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lex-ington · Wed Jul 28, 2004 7:46 am

I know many of you have a personal web site. Which program did you use to create it (free or purchased)??

I want to create my own site(just basic) with an FTP section for certain people (if that's possible). I have the space already - just 5mb supplied by my ISP but I don't intend to go crazy with it.

Intended use:
1. a portal for my siblings to access FTP files (if possible).
2. a way for me to link my pictures with TR forums so I can finally post some.

3. a way forpeople to learn more about the bahamas from a bahamian viewpoint.

Thanks All :wink:

DreadCthulhu · Wed Jul 28, 2004 8:27 am

Use notepad, and just write out the raw HTML. It works quite well for simple pages.

lex-ington · Wed Jul 28, 2004 8:50 am

I know nothing about programming languages - especially web languages. That's why I am looking for an easy-to-use program (other than Front Page or Word) that has templates that I can just modify to fit my needs or that is easy to build a web site from the ground up.

etilena · Wed Jul 28, 2004 8:57 am

Maybe you could try the editor that comes with Mozilla (used to be Netscape Composer). That should be easy enough for you to use, although the code is hardly efficient.

Personally prefer to just use a text editor to write raw XHTML and CSS coding.

JdL · Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:24 am

Hey lex-ington, sorry these guys aren't much help.

But they've got a point: it's all about the code. You'll realize that as you go along, so let me make some recommendations on getting started:

I've been where you are, so I know how it is as a beginner. The first thing you should look for is a What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get (WYSIWYG) editor, which is basically a program that allows you to put together pages without knowing much--if anything--about code. Some examples are:

--> Macromedia Dreamweaver
--> Microsoft Frontpage
--> Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
--> Adobe GoLive

I personally use Dreamweaver to make HTML pages. It's extremely easy to use and enables you to develop quality Web pages very quickly. It's so easy, in fact, that I actually find myself creating emails or other documents in it from time to time.

The best thing about Dreamweaver is the fact that it allows you to create pages and see the code side-by-side. This is important because you can learn about the code while you develop the pages.

The fact is, you're going to need to learn code when you do start creating pages. To be effective, you'll probably even have to take your knowledge a step beyond HTML, to the kind of code that is run on the server side, such as PHP, ASP.NET, or JSP.

Probably the best place to learn about Web technology is SitePoint (http://www.sitepoint.com). They have tons of tutorials and possibly the largest, most serious community (the forums) for Web development.

I hope this helps!

lex-ington · Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:35 am

THANK YOU JDL!!

I'll look into Dreamweaver as soon as I get home.

etilena · Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:01 am

Heh, Dreamweaver is a very good tool, but it's not free. For a 5mb site, your ISP is only going to provide you with very basic HTML access. There is no PHP, ASP or CGI to begin with.

I'd still say stick with Netscape Composer first and learn the basics. Dreamweaver is overkill for your needs. If you're really interested, you can download Dreamweaver and trial it first.

lex-ington · Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:18 am

I'll look at both of them.

Next up - Since I have WarFTPDaemon installed as my Ftp server, do I have to hyperlink that program to a spot on the website itself?

I was playing aroundwith Front Page on the weekend and uploaded a trial site here. As you can see, I have a lot of work to do - including finding a way to get my pics to work.

Ragnar Dan · Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:31 am

Nice looking beach. Where is it? (If Bahamas, where exactly?)

lex-ington · Wed Jul 28, 2004 1:04 pm

That is at the eastern end of Lucaya on Grand Bahama (Freeport). That was just one of the pics I wanted to link to for the Pics thread.

Ragnar Dan · Wed Jul 28, 2004 5:15 pm

Looks very pleasant and relaxing. I'm a bit surprised there appears to be no hotels or anything in the shot (though I can't tell for sure what's on the right edge in the far distance).

zapgirl · Wed Jul 28, 2004 5:27 pm

Nice site! just to let u know all the picture file unable to load...or maybe u still working on it

....i'm sort of building one of my own right now...i'm using dreamweaver abit mixer of frontpage and sort of free misc programs outhere...basically flash mx the most i use.

lex-ington · Wed Jul 28, 2004 5:48 pm

Ragnar Dan wrote:
Looks very pleasant and relaxing. I'm a bit surprised there appears to be no hotels or anything in the shot (though I can't tell for sure what's on the right edge in the far distance).

