7. Creation of Internet Pages and Sites
a. A Simple Concept
b. What is a Mark-up Language?
c. Tools for Creating Web Pages
d. Transferring Your Pages to a Server
e. Testing Your Pages
f. A Simple Concept for Sharing Information
a. A Simple Concept
The Internet is "Worldwide Shared Information." The concept is very simple... "Tie (link) all the computers in the world together using the existing telecommunications lines." This idea has worked extremely well. It works because it is uncontrolled. As it (The Internet) crosses many international boundaries, no nation can control it. It works based solely on cooperation. The only requirement is maintaining a "Unique" combination of computer name and domain name within each country. This allows for a uniform system of locating item you desire, it is known as a "Uniform Resource Locator" (URL). Remember it uses the Telecommunication Lines, it works just like a Telephone... If you have the proper desired URL (similar to a telephone number) you can connect to any computer which is hooked up and shared on the network. Isn't this a GREAT idea? Doesn't it work well? It does only if people are willing to SHARE information.
Now that you are willing... How can you do it?
b. What is a Mark-up Language?
Computers have many types of operating systems. Information is shared is in many different forms including various languages, graphics, and audio files. When world nations meet they establish a protocol for the meeting. When computers connect on the network they "shake hands" and agree on a protocol to use. To make this easy each computer uses it's own software called a "Browser" to collect an assemble the packets of information into the desired format required for the type of computer which is receiving the information. All information transferred over the network is "DIGITAL." Digital information is merely a very long string of zeros and ones known as binary encoded information. It is the Browser's duty to decode this information and present it in a form that you can understand.
A "Mark-up Language" is merely text information which has been given tags (instruction if you will) which are used by the browsers to sort and display the information in a usable form. As users and contributors of information we do not want to be bothered with all of these detailed instructions (tags). Herein lies the beauty of the PC with it's myriad of stored instructions called applications (tools or software programs). There are many applications which can be used to encode information into "Hyper Text Mark-up Language" (HTML) or htm format. They work just like word processors or graphics applications. You prepare your information in the form you are familiar with and then when you save it to a file (binary) the program inserts all the necessary tags for you. It is easy, what you see is what you get. Anyone with a html text editor can create Web pages. The text is marked up for you as you save it to a file. Any browser can then interpret, decode, and display the information as the client (the one requesting the information) desires.
It is a simple concept and it works. Simplicity is always the KEY to success. The Internet is very successful.
c. Tools for Creating Web Pages
There are many applications which can be used to create html documents (Web Pages) by merely preparing the information and then saving it as an html file. Most modern text editors (word processing applications) now have this capability. There is a wide difference in their ease of use and in the size and complexity of the finished file. One of the first things a browser need to know is what type of generator was used to create the page. The most widely used one to day is MS's Front Page. For the novice their is a simple version of it left over from its introduction called Front Page Express. This was a free "teaser" made available by Microsoft (MS) to show people how easy it is to create html files. It still works well today. Newer versions cost more and will do more. Drawbacks to using word processing software is the large size and complexity of the html files created. Persons who like to show off their programming skills can and sometimes will use just about text editor and learn (memorize) many or all of the common commands (tags). This is free dollar wise but expensive in terms of a learning curve. Files created by tools especially developed for making html pages typically have file sizes 2 to 4 times smaller than those created by word processing software or programmers using a text editor. This results in frustration on the clients part in spending unnecessary time in waiting for the larger documents to load. It also results in more time for the Browser to interpret and display the information. Most people today use MS Internet Explorer as their browser of choice, Front Page was developed specifically to work in conjunction with this browser. Hate or love MS they do provide ease of usage at a reasonable price to the simple minded computer user.
d. Transferring Your
Pages to a Server
Everything we do on a PC requires an Application (Stored Instructions). There are many programs which can be used to transport your html files up to a server you wish to use. A server is merely a large computer connected directly to the Internet which serves information to all clients 24/7/365. Nearly all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide server space and capability for their customers. The cost is included in your monthly fee. This server file space can be used for many things. Just think of it as a remote drive (storage device) associated with your computer. File access can be either public or limited by use of a password. Here again is the simple concept of sharing information.
Presently many users are using a software application called Ws_ftp. It is very easy to use and can be downloaded from several sites on the Internet. Below are examples of it's two common interface windows. The first is for establishing the session with the host and the second is for managing files.
After you establish the session you will see the window as shown above. The left portion of the window is for your computer, the right side is for the files on the remote computer. The arrows in the center are for transferring selected or highlighted files. Notice that you can rename, delete, execute, and view files on the remote host. You can also check the size of your file space with the Directory Information button. Notice the green arrow at the top of the file/folder list, this is used to move to the next higher level folder in the directory path.
e. Testing Your Pages
After you transfer your files to a server you should check or test them to make sure they are presenting information you want to share. It is a good idea to have a friend check them on a different computer. Sometimes your computer will access the file from your hard disk rather than the server. It is also a good idea to check to see how various browser settings affect the way your material is presented. Change your text size and notice how your browser displays this page differently. Also change your monitor resolution and notice the difference that makes.
f. A Simple Concept for Sharing Information
This section on creating WEB pages has been very brief. Interest in this activity was considerable and an entire workshop was developed for Internet Publishing. During this workshop participants develop and publish personal web pages on their ISP's server.
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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 September 17, 2004.