IWEB

iWeb application logo.

iWeb is a Mac iLife program that allows users to use pre-made templates to easily put together a personal website. iWeb has templates for adding images, text, blogs, and podcasts, as well as blank pages for the user to use as they please.

General editing

To get started, open the program, and then hit cancel on the page that asks you if you would like to make a Mac account (you already have web space through Gustavus in your Home Directory). A menu should pop up that allows you to choose the type of template you want to use, and which type of page you wish to start with. I recommend that you start with a Welcome page, and add other pages in addition to that as they are needed.

The general principle for editing a iWeb page is replace existing items with your own items. For text, this means clicking in an area that has text, highlighting said text, and typing your own in its place. For pictures (or other media objects), simply drag your own picture into a place where a template picture exists.

You may also add new items (pictures, text, etc), that were not a part of the template. To add new text, go to the insert menu and choose text. A box will appear in the middle of the page, you may use your mouse to move and re-size the box. To add a image, simply drag the image to the place you want it in the page. You may then use your mouse to re-size the image.

To add a new page to your site, go to the File menu and choose New Page. The window should then pop up that allows you to choose which template you want to use for your new page. It will automatically be linked to your other pages on the same site, with the navigation bar at the top of the page.

To add a link to another website, type in the text you wish to make into the link, highlight it, then go to the insert menu and choose hyperlink > webpage. A box will appear in the right-hand corner, type the URL to the webpage you wish to link to in the space provided.

Remember to save often!

Podcasts

To start a podcast section to your page, go to the File menu and choose New Page. The window should then pop up that allows you to choose which template you want to use for your new page, choose Podcast. It will automatically be linked to your other pages on the same site, with the navigation bar at the top of the page.

Now you can go into Garageband and make your podcast, as per the instructions for making podcasts for iWeb. When the podcast has been created in iWeb, make sure that you test it and save it before you attempt to publish the site.

Blog

To start a blog section to your page, go to the File menu and choose New Page. The window should then pop up that allows you to choose which template you want to use for your new page, choose Blog. It will automatically be linked to your other pages on the same site, with the navigation bar at the top of the page.

From the entries page, choose Add Entry (keep in mind that iWeb will put up a dumby entry automatically), the new entry will show up on the bottom 3/4 of the page, you can edit it from there. Remember to save before you publish.

Video

To start a video section to your page, go to the File menu and choose New Page. The window should then pop up that allows you to choose which template you want to use for your new page, choose Video. It will automatically be linked to your other pages on the same site, with the navigation bar at the top of the page.

To add a video, you will have to drag and drop a compatible video file into the designated space. If you are working with video from iMovie or Quicktime, the videos should be compatible. Please be sure you have sufficient disk space in your Home Directory before you star to work with video!

Publishing

When you are ready to publish your site, first make sure that you have saved it since your last change. Then go to the File menu and choose Publish to a Folder. A box should pop up that allows you to browse through your folders. Go to your Home Directory and choose your wwwdocs folder (or a sub-folder within your wwwdocs folder). Click choose. You will then have to click yes to an agreement that you have the right to publish all the materials on your site, make sure that this is the case! Once you have clicked ok, your site will be published to http://homepages.gac.edu/~username/ (where "username" should be replaced with your own e-mail username.

Troubleshooting

If you are having problems with your iWeb site, start by trying the basics: restart the program, back-track to where you were when the problems started, double-check that you are using all the correct folders, make sure you aren't over quota... If you are still having problems, please see the Culpeper Center assistant.