Making a Web Page

1. Simple web page with little involvement.

   Use a special program application that builds a web page from the ground up by asking questions. There are free services like this on the internet but they do not have a server for placing your completed web page.

   Make Your Own Home Page
   Netscape Communicator Web Page Starter
   Netscape's Page Wizard for Netscape Gold
   Create your own homepage from Intellinet

   PRO:
   You immediately create a web page that you can call your own.

   CON:
   The information included is usually very basic and you have little control in the design and makeup of the page itself. There usually is no server provided to put your page so no one will ever access it.

   COMMENT:
   These work well to get one started and to discover what a web page is about.

2. Using a "free" service and placing your web page on their server.

   There are free services like on the web that have their own systems for making (constructing) web pages and placing the page on a free server. The following are only examples and are not an exhaustive list of available services.

   http://xoom.com/webspace/ Check out XOOM for free web space.

   http://www.geocities.com/join/freehp.html
   

   Ultimate Tutorial for a web page on GeoCities

   http://www.angelfire.com/
   http://homepager.tripod.com/
   http://www.maxpages.com/

   The Ultimate Guide to Free Web Space

   PRO:
   You actually get a web page with a URL that can be accessed by someone.
   Some people never go beyond these type of pages and they serve very nicely depending upon type of web site desired.

   CON:
   There is always advertising on the web pages that you create. This is why the pages are free. Someone has to pay for them.

3. Using an "all in one" Internet Service Provider like America Online.

   The "All In One" services have much to offer but are limiting for the experienced internet users.

   PRO:
   America Online is the largest of these "All-In-One" services and provides each subscriber with web space on the America Online servers. Each screen name that is created has 2 Megs of webspace so one can place many things here.
   The America Online web servers are very stable and accessible using the Amerca Online software.
   There is a web page creating help on America Online which will help one create a web page.
   There are few places where on can acquire 5 screen (email) names and 10 Meg of web space for such a low cost.

   CON:
   Using America Online web creators can get to be expensive unless one has an unlimited account (which is also expensive for most internet users) since it is necessary to be "online" to do work on the web pages. (I do most of my work "offline" and only go "online" to place pages and check them.)
   One has to use the America Online software way of installing the web pages on the server. It is OK but I much prefer to use stand alone software for this purpose.
   The biggest objection to this service is the America Online Browser (especially for Macintosh). If one pays for the America Online service it is unlikely that they will use another system for browsing the internet to look at web sites and the America Online Browser is certainly second rate in comparison to the standards of the internet (Netscape and Internet Explorer). (The America Online Browser is a based on Internet Explorer but does not include all the Internet Explorer features.)

   COMMENT:
   America Online is a good way to go and I will always keep my AOL accounts but as one gains experience with the internet, AOL becomes too limiting for the "only way of accessing and using the internet". It is a good secondary choice and many people use it!

4. Using an independent Internet Service Provider and the standard tools for creating, placing and viewing web pages.

   NOTE: This is the one that I recommend and will be the focus of the rest of this page.

   PRO:
   The results here are by far the best.
   There are no limits or controls placed on web pages. The design is in the hands of the creator.
   There are no busy signals.
   It is incredible how many web sites are available for help and assistance.
   The Browser tools (Netscape or Internet Explorer) are free.
   The Editing tools (BBEdit and others) are free.
   The Transporting tools (Fetch, and others) are free.

   CON:
   To learn everything at once is overwhelming for some people. (The more one knows, the more freedom and control one has over everything.)
   There is an investment of time necessary to do the learning.

   COMMENT:
   One does not have to be definitive with the beginning attempts. A web site publication is so different from the "hard copy" publication in that it is dynamic and always changing. When you want to change something do it NOW not with the next printed copy. Start small but start where the potential is the greatest. You will quickly "outgrow" the simple sites and be continually responding with "you mean it won't do that".
   The potential is the greatest with a site like this. You will not have to change your ISP later because you have outgrown it but you will have to let yourself work into things gradually.

Tools for Making a Web Page
(For an Independent Internet Service Provider)

1. Using a "WYSIWYG" program application is the easiest method.

   There are several "good" program applications for this purpose. Learning to use these is like using a "word processor". Each of the applications listed below have their strengths and weakness and they are a matter of personal choice. Adobe PageMill was one of the earliest programs but has not been updated for the Macintosh recently. Claris HomePage 3 is the most recently released.

   Adobe PageMill
   Claris HomePage
   Microsoft FrontPage

   PRO:
   These are a wonderful way to get started (either as a final product for beginners or for beginning a new page for advanced users). The "WYSIWYG" approach and the "tool" bars all allow a visual approach to constructing a web site.

