Microsoft KB Archive/306872

= How to Customize the Way That Web Pages Are Displayed =

Article ID: 306872

Article Last Modified on 4/9/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0
 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0

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This article was previously published under Q306872



SUMMARY
This article describes how to customize the way that Web pages are displayed in Internet Explorer and how to customize programs that use Internet Explorer to display Web page content.



MORE INFORMATION
Web pages are designed to display text in specific styles, sizes, and colors. In most cases, you can override the settings on the Web page with your own preferences. Although these changes might affect the layout and change the design that is intended by the Web site author, they enable you to view text in a size, style, or color that may be easier for you to read.

How to Control the Way That Fonts and Web Pages Are Displayed
When Web authors and designers create Web pages, they often specify particular font styles, colors, and sizes and background colors. These settings are specified for each item or they are specified in a style sheet, which is a type of template that specifies how different styles appear throughout a Web page or site.

You can override any or all of these settings. This is useful if you have limited or low vision. You can specify your font and color preferences so that Internet Explorer uses your preferences for all pages.

How to Change the Way That Colors Are Displayed
To change how page colors are displayed:
 * 1) Start Internet Explorer.
 * 2) On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
 * 3) On the General tab, click Colors.
 * 4) Change the color settings to the settings that you want.

These preferences are used if the Web page author did not specify settings or if you configure Internet Explorer to always use your preferences by using the procedure that is described in the How to Specify Which Font and Color Settings to Always Use section of this article.

How to Display Text in a Different Font Style
To display text in a different font style:
 * 1) Start Internet Explorer.
 * 2) On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.
 * 3) On the General tab, click Fonts.
 * 4) In the Web page font and Plain text font boxes, click the fonts that you want.

How to Display Text in a Different Font Size
To display text in a different font size:
 * 1) Start Internet Explorer.
 * 2) On the View menu, point to Text Size, and then click the size you want.

These preferences are used if the Web page author did not specify settings or if you configure Internet Explorer to always use your preferences by using the procedure that is described in the How to Specify Which Font and Color Settings to Always Use section of this article.

How to Specify Which Font and Color Settings to Always Use
To specify that your font and color preferences are always used:
 * 1) Start Internet Explorer.
 * 2) On the Tools menu in Internet Explorer, click Internet Options.
 * 3) On the General tab, click Accessibility.
 * 4) Change the settings to the settings that you want.

NOTE: If you must have more control over the way Internet Explorer formats Web pages, create your own style sheet (.css file) and specify it on the Accessibility tab. For example, use the following procedure to create a style sheet that specifies the following preferences and to configure Internet Explorer to use these preferences instead of the settings specified by the Web page author:
 * Headings: Arial, 15 point, Bold, Gray
 * Body: Background: Black, Font: White, 12 point.
 * Links: Red
 * Visited Links: Blue
 * Active Links: Orange

 Click Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type notepad, and then click OK.  Paste the following text into Notepad. H1       {font-family: Arial font-size: 15pt; font-weight: bold; color: gray} H2       {font-size: 15pt; font-weight: bold; color: gray} H3       {font-size: 15pt; font-weight: bold; color: gray} body     {background: black font-size: 12pt; color: white} A:link   {color: red} A:visited {color: blue} A:active {color: orange}  On the File menu, click Save As. In the File name box, type mystyles.css, and then click Save. Start Internet Explorer. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.</li> On the General tab, click Accessibility.</li> Click to select the following check boxes: <ul> Ignore colors specified on Web pages</li> Ignore font styles specified on Web pages</li> Ignore font sizes specified on Web pages</li> Format documents using my style sheet</li></ul> </li> Click Browse, click the file you saved in step 5, and then click Open.</li> Click OK two times.</li></ol>

For additional information about style sheets, see the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb250395.aspx

How to View Web Pages That Are Written in a Different Language
Some Web sites offer their content in several different languages. You can add languages to your list of languages in Internet Explorer so that you can view these sites in your preferred language.

If you frequently view Web pages that are written in languages other than the default language on your computer, you may want to add the ability to display Web pages in different languages. To do this:
 * 1) On the Tools menu in Internet Explorer, click Internet Options.
 * 2) On the General tab, click Languages.
 * 3) Click Add, and then click the language that you want to add.