General Design Considerations 4
Resources
What are resources
Resources are the things that enable you to create a web site. Under this heading come the programmes that you use, the books, magazines and other tutorials that you use to learn how to write a web site and courses that you may attend. The subjects to be covered by these teaching resources must include HTML and graphical design together with Javascript, Cascading Style Sheets and an understanding of some of the other languages involved. See also the Appendix.
Programmes
Browsers
Do not limit yourself to one browser. Out there, people are going to be using many different browsers in several different versions. Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox and Opera are the most popular. Google Chrome is the new kid on the block. Browsers do not always react the same way to a given piece of HTML or Javascript code. (See Traps for the unwary).
As an internet surfer, you will have a default browser. Do not restrict yourself to just that one. Have some others on your computer and try them on your web site, both from your hard drive and from your ISP.
Text editor
Windows notepad is a text editor and can be used to write a web site: word processors are not suitable as they include their own incompatible mark-up languages. Indeed, I wrote most of the first edition of my web site using Notepad. It has three drawbacks as far as I am concerned. There is no spell checker (a vital feature if your web site is to be seen as being credible) and it can only handle one file at a time. It also uses a typeface in one color; the default font being courier (a typewriter-like font).Towards the end of writing your web site, you will find some feature that needs to be added to each of your pages. To use an editor that allows you to move from one page to another with 'cut', 'copy' and 'paste' buttons is a great advantage. Even better is a feature that lets you make changes to group pages without them being open. You will not get your template page right first time!
HTML Checker
There are a number of these programmes around. Some tell you what is wrong with your page, while others correct your page. One of the snags with the former is that one omission can create a large number of reportable 'faults'. A snag with the latter is that it puts corrections in automatically and you don't necessarily learn from your mistakes. A question of paying your money and making your choice. At least with the shareware system, you can 'try before you buy'.
FTP programmes
FTP or file transfer protocol programmes enable you to upload your site as easily as if you were dragging a file from one folder to another.
There is, however, anther program out that enables you to update your web site with one click of your mouse.
Again, there are a number of these programmes available and it is up to you to try them and choose one that suits you.
Search engine submission programmes
Finally, you will want to promote your site. These programmes enable you to do so with far less effort.
Learning resources
If you live in one of the bigger towns, you should be able to find an evening class on web design. If not, then try the internet. Start with 'pagetutor.com'. Apart from the on-line tutorial pages there is a downloadable version. It is written in a clear style and gives an excellent introduction to the mysteries of HTML. The two updates that must be mentioned in conjunction with this tutorial: All tags and most attributes must use lower-case, and tags which do not have a closing tag must be made self-closing, e.g.<br />.
It also covers an introduction to Javascript, a mark-up language which enables you to add a number of 'bells and whistles' to your site. Finally, books and magazines: these, of course, will vary from country to country, but do look for those which advise you both on the overall designs as well as the means to achieve them.