Actually, there is nothing around that beach for about 5 miles in all directions. That end of the island doesn't have much people.

Zapgirl, I'm still working on that site. I have a long way to go. I have no idea why any of the links won't show - and that was done using Front Page in Office XP. I'll see what I can cook up tonight. I just downloaded Mozilla 1.7.

IntelMole · Wed Jul 28, 2004 5:48 pm

I've created a couple of sites using a trial version of HoTMetaL. Never bought it because I never had the money, being too young and unemployed at the time, and having since "grown out" of making webpages...

But it was excellent for what I wanted it for, and pretty cheap to buy, to boot :-D

,
-Mole

zapgirl · Wed Jul 28, 2004 5:55 pm

lex-ington wrote:
Zapgirl, I'm still working on that site. I have a long way to go. I have no idea why any of the links won't show - and that was done using Front Page in Office XP. I'll see what I can cook up tonight. I just downloaded Mozilla 1.7.

i know...i know...i thought just to let u know

...i havent start mine pages yet...right now i just busy designing my flash ...oh maybe u want to check the root of ur source...it happened to me before.

have fun

etilena · Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:21 pm

With regards to the picture links. You need to understand how your site structure works.

Using your site as an example

http://www3.sympatico.ca/albert009/

Assuming that is your root directory, say you put images in a directory called 'images'. Say you put a test.jpg in the folder 'images', linking it in HTML would like this.

<img src="images/test.jpg" />

So the actual URL this will point to when you page loads is

http://www3.sympatico.ca/albert009/images/test.jpg

I don't think this is a very good way of explaining it, but if you still have any queries, just ask.

liquidsquid · Thu Jul 29, 2004 7:42 am

I'm lazy, I let a guy at work who does this all day design mine. I probably could have myself, as I can code and was heavily into art, but I just didn't feel like farting around. The cheapest and best software is having someone else do it for you! :lol:

All I have to do is maintain it.

-LS

lex-ington · Thu Jul 29, 2004 8:16 am

etilena wrote:
With regards to the picture links. You need to understand how your site structure works.

Using your site as an example

http://www3.sympatico.ca/albert009/

Assuming that is your root directory, say you put images in a directory called 'images'. Say you put a test.jpg in the folder 'images', linking it in HTML would like this.
Code: Select all
<img src="images/test.jpg" />
So the actual URL this will point to when you page loads is

http://www3.sympatico.ca/albert009/images/test.jpg

I don't think this is a very good way of explaining it, but if you still have any queries, just ask.

That is a very clear way of explaining it. I have quite a bit of linking problems but at least the Tech Report link works (and the weather link). It's Caribanna up here in T.O. this weekend so I highly doubt I will be paying much attention to that site this weekend. I will have to give it some work tonight as regards to the pictures. I'll try it exactly how you have it coded and see what happens.

Mozilla composer was quite easy to use. I just edited the file started in Front Page. I didn't realize I had to update the main HTML file - then update the index file as well. Is there a way to update all at one time with the same changes?

Thanks for all the help so far

Fogg · Thu Jul 29, 2004 8:29 am

I like Namo Web editor

http://www.namo.com/products/webeditor/

This is very easy to use and it is what I used when I made my web page you can check it out here

http://www.littleshadyacres.com

and it has a demo and the price is not so steep.[/url]

etilena · Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:09 am

Personally frown on the code generated by Frontpage, as well as some of the scripts it produces. Some of the stuff, like your hit counter will only work if your site was hosted on a Windows server. Animated text effects generated by Frontpage that fly in and out will only run on IE :evil:

.

Regarding updating all your pages in one go, what do you mean by that? I know that Dreamweaver can update links in your pages if you rename a file.

lex-ington · Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:35 am

etilena wrote:
Regarding updating all your pages in one go, what do you mean by that? I know that Dreamweaver can update links in your pages if you rename a file.

