What is covered in this workshop?
HTML is a vast topic in itself.  The HTML discussed here, is mainly for the purpose of posting on discussion boards (if the board allows HTML).  This workshop will not cover all you need to know to make a web page.  To make your own web page, you might want to start with one of the HTML links on the HTML Tips & Tricks page.
 

Introduction
HyperText Markup Language (or HTML) is what describes the various components of a page on the WWW - it is what is used to make pages come 'alive'.

To denote the various elements in an HTML document, you use tags. HTML tags consist of a left angle
bracket (<), a tag name, and a right angle bracket (>). Tags are usually paired (e.g., <H1> and </H1>) to start
and end the tag instruction. The end tag looks just like the start tag except a slash (/) precedes the text within
the brackets.
 

Ok, so show me the tags!
Hey, slow down.  I'd love to show you the tags, but first I need to know what you want to do!

• Posting in color:  <font color="red">This set of tags makes my font red.</font>

If you want to post in a variety of colors, here is a great link listing colors by name.  Just change "red" to "the color you select". Here is a list of the sixteen "widely understood color names" aqua, black, blue, fuchsia, gray, green, lime, maroon, navy, olive, purple, red, silver, teal, white (white), or yellow (yellow).
 
• Posting in larger letters:  <font size="+2">This set of tags makes my font larger</font>

You can post in larger sizes "+1", "+2", "+3", etc.  or you can go smaller with "-1", "-2", "-3", etc.

• Posting in a different font: <font face="Comic Sans MS">This set of tags gives my text the Comic Sans font.</font>  Note:  This tag might make your text look different on your monitor, but if the viewer has an older browser, he/she will only see your font if it's also installed on their computer system.  For instance, if you don't have "Comic Sans MS" installed on your computer, then this font won't look any different for you.

• Posting in italics:  <i>This set of tags puts my text into italics.</i>

• Posting in bold:  <b>This set of tags bolds my text.</b>

• Underlining text:  <u>This set of tags underlines my text.</u>
• Teletype text: <tt>This set of tags will make my words like a typewriter in fixed width.</tt>

So there are some basic text tags.  Now let's go to layout tags.

• Centering your text: <center>This set of tags will center your text.</center>

• Indent the text from both margins: 

  <blockquote> This set of tags will keep my text indented on both sides of the viewers screen. </blockquote>

• Creating a new line of text.<br>

The <br>
tag moves you to a new line each time you use it.<br>
NOTE:  This tag does not need to be closed (does not need a </br>).
 
• Creating a new paragraph<p>


Using the <p>

tag will create a new paragraph each time you use it (equal to two <br> tags).
NOTE: This tag does not need to be closed (does not need a </p>).
 

How Did They Do That?!?
Would you like to see how someone used HTML to do whatever it was that just impressed you?  (Or would you like to know what stupid tag they used to screw up the whole topic?)  It's easy!  At the top of your browser (Netscape or MIE) is the option to "View"  (slightly different in each browser version).  Simply click on "View Source" or "View Page Source" or whatever your browser uses.  From there, your browser will pull up a whole page of gibberish.   If you look closely, you will recognize various HTML tags all throughout the same page you just viewed.   It's actually pretty amazing to see all that it takes to make a simple page.  Each line of text takes it's own tags to make it viewable.  Each image takes another set of tags.  A link takes a whole other set of tags... and then a linked graphic - whoa!

Once you start looking at a couple of pages' source codes, you will understand HTML a little bit better.  Don't be overwhelmed.  It takes quite a bit of work to learn it.   Remember the saying, "Practice makes perfect"?  It's true.

Oh, and by the way, please remember to close your tags.
You don't want an email from the board owner or monitor asking you to refrain from using HTML!   It just takes a second, but at the end of your post, you can type some sort of "test" or a smiley face or something to make sure you have shut off all your tags.  If you have succeeded, then your "test" or smiley face will show up in the plain ol' default text aligned to the left side of the post when you preview.
 
 

Well, I think that's enough for this workshop.

Some additional links:
HTML Tag Quick Reference Guide
Coop's Color Chart
Hype's Color Specifier
 
 

What should we cover next?
I was thinking something along the lines of you & your computer effeciency:  clearing your cache, clearing your history, using the clipboard, etc. Maybe the next HTML workshop (two weeks away) would be something like image tags (graphics), links to other pages and email addresses.

I would love to get input from you!   What would you like to learn?  What would you like to teach?
 
 

Best Wishes,
Starie Eyes