Well im new to this,and i know a person who knows how to do HTML,I of course dont lol,but I was wondering with html can you change the way the sites you make on here look and ect..(put flash in and w/e..)

This post has been edited by miCRoSCoPiC^eaRthLinG: Feb 11 2006, 03:26 PM

Astahost* and I think this topic should be in programming, but I'll leave that up to a mod.

Anywho, HTML is the base language (if you can call it that) that forms a website. EVERYTHING on the web uses HTML and is (usually) enhanced with some sort of server side scripting (PHP, Perl, etc).

Hmm.. reminds me that I should finish up my site which is about this sort of thing.

Just remember, when it comes to your first site, you've got several best friends: Notepad, Google, and Astahost forums.

When you're starting out, I DON'T suggest using any sort of WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor such as FrontPage or DreamWeaver which is not aimed at starters anyway. I started off in Notepad and learned HTML until I felt comfortable. Though I still kind of new to web design, I've made several templates that I have been told look very professional.

It will take a while, just work hard at it! No cheating either with those free WYSIWYG editors! Later on down the road, you'll thank me! I didn't spend as much time in Notepad as I should so my tables always seem to come out "strange", but that's my fault.

Take your time with it and don't worry about your design at first. My first "real" site was an ugly blue background non-standard fonts and looked terrible. You get the hang of it and then it comes natrual and soon, you'll know "right" from "wrong" and you'll get HTML down. Then you can move on to things such as my favorite language: PHP! But that is another topic at a later time.

Good luck with your learning!

[N]F

If you want to spice up your webpages, you can't just use HTML alone and notepad. You'll need pictures. I use Photoshop CS2, Dreamweaver, and Flash. Those three will make your site look professional. I'm just starting at server side scripting, specifically PHP.

I suggest you use photoshop to design a layout and then slice them up into tables or divs and use flash for animation. use server side scripting for guestbooks.

Well, I would say, that as nightfox has said, try learning a bit of HTML, writing most of the code by hand. This, you would require to get the hang of it.

Once you have done that, you design your web pages. Either you do it, or catch hold of a good designer. Overlay the presentation with the content using something like CSS, and you get a good result.

i agree with vyoma, u should learn html first--just the basics. it's easy to learn anyway. a good website for tutorials is htmlgoodies.com

Hahaha. Something I can finally talk about.

Firstly, this should be exactly where it is. He's talking about Web Design and HTML, so it is only fitting that it should remain here.

XHTML - Get it right the first time
People before me have been talking about using HTML. I personally think it is better that one starts with the latest push language - which at the moment is XHTML. It ensures that your code is cleaner and more respectable. Due to this cleanliness, it more often than not, leads to better cross-browser compatibility.

To start learning XHTML, I suggest you go to the the following address:
http://www.w3schools.com/xhtml/default.asp


Comments are a working wonder
When you have started using XHTML, make sure you comment your work throughout, and structured it properly. There is nothing worse, than opening a source code to find mess and tatter. It's hard to read and slows down future developments. Commenting your work also helps, as you know where things are.

To use comments in XHTML use <!-- REPLACE CAPITAL COMMENT WITH YOUR OWN -->
To use comments in CSS use /* REPLACE CAPITAL COMMENT WITH YOUR OWN */


CSS is art, simplified
Many people will tell you that CSS design is a cross-browser, cross-computer efficient approach to design. This is true. Unless you are 100% arrogant. Then it is false. CSS based design can help decrease page load times and efficiently display your stuff. I use CSS based design, along with simple graphics to a good effect. CSS over XHTML formatting is much preferred. For example, stating a font size in XHTML is not the done thing. Therefore, you can control all of that font type with a couple of lines of CSS, and zero-clutter XHTML.

To start learning CSS, I suggest you go to the following address:
http://www.w3schools.com/css/default.asp

Once you have covered that, I then suggest you go to the following address, and read through it properly:
http://www.csszengarden.com


Advanced
After swatting up on XHTML/CSS, you may want to try venturing into feature-rich sites. For example, one good direction is Javascript.

To start learning Javascript, I suggest you go to the following address:
http://www.w3schools.com/js/default.asp


Server Side Scripting
PHP, ASP and the other forms are generall Server Side Scripting. PHP is arguably the better course, depending on your uses. If you are wanting to go professional, then most clients/employers will look to see i f you have any SSS knowledge, and how good that knowledge is.

PHP allows you to create almost anything, from online games, to complete Content Management Systems (CMS).

ASP is generally used for heavy handed things, like Shopping Carts and mass database control.

To start learning PHP, I suggest you go to the following address:
http://www.w3schools.com/php/default.asp
To start learning ASP, I suggest you go to the following address:
http://www.w3schools.com/asp/default.asp


Graphics
As well as using CSS to aid in your design, you may also want to take up the likes of Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. Personally, I use Fireworks, it allows me to powerfully control the aspects of my Ultra Keep It Simple Stupid (UKISS) design. However, it is limited to Bitmap and Filter controls.


REMEMBER: Javascript and Java are two completely different things. Javascript is a scripting language that allows you to do basic controls on web pages. Java is a programming language that allows you to make applications.

