Designing this Web Site
Rather than use a ready-made program like FrontPage, I decided to learn HTML from scratch, and was surprised how easy it really is. I'm not talking about HTML-4, Java or even Scripting, just raw HTML. Within a few hours I had a page up, and after a few days I finally got the hang of tables.
Where to start:
First one needs to get hosted. Your ISP may well provide free home pages, check out IHUG home pages or Bitworks. One advantage of using two ISPs is two Web sites! Another option is to use a "free" service which places advertising banners on your site (and the odd "pop up") such as the Lycos Angelfire site, where you can sign up for 20Mb!
HTML:
Next I needed to compose a page in HTML code (and call it "Default.html" or "Index.html") using a HTML editor, or writing it yourself. HTML is just plain text, and so it is worth learning the basics, at least so one is able to edit & correct the code. I started with the Webmonkey, where there is a good "Writing HTML" Tutorial, a reference HTML "Cheatsheet" and a reference HTML Colour CodeOther good HTML tutorials can be found at The Maricopa Center, at Tophosts Webmaster Tutorial, at BigNoseBird and at the HTML "Goodies" sites.
I also began aquiring cheap HTML books like HTML the.little.internet.guide [Cassell] at $14.95 was very helpful but got a bit confusing as there isn't enough explaination, Creating Web Pages [A Gray -Collins], $15.95 was cheap, but not very helpful, so I invested in a bit more pricy stuff. Easy Web Creation [M Millhollon & J Castrina -Microsoft], at $55 made good reading and looks like a good help if one wishes to use MS Word 2000 and Frontpage 2000, but the real gem has been HTML Complete Ed 2 [Sybex] at $49.95 at Dick Smith.
Further information and tricks such as:
The Single-Pixel GIF Trick are available all over the Internet. The Web Developer's Corner is a good overall site with tutorials and resources.
How do I get my pages online?
Method 1: Using an FTP Client. Both Bitworks and Ihug recommended I use WS FTP95 (Win), which I did, and found it very easy once I figured out the correct settings.
Method 2: Using Built-in Publish facility of your Page Editor eg Netscape Composer, Macromedia Dreamweaver 2, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Word or Microsoft Frontpage.
Method 3: Angelfire has its own HTML editor and FTP program called Webshell.
Extra bits are available free on line, eg:
Graphics (buttons and animations)
Free visitor counter at Digits.com
Thumbnail creation using ImageSite Pro
Other software I use includes:
Paint Shop Pro
Internet Explorer 6
Mozilla 1.1 (Netscape without the unnecessary bits)
Web Design
I can only presume that free Homepages are not just an attraction for clients to choose and stay with an ISP, but on seeing the mess they are making attempting to create their own page, they are likely to ask for help.
Bitworks offers high quality web design at an affordable price and IHUG offers a commercial Web page design service.
Error Checking
One can load your HTM or HTML file into Frontpage Express (free with Internet Explorer) to view, and it tells shows bits it doesn't understand (but I edit in a text editor).
Finally, there is a brilliant Web based error checker I have found and used called Doctor HTML's Report v6 Beta-2 or you could download the free CSE HTML Validator Lite v2.50 at www.htmlvalidator.com/lite
Keith Blayney (last updated 20th April 2002)
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