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T-21.com's  DO-IT-YOURSELF  (DIY) Flexible Support Helps You Build Your Own Web Sites With Invaluable, Instant Reference Resources.

THE BASICS OF WEB PAGES.

A Web Page consists of a long series of detailed computer program instructions, telling a Web Browser (like the one you're using) how to actually build and display the visual page that you see.   Any Web Page, similar to this one, is not a single picture.   

It works like this:

• A Web Page is created, locally, as a Computer Program File, plus other files, such as pictures.
   

• It's then uploaded and stored on a Server (computer), connected to the Internet.
   

• To see the Page, you connect to the Internet and your Browser calls for that Page from the Server (pages usually consist of a set of files).
   

• Your PC downloads the program and other  files from the Server and stores them in memory.
   

• Your Browser executes the programming instructions in the file, to "build" a Web Page image on your screen, close to what the programmer intended.*
   
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* DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY BROWSERS INTERPRET AND EXECUTE THE PROGRAMMING IN A DOWNLOADED WEB PAGE CAUSE IT TO LOOK SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IN VARIOUS BROWSERS.

  

CREATE  A  SIMPLE  WEB  PAGE - EXERCISE.

HTML (Hyper-Text Markup Language)  is the basic computer programming language of the Internet (although there are many others, for specific purposes).   Following is a very simple exercise to help you see HTML in action:

1.  Open the Text Editor program that came with your computer.  (In Windows, it's called Notepad and is usually found by navigating to:  Start >> Programs >> Accessories).   Find this program and open it.

2.  Copy the light-blue instructions in the box, below, by locating your cursor to the left of the  first blue character at the top of the box (<),  then left-clicking once with your mouse.   Next - scroll down to the bottom of the box, to the end of the blue characters.
 

 
3.  Now, press-and-hold-down your [SHIFT] Key and left-click once - immediately after the last character in the box (>);  this will highlight all the program instructions in the box.   (Then, release both keys.)

4.  Next, simultaneously press-and-hold-down the [CTRL] Key and press the [C] Key once - then release both keys (this will copy the sample program, above, into your PC's memory).

5.  Now, go back to the Text Editor program (Notepad, etc.) and click once in the open text area.   Then, press and hold down the [CTRL] Key and press the [V] Key once.   (Release both keys; this will paste the program into your Text Editor).

6.  While still in your Text Editor program, click File >> Save As - and enter the file name as: samplepage.html  - then browse to a place on your PC that you can easily find later  (e.g. -  My Documents  in Windows) and click:  Save.   (Close the Text Editor program.)

7.  Now, start another instance of your Browser, while leaving this version of your browser open, by just clicking the browser's icon (don't close this browser window).   Another instance of the browser screen image will appear.   When it does, immediately click the "STOP" symbol near the top of the screen.

8.  Finally, in that new instance of your browser (#7 above) - open the file you just created, samplepage.html  (usually done in most browsers by clicking: "File"  then "Open" (or "Open File") and browsing to the place on your PC, where you just saved the file (in #6, above).   Voila!   A simple color web page created from the instructions above. 

NOTE:   After viewing this sample Web Page, Close the new instance of the browser to return to this page.
 

 
Look at the amount of programming (in the box above) it took to display that super-simple page.   That's a lot of coding for a simple display!   "Why," you may ask, "is there so much of it?"   The short answer is:  it's a computer program. 
 

Now, look at the programming required to produce the simple page you're now viewing.   Follow one of the two steps below:
 

• In Microsoft Internet Explorer™  - click "VIEW" at the top of the page and select "SOURCE" in the drop-down menu.
    

• In Mozilla Firefox™  - right-click the middle of this page, then select "VIEW PAGE SOURCE" or select "VIEW" from top menu, then select "PAGE SOURCE".
   

Scroll down the entire program listing for this page in the small window;  close the window, when finished.

That's a lot of programming for something as simple as this, isn't it?    Yet, in many cases, due to other Web technologies not used on this Web Page - you may be seeing only a fraction of the total programming for the page.

This gives you a general idea of how much programming it takes to display a Web Page.   And, remember - the success of Web Sites isn't just in the programming.   To display an effective Web Page takes considerable  Skill,  Knowledge and  Experience  in a number of disciplines. 
 

More Below . . .

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HAND  CODING WEB PAGES.

Hand coding is just typing all the detailed program commands, like those in the box above, to create a Web page.   You must enter each and every item specification (color, location, font, and so-on).   It's usually complicated and tedious for most people, but some enjoy it.   Like it or hate it - HTML is the foundation of the Internet.   If you hand-code, you must learn HTML and other programming languages, as well.

