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 | Adding A Background To Your List Page In 14 Easy Steps | Adding a background - step by step.
Step 1:
Sign into your manager level passport, visit your list page.
Click on the "More..." link to expose the additional options: |  |
Step 2:
Click on the "Change the settings" link to reach the customization screen: |  |
Step 3:
Click on the "Customize the Details View" link on the "Settings page": |  |
Step 4:
When the "Customize Details View" appears, click on the "Insert Table" tool to add a simple table (since backgrounds require an enclosing table to work properly on MSN): |  |
Step 5:
On the "Create/Edit Table" box which pops up, be sure to select 1 Row, 1 Column. If you wish to make alterations to the cell padding or spacing, do so now. Our example keeps the default settings for both these values and the border - if you wish to remove the border be sure to enter "0" in the "Borders" area and then click the "Background" link to the left: |  |
Step 6:
Open a second window in your browser, locate the image you wish to use as a background by visiting the public MSN album which contains it. Click on the image to load its full sized version. Right mouse-click on the image to pull up the menu and select "Properties" from the options: |  |
Step 7:
From the Properties box, highlight the complete URL by holding the left mouse button down and scrolling downward. MSN URLs can be 3 or more lines long, so be sure to get the whole thing: |  |
Step 8:
Use the shortcut keys Ctrl+C to copy the URL to your computer's clipboard.
Return to your original window and use the shortcut keys Ctrl+V to paste the image's URL into the field provided in the "Create/Edit Table" box: |  |
Step 9:
Push the "Create Table" button to add your new table. You should end up with something similar to the image on the right. The first thing you will need to do is highlight the MSN placeholders ([Link] - [Description] in the example) and either drag and drop them into the tiny table with the mouse or use the cut and paste method: |  |
Step 10:
To get the table to stretch across the page and have it stay open, you will need to edit the HTML.
First, scroll down until you see the "Advanced HTML Mode" at the bottom of the screen. Place a checkmark in the radio box by clicking it with your left mouse button: |  |
Step 11:
A very scary screen (at least for the non-HTML junkies out there) will appear as below. Do not panic, we only need to make one tiny adjustment. Where the HTML reads: <TABLE... words:width=100%: |  |
| You should end up with something looking just like this: |  |
Step 12:
Peachy? Great! Let us flee the HTML view quickly - just remove the checkmark from the check box, by left mouse-clicking, as you did before: |  |
Step 13:
You should now see your background choice displaying across the full screen with the MSN placeholders inside the box. My table has borders around the edge but they are not required. When everything is set the way you wish, click the "Save" button, at the top of the Customize Details View: |  |
Step 14:
You will be returned to the original settings screen, to complete the alterations, click the "Save these settings" button, near the bottom of the page: |  |
You now have a list which will add the same background and format to any post added. You may wish to remind members that this background will not show up while they are adding their new link. This is normal MSN behaviour. Once they hit "Send", MSN will apply the background. Since some font colours will not show up on some background choices, you may wish to place some thought into your background choice beforehand. If you insert a dark or black background, be sure your members all understand the basics of posting with a different font colour, since MSN defaults to black.
Copyright Web Design July 4, 2003.
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