The HTML format has a steep initial learning curve, and like most computer programs uses a seemingly bizarre internal logic. The following are some of the more commonly encountered frustations on constructing a basic webpage.

(1) HTM and image file names cannot contain spaces or odd characters like #. Netscape may interpret the space as the end of the file name. Replace spaces with underscores: for example, change "Watson and Crick.html" to "Watson_and_Crick.html". [The current version of Netscape will rewrite "Waton and Crick.html" as Watson%20and%20Crick.html, which is difficult to read].

(2) Keep all your webpage files in the same folder.  If you construct a webpage file with the "Choose File" option and move to a different  folder , Composer will automatically incorporate a pathname to that file that matches the file structure on your computer [this is called an absolute link]. When you publish your page to the server, the server will be unable to find the same path. This will not be obvious when you review your webpage on your own computer. When you review the links in your webpages, the "Link to" line should contain only the name of the file or link: the server will then look for that file in its current folder [this called a relative link]. For internal links, erase everything except the file name. For external links, include the complete path name.

If you see a blank space with a "cracked" icon instead of an image in your webpage, this usually means you have included absolute links.

(3) Add a prefix to file names to be used in a class webpage.  With a multi-person class webpage, many people will want to use names like "2250.html" or "Figure1.jpg". If these files are published to the same server, they overwrite each other and cause problems. To eliminate traffic snarls, put your initials at the beginning of each file in your webpage: for example, "smc2250.html" and "smcFigure_1.jpg" This is not a consideration if you are using your own .www account.

(4) Save HTM files and embedded images separately. When you work with a page of HTM material, you must save  the HTM file and any inserted images separately: right-click on each and every image.

(5) Save your work frequently. Netscape is prone to crashes.

(6) Remember that you have to publish your edited material to the server before you can see the changes. After publishing edited material, you have to hit the "Reload" button to display the new material.