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HTML
September 11, 1999
Graham Hill
Have you ever thought about creating you own web page? It is easier that you may think, and can be learned at home by anyone with some patience, creativity, and basic computer skills.
The possibilities of a basic HTML knowledge are virtually limitless, as anyone can gain a global voice through the Internet.
As many Internet users already know, HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the relatively simple programming language used throughout the World Wide Web.
The basics of HTML consist of ten or fifteen "tags," which can be learned without much difficulty and inserted between text.
While numerous HTML programs are available, Notepad-the program preferred by many advanced webmasters-is all that is necessary.
With a fundamental knowledge of HTML under you belt, you can begin conceptualizing your ideas. In this stage, creativity and planning are your most important tools. Your projects couple include a web page pertaining to any personal interest or hobby. You could display your personal writing, photographs or artwork, or just make a simple homepage.
Once you have finished your creation, the next step is finding a web host. Most Internet Service Providers (such as Execulink) include web space with their Internet accounts.
Between five and ten Megs are usually allocated, providing more than enough space for most pages.
Companies such as Geocities offer free web hosting, but you must display their advertisements. Uploading your project is the last step, and can be accomplished with an FTP program such as CuteFTP and WS-FTP. This process involves connecting to your web host and uploading your web page, so it can be viewed on the Internet.
Your Internet address, or URL, will vary on your user name and web host. Further instructions on this process are available from any ISPs.
As your projects increase in complexity, you may wish to purchase web page creation software such as Front Page or Adobe Pagemill. Graphic editing programs are also available for purchase or download on the Internet.
For more information on HTML, visit your library and take out one of many books on the subject, or take a look on the Internet.
Check out these sites for beginners:
http://davesite.com/webstation/html/
http://www.htmlprimer.com
http://www.execulink.com/webpage.html
http://www.quadzilla.com
http://www.advhtml.com
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