Editing a File with Netscape Composer

Every semester you will need to make some changes to your course syllabus and schedule. If you have Netscape installed on your PC, using the included Netscape Composer tool is a really easy way to edit these HTML files. Netscape can be downloaded free of charge at http://www.netscape.com. (Note: these instructions were written based on Netscape 7.1. If you are using a different version of Netscape, you may find some slight differences.)

Download the WebCT file to be edited:

1. In WebCT's Manage Files, select the file to edit by clicking in the box to the left of the filename. Write down the name of the file and the folder where it is located.
2. In the Actions frame on the right side of the screen, under Options: Files, click on Download.
3. On the Download file page, click Download again.
   A File Download window may appear. If so, click on Save.
4. Save the selected file in a location on your PC where you can find it easily (such as on your Desktop). Do not rename this file.
5. Minimize WebCT.

Use Composer to edit the file

1. Open Netscape.
2. On the top toolbar (that starts with File), select Window, and in the drop down menu, click on Composer.
3. The Composer screen will appear.
4. Click on File in the upper left corner, and then Open Page.
5. A dialog box called “Open Page” will appear. Click on the “Choose File” box on the right side, and browse your computer’s file manager until you find the correct file. Click the file name, then click on the Open box (in the lower right corner of your file manager window).
6. Your file will now show in Composer. Composer is a WYSIWYG (“What you see is what you get”) editor, so the changes you make on this page will look the same when you publish the page to WebCT. You will notice this screen looks very much like a Word page. (Note: Netscape Composer will not use the CCCOnline stylesheet, so expect the page to look a little different than it does in WebCT. This is not a problem as you will only be changing information on this page, not fonts or colors or formatting.)
7. Read through the page, and make the necessary changes to dates or other information. Do not make any changes to the font, colors, or formatting of the page.
8. After you have made all your edits, choose File at the top of the Composer window, and “Save.” (Again, do not rename the file.)
9. Close Composer.

Upload the revised and saved file back into your WebCT course:

1. Reopen (or maximize) WebCT.
2. In Manage Files, upload the edited file.
3. In the Actions frame on the right side of the screen, under Options: Files, click on Upload.
   1. The Upload File page will appear. Click on Browse to search your computer's file manager and locate the file.
   2. Click the file name, then click on the Open button (in the lower right corner of your file-manager window).
   3. Next to the Destination folder box, click the drop-down arrow and select the folder where the file should be uploaded. Make sure you upload the file to the same folder it was originally downloaded from. (Refer to the information you wrote down in Step 1 if needed.)
   4. Click Upload.
4. You should see an Upload File page that asks if you want to overwrite the existing file. Click on Overwrite. (This will replace the original file with your edited version.)
5. Manage Files reappears.
6. Click on the magnifying-glass icon next to the filename to view your changes. If you are not satisfied, repeat these procedures and make any additional changes in Composer.
7. View the edited file through the Course Menu to see the changes as they will appear to students, with the stylesheet attached.