Creating HTML Pages
a. What is a Mark-up Language?
b. Tools for creation.
c. Inserting Links
...(1) To other Sites... (2) To other pages at your site.
d. Saving as binary files.
e. Using HTML creating software.
f. Hyperlink to ALL's Internet Publishing Course
a. What is a Mark-up Language?
A Mark-up Language is simply coded information; it has been coded with "Tags" surrounding it which instruct various computers, with different operating systems, how to interpret the information such that it can be understood. Every computer which can interpret this marked up file must have it's own software which it uses to display the information. The software that Personal Computers to use to display the hypertext mark-up language is called a Browser. This software must contain different instructions for a Mac than an IBM system. Below is a example of a very simple html coded message.
Notice how the TAGS always come in pairs. Notice the "meta" information tells the client machine what software the host used for encoding; in this case MS Front Page Express Ver. 2.0. The body color is white, it is a normal page with normal size and color for the text. The multi-colored text used in the TAGs make it easy for the programmer to identify parts of the file. The message is simply one Paragraph with one word Hello.
b. Tools for creation.
We can be very thankful that professional programmers have made this job of constructing all these TAGs very simple for us. We use software known as a "generator" or "interpreter software" to do the dirty work for us. All we need to do is the tasks we are familiar with, what we do every day in "Word Processing". We already know how to insert objects; now all we need is are a few new "buzz words" to allow us to insert objects like LINKS or HYPERLINKS. It is very easy to become acquainted with this type of writing or publishing.
HINTS... Most Browsers allow you to view the SOURCE Document or the html version of any file you are viewing. You can always find examples and ideas of how to create different looks by viewing these files. . . Remember you can also save background images (Wallpaper) for insertion. Also background sounds. Look at the source for the US History Exercise and notice the name of the background music.
There are a variety of good applications software programs available today for use in marking up documents of all types for use on the Internet. Some versions of MS Front Page come with some versions of MS Internet Explorer or MS Office. Versions of Netscape's Navigator also include html applications. Software with added features sell for less than $60. Shareware is also available for use and can be downloaded for a very nominal cost.
The software used to code these Web Pages is Microsoft Front Page, Version 4.0.
c. Inserting Links
...(1) To other Sites... (2) To other pages at your site.
The addition or insertion of links to other sites on the Internet or other pages in your own site is a very simple menu driven process. You merely select Hyperlink from the Insert Menu on the Menu Bar. A dialog box will then open and ask you for further instructions such as the reference name and the links URL. The reference name is the selected or highlighted text in your document which you use as a pointer. Links can also be used to point to other parts of the current page. If you read and follow the instructions you can get as fancy as you wish. ( Now I will insert a horizontal line, see it below;-)
d. Saving as binary files
After you finish developing your marked up document you must save it as a .htm or a .html file. This is a binary file which you then place in your "Public" directory on your provider's computer. Various providers have different names for their clients entry or index file. Check your provider's instructions for this filename. As long as you identify other pages or files in your document you can link to them. The next part of this course deals with UPLOADING your html pages to your Provider's Computer.
e. Using HTML creating software
About the only thing to say about this is to try it, it is not too difficult if you don't get bogged down in too many details which are not there. Our human minds often trip us up due to our egos getting in the way. We usually feel like we are so intelligent that we have to make everything more complicated than it is. Simple concepts and tasks are many times hard for us to master. Most of my difficulties come about by my trying to make some simple task difficult. The easy and obvious steps are not usually seen. Don't make the creation of html pages difficult, let the simple approach of using menu driven instructions work for you. As they say nowadays " GO WITH THE FLOW ".
HAVE FUN - TRY IT - YOU MAY LIKE IT.
f. Visit the Internet Publishing Course
References: The Academy for Lifetime Learning's Internet Publishing Course.
AARP's Voyage 5, Personal Web Page Design
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Dean Christensen; February, 2000; This information has been gleaned from many sources on the Internet. It has been compiled and edited by the author for the free use of his students. It is available to all. Remember the Internet is "Shared" resources. Revised January 18, 2001.