TIGERX.COM Library: Hyper Text Markup Language

Hyper Text Markup Language

(HTML Design)

HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is one of the growing number of languages used to create websites. There are other languages such as ASP (Automatic Server Programming which only works on Microsoft Servers), Java, CGI, Shock as well as others.
HTML is the most basic, probably the easiest, and no special software is needed for the viewer or visitor of your website. It will most likely be around for as long as websites themselves are around, indefinitely.
There are dozens of HTML Editors out on the market (a program that is used to create and edit web pages). They can cost anywhere from nothing to over $100 US. Some of those we tested were Microsoft Frontpage, Adobe PageMill (both PC and Mac versions), Hot Dog, Claris Home Page, Netscape Gold Editor, AOL Press 1.2.3 and AOL Press 2.0. We found AOL Press 1.2.3 to be the best out of all of them (including AOL Press 2.0), whats more is, it is free and downloadable at www.aolpress.com -- the only task AOL Press 1.2.3 will not perform is frames. For frames you will need AOL 2.0.
AOL Press also acts like a web browser. Something we could not find on most other HTML editors, on the Adobe Page Mill for the Mac and PC we had to click on an icon to launch a browser in order to view it. This slows you down and makes editing hard. With AOL Press, you can test your links to be sure they are accurate and lead to the correct page or website.
The functions listed below apply to most HTML editors and even many Windows application programs. However, this section specifically covers the interface (toolbars) of AOL Press 1.2.3.
CTRL + Letter Key Functions These shortcuts will allow you to execute basic functions that are helpful in a quick way rather than pointing and clicking at the icons on the top of the screen or using the pull-down menus. It is very beneficial to remember these few basic CTRL + Key functions:
CTRL + A = Hightlight All items (icons, text and/or graphics) on a page
CTRL + C = Copy highlighted items (text, graphics or icons)
CTRL + N = New page
CTRL + O = Open page
CTRL + P = Print page
CTRL + S = Save page
CTRL + V = Paste highlighted and copied items
CTRL + X = Cut highlighted items (text, graphics or icons)
CTRL + Z = Undo last change made
Familiar Icons for the Tool Bar Setting up the icons you most commonly use is easy. Simply open a new (CTRL + N) or existing web page (CTRL + O). Click on the pull down menu labeled TOOLS (this is the grey text bar above the icons but below the blue heading at the top of the page). Go down to the last option and select PREFERENCES. Go down to the last option in that menu to CONFIGURE TOOL BAR. Now you can select each item you think you might use most by holding the CTRL key while simulteanously pointing and clicking on those items with your mouse to select those you want to appear on the tool bar. This can be altered at any time.
Page/Folder with Arrow Up Open document (also executed by CTRL + O)
Page/Folder with Arrow Down Save file (also executed by CTRL + S)
Page/Folder with Arrow Down & 2 Documents Save file as a different page
Scissors Cut selected text or graphics (also executed by CTRL + X)
2 White Sheets Copy selected text or graphics (also executed by CTRL + C)
Clipboard/White Sheet Paste selected text or graphics (also executed by CTRL + V)
Black Chain Links Highlight selected text or graphic and link to another page or website, you will need to type the http:// in front of the address (www.whatever.com) in order for it to work.
Broken Black Chain Links Unlink selected text or graphics
Mountain/Sun Icon Used for inserting graphics, icons or photos
Anchor Used for anchoring to a section of a web page that acts like a hyperlink
Straight Line Creates a rule or line in your document for separating information
B for bolding text
I for italicising text
P to make bold or italics font plain
A+ to make font lettering larger
A- to make font lettering smaller
Color Chart select to customize a color on a particular font
Lines to Left flushes text or images left
Lines to Right flushes text or images right
Lines Even on Both Sides flushes text or images on both sides
Lines Centered centers all text or images
Page with Colored Lines This is the most primary layout of a web page. This allows you to globally change the font/text color, background color, link color and visited link color. You always want to make the visited link color different from the unvisited link color so your visitors/surfers know if they have been to that page or section before.
Maginfy Glass/Document Sheet allows you to look at the raw HTML tags. These are the plain text coding tags that is the language that actually make up the web page. More experienced HTML desginers use this to fine tune their design and alter font faces.
Other Resources for HTML Design & Editing
Blank Autoload Homepage Template - Basic layout with links to copy and experiment with.
Color Chart for Web Designers - Codes to colors will show up on the web as they appear
HTML Tips - For webmasters and webmistresses
Usable HTML Web Fonts - Creative fonts that give your website glitz without heavy graphics

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