•
•
•
•
•
•
Most have heard of it. But what is it exactly?
HTML is a computer language devised to allow website creation. These
websites can then be viewed by anyone else connected to the Internet. It is
relatively easy to learn, with the basics being accessible to most people in
one sitting; and quite powerful in what it allows you to create. It is
constantly undergoing revision and evolution to meet the demands and
requirements of the growing Internet audience under the direction of the »
W3C, the organization charged with designing and maintaining the
language.
The definition of HTML is HyperText Markup Language.
HyperText is the method by which you move around on the web — by
clicking on special text called hyperlinks which bring you to the next page.
The fact that it is hyper just means it is not linear — i.e. you can go to any
place on the Internet whenever you want by clicking on links — there is no
set order to do things in.
Markup is what HTML tags do to the text inside them. They mark it as a
certain type of text (italicised text, for example).
HTML is a Language, as it has code-words and syntax like any other
language.
• An HTML editor is a software application
for creating web pages. Although the
HTML markup of a web page can be
written with any text editor
• Purchase vs Free
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Web Hosting or 'Hosting' is a service provided by a vendor which offers a physical
location for the storage of web pages and files. Think of a Web Hosting Company as
a type of landlord, they rent physical space on their servers allowing webpages to be
viewed on the Internet.
2.1 What is a Web Server?
Generally used in reference to the computer hardware that provides World Wide Web
services on the Internet, a Web server includes the hardware, operating system,
server software, TCP/IP protocols and the Web site content. Web servers process
requests from Browsers for web pages and serves them up via HTTP.
2.2 What is HTTP?
HyperText Transfer Protocol - the underlying protocol used by the World Wide Web.
HTTP defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and what action Web
servers and browsers should take in response to various commands. For example,
when you enter a URL in your browser, this actually sends an HTTP command to the
Web server directing it to fetch and transmit the requested Web page.
2.3 What is a Domain Name?
An addressing construct used for identifying and locating computers on the Internet.
Domain names provide a system of easy-to-remember Internet addresses, which can
be translated by the Domain Name System (DNS) into the numeric addresses
(Internet Protocol (IP) numbers) used by a network. (CoffeeCup.com is a domain
name as is Google.com)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
2.4 What is an IP Address?
Every computer connected to the Internet must have a unique address known as an
IP (Internet Protocol) address. The IP address is a numeric address written as a set
of four numbers separated by dots, for example 64.149.219.213. The address
provides a unique identification of a computer and the network it belongs to.
2.5 What does URL stand for?
Uniform Resource Locator - the global address of documents and other resources on
the World Wide Web. The first part of the address indicates what protocol to use, and
the second part specifies the IP address or the domain name where the resource is
located. http://www.coffeecup.com/ is the URL for CoffeeCup Software.
2.6 What does DNS stand for?
Domain Name System - a system of mapping names to IP addresses. Because
domain names are alphabetic, they're easier for humans to remember. The Internet,
however, is really based on IP addresses. Every time you use a domain name, DNS
translates the name into the corresponding IP address. It is similar to a phonebook
for the Internet.
2.7 What does FTP stand for?
File Transfer Protocol - Allows the transfer of one or more files from one computer to
another across the Internet. Usually from a personal computer to a Server or vice
versa.
• 2.8 What is Uploading?
• Uploading - Is the transferring of files from your local computer to a
remote computer, usually a server.
• 2.9 What is Downloading
• Downloading - Is the transferring of files from a remote computer to
your local computer.
• 2.13 What is a CGI Service
• CGI stands for Common Gateway Interface. CGI provides a method
to interface a computer program with an HTML page. CGI programs
can be written to do many different things, which includes: counting
visitors to your web site; processing data obtained from online
forms; and creating simple animations. If you want any of these
features it is essential that your host includes a CGI Service usually
in the form of a CGI-bin.
• Create and layout your ideas on paper if
needed
• Start with colors and background
• Title and corresponding pages
– Name of site
– What info you want on each page
– Balance your content. Don’t clutter page
– Make it flow
•
•
•
•
Watch your Copyrights
Know your usage limits
2.14 What is Bandwidth?
Bandwidth in respect to hosting, is the amount of
information that can be transferred from the server to a
Browser. Hosts usually limit the amount of bandwidth a
user has available per month. As an example, if you had
a file on your site that was 1mb and you had 1Gb of
bandwidth, users could download the file 1000 total
times.
• 2.15 What is Disk Space?
• Disk Space - the total physical amount of hard drive
space a host allows a user to have.
• Java & Flash
– Can make website look cool.
– Menu animations
– Little Cartoons
• Most have received a HTML email. But
how is it done?
• Similar to website creation
– Best to use a HTML editor
– Save in separate directory
– Try to limit photos and photo size
– Do not use anything fancy
• Java, Flash, Style Sheets, Roll Overs, etc
– Test several times
• Numerous of emails sent from a personal
email can raise flags with certain providers
• May want to use a special email service
for mass emails
• Use a grouping setup from yahoo or
google, where people have to subscribe.
• Test with various email providers; use coworkers or friends as testees.
• Writing like a spammer
– The subject lines are IN ALL CAPS, letters are highlighted bright
red or bright blue, they SCREAM by using lots! of! exclamation!
points!!!! and they use phrases like, "hottest, best, click now!
limited time only!, and act now!" Don't be like that. Keep your
subject lines brief and to the point. Keep your content relevant.
Don't try to use gimmicky catch phrases.
• Only using images
– Some people design an email in Photoshop, then "Export to
HTML." That just generates a big graphic! The problem with this
is that spam filters can't read emails that are nothing but giant
graphics. When they encounter an email they can't read, they
block it. Always include some kind of "computer-readable" text in
your email. And don't just make it your "unsubscribe" copy.
• Sending nothing but a big, giant graphic as your HTML email.
– First of all, that's what spammers do. They send a giant graphic, hoping
to trick spam filters (see, spam filters need to read text in order to
determine if a message is spam). But the spam filters have caught on to
this. You can send HTML emails with nice, big graphics. But always
include some text in the message, as a backup. Assume people won't
be able to see your images. What would you want them to read there,
instead?
• Trying to send HTML email campaigns with Outlook or Outlook
Express
– Outlook won't send your email in "multipart-alternative" format. Multipart
format means that an HTML email is sent with a plain-text alternative
embedded along with it. That way, if someone's email application can't
read HTML email, the plain-text version displays instead. Also, Outlook
will send all your images along as attachments, which won't always
work.