GeoCities Help Chat FAQ Page

If you're here, it's probably because I sent you here while on GeoCities Help Chat. The main reason for this is because there are a lot of common questions, and it's easier not having to type out answers over and over again. Please note: this page is not meant to be a primer for HTML!!! Athens/2090 has already done an extensive and excellent job at that! This page is only for those frequently asked questions (FAQs) we get on the GeoCities Help Chat.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you probably are not a member of GeoCities. Join now, and get yourself free website space and free email!

INDEX

Inserting Graphics (pictures) EMail linking Background and Text Color

Linking pages Tables Forms

Why not frames? Uploading Files to GeoCities Moving In to GeoCities

Fix for Bogus Email pw Very Helpful Links

INSERTING GRAPHICS
It's simple to insert graphics on your page. First, though, make sure you uploaded the graphics file to your GeoCities directory (click here for instructions on uploading files). Graphic files usually have a .jpg or .gif extension. After your file is uploaded, put the following HTML code in your document, replacing xxxxx.gif with your own graphic file's name:

	BORDER="#"   (# is any number, 0=no border)
	HEIGHT="#"   (# is height in pixels)
	WIDTH="#"    (# is width in pixels)

EMAIL LINKING
You can add a link on your page so people clicking there will automatically be prompted to send you email. It's simple! (Just replace 'membername' with your GeoCities' member name...):

Click here to send me email!

You can also put a clickable graphic in conjunction with or in place of the text (replace 'mail.gif' with the name of your graphic file):

Click here to send me email!

WARNING: It is reported that putting your email address on your web page makes you a target for spammers. Spam is junk email. Spammers have programs that automatically search web pages for the 'mailto:' tag, and grab the email address so they can put you on their junk email list. I recommend using a Form on your website for people to send you messages by. (See my OQ Comments Form for an example; you can save it to use as your own form template.)

BACKGROUND AND TEXT COLOR CONTROL
You can control the default colors of your document, as well as background graphics, from the BODY tag. Place this towards the top of your page just after the HTML tag:

		COLOR         CODE
		BLACK         000000
		WHITE         FFFFFF
		RED           FF0000
		MAROON        F00000
		FUCHSIA       FF00FF
		GREEN         00FF00
		LIME          00F000
		OLIVE         F0F000
		BLUE          0000FF
		NAVY          0000F0
		LIGHT BLUE    00CCFF
		AQUA          00FF40
		YELLOW        FFFF66
		GREY          CC9999
		SILVER        C0C0C0
		PURPLE        CC33FF

Go try it!

LINKING PAGES
Making a link to another page is simple, too:

Click here to go to my other page

You can also put a clickable graphic in conjunction with or in place of the text (replace 'xxxxxl.gif' with the name of your graphic file):

Click here to go to my other page

TABLES
Tables are not that hard to make, and enable you to line up your text and graphics in nice columns and rows on your web page. You tell HTML your table is beginning by using the tag, and you tell HTML your table ended by using the tag. You place each new row between the tags, and you place each cell in the row between tags. It's really not as hard as it sounds. For example, I'm going to re-create part of the two-column COLOR CODE list above using a table:

COLOR	CODE
BLACK	000000
WHITE	FFFFFF
RED	FF0000
GREEN	00FF00
BLUE	0000FF
LIGHT BLUE	00CCFF
AQUA	00FF40
YELLOW	FFFF66
GREY	00FFFF
PURPLE	CC33FF

   BORDER="#"		(# is any number, 0=no border)
   CELLPADDING="#"	(# is any number representing the spacing between cells)
   WIDTH="#"		(# is any number or percent ("90%"))

One final word about tables. From time to time we get questions regarding how to put a left side margin on a web page. The trick? Use a two-column table, and leave the first column blank (

Go try it!

FORMS
Unlike tables, forms are a bit tricky. The best I can suggest to you here is to start at GeoCities Forms reference page for instructions and examples on setting up your own form.

You can also go to my OQ Comments Page, save it on your PC, and use it as a template for your own form.

Go try it!

FRAMES
Why I don't like frames. Instead of telling you how to use frames, I'll tell you why not to use frames -- because you don't need them! I contend that a properly designed web page should not need frames for proper navigation. If you believe you do need frames, your page is probably too big, so you should break it up into several pages to accomodate a frames-free web site.

I basically think frames are just a trendy thing to do to spruce up web pages, or because page makers just want to try out the latest and greatest in HTML. But if you've ever gone to a web site that uses frames, you'll notice it takes longer to load than a frame-free site, and it fills your screen up with windowy-type areas revealing half-visible content because the other half is hidden behind scroll bars. Also, frames created for one browser rarely look the same on another. I once clicked on a link in someone's frame, and instead of opening the new page on a different site, it opened the page inside the frame! That's annoying, and those are reasons why I campaign for a frame-free web.

Don't go try it!

UPLOADING FILES TO GEOCITIES
You can upload files to your GeoCities directory by using the EZ-Upload facility in GeoCities File Manager. Go to www.geocities.com/members and click on File Manager. After entering your membername and password, a list of the files in your GeoCities directory will appear. Towards the bottom of the page, you'll find the EZ-Upload facility. Click on the Browse button, find the file(s) on your local PC that you want to upload, then click on the Upload Files button. When completed, your screen will refresh, and you'll get a message saying your file(s) uploaded successfully.

Some folks want to FTP their files over. GeoCities has instructions for doing so at www.geocities.com/members Click on FTP Procedures.

MOVING IN to Geocities, you must create a home page (index.html). From File Manager, either

1. delete your default home page (index.html) , and use the Basic-editor or EZ-editor to make a new one,
2. use the advanced editor to modify your default home page, or
3. use EZ-Upload to upload an index.html file you made on your PC.

Go try it!

FIX FOR BOGUS EMAIL PASSWORD PROBLEM
Enter your Profile Editor. In your profile

1. change your password, click "No" to keep/receive your free GC email account, then click Submit Changes. After receiving your "Profile has been updated..." confirmation
2. change your password again, click "Yes" to keep/receive your free GC email account, then click Submit Changes again. After receiving your "Profile has been updated..." confirmation, go get your email!

SITE NAVIGATOR: PAGE TOP | SITE UPDATES | OMEGA QUADRANT HOME PAGE | OMEGA QUADRANT SITE MAP

Send me email via the OQ Comment Form
Or...leave a public comment on the OQ Message Board

I am trying to keep this page accurate in content and accessible on all platforms. Please inform me of any updates, errors, or problems you may find (including dead links), and feel free to submit your own link. Oh...and I'd love to just hear your thoughts and impressions about this page. So drop me a message. Ciao!

Hits since 11/15/97: