Designing a History newsletter

Publisher has a PageWizard for creating a newsletter, which you could use that if you wished, although some of its constructions are a little complicated. This section will show you how to create a three-column newsletter from scratch using:

1. Layout guides to help you plan the page
2. WordArt button to make a title
3. A range of text and picture frames, some of them linked together

Your final effort will be in standard three column format as in this diagram:

Notice that, at this stage, there is no content. The exercise concentrates on laying out the page. You could create your own content - in a word processor or a graphics package - and then use the File Import Picture and Text commands to place your stories and pictures. This activity assumes that you have introduced yourself to the basic features of Publisher by working through the other sections of the guide.

• Starting
• Load Publisher or if Publisher is already loaded, select File and then Create New Publication
  If you have been working on another publication, then Publisher might ask you if you want to save your previous work. If you do, then select Yes.
• Select Start From Scratch in version 2 or Blank Page in version 3
• Select Full Page in the Select A Page Layout section
• Select OK
  If the text labels - Pointer, Text, WordArt, Picture, Wizard and Drawing - are missing from the Toolbar then select Tools and then Show Toolbar Text.
• Setting up the page

To help you lay out your newsletter you can add guides to the page. You can also employ a utility called ‘Snap to Guides’ which will make sure that your text and picture frames lock on to these guides when you place your frames.

• Select Layout in Publisher 2 or Arrange in Publisher 3
• Select Layout Guides

• Select Tools
• Make sure there is a tick next to Snap to Guides
  If there is no tick, then select Snap to Guides. If there is a tick then press the Esc key.
• Using WordArt to make a newspaper title

This section will introduce some features of WordArt including applying shading frames. Your title might look like this:

• Select

  Drag out a frame from top left to bottom right of the first row

  Publisher will display a dialogue box, ready for you to enter your text.

  Type: The Evening News

   

  Select next to the Shape box which says Plain Text at the moment

  In some versions of Windows the button next to the Plain Text box will look like this:

  Publisher will add a range of design options to the screen.

   

  Select

  This is Deflate (Bottom); it’s the fourth option in the fifth row.

  Select or next to the Font box

  Publisher will drop down a list of fonts:

  • Select Britannic Bold (or an alternative) from the list of fonts
  • Select on the toolbar
    This will ensure that your text will take up all the frame.
  • Select Update Display

  Your title should look like this:

  • Changing the background in WordArt frame

  To change the background to a WordArt frame you need to exit from WordArt.

  • Press the Esc key to exit from WordArt
    The title frame should remain selected. If not then select it with the pointer.
  • Select button from the Frame section in the toolbar
    Publisher places the Shading dialogue box on the screen.
  • Select required shading, e.g. the first option in the third row
  • Select OK

  Your title should now look like this:

  • Completing the page

  You can complete the newsletter with a combination of text and picture frames. Remember you do not need to type in all your text. You can import it using the commands at the end of this reference section.

  You might construct the page in the following manner:

  Step 1: Creating the first headline and story Select Drag out the frame in the first column Repeat these instructions for the story	Step 2: Adding the picture Select Drag out the frame across columns 2 and 3

  Step 3: Adding the second story – headline and two columns Select Drag out the frame, underneath the picture, across columns 2 and 3 Select Drag out the frame in column 2 Select Drag out the frame in column 3	Step 3: Your page should look like this
  Step 4: Adding the second story – headline and two columns

  • Save the file as history.pub

  Adding to your newsletter

  Now you have created the front page of your the newsletter, all you need to do is to finish it off. The basic techniques for adding pages, text and pictures to your newsletter are summarised below.

  • Adding new pages to the newsletter
  • Select Page
  • Select Insert Pages
  • Select OK when Publisher places the Insert Pages dialogue box on the screen
    The new page will have the same layout guides as the front page, but you will need to create the frames.
  • Importing text to the newsletter
  • Select File in version 2 or Insert in version 3
  • Select Import Text in version 2 or Text File in version 3
    Publisher places the Import Text dialogue box on the screen
  • Select your file from the File Name box
  • Select OK
  • Importing pictures into the newsletter
  • Select File in version 2 or Insert in version 3
  • Select Import Picture in version 2 or Picture File in version 3
    Publisher places the Import Picture dialogue box on the screen
  • Select your file from the File Name box
  • Select OK
    Alternatively, create a picture frame, leave it blank when you print the newsletter, then scissors and paste your picture into the blank space.

    Remember to save your newsletter at regular intervals.