This process takes  Time,  Knowledge,  Skill, and a lot of Typing, as you've seen in the simple demonstrations above.   If you think that you want to hand-code Web pages - you can try it out,  with no cash outlay, by learning HTML and using the Text Editor program that came with your PC (like Notepad) and a free Web Host on the Internet.   If you like it, you can add time saving commercial programs later.

T-21 is not discouraging you from creating web pages by hand.   There may be something satisfying about hand coding a page.   But, before you start, you should know what's involved and that it's tedious and time-consuming for many people.   If you decide to do it, T-21's Resources can help.
 
 

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RESOURCES  FOR  HAND-CODERS.  

T-21 provides help for the hand coder and for those who want to try it.   Our new, upgraded Web Building Resources can help you learn to create and troubleshoot Web Pages.  [See Upgrade-Note at Page Top.]

Writing program instructions is a tiny fraction of building a successful Web Site.   If you want to create an effective Web Site, there is a tremendous amount of knowledge that you must acquire about:  Effective Writing,  Design,  Page Layout,  Color Schemes,  Browsers (capabilities and eccentricities),  Page Navigation,  Languages,  Search Engines, and more.   T-21 can help.
 

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DEFINITION OF  WYSIWYG.  

The acronym, "WYSIWYG", stands for "What You See Is What You Get."   These are computer programs that do most of the lengthy program coding for you, by working a bit like a Word Processor for the Internet.   There a number of programs available; simple versions are free.   On a non-complex Web Page, you just  type text in,  format and color it,  paste in pictures, and  save the file.   The program creates all of that interminable programming code (HTML) for you - and often contains other time saving features.   The resulting file can be published to the Internet and most browsers will open, execute, and display these files more-or-less as intended.

"Aha!" you're saying, "that's what I want.   Why'd you waste all of that time on HTML?"   We did it to show you "what makes a Web page tick."   Now you'll appreciate these programs, because they're easy and fast.   If your objective is to have the Web Site focus on your message, rather than learn the technicalities of Web building, this method may be for you.
 

Pro's and Con's of WYSIWYG.   All of these programs make building a basic Web Page many times faster than Hand-Coding.   Many of them cost money and take time to learn.   Some people contend that automated coding quality may not equal that of an expert hand coder and some programs have an extensive learning curve for advanced features.

Also, when using these, it's wise to know some HTML, since these programs don't always do everything 100% correctly and may require hand correction;  or you may want to do something that the program isn't equipped to do.

Interestingly, these programs can be great teachers of HTML;  just enter something into it, look at the HTML code produced, and learn how it's done.
 

Cost-Effectiveness.   If you're going to create only one Web Site, it's probably not worth the learning curve and expense to do it yourself.   It's usually more cost-effective to have one built for you by a quality Web Builder, like T-21, that does it day-in and day-out.

The Whole Process.   Also, remember that just typing and pasting-in a few things don't automatically make a great Web page.   Novice efforts are instantly obvious on the Internet, regardless of the tools used to create them.    A quality, effective Web Site takes knowledge of:  Design,  Colors,  Navigation,  Graphics,  Problem Solving,  Other Web Languages,  Library Routines,  and a lot more.   The deeper you get into it, the more you'll realize how much you still need to know.   For more about Web Design, click:  Web Site Design History & Criteria.

Moving Ahead.   If you want to create your own Web pages, initially try a WYSIWYG program - preferably one that is simple and free, to see if you like the process.   If you want to continue building Web pages yourself, we suggest that you purchase a commercial program, to help you learn.   Also, it's advisable to join online groups in your interest area.   Later, if you want to hand-code - you still have the option.

T-21 Can Help.   Our new, upgraded D-I-Y Resources will help you at every step of the Web Building process.   Each resource contains thousands of quick, How-To Tips and Links to other Web Sites for in-depth explanation of particular subjects.   This inexpensive T-21 Web Building Resource has all subjects indexed alphabetically, for instant answers.   No other company comes close to providing the power of this resource at such a low price.   [See:  Upgrade Notice  at Page Top.]
 

Before you buy anything, take the initial steps above, then give the whole issue some thought.   Decide if you really want to dedicate the time to build your own Web Site  or  have T-21 do it for you.

If you value your time and need to spend it on other work - having T-21 build your Web Site is far less expensive.   If going the  Do-It-Yourself  route fascinates you - do it.   T-21 will support you with the resources you need.
 

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Page Updated:   4/2008

 
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