HOW TO BECOME A GEAR TESTER IN THREE EASY STEPS
STEP 2, LESSON 4
UPLOADING THE REVIEW

Now that you have a completed and edited review, it's time to finalize your owner review by uploading it to the BackpackGearTest website.  The first step in doing so is to convert your report from a text format to an HTML format.  HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup Language, and is the standard format that is read by all web browsers.  Web documents must be in HTML in order for people to be able to see and read them.  There are many tools for creating HTML content, and you don't have to have any special knowledge to convert your review.  If, however, you need help, click here for instructions on joining the BGTFileUploadHelp group.  Once a member of that group, post your problem there.  If you need someone to convert your review to HTML for you, simply post the plain text version to the BGTFileUploadHelp group with a note asking that your review be converted to HTML.  A volunteer will convert it for you and send you the file as an attachment that you can then upload.  If you need individual support, someone will help you through the entire process.

It is NOT recommended that you use Microsoft Word to convert to HTML, since Word adds extraneous formatting that can cause problems.  Since Microsoft Windows is the most common operating system, and Microsoft Outlook Express is free with this operating system, a brief overview of how to use Microsoft Outlook Express to convert your review to HTML is provided here.  Feel free to print this page out if it is helpful to you.

USING MS OUTLOOK EXPRESS TO CREATE HTML DOCUMENTS Open Outlook Express Click the New Mail button, or from the File menu, select FILE - NEW - MAIL MESSAGE. A 'New Message' window will appear. Make sure your message format is Rich Text.  Do this by selecting FORMAT from the file menu, and selecting Rich Text. Copy and paste your review into the body of the new message you have just created.  (Open your text file, select all the text, press Ctrl-C on the keyboard, move to the new message and click in the body area and then press Ctrl-V on the keyboard.) Check the review for formatting.  You can add any dynamic formatting such as bold, italic, underlined, and even different colored text at this time.  You can even add images.  All these things are acceptable in HTML.   From the File menu, select FILE - SAVE AS. The 'Save Message As' window will appear. In the 'Save as type' drop down box at the bottom of the 'Save Message As' window, select 'HTML Files'. Enter a file name in the 'File Name' text box just above the 'Save as type' drop down box.  Be sure to write down or remember the file name you use. (e.g. flashlight_owner_review.htm) Select a folder in the 'Save In' drop down box at the top of the 'Save Message As' window.  Be sure to note this folder, since you will have to be able to find it when you want to upload the report. Click the 'Save' button. Your file is now saved. From the File menu, select FILE - SAVE. Your message is now saved in the DRAFTS folder of Outlook Express.  Should you wish to edit your review in the future, you will be able to do so by opening it in the DRAFTS folder, making your changes, and then following these steps again. If you have any trouble with any of these steps, or any questions, just post a message to the BGTFileUploadHelp group and someone will assist you.