HTML and Web Design
One of the first things you will do as part of creating your Internet presence is to design your web site
content. We have compiled several links to on-line resources which will be helpful for the HTML novice and
the expert web designer alike. If you come across a resource that you have found to be quite valuable,
contact our Webmasters your link suggestion. We welcome your
input and suggestions.
HTML References
On-line HTML references are an excellent resource for beginners as well as a convenient reference for more experienced
developers. The following links comprise a small list of HTML references:
- Authoring: HTML Basics
- This page at the WebMonkey site begins with an Intro To HTML Tutorial as well as many others.
- HTML Help by The Web Design Group
- Features a Style Guide, Standards for HTML Authoring, An Introduction to Frames, a Guide to Accessibility, a discussion of Document Types and the WDG DTD, Image Tips, and a handy list of RGB Color Codes.
- Introduction to HTML - UTIRC
- An excellent presentation of HTML as well as other elements of web authoring. The index on this site makes finding information very simple.
- View Source
- The best way to learn HTML is by viewing the source of documents created by someone else. If you see something you like, view the source and see how it was done (but please honor any copyright notifications that you encounter).
HTML Style Guides and Design Tips
You may or may not want to become acquainted with some style guides that exist out on the net.... or break the rules and
create your own style guide!
- Creating Killer Web Sites
- A good site offering design tips for Web Designers. There is a corresponding book "Creating Killer Web Sites" that you can find at your local bookstore. A very good site (and book) that offers creative suggestions for your site.
- Web Pages That Suck
- As the saying goes, one of the best ways to learn a craft thoroughly is to learn not only its central tenets but also its pitfalls. Web Pages That Suck teach you good Web design by pointing out ugly, misguided, and confusing sites -- any site that fails to deliver good graphics, and clear, well-focused content.
- Yahoo's directory of Design and Layout
- A few dozen links that describe people's personal taste on HTML design and layout -- not to be taken religiously.
HTML Books
There a number of HTML reference books available (more than we could list here). The following books are highly recommended and are regularly used by the Webmaster.
- The Non-Designer's Web Book, 2nd Edition
- Author: Williams " Tollett
Publisher: Peachpit Press
If you think web site design is beyond your reach, or if you want your existing web site to look more professional, this is the book you need!
- HTML Sourcebook, 4th Edition
- Author: Ian S. Graham
Publisher: John Wiley " Sons, Inc.
This is one of the best HTML books available. It's complete presentation of HTML includes a good deal of information about HTTP and the Common Gateway Interface (CGI). An overview of this book is available at the Wiley Website. You should have this book or the O'Reilly book (below) on your bookshelf.
- HTML: The Definitive Guide, 3rd Edition
- Author: Chuck Musciano " Bill Kennedy
Publisher: O'Reilly and Associates, Inc.
O'Reilly has a great reputation and produces excellent books on a variety of topics - O'Reilly's HTML book is no exception. This complete guide is full of examples, sample code, and contains an excellent index.
Other Useful Books
As your web page design grows more complex, you may find you will need to add dynamic content and CGI scripts. The following books should help you expand your expertise.
- Dynamic HTML: The Definitive Reference
- Author: Danny Goodman
Publisher: O'Reilly and Associates, Inc.
After you have some basic Web page creation experience, you may want to jump into the world of dynamic content. O'Reilly's Dynamic HTML book covers the various standards and the latest versions of style sheets, browser document objects, and JavaScript objects.
- JaveScript: The Definitive Guide, 3rd edition
- Author: David Flanagan
Publisher: O'Reilly and Associates, Inc.
JavaScript is an HTML extension that embeds programming-language capability right into your web pages. O'Reilly's JavaScript book is an excellent resource that is thoroughly researched and well written.
- Learning Perl, 2nd edition
- Author: Randal L. Schwartz & Tom Christiansen
Publisher: O'Reilly and Associates, Inc.
If you are thinking about doing any kind of Perl CGI programming in conjunction with the development of your web site, then O'Reilly's Learning Perl book is a must-have. This perl book is more like a hands-on tutorial and includes a lengthly chapter on CGI programming.
HTML Editors/Tools
There are numerous graphical tools available to help you construct your web pages. Links to several HTML editor programs and HTML editor directories are provided.
- Stroud's List - Windows 95/NT HTML Editors
- A fairly good presentation of some of today's more popular HTML editors. Reviews and ratings are provided as well as links to vendor sites and evaluation versions.
- Yahoo's List of Editors
- A somewhat hodge-podge collection of HTML editors ... not as comprehensive or as well organized as the UTIRC site.
- View Source
- The single most valuable tool that you will have at your disposal is the "View Source" capability of your web browser. If your Web browser does not offer a "View Source" command, you should strongly consider changing browsers - we suggest the latest verion of Firefox.
- Popular Graphical Editors
- NetObjects Fusion, Adobe GoLive, Macromedia HomeSite, Adobe Dreamweaver
This is only a small sample of Web publisher programs. You can find additional programs by typing "HTML editor" into any good search engine.
Webmaster Favorites
Please find below a list of resources that the Webmaster uses more than occasionally. No guarantee of usefulness is attached to this list whatsoever. It is merely provided as a "snapshot" of a suite of tools that the Webmaster finds very useful... your mileage may vary. : )
| Books |
anything by O'Reilly
If you don't have an HTML book, then today after work or during lunch or whenever, you need to go to your favorite bookstore and buy one. Both the HTML books listed above are excellent (I have both, but you only need one). If you are doing any CGI programming (in Perl) then you should probably pick up the "Learning Perl" book. As you learn more about perl and programming, you will want to get the authoritative guide to perl or the "Programming Perl" book. If you are doing any JavaScript programming, get the "O'Reilly JavaScript" book - it is excellent. |
| Editor |
pico
"Pine's message composition editor," is available as a separate stand-alone program, called PICO. PICO
is a very simple and easy-to-use text editor offering paragraph justification, cut/paste, and a spelling checker. " |
| Graphics |
For simple graphics, PaintShop Pro, has more than enough capability and it's shareware so you aren't out hundreds of dollars for just trying it. Out of the box software that performs gif/jpg image compression includes: Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Fireworks. |
| URLs |
Here are a handful of URLs that have stayed in my Bookmark list on a consistent basis:
|
|
