HTML help (off topic)

[brennser]

I know some of you are techies so was hoping you could point me in the right direction.
 
 I need to build a website. Nothing fancy - what I'd like is an intro page with 7 or 8 tabs along the left hand side that would lead to other pages.
 
 Are there good books/online resources you can recommend for this kind of thing? Also should I use a program like Frontpage or just code myself in a text file. Do html editors help you takje shortcuts etc.
 
 Thanks

[ratioci nation]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0321130073/qid=1074180812//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i0_xgl14/002-2259524-7119220?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
 
 
 Whatever you do, don't use frontpage, if you do use something, use Dreamweaver.  But the best way to learn is to code yourself in a text editor.  Then you can use dreamweaver in combination with handcoding.

[redsock]

I agree with Pollard, never ever use Front Page. Such a garbage program.
 
 I was a tech idiot, but picked up dreamweaver pretty quick, and with the help of a friend, I have learned how to work with some code too.

Not to play devil's advocate, but FRONTPAGE!
 
 BTW, Thanks for the "Off Topic" warning.  You're so considerate.  Gold star.

[chaz]

Try googling phrases like "HTML Code"  and "Free HTML code" and you'll find tons of stuff to help you build your site....forms and tricks and all sorts of shortcuts.  I use frontpage here at work because it's what we have - I work for a non-profit and Microsoft gave us a bunch of free shit and as those of you in the non-profit world know, we don't always use what's good, just what's free.  I've learned how to tolerate it and it's certainly better than it used to be but I'd never to out and pay for it.  It mangles up your code pretty good.  I don't really hate it anymore though....I've just learned to live with it I guess.  Knowing a fair amount of HTML definately helps with FrontPage though....

[vansmack]

Because it's important for me to disagree with Pollard on tech issues at all times, I prefer the newer versions of frontpage (XP or 2003) for small 6-7 page web sites.  The old Frontpage was garbage though.  
 
 Dreamweaver is a great program too, however I don't feel as though it's worth paying twice as much (DW is $400 and FP is $200).  The truth is I use a lot of the HTML editors, but I recommend FP to most beginners as they are more likely to use/need Wizards and help and the platform is the same as they are used to using in MS Office.  
 
 He is correct that it helps to learn how to hand code.  I taught myself about 10 years ago using one of the "Teach Yourself HTML in 24 Hours" books.  
 
 There are also a lot of free HTML Lesson web sites available throughout the web.  I recommend http://www.w3Schools.com because it starts at the beginning and goes a long way past that should you really get into it.  Most importnatly, it's free.  You may also want to try www.techsoup.org, where I and others I know personally have authored many articles about choosing software and hardware inexpensively.

[redsock]

Originally posted by vansmack:
  Because it's important for me to disagree with Pollard on tech issues at all times, I prefer the newer versions of frontpage (XP or 2003) for small 6-7 page web sites.  The old Frontpage was garbage though.  
 
 Dreamweaver is a great program too, however I don't feel as though it's worth paying twice as much (DW is $400 and FP is $200).  The truth is I use a lot of the HTML editors, but I recommend FP to most beginners as they are more likely to use/need Wizards and help and the platform is the same as they are used to using in MS Office.  
 
 He is correct that it helps to learn how to hand code.  I taught myself about 10 years ago using one of the "Teach Yourself HTML in 24 Hours" books.  
 
 There are also a lot of free HTML Lesson web sites available throughout the web.  I recommend  http://www.w3Schools.com  because it starts at the beginning and goes a long way past that should you really get into it.  Most importnatly, it's free.  You may also want to try www.techsoup.org, where I and others I know personally have authored many articles about choosing software and hardware inexpensively.

Or you could just get Dreamweaver for free... (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)

[ratioci nation]

I wasn't recommending he PAY for dreamweaver  

[brennser]

Thanks guys - this is all good stuff and I appreciate it.
 
 Another question - hosting? any preferences/suggestions?
 
 someone told me you should have at least two hosts in case one goes down?

[ratioci nation]

Originally posted by brennser:
  at least two hosts in case one goes down?

seems like definite overkill, how important is the site
 
 check out www.crystaltech.com

[ratioci nation]

can also check out www.chicagowebs.com, although I have had some small problems with them lately
 
 I would advise against Interland

[vansmack]

Originally posted by pollard:
   

Originally posted by brennser:
  at least two hosts in case one goes down?

seems like definite overkill, [/b]

Definitely Overkill.

[brennser]

seems like definite overkill, how important is the site
 

would be a site for a small business - no ecommerce or anything like that but you'd still want a very high probability that if someone went to it they'd get there

[ratioci nation]

Originally posted by brennser:
 would be a site for a small business - no ecommerce or anything like that but you'd still want a very high probability that if someone went to it they'd get there

there is no need for 2, there are very few outages, and if your host has a lot of outages you should switch hosts, I did once have a 3 day outage but it was a fluke, when there are outages, most hosts have them fixed quickly

[vansmack]

Originally posted by brennser:
  would be a site for a small business - no ecommerce or anything like that but you'd still want a very high probability that if someone went to it they'd get there

Most of my DC clients are hosted  by IIS (http://www.trueserver.com) in NoVa.
 
 I have had a great 6 year relationship with them and they have rarely been down (we're talking minutes, not hours or days).  They run mirrored hard drives to prevent any long periods of downtime.