Community Newsletter: Q&A: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design
- 11/3/05 5:23 PM
Dreamweaver the Best
by millclar - 11/4/05 10:05 AM In reply to: Run from Dreamweaver! by karaleahI have used Dreamweaver for use. I get virtually no redundant tags - I have no idea where you are coming up with this. It is the best on the market bar none, and the learning curve is not bad at all.
Maybe in version 3
by kevaryan - 11/4/05 8:03 PM In reply to: Run from Dreamweaver! by karaleahWhat's the last version of Dreamweaver you've used, version 3? DW produces some pretty clean code these days. Though I admit that it may be too overwhelming for someone just starting out.
dreamweaver
by bombheads12 - 11/4/05 6:59 AM In reply to: What about Macromedia Dreamweaver by bucksguy14If you can get your head around it yes!
but its so costly whereas frontpage is reasonably cheap and dont forget the free ones! netscape composer for one! my personal opinion is that anything is better than learning html lol its so antiquated!
kim
web design
by kevindockerty - 11/4/05 5:11 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
try Dreamweaver 8 - download 30 day trial from www.macromedia.com
Its much likie Frontpage - ie a wysiwyg HTML editor
only better !
Web design program
by dambergersd - 11/4/05 5:21 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Use microsoft word:
1. make folder on desktop lable it web page
2. open word
3. build word page as you would like to see it as a web page. Note: links later
4. add text and pictures
5. when done SAVE AS
6. find the folder web page on desktop
7. change name file as ''index'' as title (Index is always your home page, why index? just do it!)& scroll down find .html extension not .doc
8. save (don't close the file)
3a. make a link, make link page first
3b. open word make web page in word steps 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
3c. lable file as desired, scroll down find html extension not .doc
3d. save
3e. go to ''index'' file open as word file
3f. add desired picture or text for link
3g. highlight text or picture
3h. CTRL K, Screen pops up
3i. find link page(step 3c) click on it, screen disappears link complete.
3j. repeat step 7 to ensure save correctly.
Disclaimer: funky fonts, colors and placement may not be exactly where you want it or like to see it as, go back tweek the files in word untill it looks good. Don't call aunti in Ohio to look at yer high tech werb perge, yer nut done yet, you have just started.
Good luck
Be aware of XHTML
by eSapient - 11/4/05 5:21 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
XHTML is a relatively recent avatar of HTML which has more stringent coding rules in order to make it comply with XML rules. It is advisable to be aware of XHTML and preferably learn to code the XHTML way right from the beginning.
I recommend HTMLGoodies
by clsmith - 11/4/05 5:40 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
When I was in college, they hadn't started teaching HTML classes. I decided later to teach myself HTML and picked up Joe Burns' book, HTMLGoodies. He designed a website to go with the book and it a very good resource. Joe is a college professor and developed this book based on his experience teaching. It is very easy to read and even teaches you a bit of JavaScript by the end of it. He has a few other books that he has developed, including one for Website Design and another that covers JavaScript. He no longer manages the website, but it is still a good resource to go with the books.
Web Development
by sonysucks - 11/4/05 6:11 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I believe it depends upon what you're desiging it for. First things first, make a web site design plan, listing out your goals.
Code generation has been simplified in tools like Frontpage. I prefer Macromedia Dreamweaver. Since you're coming into the game of web development at this point in time, it may be a good idea to forget html4.0+ and use xhtml. Dreamweaver can help you with this.
If you're site is to be for business and commerce, then you should look into hiring someone to design for you.
Re: Web creativity tools
by DeanThomas - 11/4/05 6:11 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Get Dreamweaver or the whole StudioMX suite. All the tools you need to get you started. Much friendlier than working only within HTML, and (at least for me) MUCH friendlier than working with FrontPage.
Newbie and web design
by jamest1945 - 11/4/05 6:18 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Bruce,
Carlene is absolutely correct. Code it yourself. Three years ago my Son created (from scratch) our local church website. He enlisted me to be the day to day administrator even though I had not actually coded anything. It took me a few months to get a hold of more complex code and page setup but now I have no trouble. Stay away from FrontPage, period. Been there done that. We use Mambo as the backend and code using PHP for the pages. Check it out it is all free. Help is only a few clicks away. When I am faced with a complex setup I check out other sites, click on View Source and all the coding is revealed. This has saved me many a time.
Incidentally, you can find help, in detail right here at CNET.COm.
Start with the basics, upload your code see what you get. Try again, after a while your brain will get used to seeing the code. Trial and error at least in web design is what worked for me.
Regards
Jamest
I Would use Front Page
by shaazzzam - 11/4/05 6:47 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Especially it you have the program already! FrontPage is a fabulous, easy program to use. If the new version still lets you edit the HTML code - you can practice changing some things in HTML mode and see the effects right away.
