Develop An Email Newsletter-Step 4

Build the newsletter template

            a. Build a template page
            b. Build a header
            c. Build a footer

Now that I have the graphics I will use in my newsletter, I want to create a "container table" into which all my newsletter page elements will be placed. This container will keep everything in place, no matter what screen resolution my readers use to view the newsletter. I will set the table width to 600 pixels, which is a little smaller than the minimum screen width of 640 pixels that is is in common use. Before I create the table, I need to click on the page off of my graphic to un-select it. If I forget to do this, the new table will replace the graphic.

To create the table, choose Table:Insert:Table, then enter the parameters into the table dialog box that appears.

I set the table to a single cell by typing 1 into the rows box and 1 into the columns box. I choose "Center" in the alignment box and accept the other defaults which will create a table with no padding (space around the contents of the table) and with no visible border.

To give myself more room, I close the shortcut panel on the right side of the screen. Next, I click on the Show All icon in the  toolbar to show where my paragraphs begin. My newsletter with the blank new table inserted is shown below.

With the background table now in place, from here on, everything gets placed inside this table. I  click my image and drag it into the background table.