I am assuming at the beginning of these lessons that you know nothing about HTML. I am assuming, however, some computer knowledge. You wouldn't be looking at this page without having some knowledge.
HTML stands for Hyper Text Markup language, and HTML is the base language for publishing on the world wide web.HTML is used to do design the website, laying out the content. HTML is often called loose language as even if you miss a minor mistake it wont cause any havoc. but it is important to always leave no errors and thats what reflects a good programmer or scripter. Scripter are also programmer but they call themselves are called scripters because the use scripting language like JavaScript(by Netscape),PERL,Maya Embedded Language,or JScript(by Microsoft).HTML is very easy to learn and to begin with at present the version of HTML is HTML 4.01.
Let's Get Started
To continue learning HTML, you will need...
1. A computer (obviously)
2. A browser like Mozilla Firefox, Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, or Opera. If you're looking at this page, you already have one. If you look up at the title bar at the very top of your screen it will probably say the page title ("Basic HTML: Introduction") and then your browser's name.
3. A word processor. If you have access to Windows "Notepad" or "WordPad" programs or the MAC "Simple Text" program, use that to get started.
If you have those three things, you can write HTML with the best of them. Now here are a few questions you probably have:
Q. I have a MAC (or PC) -- will this work on my computer?
A. Yes. HTML does not use any specific platform. It works with simple text. More on that in a moment...
Q. Must I be logged onto the Internet to do this? More specifically, will learning this throw my cost for on-line way up?
A. Neither. You will write off-line.
Q. Do I need some sort of expensive program to help me write this?
A. No. You will write using just what I outlined above. You can buy those programs if you'd like, but they're not needed. I've never used one.
Q. Is this going to require I learn a whole new computer language like Basic or Fortran or some other cryptic, God-awful, silly-lookin', gothic extreme gobbledygook?
A. Touchy-touchy, aren't we? "No" is the answer. HTML is not a computer language. Allow me to repeat that in bold... HTML is not a computer language!
What is HTML?
H-T-M-L are initials that stand for HyperText Markup Language (computer people love initials and acronyms -- you'll be talking acronyms ASAP). Let me break it down for you:
Ques.1 Hyper is the opposite of linear. It used to be that computer programs had to move in a linear fashion. This before this, this before this, and so on. HTML does not hold to that pattern and allows the person viewing the World Wide Web page to go anywhere, any time they want.
Ques.2 Text is what you will use. Real, honest to goodness English letters.
Ques.3 Mark up is what you will do. You will write in plain English and then mark up what you wrote. More to come on that in the next Primer.
Ques.4 Language because they needed something that started with "L" to finish HTML and Hypertext Markup Louie didn't flow correctly. Because it's a language, really -- but the language is plain English.
Beginning to Write
You will write the HTML document on the word processor, or Notepad, WordPad, or Simple Text. When you are finished creating the HTML document, you'll then open the document in a browser, like Netscape Navigator. The browser will interpret the HTML commands for you and display the Web page.
When you write to the word processor you will need to follow a few steps:
1. Write the page as you would any other document.
2. When you go to save the document (Here's the trick), ALWAYS choose SAVE AS.
3. When the SAVE AS box pops up, you will need to save the page in a specific format. Look at the SAVE AS dialogue box when it pops up: Usually at the bottom, you find where you will be able to change the file format.
4. If you have a PC, save your document as ASCII TEXT DOS or just TEXT. Either one will work.
5. If you have a MAC, save your document as TEXT.
6. When I started writing HTML, I saved pages by assigning every Web page its own floppy disc. It just helped me keep it all straight, but if you want to save right to your hard drive, do it. I only offer the floppy disc premise as a suggestion.
Please remember: It is very important to choose SAVE AS EVERY time you save your document. If you don't, the program won't save as TEXT, but rather in its default format. In layman's terms -- use SAVE AS or screw up your document.
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