15. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed by a processor cause a system to: provide portal configuration information that contains functional characteristics for the web portal; provide a set of temporary files that provide one or more presentation characteristics for the web portal; generate a preview document, wherein the preview document is a web page, and wherein the preview document utilizes the portal configuration information for the functional characteristics of the portal, and the temporary files for the presentation characteristics of the web portal, and wherein the preview document includes an instruction set that when processed by an application at a client renders the preview document in a web browser; detect, at the web browser, a cursor positioned over one of said one or more sections of the web portal, wherein the instruction set is read and executed by the application to present, in a graphical overlay at the web browser, an identity of the one or more style properties affecting the one of said one or more sections while the cursor is positioned over the one of said one or more sections, wherein the one or more style properties affecting the section is derived from a structured style sheet, and wherein the identity of the one or more style properties affecting the section includes an indication of whether the one or more style properties is inherited; present the graphical overlay at the web browser to show the one or more style properties affecting the one of said one or more sections that has the cursor positioned over; receive a modification of the set of temporary files, wherein the modification changes the one or more one or more style properties affecting the presentation characteristic of the web portal, wherein the web portal includes one or more sections, each section affected by the one or more style properties; and wherein a request is sent to accept modifications to the set of temporary files, and wherein accepting the modifications initiates a copy process to update the portal configuration information to include the set of temporary files as modified.
15. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that when executed by a processor cause a system to: provide portal configuration information that contains functional characteristics for the web portal; provide a set of temporary files that provide one or more presentation characteristics for the web portal; generate a preview document, wherein the preview document is a web page, and wherein the preview document utilizes the portal configuration information for the functional characteristics of the portal, and the temporary files for the presentation characteristics of the web portal, and wherein the preview document includes an instruction set that when processed by an application at a client renders the preview document in a web browser; detect, at the web browser, a cursor positioned over one of said one or more sections of the web portal, wherein the instruction set is read and executed by the application to present, in a graphical overlay at the web browser, an identity of the one or more style properties affecting the one of said one or more sections while the cursor is positioned over the one of said one or more sections, wherein the one or more style properties affecting the section is derived from a structured style sheet, and wherein the identity of the one or more style properties affecting the section includes an indication of whether the one or more style properties is inherited; present the graphical overlay at the web browser to show the one or more style properties affecting the one of said one or more sections that has the cursor positioned over; receive a modification of the set of temporary files, wherein the modification changes the one or more one or more style properties affecting the presentation characteristic of the web portal, wherein the web portal includes one or more sections, each section affected by the one or more style properties; and wherein a request is sent to accept modifications to the set of temporary files, and wherein accepting the modifications initiates a copy process to update the portal configuration information to include the set of temporary files as modified. 20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the section comprises text.