   CON
   Most of these applications use specialize codes and many of them insert extra "garbage" codes into the web page. Advanced users will spend time cleaning up the actual code so the web page "works better" and will spent time inserting code that is possible but not with that particular application. The beginner will not know the difference.
   My favorite (because it was my first one I suppose) is Adobe PageMill and I still occasionally use it to begin a new web page.
   As one becomes more familiar with the programing code for the web (HTML or Hypertext Markup Language and all the advances in the code) these beginning applications will be less desirable.

   COMMENT:
   It is strongly recommended (as less frustrating and more directly visual) to begin web page construction using one of these program application. Buy one and become familiar with it. Use the manual and the built-in helps but begin to explore the HTML code itself from the many helpful web sites.

2. Using an HTML Editor gives control over construction of all parts of the Web Page

   There are several good HTML editors that aid in working directly with the HTML code including most of the "markup" language in their "pull-down menus". (Download BBEdit Lite!)

   BBEdit
   Page Spinner

   PC Users try these editors:
   Home Site from XOOM
   Home Site from Allaire

   PRO:
   These program applications are clearly designed to write the HTML code and have all the helps included in the program itself. After a while one begins to "remember" the codes to do certain things (but if the "markup" language is forgotten, it is all "at your fingertips" in one of the "pull-down" menus).

   NOTE: Do not use a word processor to write HTML code. Word Processors (ClarisWorks, Microsoft Word, etc.) insert many "hidden" formatting codes into their files and these files will not work on the internet usless they are saved as "text" files. If you do not have access to an HTML Editor (I find it hard to see why you wouldn't though because they are a free download) then use "Simple Text" (Macintosh) or "Note Pad" (Windows) to write the codes since these applications create pure ASCII text files that can be read by Netscape or Internet Explorer.

   One can construct a web page to be "exactly" what is desired!
   There are "pull-down" menus to check your "code-writing".
   These are clearly for advanced web page construction but one becomes an advanced user very quickly as the "WYSIWYG" limitations are experienced.
   Using the freeware versions, the program applications are free!!!

   CON:
   There is clearly a commitment needed to learn the things needed to make a good/imaginative/well-constructed web page and some do not have the commitment to do this.
   The codes can be "forgotten" quickly if one has no regular use of this material.

   COMMENTS:
   If one has only casual needs of web page construction, the WYSIWYG approach is clearly the choice.
   If one becomes frustrated, "won't it do that!", easily, the clear choice is to get familiar with the HTML code and use an HTML Editor. (Or hire someone to construct web pages!)

Tools for Placing a Web Page
(For an Independent Internet Service Provider)

1. A program application is needed to transfer the web site that is constructed on your home computer to the server where it can be "accessed by the world".

   There really is only one clear choice here for the Macintosh user (and it is free if you are an educator - shareware - download Fetch 3.03!).

   Fetch

   PC Users try this one:
   WS_FTP Limited Edition

   PRO:
   Once the application and its bookmarks are set up for your server(s), it is fast, direct, and error free. It works so well that a remote server seems like it is right in your own home or office.

   CON:
   This inital configuration of Fetch requires asking a few questions and trying a few alternatives. Most importantly, one must be accessing the correct server with the proper password. Without the correct location and password, successful transmissions are not possible.

   COMMENT:
   Let me encourage you to spend the time to get familiar with the way Fetch works. Fetch can also be use for accessing those FTP files that sometimes are frustrating to download using Netscape or Internet Explorer.

Modules in Web Page Constuction

If you are not going to use one of the WYSIWYG web page application programs, or if you want to understand some of what is happening when you use on of those "automatic" constuction tools, you will want to read this article. The Basics of Web Page construction using the HTML code itself is the topic.

All Macintosh users will need to learn to use this application to "place a web page on the server". It doesn't matter whether the web page is constructed with Adobe PageMill or BBEdit, this tool is necessary to make the web page accessible to viewers using Netscape or Internet Explorer to "surf the web".

Troubleshooting in Web Pages

If you have a question about your web page, ask it. Look here for answers to questions that have been asked by others.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION (Changing often): For now (26 April 98) I will place small modules here as I finish them. These modules may eventually be all placed on this page but the advantage of modules is the quick and direct access.

Future Modules (some have basic information in them)

More modules will be added ASAP! Below are future modules with just a topical start. Check them to see what is coming!

Tables in Web Pages
Backgrounds, Colors and Fonts in Web Pages
Basic Text Formatting in Web Pages
Hyperlinks - The Essence Of The Web Page
Forms in Web Pages
Frames in Web Pages
Lists in Web Pages

Attached Files - Using America Online
HTML Page Template
Cross Platform Problems and the Web

Forms Tutorial - from Xoom
Color Chart - from Xoom