HTML documents in Word 2016

Question

I normally compose my web pages in Word and save as HTML. I am having two problems with Word 2016. First, the page background textures that used to be found under "Effects and Textures" are nowhere to be found in the current edition and my saved HTML documents open with a black background. I can only find solid colors in the current "Page Color" option. Second, if I make revisions to an existing HTML document in Word, the program will not save the document and gives a "File Error" message. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I just installed the Word 15.23.2 update.

Answer 1

As a workaround, open your HTML file in NotePad and edit the HTML. Here is a tutorial page on how to set page backgrounds: Basic Web Page Background Techniques with CSS

Here is a web site with hundreds of texture files that you can use as tiled backgrounds: Free Background Textures Library

Answer 2

Effects and textures are there somewhere. If you format a shape they are offered as an option. Here's a screen shot to prove it:

If you can figure out their file location you can use them (or any picture) as backgrounds in your Word documents. 

To use a picture as a page background choose the Design tab of the Ribbon. Then, click the Page Color button and choose More Colors from the pop-up. In the Colors dialog click the Gear button and then choose New From File to display the file browser. I found this secret in Word Help.

Answer 3

The texture options are certainly a part of Word 2011. I have Word 15.22 and 15.23.2 installed and there are no texture options included. Have you tried the Picture option of the Watermark tool to place an image as background?

Ultimately, you'll get better, more reliable results with web pages by learning HTML and not relying on Word. Word HTML is quite bloated with lots of unnecessary extra markup. HTML markup for a page background is as simple as:

body {

    background-image: url("paper.gif");

}

Answer 4

OK - I moved an HTML document to my Documents file and was able to modify and save the page. I still cannot find the textures for page backgrounds that have always been part of Word (and are still in the newest version of PowerPoint). I am running Word for Mac version 15.23.2 (2016).

Answer 5

It sounds like you're comparing Word 2016 for Mac with another version. Which version is that?

Please try copying the HTML to be edited to your user folder (Users/YourUserName/Documents) before opening them in Word. If that does help, please post the exact wording of the File Error message.