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College of Natural Science and Mathematics

URSA

Electronic Portfolio

1. Beginning Basics

Changing Font Size, Color, and Text

You can change the font style, size and color by:

• highlight the text you wish to change (the text must be highlighted in order for you to make any changes)
• click on the drop down box on the toolbar to change the type of font
• click on the box that contains the size of the font and scroll down to fine a better size
• you can also make the font bold, italic, or underlined by selecting one of the buttons on the toolbar (B = bold, I = italic, U = underline)
• you can change the color be selecting the button (capital A with a small rectangle of color below it) and a box with several colors will open and you can click on the color you would like to use.

Adding a Background

Your background can be changed from the plain white to any color and you text color can be changed as well. Make sure to pick two colors that complement each other well. You want to be able to read everything in your portfolio without straining your eyes or any other person viewing your portfolio. You may also use a background image that can be tiled and will fill your entire background. Once again you want to use an image that is pleasing to the eye. If you choose to use an image it must be a JPEG or a GIF file and should be relatively small in size (larger pictures take longer to load).

To change the background color.

Click on Format on the toolbar, scroll down and click on Background. A box will pop up giving you several options that you can choose from. You can change your background color, your text color, your hyperlink color, and your visited hyperlink color. When you are finished selecting your colors click OK to apply these settings to your portfolio.

To insert an image as your background.

Click on Format on the toolbar, scroll down and click on Background. A box will pop up giving you several options that you can choose from. In this box you have the option to use a picture as a background for your portfolio. Click and check the box that says Use picture as background. You will need to click on the browse button to find the location of where you have the picture saved. Once you find the picture click OK. Click OK again to apply these new settings to your portfolio.

Saving items in your portfolio.

Everything you save in your portfolio MUST be saved in the same folder. Create a folder on your hard drive or disk where you will be saving you portfolio as you work on it. Double click on My Computer on the desktop and choose the location where you will be saving your portfolio. Once you click on that location, on the toolbar click on File, scroll down and click on New, then click on Folder. Name this folder Portfolio or something that you can easily remember. ALL files, pages, images, EVERYTHING in your portfolio must be saved in this folder.

Creating links to other pages.

At the bottom of each page of the template there are several links that will help you navigate throughout your electronic portfolio. Once you have each that is designated by one of those links completed you may create hyperlinks so that you can navigate through your portfolio.

Linking the words already at the bottom of the page.

• Highlight the word you wish to create a hyperlink for.
• Right click on the highlighted work and click on Hyperlink Properties.
• A box will pop up called Insert Hyperlink.
• In the address box type the address to the web page you wish to link to or you can select an existing page you have created in your portfolio.
• To select an existing file, click on the drop down box titled "Look in", find the location that you have saved your existing page in and click on the file name you wish to link in your portfolio.
• When finished click OK and your link will have become a hyperlink.

Creating new links and linking them to pages.

• Type in any word(s) that you would like to create links for (Ex. Home, Email).
• Highlight the word you wish to create a hyperlink for.
• Right click on the highlighted work and click on Hyperlink Properties.
• A box will pop up called Insert Hyperlink.
• In the address box type the address to the web page you wish to link to or you can select an existing page you have created in your portfolio.
• To select an existing file, click on the drop down box titled "Look in", find the location that you have saved your existing page in and click on the file name you wish to link in your portfolio.
• When finished click OK and your link will have become a hyperlink.

Creating New Pages

If you come across a page that you would like to add that is not included on the template CD, you can create new pages in your portfolio.

To create a new page, click on File on the toolbar, scroll down and click on New, then click on Web or Page. This will give you a blank page to work with in any way you choose.

Make sure to save your page with a name that you will easily remember and save it in the same folder the rest of your portfolio is saved in.