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Hi Folks,
A bit tangential this but I want to deepen my skills in web development and publication. In terms of ability I would say I was just above novice. I have lots of bits of understanding but need to draw it altogether into an understood whole. What I am hoping is that some of you who are obviously very talented in this area can recommend any books, publications, online training, distance learning or college courses for my level.
I did attend a course at my local school some years ago for Front Page but the tutoring was abismal so I am a bit wary of college courses unless someone knows different these days. I have to say that the tutor was a local lady using the school to host courses and the Front page she used was a different issue than on the school computers which led to much confusion.
I do not want to go down this road anyway of templated websites necessarily.
Your response would be appreciated.
Laurence
Re: Creating and Uploading Websites?
These days there are so many “off-the-shelf” sites that it’s a wonder that many people bother to design their own. Fine if you have the time to devote to it, as well as learning how to do stuff from scratch as well as producing the content that is required to drive a site.
In all honesty though if you’re serious about designing from scratch I’d suggest using Macromedia’s Dreamweaver. Whilst it’s not hte easiest to learn it is very comprehensive and templates for your site are readily available all over the web, both free and paid for.
As for learning, I find the best way is to do. 😉
You can follow through tutorials and various lessons with most packages, any of the major ones you’ll also get books to help from the likes of Amazon or PC World which can be a great reference if nothing else. If you don’t require any accreditation thenthis is the path I’d suggest as it’s cheaper and faster. However much depends on how far you want to go with it and there’s so much to learn these days.
Currently I’m having a look at multi-media stuff, like Flash and other little bits and bobs.
Steer clear of Front Page though, it really isn’t that good. 😉
K.
Re: Creating and Uploading Websites?
kwatt wrote:Steer clear of Front Page though, it really isn’t that good. 😉
I agree, but I managed to create my websites using M/S Frontpage 2000 and (modesty permitting 🙄 ) don’t look too bad a result, and pulls in the punters nicely too 😆
However, some web hosts take issue with the uploading of Front page created stuff (something about ‘Extensions?’ or some such rubbish, I don’t understand nor care ‘cos mine uploads OK 😕 )
It is good fun creating your own website and there indeed is a lot of cheap software and built-in packages available everywhere these days. It’s a good learning curve as well, but can consume hours of your time if my experience is anything to go by ❓
Re: Creating and Uploading Websites?
The best method by far is to write it yourself using HTML or XHTML and CSS (cascading style sheets) but As K says, this is also the most difficult way (although HTML is NOT difficult – it’s just difficult compared with using so-called off the shelf packages) The problem with off the shelf packages is that they can be all very samey, and the code is usually not too search engine friendly and often only works well in Internet explorer.
It depends whether you just want a web presence you can link to, or to put on your advertisements, or whether you want people to be able to find you on Google and other search engines – not by searching for you – but by searching for a repairman etc and finding you because you’ve put so much work and effort into your site. The latter requires much dedication to achieve though
Dreamweaver is awesome , but Homesite (also owned by Macromedia now) is excellent too and much cheaper.
There are many free HTML tutorials online.
Books I can recommend are
The complete reference web design by Thomas A Powel
Designing with web standards by Jeffrey Zeldman
Eric Meyer on CSS, mastering the language of web design by Eric MeyerI also agree with K on Frontpage. MS don’t like their stuff to work on non Internet Explorer sites – yet many millions of people do not use Internet Explorer
Re: Creating and Uploading Websites?
Martin wrote:However, some web hosts take issue with the uploading of Front page created stuff (something about ‘Extensions?’ or some such rubbish, I don’t understand nor care ‘cos mine uploads OK 😕 )
Front Page extensions are used for all the nifty bits for FP, like feedback forms, drop down, list etc. etc.
What often happens is that someone will design a site in FP only to find that some of the neater things that they’ve worked hard at don’t work on upload as the extensions are amiss. Of course the hosting company hae to have a particular set of features installed, which require a license from MS, hence you tens to find that only the bigger ones support it and even some of them steer clear.
However, from the first site I ever did, I can assure you that the lack of the function/s that you want to use in pure HTML form from FP is an absolutely soul destroying moment when you learn this without me, or someone, telling you that in advance. 😕
K.
Re: Creating and Uploading Websites?
kwatt wrote:…I’d suggest using Macromedia’s Dreamweaver. Whilst it’s not hte easiest to learn…
Not hte easiest to learn!!!!!!! :haier:
Dreamweaver near drove me to insanity. Luckily I found a program called ‘swish 2’ which has the tag-line ‘flash made easy.’
And that’s what it is. Dreamweaver, but not too hard to learn. I’m sure dreamerweaver is great, but after two days of trying to learn it, it was thinking very evil thoughts.
Swish 2!!! 😉
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