Introduction

I created this page to help people understand how to build their own WEB pages.

Where to start:

The first step is to get WEB server space to post your pages. The URL associated with you home (starting) page will be needed in the page construction process.

You usually get a limited allotment of WEB space as part of your ISP account. If not, there are locations such as GeoCities that have free space available. There is a link to GeoCities at the bottom of this page.

Your home page should usually be named index.html since this is a default for a lot of servers.

Get your home page on the WEB with the basic information to start. A good home page should include what the WEB site is about, Guestbook, E-mail link to you.

Your have your home page, what to do next?

Create a folder on your PC as a Local WEB address. This folder should mirror what you put on your Server WEB address.
(a) To allow you to better control the files at your WEB site I suggest that you create subfolders for some items. I have a folder for graphics, sounds, photos, downloads and temp.
(b) Start laying out a WEB site map. Pick items you would like to post on the WEB. I suggest you use post-it notes for each page. I stuck them up on the inside of a closet door when I was trying to picture the layers and links I wanted.

Start looking for graphics and sounds to use on your WEB pages.

You can use a web search engine to find graphics available on the web. There a lot of graphics out there. There are also commercial graphics programs available at your computer store. You may already have a lot of graphics on your PC that came with other programs. Which ever graphics you decide on should be copied into the graphics subdirectory.

Linking to someone else's page for graphics is usually not permitted since it ties up thier server. It also delays page access on your page due to the multiple server operation and hurts your page if their link changes. With the copy you have control of the link.

Only standard graphic formats should be used such as *.GIF and *.JPG files. These files are directly supported by the web browser of people viewing your page. Other formats may not work if the person viewing the page does not have the associated program. Bitmap (*.BMP) file format is also supported by most PC's, but is NOT recommended due the the file size.

Sounds are handled the same as graphics except which ever sounds you decide on should be copied into the sounds subdirectory. The standard sound formats supported by most PC programs are *.WAV and *.MID

Which computer programs work best?

I use several computer programs to build my pages. I use Adobe Pagemill, Microsoft FrontPage, Netscape composer, and Windows notepad. Some WEB space providers have free on-line programs to help you build your WEB pages. I suggest you start with an inexpensive program to get your pages started and go to the costly programs if you decide to get advanced feature.

Notepad does not generate HTML code but will allow you to edit it, this is usefull if you are only making small changes or are good at HTML. Another use for notepad is copy/paste/edit, I used that method to create the subtopics on this page.

Some of the commercial programs allow you to give a Local WEB address and associate it with your Server WEB address. This will allow you to edit off-line and preview.

If you use a on-line program you should still copy your files to your Local WEB address. This is helpful it the remote server ever has problems.

Keep your page construction simple!

Try to limit the number of graphic and sound files embedded in any single page. When you have a visitor to your page you do not want it to take forever to finish download to their PC.

You can use the same graphic referenced multiple times in the page without causing an increased download time. An example is the roses I use for bullets on this page.

The colors that you choose to use should have good contrast. Don't make it to hard to read. Remember that a link color changes once the link has been visited so look at both instances.

You may want to try printing your page. If the visitor only has a black and white printer some colors print poorly.

You should always include Title (used in bookmarks), Header (used on page to give information), E-mail and/or Guestbook (used for feedback), a link to your home page, and credit for people who supplied you graphics/sounds.

Not all pages look the same using different browser programs. I normally use Microsoft Internet Explorer. My ISP provided me with a copy of Netscape. I view my pages once with each program to ensure the page looks the way I want it to look.

Do you need your own URL?

I do have my own URL. It does cost extra but it allows me two major advantages.
(a) I give people my URL as www.tommymoore.com. It redirects to www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/9635/. It is a lot easier to remember and if I ever decide to change my WEB server I will not have to go through the labor of telling everyone my new address.
(b) I give people my mail as tommy@tommymoore.com. It redirects to endymion@prodigy.net. Due to mergers and sales I went from endymion@internetmci.com to endymion@cwixmail.com to endymion@prodigy.net in just the past two years. I did not have to let anyone know of the changes, all I did was change the mail redirect location.