FAQ 1a
Updated: 7/29/02
>>>> How Do I make a Web Page?
==============================
You can write a web page with any text editor. The tricky part is knowing all
the special commands that make the page look pretty.
Here is a SUPER-SIMPLE web page. Create a text file using Notepad (this is a
Windows application). Type the following line into the file:
HELLO WORLD!
Save your file. Now you need to change your file extension. On most Windows
operating systems, the window exension is HIDDEN. You need to make your
extensions visible. Open the windows 'Tools' menu (usually found in any
windows display box). Select 'Folder Options', open the 'View' panel, disable
the option called 'Hide file extensions for known file tyups'. Now your file
extensions should be visible.
Your file is now called (something like) 'TestPage.txt'. Change the file
extension to 'TestPage.html'. This tells the operating system that the
file is a web page. Now you can double click on the file (or drag it
into your browser).
Ta-da! Instant web page.
>>>> How Do I make a NICE Web Page?
===================================
You need to learn all the special commands that go into a web page. The good
thing is that you can JUST LOOK AT OTHER PEOPLES WEB PAGES. Whenever you are
using your browser, you can right-click in the page and 'view page source'.
OR you can open up the menus in your browser and 'View: Page Source' or simply
'View: Source'.
When a web page does something nifty, you can look at the source to see how
they did it. UNFORTUNATELY, most of the REALLY NEAT STUFF is done with
JAVASCRIPT. I ain't about to open up that can of worms. When you see a web
page that includes the command <SCRIPT>, just back off - you aren't ready.
The last thing for you to do is look for more detailed tutorials. I'm gonna
give you web page commands quick and dirty. You should look for something that
explains all the commands and all their options.
>>>> Quick And Dirty HTML COmmands
==================================
Now that you know how to find examples of everything you need, let me give you
the basics. All HTML commands start and end with triangle brackets '< >'.
<HTML> </HTML>
<HEAD> </HEAD>
<BODY> </BODY>
<TITLE> </TITLE>
<TABLE><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TABLE>
<CENTER> </CENTER>
<A> </A>
<FONT> </FONT>
<B> </B>
<I> </I>
<IMG>
<BR>
<P>
Most HTML commands are used in pairs like <HTML> and </HTML>. The
area between two pairs will be affected by the command. For example, try changing
your sample web page to look like this:
Hello <B>World!</B>
The second word becomes darker, because it is affect by the <B> = BOLD command.
Now then, a quick and dirty list of commands:
---------------------------------------------
<HTML> </HTML> = Open and close all your web pages with this command.
<HEAD> </HEAD> = This section will be the first part of your page,
before the BODY. It defines global values for your page, including the TITLE.
<TITLE> </TITLE> = This section will give your page a title. It has
to be included INSIDE the HEAD section.
<BODY> </BODY> = this section comes after the HEAD. It defines all the
stuff that gets displayed as part of your page. All the remaining commands
will appear INSIDE the BODY section.
<CENTER> </CENTER> = anything within the <CENTER> section will be shown
in the middle of the screen instead of on the left side.
Here is Some Centered Text (try resizing your browser)
<FONT> </FONT> = this commands changes the appearance of your text. You
place additional values inside the <FONT> command. For example:
<FONT size=4 color=red>. This will create a big red font.
<B> </B> = this command changes the appearance of your text. The text will
become darker.
<I> </I> = this command changes the appearance of your text. The text will
become SLANTED. (this command is called 'italics').
<A> </A> = this command creates a link to another page. You place another
value inside the <A> command. For example: <A href="http://www.fbi.gov">.
This will create a link to the FBI Web-Site.
<IMG> = This command does not have a closing partner. you place another value inside
the <IMG> command. For example: <IMG src="http://www.fiends.com/Images/work.gif">
will place an image on your web page:
<BR> = this command does not have a closing partner. It will cause your text to end
a line. With most web-pages, the text will run til it hits the edge of the page.
This will break create new line before that happens.
<P> = this command does not have a closing partner (well it does, but it is easier
to pretend that is doesn't). It works like <BR> except that it moves you
down 2 lines, creating a paragraph break.
<TABLE><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TABLE> = Tables are tricky.
Tables are used to organize contents so that they sit side by side, or one thing
on top of another thing. It's also used for creating tables of information.
<TD> stands for table column. <TR> stands for table rows.
You can do multiple rows and multiple columns BUT <TD> must always be inside
the <TR>'s and the <TR>'s must always be insde the <TABLE>'s.
| One | Two | Three | Four |
| Ein | Zwei | Drei |
| Ich | Ni | San | Shi |
Th-th-that's all folks!