Question re: creating a website

[tc]

I work for an attorney, family law, sole practioner. She has a high opinion of my computer skills. Mainly because I was able to figure out Quickbooks after 3 years, I can post on an Internet Board (i.e. the Dis) and I can do fairly quick research. She has decided that she needs a wedsite where potential clients can contact us via e-mail, find her rates, her experience and areas of practice. She seems to think this is something I can do. I don't. My knowledge of computers and the Internet are far below the knowledge needed to create a website. Does anyone know if this can be learned from books, or should I take a course? She's not looking for anything complicated, but a presence on the web.

Any direction would be greatly appreciated.

 

[floridaminnie]

There is software out there now that makes it REALLY easy. I'm a microsoft girl, so I would reccomend Publishing.

 

[Rajah]

Yep, it can be learned entirely from books and websites.

A good web resource to beginning HTML design is www.webmonkey.com

What kind of tools do you have available for making a website or can you get? If you're starting out, a WYSIWYG editor like Front Page or Dreamweaver are good to use. If you can't get those (or something similar) you'll need to learn the actual HTML, which really isn't that complex. You can do complex things with it, but hte HTML itself is very basic (compared to other programming/markup languages anyway). You can do basic HTML with nothing more than notepad.

One thing to stay away from -- do NOT use Word's Save As HTML feature. If you do, your web page won't work on at least hafl the browsers out there.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[d.kurz]

You could definitely learn it from a book, tc. But I took a basic HTML class at a Community college and I could create a basic site after the course. There's also a lot of info on the web and I am sure a whole lot more folks here that know more than I do!!

 

[tc]

So, I can go to Office Depot and get software that will help me create it? I would do a lot better with software than a book.

Rajah, just your explanation confused me. I have heard of HTML, but really don't know what it is. I think I'll start serching for some software.

Any other suggestions on what software is good?

 

[SoonerKate]

tc, HTML is just the code used to write webpages. If you look at any webpage and go to View ---> Source on your menu bar, the text that pops up will be the HTML code for the site.

If I were you, I would look into a class. HTML is very easy to learn, and with a class you can get any extra help that you'd need or want. Check at a community college or Vo-Tech, maybe even a community center in your town might offer something.

As for programs, Microsoft Frontpage is good, and very easy to learn if you're familiar with Word or really any of the Microsoft programs. It's kind of expensive, though.

 

[Jamieb]

It all depends on what kind of site she is looking at hosting. First bet would be to stop by a book store and browse over a few books.

I started with FrontPage many years ago but migrated to Dreamweaver a couple of years ago and have never looked back. Dreamweaver, in my opinion, offers a lot more then FrontPage and has the ability to add more features through extensions, many of which are free to be downloaded. It also writes cleaner code/markup then FrontPage.

The one thing to note is, Dreamweaver is much more expensive then FrontPage.

You may want to look at some template sites as well, where you can get a semi-prepackaged site and modifiy it for your specific needs.

If you need any specific help, pm me and I can go into further details.

 

[tc]

Thanks so much for all your help. I will go to the library and bookstore and see what I find. Jamieb, I'm sure I'll be pm'ing you soon. Thanks again.

Anymore suggestions are always welcome.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Originally posted by tc
Rajah, just your explanation confused me. I have heard of HTML, but really don't know what it is. I think I'll start serching for some software.

Any other suggestions on what software is good?

Kelli,

Now you're in my world!

The reason Rajah confused you is because it's confusing. HTML, http, ftp, and others are simply acronyms for confusing phrases us computer geeks created to scare the crap out of laymen so they'd stay away from the Internet. Somewhere in the mid-90's, that plan became a failure. Yet somehow we're still stuck with these things, along with Java, Shockwave, CGI, and other assorted UBS.

My suggestion is there are two phrases, and two phrases only, you should keep in mind. Number one is KISS, the old "keep it simple, sweetie." (Note, I consider stupid a politically incorrect term, unless I'm talking about people I don't like). The second, which already appeared here, is WYSIWYG. That's an acronym we can all live with, and it means "What you see is what you get." You need a WYSIWYG program, or else you need to enroll in about six months of HTML classes.

Assuming you wish to go the former path, I'd suggest MS Frontpage for your software. It's not great, but it's good, and whether one likes it or not, Bill Gates owns us, use Microsoft programs when at all posible.

As for books, you'll find stacks of them. And they all talk about HTML, http, ftp, CGI, et al. None of them EXPLAIN it, and the ones that do explain the entire process from the beginning. It can drive a layman batty. I'm fairly sure I'll live a shorter time because I actually felt the need to learn full HTML code. It deteriorated part of my brain. And I never made a cent off it. I would highly suggest going to Walmart and buying a copy of MS Frontpage, then going to Daltons (or your discounter of choice) and getting "HTML for Dummies." You'll find it in the computer section, and it's just what it sounds like. The series in general, but this book in specific, is good for telling you what to know AND what you don't need to know. They'll tell you "this is what HTML stands for, this is it's brief history, but don't read further if you don't want to, you don't need to know this."

Some simple principles about business pages: Make ‘em neat, make ‘em uncluttered, put the information your clients need right where it needs to be, and don't put anything else up there.

Hope that helps. May I be forgiven if I've confused you further, for while the Internet is a great place, it's back-end is a scary place unless your idea of fun is rewiring your own motherboard.

Obviously your getting, and will continue to get a myriad of opinions. I've chosen mine as quick, down, and dirty. Any questions?

Pat

 

[Gone Disney]

HI TC,

I agree with the other poster who mentioned DW. I began with Frontpage and quickly threw it out the window. I would suggest using a Free WYSIWYG for now then once you get a better understanding of the basics go to DW. It's costly but I think it's worth it. I've done a few and would be happy to help you if you have questions. I'll dig out my list of links in a bit and send them to you.


Patti