FP98: Text in FrontPage Editor Looks Different in Browser

ID: Q194446

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

The text that is displayed on the Normal tab (at the bottom of the FrontPage Editor window) may appear larger or smaller than the text that is displayed on the Preview tab or when you preview the page in a Web browser.


CAUSE

This behavior occurs for either of the following reasons:

Case 1: You Used the Increase or Decrease Text Size Buttons

You used the Increase or Decrease Text Size Buttons. Both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator support a maximum of four <Big> tags and two <Small> tags. FrontPage Editor does not have this limitation. Increasing or decreasing the size of the text beyond these limits by using the Increase Text Size or Decrease Text Size buttons on the Formatting toolbar will cause the text to be displayed correctly in FrontPage Editor. However, the text will not be displayed correctly in a Web browser because of this design limitation.

Case 2: Browser Configuration Is Different Than FrontPage Editor

The default font size in the Web browser is configured differently than it is in FrontPage Editor.


RESOLUTION

Case 1: Use the Font Command

Use the Font command on the Format menu rather than the Increase or Decrease Text Size buttons. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Select the text you want to format.


  2. On the Format menu, click Font.


  3. In the Size box select or type the point size you want to use.


  4. Click OK.

    FrontPage will use the <FONT> tag with the SIZE attribute rather than the <BIG> or <SMALL> tags. The text enclosed in the <FONT> tag will be displayed similarly in both FrontPage Editor and the Web browser.

    NOTE: After modifying the text using this procedure, you can use the Increase Font Size and Decrease Font Size buttons to change the size of your font. In this case, only the value of the SIZE attribute will be changed and the text will be displayed correctly in both FrontPage Editor and the Web browser.


Case 2: Change Settings in Your Web Browser

Change the default font size in your Web browser to match the size you are using in FrontPage Editor. To do this, use either of the following methods.

To configure Internet Explorer 4.0, follow these steps:
  1. Start Internet Explorer.


  2. On the View menu, point to Font, and click Medium.


  3. On the View menu, click Internet Options, and then click the General tab.


  4. Click Fonts.


  5. From the Proportional Font list, select Times New Roman.


  6. From the Fixed-Width Font list, select Courier.


  7. From the Font Size list, select Medium.


To configure Internet Explorer 3.0, follow these steps:
  1. Start Internet Explorer.


  2. On the View menu, point to Fonts, and click Medium.


  3. On the View menu, click Options, and then click the General tab.


  4. Click Font Settings.


  5. From the Proportional Font list, select Times New Roman.


  6. From the Fixed-Width Font list, select Courier.


Additional query words: font size 


Keywords          : fpedit 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: August 2, 1999