| Free HTML Tutorials • CSS • Popups tutorial • Frames Tutorials • Forms Tutorials • Beginners HTML Tutorials • Advanced HTML Tutorials • JavaScripts • Free Web Page Tutorials • Free Downloads |
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Intermediate Section |
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WIZARDS AND PROGRAMMES |
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| Free HTML Tutorials • CSS • Popups tutorial • Frames Tutorials • Forms Tutorials • Beginners HTML Tutorials • Advanced HTML Tutorials • JavaScripts • Free Web Page Tutorials • Free Downloads |
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Intermediate Section |
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WIZARDS AND PROGRAMMES |
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WP & DTP CONVERTERS
If you've got this far you have mastered enough to understand how HTML works, what it's capable of doing and what the end result should be. In this section I will expand on a few remarks I made earlier. Let's start this by saying I do NOT like wizards. No, that's not quite true - I don't dislike ALL wizards, just some of the ones that try to make web pages, like desktop publisher (DTP) wizards or converters, and word processor (WP) wizards. Mind you, there have been some marked improvements recently, but nothing can beat a knowledge of hands-on coding. These remarks do not apply to a full web creation programme which is an entirely different kettle of fish, but again, with most of these you can go straight into the code view and change things if you know HTML. ( I use Dreamweaver™ to do the hard stuff.) Now you may think that what you have produced in a wizard or converted WP input looks fair enough, pretty good in fact. And it probably does when you look at it in your browser. But spare a thought for all those viewers out there who are not using the same browser version, or a completely different browser. Some of these wizards are “optimised” for MS products - not that is always a bad thing. The assumption appears to be that everyone uses IE, and though the percentage is high, there are other browsers, and not all browsers are equal. In various parts of this tutorial I suggest you check your pages in both IE and Netscape. This ignores the fact that there are other browsers, but there is a limit to how much ground I can cover. If you are using a browser other than the main two (e.g. Alexa or AOL) some feedback from you would be helpful as I just don't have the time to check them all. If you must use a WP or DTP to create your web pages, it is essential that you master the basic elements of HTML, at very least the Beginners' section. Now you are going to ask me why. OK. If you open the web page you made with a WP in your text editor (e.g. Notepad) and look carefully at the code you will find redundant code, incorrect code, “unsafe” font faces and a few other no-nos. Print it out if it is easier for you, or if you want to run a fine toothcomb over it. Try an HTML validator with it. You will be amazed at the number of corrections required or suggested. Now I am not suggesting that I am perfect (no, really) but I do try to check the code on every page I make. This can be a lengthy and tedious process and you may be tempted to skip this stage. If you do, something will come back to haunt you!! If you find errors or anomalies in these pages please use the Help form to let me know about it. WEB CREATION PROGRAMMES Some of what I have said above holds true for some of these programmes, mainly the cheap or free ones. Some are too expensive for all but the pros, some are reasonably priced and some are shareware or freeware. They vary enormously in what they are capable of doing and the accuracy with which they do it. I have no intention of denigrating these programmes but if you use them you really should know what is going on in the underlying HTML. The better ones have a built-in validator so there is no excuse for not checking your code. With some programmes it can be difficult to edit them, so you may be tempted to live with what is produced - resist!. This can apply equally to some of the high level programmes with all the latest whizzbang technology incorporated, or to the most basic entry level ones. Another point to note is that some sites will only work properly if they are created with particular programmes (no names), "optimised" for IE. I find this extremely irritating, to the point where I changed banks because their internet banking wouldn't work properly in Netscape. So if you are using NS and find a page looks weird or won't work properly you now know why. WHAT IF ...? What if you've used a wizard and just can't get your page to work? Email me with your problem (click Help on the bottom of each page). I get a lot of requests for help from people who have used a wizard of some kind, and ended up with a horrible mishmash. For these, I have to say I can only try to point you in the right direction. The whole idea of this tutorial is for YOU to learn HTML. You need to go over every line of code, a tedious process, but essential if you want to get it right. Time permitting I will give a reasonable amount of help. (Unreasonable assistance covers re-coding an entire unworkable 10 page web site, as one optimistic person tried! )
Intermediate Index
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