Web Page Making Help Page

| Preface | Introduction | HTML vs. PHP | Hosting? | Domain |

| Printing | Images Part 1 | Images Part 2 | Help Forum |

Chapter 1 - Intoduction

Many have asked for HTML help for their webpages.  At Designcove.com & Gemele.com so we have provided you with the basics of web design.

BLOG vs. A Real Website

A website is not a blog or a single webpage. A website is comprised of MANY webpages and many subjects. If you merely want to blog (web log or online journal), then you can easily get a free one from: Blogger, LiveJournal, or Xanga.

Or you can get your own blog from networking websites such as: Friendster or MySpace or Piczo.

Game websites such as GaiaOnline or IMVU also provides blogging features. So if it's blogging that you're into, there are a lot of FREE websites that can help you host and design your blog.

If you want a ONE page biography page OR a blog, just click on one of the links above and start creating! Thanks for visiting Designcove and have fun!

Real Web Design

If you're still interested in web design, you can do so by taking classes at your local community college OR you can take classes online.

If you would rather learn it on your own, then you will need good reading skills and an aptitude for paying attention to details. One small mistake (which I've made plenty of) can create a huge disaster. Web design also takes a lot of time. So being patient helps too.

When I first started web design (back in 1995), I had only Netscape Communicator (not Netscape Navigator, but Netscape Communicator) and Notepad as my design software. Now there are a variety of ways to design a website, ranging from basic HTML to WYSIWYG Editors to PHP server end softwares.

Don't panic, everything will be explained.

First, you must understand TWO parts to having your own website -
(Part 1) HOSTING and
(Part 2) DESIGN.

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Part 1 - Hosting - This is the easiest but most MISunderstood part. Hosting a website can cost money or it can be free. FREE website hosting comes with many conditions. The most popular condition is the the placement of annoying pop-up ads on your website.

Some of the FREE hosting providers give you generic templates and web design editors to help you create a fast and easy website. These providers might be great for a personal website, but may not be appropriate for a professional business website. Here are some hosting providers that's been on the Internet and have proven themselves to be fairly reliable and dependable.

http://www.tripod.com/

http://www.geocities.com/

http://members.freewebs.com/

http://www.fortunecity.com/

If you want a basic website, just click on one of the links above and start creating! Thanks for visiting Designcove and have fun!

If you are looking to own your own domain name and host the domain somewhere, then that's another level and it will be covered in other chapters.

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Part 2 - Design - Everyone comes with different level of computer skills. Depending on what level you are, you'll pick up web designing faster or slower.

For those who have basic knowledge to computer programming (such as BASIC, PERL, PASCAL, C++, etc.) here's a secret:

READ the SOURCE CODES!!  Learning to read source codes is a VALUABLE skill.  Reading page after page of source code helped me to obtain the skills of becoming the webmaster I am today.  So I will pass that TIP on to you!  READ Source Codes! 

It's hard and confusing at first, but so is learning anything new ;)  However it's all worth the effort at the end.

The source code of a webpage reveals the HTML coding that went into creating the webpage.

(HINT: Source codes for Internet Explorer is located on the menu bar "View -> Source" / for Netscape it's located on the menu bar "View -> Page Source")

If HTML is too difficult, then use a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Editor. (pronounced Wizzy-Wig Editor)

I recommend using either Dreamweaver or FrontPage (or both). I use both of those WYSIWYG Editors to create Gemele.com and Designcove.com. It all comes down to what I plan on designing. Dreamweaver gives me more control over my HTML coding and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). While FrontPage is better at simplifying the creation of tables and thumbnails for my images.

Now just because it's a WYSIWYG Editor it doesn't mean you don't need to use HTML. The Editors just make the creation of the webpage using a "mouse"-interface. The true power that's driving the WYSIWYG Editors is still HTML. That's why there's always a tab in the lower left-hand corner of most WYSIWYG Editors that gives you access to the HTML (the TRUE driving force behind your webpage design).

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Here's a list of VERY helpful websites!  If you want to learn more, search for "HTML" or "CSS tutorials" at Yahoo or Google.

Lissa Explains

HTML Goodies

HTML And PHP Scripts - Html Web Page

Neopets HTML Help Page

Online HTML Classes

Magitek CSS Help Page

Dynamic Drive

Sunyee's Homepage Helper Links

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In summary

MacroMedia Dreamweaver - currently use at Gemele.com & Designcove.com

Microsoft Frontpage - a great beginners program, this is how it all started

Notepad - ah, good old fashion notepad (Start -> Program Files -> Accessories -> Notepad)

Wordpad - more advanced version, great for editing PHP (Start -> Program Files -> Accessories -> Wordpad

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Next Chapter -> Chapter 2 "HTML vs. PHP"

Lasted Updated: May 1, 2007