That's what I'm talking about. With Front Page and Mozilla Composer (maybe) If I change a link in the photo.html file - I have to manually change the same link in the index.html file as well or it won't work.

The way my ISP wants me upload my files is to upload all HTML files used with the website and any pictures used in the website as well.

etilena · Thu Jul 29, 2004 10:14 am

Yeah, that's how it should work.

Heh, can't really think of any solution for you other than Dreamweaver. Best is if you planned your site out before you coded it, that would save you some trouble.

There's another solution using serverside includes, but that's beyond the capacity of your server.

lex-ington · Thu Jul 29, 2004 12:07 pm

any thoughts on the FTP-access side of things?? like how i can link to the main program and have users login and download/upload files?

Jon · Thu Jul 29, 2004 12:14 pm

NVU is pretty good, it's kind of like Homesite but free and opensource.

MindlessOath · Sat Jul 31, 2004 11:23 pm

you can read my thread on "You have a choice" mabe it will help you out on things such as portal/CMS choices.

http://forums.dathorn.com/showthread.php?t=780

enjoy. and i usually use dreamweaver or notepad, and photoshop.

Grumpy_Eel · Sat Jul 31, 2004 11:31 pm

I personally use Dreamweaver to make HTML pages. It's extremely easy to use and enables you to develop quality Web pages very quickly. It's so easy, in fact, that I actually find myself creating emails or other documents in it from time to time.

The best thing about Dreamweaver is the fact that it allows you to create pages and see the code side-by-side. This is important because you can learn about the code while you develop the pages.

I also reccomend dreamweaver, to me its as simplistic as frontpage, plus you get to see the code update itself as you drag pictures, change bgcolor, etc, which is cool.

aristheo · Sun Aug 01, 2004 3:03 am

first of all, it's good to learn code. that way, you can troubleshoot your page if it looks different in IE compared to Mozilla or Opera. html isn't really that hard. go to http://www.w3schools.com to learn more.

the editor that i recommend is Homesite. it's a more advance tool but i think it's one of the best out there. it works well with Dreamweaver too.

If you wanted to have your users upload pictures, you can go to http://www.doteasy.com and sign up for the ultra hosting account. they have a premade php application that lets you and your users to upload pictures and stuff. it's not free but you won't have to code much for what you want to do since it's already premade.

lex-ington · Tue Aug 03, 2004 7:31 am

Thanks for all the replies. :wink:

I downloaded the Dreamweaver trial on the weekend. My sister flew in from Cali for Caribana on the weekend and gave me a copy of FrontPage 2003 so I'll be giving those two a good run this week. All I have to do now is find some good, clear tutorials to use for both of them.

As regards the purpose of the FTP part fo my site - I have some CAD files that I would like to share with the rest of my siblings for business purposes and would really like to keep those files on my computer only. I understand that it may be easier to host them somewhere else, but I would feel alot safer knowing that those files are just with me.

At least most of the links work! :oops:

lex-ington · Sat Aug 07, 2004 11:09 pm

I now have ALL links working and an actual photo section. I posted one of those pics in the image thread in the back porch.

There are only 2 problems left:

1. Getting all the links to display themselves on the main screen.

2, Getting an FTP (or some sort of file transfer section) set-up on the main page.

Any ideas/suggestions are more than welcome. If you want to take a look at what I am referring to, check here.

I am currently using Front Page 2003 to do the web stuff. I have Labor Day weekend dedicated to really taking a good look at Dreamweaver.

zapgirl · Sun Aug 08, 2004 12:35 pm

i'm learning to make flash on help.com ...its fun ..if u interested ...u can sign up for the online course

i visited ur site...all ur images unable to load on my IE....i checked ur title image link ...it shown me "index.htm_cmp_sky010_bnr.gif" ...if i were u ...i definitely will get rid of the " . "

have fun and good luck

talking about homepage i still havent start mine yet

Edit: just a suggestion...why not put the link to open in a new window instead of loading from ur homepage

<a target="_blank" href="yahoo.com">Yahoo</a>

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