how can I enter html in custom pages? I want to design something in DW and then cut paste into my custom page. It says in the manual that there is a checkbox for html or text page type. I cant find it

You need to create a custom page, and place a link in the "read content from file" (or similar in english).
 
You need to make a link relative to Your rood dir:
to use domain.com/customp/try.html
place: customp/try.html
 
dont write "/" before the directory!

Go to Global Settings and ensure that ]WYSIWYG HTML Editor is checked - as below:
 
Administrator HTML Editor [ ] WYSIWYG HTML Editor [ ] Textarea Editor
 
Chris

Thanks - so you can't just enter HTML in the editor box?

If you are set up the editor box for WYSIWYG HTML you will be able to toggle between HTML and WYSIWYG.

Peterc
Set up the text area WSIWYG editor as Chris has described. Go to the text area and toggle the source (top left icon). You should see "<br>" appear.
Cut and paste the your html into the box and delete the "<br>".
Toggle the source to WYSIWYG and view the results.
 
(The "<br>" is there to show you have entered the source editor.)