I started my first webpage with PageMill. I quickly switched to FrontPage. I have also tried GoLive and Dreamweaver and I still prefer FrontPage over all of them. I have been using FrontPage for years and the only change I would make is upgrading it.
(Geeze I sound like a commercial!)
Web Design - Before you being at the computer
by Lights1912 - 11/4/05 6:56 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Bruce:
I feel there is no point in being redunant, posting my feelings on Front Page, Dreamweaver, coding in HTML or using WYSIWYG editors. I would like to address some things thouogh that no one has yet.
I am a graphic designer doing work in print, web and multi-media and there are a few basics you need to establish before even sitting down at the computer.
1) Who is your target audience? Who are you developing your web site for, what is the group?
2) What are the needs of your target audience? Will they all be clients of Cox Cable, will some be on dial-up, will the majority be on high speed connections? Is the target audience elderly or physically impared, will they have special needs for viewing the pages?
3) What is the purpose of the web site? Is it to sell a product or service, provide information, share your family vacation photos, express political or social idealogies?
Once you have answered these questions it is a good idea to make an outline of your site on paper. List the pages you want to have such as your home page, your contact us or about us pages, your informational pages, a blog page, etc. Organize your site on paper and then you can begin developing your site outline.
I prefer using a spider web diagram to lay out a site. I take 3 x 5 cards and write the name of each page on the card and then spread them out on my drafting table with the home page as the centre of the spider web. The next layer surrounding this are the pages directly linked to the home page such as a contact page or an about us page or an informational page. I may find that I am dealing with numerous information pages in several catagories so these are placed outside the primar informational page. Keep proceeding in the manner until you have your site laid out and then make a diagram of it.
Next step is your color scheme and design layout. Most of the WYSIWYG editors have site template attached to them which are great tools if you are not familiar with building a web site, however if you want to truly build a site from scratch, then you need to develop a colour scheme and layout design. Remember certain colours represent certain things such as blue is generally though of as a corporate colour, red is power, black is elegance, etc. When choosing your colours you have to consider your target audience.
Drawn you design out on paper using coloured pencils or markers, while the colours will not be precise, it will give you a general idea. You may find you have several different schemes and designs. Don't forget in your design layout you are including where you want your navigational links, how many collumns you want, etc.
Once you have completed all of these steps it is time to sit down at your computer and do your design work. The best web sites are thoroughly thought out in advance. They load the fastest, have the best navigational systems and offer the nicest graphical appeal.
This site gives you the W3C's web safe colours, although most browsers and system can render any colour properly, you know if you selects these colours anyone will be able to view your site as it was intended.
http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_colors.asp
If you are planning on using graphics, and most people are, you will want a graphics editor program that can optimize graphics for the web. This meand it basically reduces the file size for faster downloads.
Don't get caught up in things like fancy animations or Flash pages. Unless you are Vera Wang and your clientelle is an extremely wealthy international one, your site viewers may not have the capabilities to view such pages. (Vera Wang has one of the best Flash sites I have ever seen.)
Author Vincent Flander has a site called Web Pages that Su8ck, which is also great for getting ideas, specifically on what NOT to do. You may want to take a look around his site as well.
http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/
Just remember preparation and research are the keys to designing a good site. But it all l boils down to personal taste. There are plenty of sites on the internet offerring instruction on web design as there are books. I like going to the library, finding a few books I think may be interesting and then, if I like them, purchasing them.
Good luck with it.
Lights
Web Design - Before you being at the computer
by bombheads12 - 11/4/05 7:02 AM In reply to: Web Design - Before you being at the computer by Lights1912Couldn agree more bud
Many a site has fallen over by bad colours and then youve got to buy all the paint programmes you can in order to get pictures right (fortune) so what started as a cheap design can cost a fortune to get up and running
Another Build Webpage Tool
by devmt - 11/4/05 7:01 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use CoffeeCup and find it is very useful. You can either let the program do it or you can enter your own HTML code. Work on or offline, preview your page, etc. Very nice program. I think there is a trial but haven't visited their site in a while.
Good luck on your new adventure! 
No-one has mentioned Word
by sussexwolf - 11/4/05 7:18 AM In reply to: Another Build Webpage Tool by devmtI run a website for my tenpin league (in England), have no knowledge of html and do not have time to learn it. So... I use Word 2000. It produces good WYSIWYG pages with very little hassle and is easy to use with tables. I upload to my ISP using their ftp programs (so no expense there either). I bought my own domain for $18 for 2 years. As the site is only for members use I do not have to worry about search engines etc and the members are pleased to get their results within 48 hours of matches. Have a look at :- www.sec-tenpin.co.uk
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