How to change your font size and colour

Not everyone can read the default colours of this site easily. The good news is that you can make this and other web sites easier to read with just a few simple changes to your browser settings.

First, you need to identify which web browser you are using. Look at the very top of your browser window and you will see your browser's name to the right of the page title. To find out which version of the browser you are using, go to the "Help" menu at the top of your screen and choose the item beginning with the word "About" (e.g. "About Internet Explorer" or "About Netscape Communicator").

Once you know which browser you are using, follow the relevant instructions below to change font size and colour. The instructions here are for Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 5 and above and Netscape Communicator version 4.7; in other browsers the procedure may differ slightly.

For further assistance in changing your browser settings, please refer to the "Help" menu on your browser toolbar.

1. Internet Explorer (versions 5.5 and above)

Changing font size

To change the size of the text, click on "view" at the very top of your browser window. A dropdown menu will appear. From this, select "text size" and choose a size from the list.

Changing colours

Follow the instructions below to change the colours you see on web pages:

Click "Tools"at the very top of your browser window. A dropdown menu will appear.

From this dropdown menu, select "Internet options". Another box will appear.

Look for the button marked "Accessibility" in the bottom right of the screen and click on it. A new box will appear.

Click in the white square next to "Ignore colours specified on web pages". When a tick appears in the box, click "OK" to close the box.

In the "Internet options" box (which should still be open, if it isn't open it again from the "Tools" menu on your browser) click the button labelled "Colours". Another box will open.

Uncheck the box marked "Use Windows colours".

Now click the rectangle to the right of "Text" and choose a text colour (e.g. yellow).

Click the rectangle to the right of "background"and choose a background colour (e.g. black).

Click "OK" when you're done.

Having done all this you should find that most pages you visit automatically have large text that is yellow on a black background.

2. Netscape Communicator (version 4.7)

To change browser settings, first open the "Preferences" box by clicking on "Edit" and selecting "Preferences". You may then choose to make any of the changes listed below.

Changing the text font

To change the text font, follow these steps:

Click on "Appearance".

Click "Font".

Choose the variable-width font and fixed-width font you want to use.

Click "OK".

If you want to set these fonts for all future usage on your browser, click on "Use my default fonts overriding document specified fonts".

Changing colours

To change the text and background colours, do the following:

Click on "Appearance".

Click "Colours".

Select the box next to "Text" and choose a colour.

Click "OK".

Select the box next to "Background"' and choose a colour.

Click "OK".

Click "OK" to close "Preferences".

To set these colours as your browser default, click on "Always use my colours, overriding document".

Permission to use the above granted by North Dorset District Council.