I'd like to add a little something to the shindig: Flash. Flash has its time and place. Mainstream websites are not a part of it. Say, for example, you design a website for Re/Max. First thing you do is make a nice, catchy flash splashscreen. Then someone comes along with Dial-Up and they can't even LOAD the splashscreen, let alone get to click the "Skip Intro" button--provided you put one in there. What's that going to say? It's not going to look good for Re/Max. A lot of people still use Dial-Up. Look at the big companies--Dell, Microsoft, HP, Sony. None of them have a flash splashscreen. They may use inline frames with flash, but not very often. They lean more towards providing ALL users with the same level of professionalism. This is especially important when your a national compnay. Take, for example, Australia. High-speed DSL or Cable internet runs around $100/month in a lot of places. So most people have dial-up. Not good for flashsites.

I started to learn HTML from the HTMLGoodies site that was mentioned. Started writing some pages in notepad and learned that way and I'm doing rather well I think. I tried some of those free WYSIWYG programs because I thought it would help me out, but I didn't like it at all, I wasn't learning what I needed to. I'm on my way to learn CSS, now so thank you for the web site Twitch, then on to PHP. I've read what others have said on how to learn but I have my appoach, good or bad as it may be. After PHP, I am going to learn about MySQL.

This topic is one that can be debated on. Some webmasters say that it is not advisable to use WYSIWYG Editors as a beginner. They may have many reasons to do so . I find myself under the latter category. I feel that knowing a programming language like H.T.M.L. (Hyper Text Markup Language) is not required to make a website of any caliber.
I myself started designing my first website on a WYSIWYG Editor .In this you can design your page like you are drawing on paper and it will automatically get decoded into H.T.M.L, you can then sit and study the coding and analyse asto what work each code does. The WYSIWYG Editors that I would recomend are Microsoft Frontpage and Macromedia Dreamweaver. These software in colaboraton with other softwares like Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Fireworks and even Microsoft Paint can be used to design ultimate webpages.
After creating this basic part of a webpage extra-ordinary effects can be added by using programming languages like Javascripts, PHP, ASP, CSS and many more...The same way like HTML need not be learnt to make websites so are Javascripts and the other above mentioned languages. Ready made scripts of these languages are available for free in many websites like :
www.wsabstract.com
www.thefreesite.com
and many more search results can be found on Google. At thefreesite.com any begginer will get all the features that are required for his/her website.Also : additional features like guest book, site search, and member's area are also available on various websites like www.bravenet.com and the like. Now let me tell you the importance of know all the above mentioned programming languages .
Firstly, it increases your knowledge on programming .
Secondly, it lets you be independent : you need not depend on other sites for various features.
Thirdly, it lets your site be free from the forced adds that are put by the websites who privide you with this feature. And even if they put adds for other features you can remove it by HTML commands.
Forthly, it lets you to design it according to your means and fancies instead of choosing from one of their pre-designed templates.
The disadvantage is that you spend more time learning instead of designing your website. I have explained to you the advantages and disadvantages of knowing programming languages. For more queries on this issue you can e-mail me at rohanramanath@gmail.com[size=2][color=#FF0000].
For your information, I am the Dean of Solutions4u[size=2] and am presently re-designing my site. :)
Rohan Ramanath

--------------------------
This topic is one that can be debated on. Some webmasters say that it is not advisable to use WYSIWYG Editors as a beginner. They may have many reasons to do so . I find myself under the latter category. I feel that knowing a programming language like H.T.M.L. (Hyper Text Markup Language) is not required to make a website of any caliber.
I myself started designing my first website on a WYSIWYG Editor .In this you can design your page like you are drawing on paper and it will automatically get decoded into H.T.M.L, you can then sit and study the coding and analyse asto what work each code does. The WYSIWYG Editors that I would recomend are Microsoft Frontpage and Macromedia Dreamweaver. These software in colaboraton with other softwares like Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Fireworks and even Microsoft Paint can be used to design ultimate webpages.
After creating this basic part of a webpage extra-ordinary effects can be added by using programming languages like Javascripts, PHP, ASP, CSS and many more...The same way like HTML need not be learnt to make websites so are Javascripts and the other above mentioned languages. Ready made scripts of these languages are available for free in many websites like :
www.wsabstract.com
www.thefreesite.com
and many more search results can be found on Google. At thefreesite.com any begginer will get all the features that are required for his/her website.Also : additional features like guest book, site search, and member's area are also available on various websites like www.bravenet.com and the like. Now let me tell you the importance of know all the above mentioned programming languages .
Firstly, it increases your knowledge on programming .
Secondly, it lets you be independent : you need not depend on other sites for various features.
Thirdly, it lets your site be free from the forced adds that are put by the websites who privide you with this feature. And even if they put adds for other features you can remove it by HTML commands.
Forthly, it lets you to design it according to your means and fancies instead of choosing from one of their pre-designed templates.
The disadvantage is that you spend more time learning instead of designing your website. I have explained to you the advantages and disadvantages of knowing programming languages. For more queries on this issue you can e-mail me at rohanramanath@gmail.com[size=2][color=#FF0000].
For your information, I am the Dean of Solutions4u[size=2] and am presently re-designing my site.
Rohan Ramanath
----------------------------------

Firstly my friend I would like to tell u that HTML is NOT a programming language as you have mentioned, nor is CSS, practicaly I would suggest using WYSIWYG editors before doing anything else, it gives you more experience. And totally depending on your programming skills is not going to lead you to any where, first thing is that, i don think so that no-one is mad enough to program a set of dum things, where you can get them for free at a cost of few clicks, but you have gotta point just ignoring the point of programing is also not going to lead u anywhere.

What I would like to tell you is that, use a WYSIWYG editor, know programming and u'r site will rock