Welcome to How to Create A Website

Web Browsers (Test Early, Test Often)

Turns out Apple Dropped support for the Window's version of Safari.  There is a version available, but it was last updated in July of 2012… 

If you have a PC, to test your web page to see what it looks like on an Apple Computer using Safari, you can use a Web Site teasing service at Sauce Labs https://saucelabs.com

This links takes you to a list of Web Browser publishers Download browsers! Install them!

1. The Web Editors

   If you already have a Web Editor, by all means, use it! The following is a link to a web page that discusses the various kinds of web editors and give you some choices. The goal here is to find a web editor that you like, and that will help you build your web site. The Web Editors

   We'll start of using the HTML editors from Coffee Cup so you can get familiar with how html editors work..  You can always download and use these editors for free for 30 days or so…

   Windows:  Coffeecup HTML Editor

   Mac:  CoffeeCup HTML Editor

   Homework:  

   The write out Content and or ideas you want to see on your web pages…

   You can start off with a pencil and paper!… Then write it out in a text editor. 

   Go a head and install one of the above and try using it to write out your content…

   Save the file as a .txt file and put it in your master website folder. We'll use it in class…

    Most of all have fun! Get stuck, send an e-mail…

   Navigation Links for what was discussed in class

   • Week 1 (That's this page on my web site at the bottom of the page you'll see an RSS News feed that displays links to the last 5 articles on the class website blog)
   • Home   (Class Portal page)
   • Lesson 1 (Interesting stuff)
   • Domains and Hosts
   • Resources 
   • Contact

   Some Vocabulary 

   URL ---Uniform Resource Locator

   HTML & CSS

   --- HTML, Hyper Text Markup Language, creates the headings, paragraphs and other content for  a web page.

   --- CSS, Cascading Style Sheets, Creates the Styling for a web page.

   Provider

   --- Physically links your computer to the Internet.

   Host

   --- Provides the Computers (servers) to store and host your web site on the internet.

   Domain Name (Server) (DNS)

   --- makes a recognizable name for the actual numerical Internet address.

   Got a question? Send me an e-mail

Create A Web Site. What you need to do first review.

Howdy

Rule #1 Test early, test often.

I hope you all enjoyed the first Create A Web Site Class and you are looking forward to next weeks class as we are going to make a web page!

Yes, I know, in the mean time... there is a lot of busy work... it'll get better, I promise!

Setup
The first thing you need to do is finish setting up your "work" environment. 

1. You need to install on your computer several web browsers, so you can follow Rule #1
"Test early, test often"

Setting up our work environment on your computer.
Install at least 3 browsers, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Chrome (You might also consider Safari and Opera)
If you have a Mac--- there is NO Internet Explorer for a Mac!

So, how do you test your web pages for IE? 
For now you can use Adobe's Browser labs... (you don't need to own any Adobe Software!)

After April 12, 2012 Adobe Browser Labs  will be a subscription service.

https://browserlab.adobe.com/en-us/index.html

2. Install your editor

Install CoffeeCups Free HTML Editor, you can download it from CoffeeCup's Website

Or install the web Editor of your choice.

I ENCOURAGE you to experiment and try different web editors, so if you have a preferred Web Editor, by all means use it!

You might find this article interesting, I wrote it a while back

http://stasiuk.blogspot.com/2008/10/web-page-editing-nirvana.html

Step 2:
Setting up your Master "Local" website

From the Class CD Copy the YourWeb-Site Folder to a Flash Drive (USB Stick Drive) so you can work on your site at school or at home or at work!


Also maker an "empty" Website-Parts" folder on your flash drive.
(After you are done with class you can copy the folders  to where ever you want on your computer.

Step 3:
Sit down and write out what you think you want on YOUR home Web Page --The Content.
You can use pencil and paper, Word, or the Web Editor of you choice like coffee cup.

Don't worry about Xhtml or CSS, we'll do the formatting in class.

Save your "content" information and bring it to class...

remember, its the most important information on YOUR web page... the content!

We'll make our first web page in class Wednesday!

Resources

Read the online Lesson 1 for help in figuring out your content.

I highly recommend the following book
Build Your Own Web Site The Right Way Using HTML & CSS, 2nd Edition by Ian Lloyd Edition: ISBN: 978-0-9804552-7-4 Published: December 2008

(It's now in it's 3rd edition.)

If you have the book, Read Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 through to the end of page 47ish

If you don't have the book, On the Class CD disk in the folder "Articles" read The BeginnersGuide.pdf, it is a terrific synopsis of the above Ian Lloyd's book, of all things written by Ian Lloyd!

You can also down load the sample pdf for the book at  sitepoint.com. The Sample download has at least the complete chapters 1 and 2!

Have fun!
If you have any questions 'holler
but, I think a post (comment) here works much better

Got a question, Post a comment or send me an e-mail

Create A Web Site --Week 1

Howdy

Rule #1 Test early, test often.

I hope you all enjoyed the first Create A Web Site Class and you are looking forward to next weeks class.

Setup
The first thing you need to do is finish setting up your "work" environment.

1. You need to install on your computer several web browsers, so you can follow Rule #1
"Test early, test often"

For the PC -- Firefox, Internet Explorer 7/8, Safari, and Chrome.

For the Mac -- Firefox, Chrome and of course Safari. (there is no IE for the Mac)
You can find links to the above browser websites on the class resource page, it's also on-line here

http://uofgts.com/BasicWD/resource.html

2. Setting up a webpage text/html editor.
The previous blog and Lesson #1 provide links to different kinds of web editors... It's up to you to try them out, to find the "one" that works best for you... Most web editors have a free trial period.

Even if you are using Dreamweaver or MicroSoft's Web Expressions, you'll need a good text editor. In the classroom we will use Komodo Edit (it's available for both the Mac and PC) and it's Open Source and Free!
Here's a link to Active States Komodo Edit website

In the class we use the portable version of Komodo Edit
if you are having problems copying it from the Class CD --> to your flash drive, you can download the Portable Apps installer

Homework
Read the online Lesson 1

The Class text book
Build Your Own Web Site The Right Way Using HTML & CSS, 2nd Edition by Ian Lloyd Edition: ISBN: 978-0-9804552-7-4 Published: December 2008

Down load the sample files!!!

Read Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 through to the end of page 47

On the Class CD disk in the folder "Articles" read The BeginnersGuide.pdf, it is a terrific synopsis of your text book and should be required reading!

You can down load the sample pdf for the book. The Sample download has at least the complete chapters 1 and 2!

More homework
write down everything you think you want on your Home web page (index.html)

Have fun!
If you have any questions 'holler
but, I think a post here works much better