Teaching Yourself HTML Editing
There are LOTS of tutorials on the Internet on how to use HTML editors.
If you don't like the way one of them is presented, you can try a different
one! Textbooks have some distinct advantages, but web resources are much more
flexible than using a textbook. If you prefer, you can purchase a book
or use the manuals specific to your HTML editor. Because there is so much information
available, this course will not include detailed information on HTML editor
use. It will be up to you to find tutorials and other
instruction on whichever HTML editor you are using. Click on the 'Web
Sites' button to find links to tutorial of HTML editors.
How HTML Editors Work
There are some features that are common to almost all HTML editors.
The primary feature is that they allow you to create a document in a manner
similar to using a word processor, but the HTML editor also is creating the
HTML code needed for your web site.
This paragraph has bold text,
plus italic text. Here the font size
changes. Now the color of the text is
changing.
The HTML code that would display the paragraph above correctly
looks like this:
<p>This paragraph has <b>bold text</b>, plus <i>italic
text</i>. Here the <font size="4">font size</font>changes. Now
the <font color="#FF00FF">color of the text</font> is changing.</p>
You could type in the code above (shown in red) exactly as shown, and it
would display properly on a web site. Doing this is called 'hand
coding'. It was once common for web pages to be made using hand
coding.
Pieces of the code encased in brackets <> are called 'tags'. The
tag <p> means 'start a new paragraph'. The tag </p> means 'end the
current paragraph'. <b> and </b> starts, then stops, bold text.
<i> is for italics. Fonts can have several characteristics (called
'attributes'). '<font' starts one or more attributes, and </font> ends
all font attributes. The ' ' adds an extra space.
It is much easier to just type and click to create the document format
that you want and not need to worry about the HTML code. It is
possible to create a web site without ever looking at the HTML. But
higher-end HTML editors have a way to view and edit the HTML code directly
when needed. Using FrontPage 2002, the viewing tabs look like this:
'Normal' is the view of your document when you are editing it. HTML
is what the HTML code looks like. You can also edit your document in
HTML view. Preview is used to look at your document the way it would
appear on the Internet (some advanced features will still not be visible
until you publish your web). Some HTML editors use your browser
(Internet Explorer or Netscape) to view the web pages.
If you are using a different HTML editor, you will need to figure out how
to view the HTML code in your editor. You will be required to do this
later.
Lesson 2 - Task 1
Start researching tutorials for your HTML editor. You can use the links
in the 'Web Sites' section, or you can search to find others. Pick your
favorite, then experiment by making a test document. Remember that you
will mostly be teaching yourself, but help will be available from your
instructor and classmates if you need it.
DO NOT make a 'web' yet. Some tutorials would have you do this at
the beginning, but don't do it. That will come later. Just do
what it takes to start a new document. If you are using FrontPage
2002, it's best to just click the 'blank sheet of paper' icon at the upper
left of the screen (just below 'File'). Alternately, you can select
'File', 'New', 'Page or Web', 'Blank Page'.
Work with your HTML editor until you know enough about it to make a
simple document. Make sure you know how to view both editing mode and
HTML mode. Then close your test document(s) without saving them.
You should research tutorials and familiarize yourself with your HTML
editor for at least 1.5 hours. Then post assignment L2-1 into
the Discussion Board. In your posting, let us know which HTML
editor you plan to use, and the tutorials you chose.
Include links to the website(s) of the tutorials you followed.
Critique the tutorials (at least one paragraph) to help others in class
decide if they think it's worth checking out.
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