How to Create an Image Map for Microsoft

Microsoft's FrontPage provides a method whereby images can be used as hyperlinks. These images, known as "Image Maps," provide a more visually appealing alternative to the customary blue hyperlink. Creating image maps throughout your site will allow your users to navigate easily while allowing you to maintain a cleaner overall web page design. An image map that links directly to Microsoft will give your visitors a means of jumping from your site directly to Microsoft's main page.

Instructions

1. Click on "Start" and then on "All Programs." Click on "FrontPage."

2. Click on "Insert" once the FrontPage interface loads, and then click on "Image."

3. Double-click on the image that you want to create your image map with. If this image is not in the default directory, click on "Browse" to find it with Windows Explorer.

4. Click on the image once it loads into the workspace. This will cause the Image Toolbar to load. Click on the rectangular "Hot Spot" tool located within it.

5. Point the mouse cursor to the area of the image that you would like to become a hot spot and, holding the left-click, create a rectangular hot spot by dragging the mouse. Release the left-click when you have created the right size hot spot.

6. Point the mouse cursor to the "Edit Hyperlink" box that appears and click within the blank text box. Type "www.microsoft.com," without the quotes. Click on "OK."

Tips & Warnings

• "Hot spots" are areas of the image that will serve as clickable links. Making your hot spots easily recognizable will help visitors navigate your site easier.

• If your first attempt at creating the right size hot spot goes awry, click on "Edit" and then on "Undo."

• You can link directly to Microsoft, or you can link to any of its sub-sites.

• If you hover your mouse over a tool icon in the Image Toolbar, a brief description of each one will be displayed.

• You can also create circular and irregular hot spots by clicking on the corresponding icons in the Image Tooblar.

References

• University of Wisconsin Eau Claire: Image Maps: Creating Hotspots
• Developing Webs: IMAGE MAP

Resources

• Electronic Teacher: Microsoft FrontPage Tutorials