Got color ?
Sometimes a little color can be used effectively in articles for emphasizing points, breaking up long text, or clearly denoting section headings.
Text can be easily added to your Gather articles in a variety of colors.
You can also colorize symbols, or special characters discussed in this prior article, and illustrated below.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
There are several methods for coloring text which can be used on Gather. This article will only address the easiest method, which is available to the largest number of members using Windows based PCs.
Requirements
Internet Explorer (any version)
WordPad (preferred), or Microsoft Works word processor. Wordpad is a program which typically comes bundled with Windows. Some newer computers may also have MS Works installed.
Note(s)
Colors will display properly in all browsers, but Internet Explorer is required when publishing the article on Gather.
You may create the entire article in MSWord, or any word processing program of your choosing. However, one of the programs above is required, in accordance with the instructions below.
Instructions
1) Create your article in MSWord, WordPad, or any program you are comfortable with.
2) Add colors to your article, using the font coloring and formatting tools.
3) When ready for publishing, copy the entire article and paste into WordPad, or MSWorks.
4) Make any final adjustments, if necessary.
5) Open the article editor on Gather using Internet Explorer (IE).
6) Copy your article from Wordpad, and paste into the Gather editor.
7) Edit, or change your article as required.
8) You may edit your article using FireFox or any other browser. IE is only required when originally pasting article text from Wordpad.
That's it...!
I hope this helps color your Gather world..!
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Comments: 33
Boy do I have my work cut out for me.
As always good job. Thanks Again Kevin
Thank You. I'm glad that you feel the instructions are easy to follow. There are several grammatical errors though, as I quickly 'hacked' this together in a few minutes.
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Good ideas, I just hope next you do not encourage music in articles. I do know that the site somewhere says you can add audio, but I have never seen that and wanted to learn more about it as I taped an author at a conference and would love to learn how to get that on my autism group. - idea for a new article perhaps?
Also, the addition of color to text does not add time to the download process.
Just because you can do something
doesn't necessarily mean that you should.
IMHO if it adds little value to the content and reduces the readability of your article, you shouldn't.
All formatting options can add value to content. Therefore, knowing what options are available, and how to use them, should be considered an asset.
It won't work directly from MSWord. Refer to step #3 above. You need to copy the text from MSWord into Wordpad. Then copy it from Wordpad into Gather through IE. That should do it!
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What Auntie said makes sense. I would HATE to see a plethora of aritlces with TOO much color. Color is like a fine wine...a little goes a long way.
I've made this the Lead Feature in Unofficial Gatherholics.
Yes, you must follow my instructions above. You cannot use Firefox, and you cannot paste directly from MSWord. There is a long technical reason for this.
There are also several ways around it, but they are long and technical as well!
I agree, a little color goes a long way.
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I use Firefox!
Next time IE, it is!
Have a nice day
Now, how do I do the images. I just got photobucket. Now what?
Take a look at my recent Sunday Help Series article. My first comment addresses images in comments and Gather mail messages.
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Heading there now..