Windows XP How to set up a web site?

floppybootstomp

floppybootstomp

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I may be OK when it comes to overclocking and making a machine work well but when it comes to software, I'm a slow learner.

My question is simple: How do I set up a website?

I'd like to set up a site and host photos and stuff, but haven't the first faintest clue how to.

Do I need to learn HTML? Will it cost me?

I'm using AOL (stop laughing!) and they have a service that says I can create a web site but I'm wary that it's not actually 'the real mcCoy'.

Anyways, in this area I'm a complete newbie. Any advice, info, links to good (free?) hosters would be apreciated.

It took me some considerable courage to post this, but I'm keen to learn, this is one area I've never approached. All advice gratefully recieved :D
 
Hello Flopps

Normally I would say, "start with your ISP" but as you are using AOHell we may have to look elsewhere. :D

Learning HTML is not as hard as you may think and there are plenty of "how-to's" around the web.

Start off with paper & pencil, sketch out a rough design, view the source code of websites you like to see how they did it, then I would suggest getting to grips with something like Dreamweaver.

Dreamweaver can be quite intuitive give it a trial. Try to leave Frontpage alone, it writes bad code.

As for hosting your site, I can highly recommend www.alwayswebhosting.com ... ;)
 
Dam ... I have a better Idea, I can host it myself and give you full access. You will still have to design your site though.

PM me if your interested.
 
hehe - I use frontpage Mucks ;) I admit, it can write a little sloppy code, but once tidied its ok!

Designing your site is easy enough if you can use programs like Powerpoint/Word/Published - as it is along similar lines. Uploading can be straight forward if you know how to use an FTP client? If not me and Mucks will guide you through :D (An idea for an article!)
 
Thanks for the replies :) I still a little confused but thinking about it. I recall I have a 'write your own web page' programme somewhere, came as a Magazine freebie CD a year or so ago. I'll have to dig it out and let you know what it is and which version.

I'll be back! :D
 
Should have me hands on a copy of Dreamweaver 2/Fireworks by the end of the week so as Arnie says, I'll be back :D
 
You're a good man Mucks... ;)

This is something I've been meaning to do for a long time, but have held off. Only way to do it - jump in the deep end and sink or swim :D
 
Use dreamweaver - very easy and powerful to use. All you need is a simple HTML page to bring up the pictures and annotate them I'm guessing? Dreamweaver, frontpage, etc can all do that. If you fancy getting your teeth into some simple HTML though, I have HTML 4 for dummies and it's quite useful. I think I'll have a stab at my webpage soon ;)

You need a few things to access your website:
FTP program (like cuteFTP) to upload files to the internet server.
Editor / HTML book to create a page to be read by browsers.

Once those are working you should be able to muddle through... :D
 
kristel

Thanks for the encouragement in getting Flopps interested.

Dreamweaver comes with everything you need, including its own FTP program. It also has an excellent 'tutorial' where you go through individual 'lessons' to building your own site.

Mucks. :D
 
Ooooh..... I remember now... yes it does.

To be honest my fave FTP program came free with the internet access CD from Breathe.... I keep that program on now, even though I have moved to broadband!
 
If you want some ideas check out http://coolhomepages.com as they have some really amazing designs. Also if you look hard enough and are lazy, then you can find free templates which you just copy and add your own content. Very quick to do! You could also get someone to do it for you cheaply in a contest. PM me if you want me to recommend the site for that.

As for getting a host. I'm not going to recommend one as I'm bias but i suggest you make sure you have a control panel! This will make uploading much easier and everything to do with your site easier.

-Peter
 
Whew. Thanks for all the advice and pointers all.

I now have Dreamweaver 4.0 & Fireworks 4.0 installed.

I notice there is other stuff related to those programmes I should maybe load on as well.

As Mucks mentioned, I noted there is actuallly a tutorial that lasts one to two hours. Blimey.

It also recommends I print the manual out to follow the tutorial with. So I shall. Now, when I find me's a spare few hours I shall go through this tutorial and hopefully something in my grey matter will stir.

Please bear in mind I am a complete and utter newbie when it comes to this and I have not a single clue.

But, erm, all you guys are here for help, right?

I gotta be honest about this, main reason I want a website is that I found one of those old school friend sites and blow me there was about 30 to 40 people listed there that I knew. So I figured it would be a nice idea to host old photos and give a link to them.

So at least I got some incentive :D
 
So where is the link to Your new site!!!!?

Did ya use any of my Pics???

I own the copyrites,ya know:D :D :D ;)
 
Nowt yet. Haven't had the time to be honest. Lots of things moving here, things in progress. I'm gonna have to give it at least a few more weeks.

That's just the way it goes sometimes... :(
 
ohmigawd :crazy:

this is a bit like when somebody you ain't seen in years turns up at the doorstep unexpectedly :D

well, I still haven't done anything, but I'm on broadband now and have 50MB of web space with the account, so I'm definitely thinking I'll be tackling this one real soon

like, maybe by Christmas :)
 
I haven't read this whole thread so if i'm repeating any earlier comments...sorry, but what can I do about that? Here's my take on web design...(I'm sure I'll get complaints)...

1. A PC user might use Frontpage, but a Mac-user probably would prefer to spike their eyes with hot needles than use it. Dreamweaver is a real design tool for the web, and favoured among Mac-users, while Frontapage is ok if you want pretty basic layouts. Dreamweaver works seamlessly with all the other Macromedia design tools, while Frontpage is fine if you want your web page to work well with Microsoft Office tools. (I know, I know....I'm keeping this crude)

2. Frontpage and Dreamweaver are simply packages that are supposed to code the HTML for you...so theoretically you don't need to know HTML. However, having a basic grasp of HTML is always handy so that you can work out why Frontpage or dreamweaver has interpreted something incorrectly. Frontpage is not as good as Dreamweaver at interpreting HTML.

3. The best way of learning about HTML is to buy a very simple 'Idiots Guide' or similar and then actually going into random web pages and going to the 'Source' option in the 'View' menu in your IE bar at the top of the page (or the equivalent if u use a different browser). Then u can see the HTML code for the page your looking at and you can start getting an idea of structure etc.

4. There are other cheaper, or free web-creation packages that can be used to create perfectly good pages...a cover disk on .net magazine usually has at least one.

5. A quick and dirty 'cheat' is to go to a site like 'Blogger.com' and use one of their templates, or simply copy the code for a template you like and replicate it as your own web page.

6. The best wep pages open quickly on any browser, on low-end and high-end machines and have content that's worth reading. Content and loading times are more important than graphic design if u want people to come back. If you want to simply set up an 'About me/Diary' type page (a weblog) then I would recommend 'Blogger.com'...it does everything for you and costs nothing. :D
 
Thanks for your thoughts 1nteger, they're welcomed.

I have both Dreamweaver and Office XP with Front Page, but frankly it's finding the time and inclination to sit down and work it all out that I'm lacking atm.

I only became aware of blogger recently, what an odd concept. As if the average person would be interested in reading the daily shenanigans of joe nobody.

Not for me, I feel.
 
definately go dreamweaver.
If your lucky you can pick up the accademic version cheap :-)
Try ebay maybe?

Sell your soul or something coz even though it costs a bit its definately worth it. Or get the 30 day trial and work nonstop til its done lol
 
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