to guide you through filling in the necessary information.

  4. Add as many components as you want to complete your web site.

After you've added the components, you can edit them using the HTML and image editors you specify in Properties.

Just to get you started, here are the steps for adding several common types of components:

To insert an image,

  1. Click the HTML Basics tab.
  2. Select Images from the category list.
  3. Drag the Image icon into position in the layout window and follow the directions given in the QuickTask.

Remember that as you drag a component into the layout window, a line below an item means the component will appear below the selected item, and at the same level.A line above an item means the component will appear above the selected item, and at the same level.A box surrounding an item means the component will appear as a child of that item, one level below it.

To create a custom banner,

  1. Click the Visual Style tab, then click Custom Banners.
  2. Click one of the icons for custom banners and drag it into the layout window.
  3. Type the text for your custom banner.
  4. Select an image to use with the banner.
  5. Select a banner alignment.

    After you've added it, you can change the text of your banner by right-clicking the banner element in the layout window, then clicking Properties from the QuickMenu.

    You can also create a bookmark at the custom banner so you can quickly find it again.

To insert a hypertext link,

  1. Click the HTML Basics tab.
  2. Select Links from the category list.
  3. Drag the Link to icon into position in the layout window and follow the directions given in the QuickTask.

Creating Web Sites Based on Existing URLs

If you don't want to start a web site from scratch, CorelWEBSite.Builder lets you use Browse for URL to retrieve a web site from any address on the Internet. CorelWEB.SiteBuilder copies all the HTML codes and formatting of that site into the layout window, where you can customize it for your own use. Retrieving a web site from a URL does not actually modify the original web site.

  1. Click Web Retrieve.
  2. Specify the URL of the web site you want to copy, or click Browse to find the web site.
  3. Type a web name for the copy (this will be the name of the folder where you store the copy).
  4. Specify how many levels you want to include, then click Retrieve.

    "Levels to retrieve" refers to how many pages from the site you want to include. For example, specifying "2" means you want a copy of page 1, and a copy of all the pages in the web site page that page 1 links to. You cannot copy pages in other web sites, however.

  5. Customize the copied web site with your own styles, components, and content.

Retrieving Web Sites from the Network File System

You can also open an existing web site so you can edit it. You can copy the code from the network file system.

  1. Click Web Retrieve.
  2. Specify the path and filename of the web site you want to retrieve.
  3. Type a web name for the copy (this will be the name of the folder where you store the copy).
  4. Specify how many levels you want to include, then click Retrieve.
  5. Customize the copied web site with your own styles, components, and content.

Table of Contents

Last Revised: 31-Oct-96
Copyright © 1996 Corel Corporation Limited. All rights reserved.
Send comments to: CorelWEB.SiteBuilder Customer Support