Page Contents - Required Programs
| Initially Required | HTML editor also called Web editor or Web authoring editor |
| Graphic Program | Required to Create amend or Optimise grahics for the Web |
| Required to View your Web Pages | Web browsers |
| Required to upload your Web Pages to the Web | Modem or ADSL Router Internet Service Supplier ( ISP ) Hosting service |
| Required for safety | Anti Virus |
| Additional Help | Books |
Initially Required
Editor
You are ready to start to write your own web page as soon as you get a modern day because web pages are only text files and a text editor is already provided with the computer.
- Windows PC use Notepad
- Mac Computer use TextEdit
Using such text editors is hard workand a better approach is to obtain a proper Web Editor.
For easy learning you need a What you see is what you get (WYSIWYGpronownced wiz-ee-wig) to be able to view 2 things:
- The Code View usually called Source Code, or something similar. This is the code behind the web page.
- The Design View A simulation of the finished result.
In this tutorial, suitable for complete beginners, we will give instructions for 2 editors but other editors are suitable if they easily allow the above 2 views to be seen.
The 2 Editors are:
- The best editor available, Dreamweaver from adobe. Please note this is available as a stand alone program ar can be purchased in achoice of 3 packages of programes. Adobe also offer up to 80% off the normal price for students, including OU students. More information Dreamweaver, Creative Suites & or Student discount
- KompZer a free Web editor available to download from http://kompozer.net/
Web Browsers
Web browsers are programs that display web pages. The
files that are displayed can either be on your hard drive
or can be downloaded by the browser from the Internet.
Because you are reading this page you probably already
know that that you can download this page by entering
the following URL into your browsers Location:
box.
http://www.tutorials4u/html/editors.htm
Files on your hard disk can also be displayed. Often when you are surfing the web the page displayed on your screen was downloaded on a previous visit to that web site and stored in a cache on your hard drive. The stored cache page is displayed, a much quicker method for the browser to perform. For students visiting their Universities web site to obtain the latest course information can be fooled by this cashed display.
To avoid this possible problem, either:
- Make use of the browsers Refresh (IE) or Reload (Netscape) button.
- Change the settings in your browser, to always download, although this will slow your browsing experience.
You will soon learn how different browsers will display a web page differently. The HTML that works in one browser will not work in another. It is therefore essential when you are testing the appearance of your web pages that you do so in various web browsers, the main ones are listed below.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
IE used to by far the most popular web browser, accounting for approx. 80% of all traffic on the web.
Obtain the latest version
Firefox
Now Firefox has taken over the lead from Internet Explorer especially amogst Web designers
Opera
Claims to be the fastest browser in the world. Good W3C compliance.
http://www.opera.com/download/
Amaya
Latest version 5.1. The official browser and authoring tool of the W3C. Excellent for debugging for non compliance. Terrible user interface.
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/ Home page
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/Amaya.html overview
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/User/BinDist.html Download
http://www.w3.org/Amaya/User/Manual.html Manual
Internet Service Supplier (ISP)
An Internet service providers (ISP) is required, who will provide you with access to the Internet. This is nowadays normally broadband
Program
The ISP usually provide you with a front end program that will connect you to the ISP.
The computer operating system such as Windows 98 has built in programs that can do this, possibly faster than that provided by the ISP. Although usually the setup is not as easy as the program supplied by the ISP.
Bundled packages
You can obtain bundled packages that include telephone, broadband and with some operators additional TV programs
Costs
There are 2 main costs with surfing the web. ISP charges, and possible telephone charges.
ISP charges
You can now find ISP that do not charge a monthly fee. They will provide you with a telephone number that is the equivalent of a BT local call. Check on this. The ISP will bill you for calls to this number rather than BT.
Other ISP will charge a monthly fee. Usually connection speed and the service provided are better with a pay ISP.
Help charges
A free ISP usually provide help via premium charge telephone lines, these can be expensive, such as £1 a minute.
A pay ISP usually provide a free help service. Do check the small print.
Telephone Charges
It is possible that you may be charged for your telephone time but now this is unusual
All Inclusive
Some ISP charge an all inclusive fee a month and provide you with a free telephone number to connect to them. I use AOL who charge £14.99 a month for this service. This is cheaper for me than local calls via the minute.
Hosting Service
After careful consideration of the hosting market this
site is hosted by 1&1 Click the link for details.
A hosting service allows you to store your web pages on their server. When you first obtain a service it will probably be as a shared hosting. This is where numerous Web sites are shared on one server.
This service may be provided free or you may have to pay. Note that some free site have a bad reputation. If your site becomes commercially viable you may find that you have lost copyright of your material, to the service. Read the small print, before accepting the service.
If you wish to use your own Domain name, such as tutorials4u.com you will have to pay for web hosting.
Many ISPs provide a hosting service.
You may require your hosting service to provide some extensions so that your web site can be enhanced. Such as:
- FrontPage extensions
- Server side scripting.
- Active Server Page (ASP).
- Common Gateway Interface (CGI).
- Database support.
- Multimedia streaming.
Not all hosting services can provide these extras, or may charge for the service.
Some hosting services charge for bandwidth. The busier the site the more you pay. Usually measured in GB a month, with possible individual daily maximum totals for downloads. This is often done with "Adult" sites. An alternative way of dealing with large bandwidths without paying extra is that the site works very slowly and may grind to a halt. For the general run of the mill personal site, this is not a problem, but if you think you will have a winner of a website, then you will have to look further into this possible problem.
Anti Virus & Firewalls
A firewall prevents unauthorised access to your computer through the ports that connect you to the Internet or network. A firewall can be hardware, usually used by businesses, or software used by home users. If you are using the Internet then a firewall is a must.
Kaspersky
Kaspersky is one of the best security programs available
ZoneAlarm
Free to use for personal use
An excellent free to use for personal use. Simple to use with fairly basic configuration options.
If you wish to check ZoneAlarms log files then an analysis tool such as Zonelog is required.
Norton Personal Firewall
Price
Guide £29.99
B00005OB54
Simple to set up with 3 levels of protection. Experienced users can use a more flexible set of rules. Will protect against potentially risky Active X or Java components.
Check for the latest price and additional information with Amazon.
Routers & Modem
A Fast broadband connection is made via a router, slowwer modems are now rarely used.
A modem converts digital signals used by a computer to analogue signals that can be transmitted along telephone lines.
If your computer does not have a built in modem, modems are available:
- On a card that can be placed into a slot inside your computer case.
- As a PC card typically for notebooks with a PC card connection.
- As an external box that plugs into one of the computer ports.
Speed
Many factors alter the speed of your Internet connection.- Do not purchase a modem of less than 56K. The speed of the modem is crucial in the speed of your connection.
- Connect the modem with as short a cable as possible to the telephone wall socket.
- The quality of your telephone connection. Have a word with BT to check the line, and if required increase the gain. Be persistent they always say the line is OK.
- If you have telephone extensions around the house, speed is sometimes improved if the other telephones, answer machines etc. are unplugged.
- The amount of traffic on the Internet during the UK evening and night (American day and evening) times are the worst.
Alternatives
- If you are in a cable area you may have alternatives available.
- Newer telephone services such as ISDN.
- T1 connections
