As someone interested in creating his own web page (like the Net needs another web site dedicated to a list of starships)I would like some feedback from those of you who are expert webpage designers. How did you learn the craft? Self-taught HTML, or through software programs? Did you use any books on the subject? And if so what which ones would you recommend? Thanks.
------------------ "Victory is Life!"
Posted by Aethelwer (Member # 36) on :
I learned from a tutorial in the back of a book on Mosaic, and by looking at the HTML of other Web pages. Unfortunately, most sites today are cluttered with indecipherable Javascipt and tables within tables within tables, so it harder to learn that way.
------------------ Frank's Home Page, which you've never seen before and want to visit right now
Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :
I taught myself, much in the way Frank described the process.
Except that I never had a book...
------------------ Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
[This message has been edited by Elim Garak (edited September 02, 1999).]
Posted by Fabrux (Member # 71) on :
*oldgeeserspeak*Four score and seven years ago..*/oldgeeserspeak* Way back when I had my first page, the Starfleet Corps Of Engineers-Spacecraft Division, I used Frontpage Express (horrid program) to make and update the page. By the time Fabrux's Starship Page came along (my current page) I was using NS Composer (much better program). But in between the change, I decided that I wanted to learn HTML so I could make a page the way I want it, with no confinements of an editor (They wouldn't let me use frames!). Luckily, my mom was taking an HTML course, so I asked her to help me get started on HTML. She tought me the basics and then I used her textbooks to teach myself the rest. Now I use plain HTML on all my pages and it's much easier to update. Reccomendations for books:
Learn HTML 4.0 in 24 hours
Web Publishing Unleashed!
------------------ All hands, brace for impact! WHAM!!
[This message has been edited by Fabrux (edited September 02, 1999).]
Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :
100% self taught.
------------------ Avon: "You really do believe in taking risks, don't you?" Tarrant: "Calculated risks." Avon: "Calculated on what? Your fingers?" -- Blake's Seven, Ultraworld
Posted by Bernd (Member # 6) on :
HTML knowledge: poor, I know what it's supposed to mean, but I can create only very basic HTML, and as soon as there are tables in silly tables in dumb tables, I don't (want to) understand it. Java and JavaScript is only for people who expect everyone has three or more browsers installed and will open another one especially for this awesome site.
HTML editor: Frontpage (is Frontpage express the same?) is a WYSIWYG editor that creates HTML without you caring about it at all. On the other hand, if you really need to edit something, you should rather take a simple text tool. Useful: If you have a site containing several pages, you may rename and move files, and the links are changed accordingly. Annoying: Frontpage automatically assumes your computer is the web server. You can't use the FP Explorer without starting the included server. The most important thing is that your editor (if it's more than just a HTML/text editor) places the links correctly. If you choose a file to be linked to from an explorer window, this might get an absolute link under certain circumstances, and a link to your local hard disk is rather useless in the web.
Nifty tools: Rename-it - change all file names to lower case (UNIX servers!) or attach a "-t" to all thumbnail images in batch jobs. SRHTML - Search & replace strings in multiple files
------------------ *Obscure humorous pretentious Gaelic-Latin signature* Ex Asterige Scientia
Posted by Kosh (Member # 167) on :
I have the HTML in 24 hours bok. I haven't had the time to spend on it yet, but what I have read looks good.
------------------ Outside of a dog, a book is a mans best friend. Inside of a dog, it's to dark to read. Groucho Marx
Posted by deadcujo (Member # 13) on :
I've never made anything that required use of any special HTML programs. But I like using Homesite though. It took me two weeks to figure out how to redirect my web page. But it works now www.pyros.org
Got a 1000 monkeys to hit 1000 keyboards for 1000 years. It worked. Although I did originally want a page about cabbage. http://www.liamnet.demon.co.uk
Although I haven't been able to update it, since I've forgotten my bloody Demon password, which my old computer knew. But my old computer is less useful than cabbage at the moment.
[This message has been edited by PsyLiam (edited September 02, 1999).]
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Started off with using notepad and some simple HTML. Then looked at other pages, "borrowed" (nicked) parts, stole pats from other pages, fiddles with Frontpage, then tidied up using the core HTML. I mainly use Frontpage to add the simple stuff, like "updates", and HTML program anything complex. Oh, and ask Frank a lot of questions.
------------------ "Ray...the next time someone asks you if you're a god you say 'Yes!'" -Winston Zeddmore
Posted by The First One (Member # 35) on :
I learnt all the basic HTML tags by posting on the Forums. First webpage was done using MS Word, and it showed. Now I use FrontPage 98, although there are so many things extra that I know how to do from looking at other webpages, I'm much more likely to use the direct HTML manipulation feature than one of its menu-based tools.
Posted by TSN (Member # 31) on :
A thread asking how somebody learned Web design. Isn't that how the original Interrogation of Charles Capps got started? *L*
------------------ "There's someone in my head, but it's not me..." -Pink Floyd, "Brain Damage"
Posted by Elim Garak (Member # 14) on :
I think I shall get in a post before this thread gets locked.
Psst, CC, is it safe to start another one yet?
------------------ Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
Posted by Dani (Member # 57) on :
I, like Charles, am 100% self-taught. I started learning HTML about 2� years ago with a little guide on the basics, and just robbing the rest of the code from other sites source code. I now write all of my HTML by hand and will shun anyone using any sort of HTML editor (especially WYSIWYG).
I started doing graphics shortly after that, although I've only been using Photoshop since about December 1997. I used PainShop Pro before that, and would never go back.
Right now I'm starting to teach myself Flash which is not going so well...hehehe...I might be okay if I can find a book or two on it though. I may just surrender and sign up for a class in it. *shrugs* I really want to learn it and may just not be able to conquer it alone.
Surprisingly all of my computer knowledge is self-attained. I do tech support at an ISP and besides having been tossed a few bones from my collegues and supervisors I've aquired most of the knowledge myself. Now if I can just get RedHat installed...
------------------ "You're just about as useful as .JPGs to Helen Keller."
- Weird Al (It's All About The Pentiums)
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
I dunno what this thing is against WYSIWYG editors. It just seems like people clinging to the hard way of doing stuff. The sort that loved using word tags in old versions of word perfect.
------------------ "Ray...the next time someone asks you if you're a god you say 'Yes!'" -Winston Zeddmore
Posted by Aethelwer (Member # 36) on :
WYSIWYG editors tends to produce very bad HTML.
------------------ Frank's Home Page - free pencil with every visit!
Yes, they can place tags inside tags inside tags. And that's because they don't know better.
------------------ Elim Garak: "Oh, it's just Garak. Plain, simple Garak. Now, good day to you, Doctor. I'm so glad to have made such an... interesting new friend today." (DS9: "Past Prologue")
Posted by Charles Capps (Member # 9) on :
Hey, I LIKED using control characters in PC-Write! *pokes Liam*
------------------ Avon: "You really do believe in taking risks, don't you?" Tarrant: "Calculated risks." Avon: "Calculated on what? Your fingers?" -- Blake's Seven, Ultraworld
Posted by Dani (Member # 57) on :
Yeah, WYSIWYG editors are cool if you don't mind really blaoted code...and when you use a lot of graphics like I tend to do, you can generally think of better things to use bandwidth for than HTML.
------------------ "You're just about as useful as .JPGs to Helen Keller."
- Weird Al (It's All About The Pentiums)
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Somehow I knew you would Charles.
Nyah!
------------------ "Why can we never meet anyone nice?" "Why can we never meet anyone who can shoot straight?" -Lister and the cat
