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Creating Effective Web Pages
Creating HTML Documents
and Enhancing Them with
Browser Extensions
HTML & Web Site Management Tools Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) – a nonproprietory markup
language that a Web browser interprets and uses to display the content as a Web page
It is possible to create a Web site, regardless of its complexity, using just Notepad and HTML, but: You must have a thorough understanding of how to write all of
the tags and attributes required to complete the Web site It is better to use popular Web site creation and management
tools Microsoft FrontPage Macromedia Dreamweaver
These programs use a graphical user interface (GUI) to generate the HTML documents required to produce Web pages
Limitations of HTML
Some Web pages include content beyond the capabilities of HTML (static document)
HTML cannot store a graphic but can include a reference to (location of) a graphic file
Other nontext content of a Web page is called by a browser in a similar way An animated graphic Interactive product display Number of times a page has been viewed
Technology to Produce More Complicated Web Pages
Scripting language – programming language executed by a Web browser to extend the functionality of a Web page
Scripting engine – requisite feature of a browser which translates script code into a format the browser can execute
JavaScript – most common (Netscape) Can be learned, but complicated Free scripts are available on many Web sites to
download & install in your Web pages (more complicated ones have to be purchased)
JavaScript JavaScripts available on the Web
The JavaScript Source JavaScript.com
What can you do with these scripts? Display greeting based on time of day, day of week, or a
special occasion Display current date and time or countdown until a specific
date and time (like a holiday or grand opening) Display text scrolling, a drop-down menu of selections, or
animated buttons that change color or display a message when the user points to it or clicks the button
Detect user’s browser version or open a pop-up window with a message
Add simple or scientific calculator
Creating Animated Content Browser Extensions – allow browser to perform
tasks it was not originally designed to perform Three types of browser extensions
Plug-in – a program that is a software extension of a Web browser: can only start from within a browser; not a standalone program stored on your computer
Helper applications - programs installed on user’s computer that browser starts and uses to help display or play a file (spreadsheet, media player, etc.)
Add-ons – tools that enhance your browsing experience, such as 1) toolbars that let you access a search engine without opening its Web site 2) programs that block pop-up ads and other windows from opening when viewing a Web site
Commonly Used Browser Extensions
Macromedia Plug-Ins (1)
Flash Player Viewer is free and works easily with most Web
browsers Lets browser display simple animations, user
interfaces, static graphics, movies, sound, and text created using this program
98% of all internet users have Flash Player on their PCs
Because of its popularity, the latest version of Internet Explorer includes Flash Player
e.g. Coca Cola and BMW
Macromedia Plug-Ins (2)
Shockwave Player Viewer is free and works easily with most Web browsers View animated, three-dimensional interfaces View interactive advertisements and product
demonstrations View multiuser games, streaming CD-quality audio, and
video created by this program Uses streaming technology Very popular to play games and view animated content e.g. Timex and Cornell University
Comparisons Between Flash and Shockwave
Flash is used on a smaller scale, for items such as simple animations with sound and graphics
Shockwave is used for more complex applications, such as playing an interactive game
Flash animations load quickly (smaller files) Flash is simpler to use and learn, and less
expensive to buy Flash is a more widely distributed plug-in Flash is delivered well to various types of mobile
devices
Choosing Image Editing and Illustration Programs
Computer generated graphics come in two basic varieties: Raster graphics – composed of pixels (Microsoft
Paint; Adobe Photoshop; Macromedia Fireworks; Corel Paint Shop) Not possible to create layers of content Are not scalable Image editing programs
Vector graphics – composed of paths (Illustrator; CorelDRAW; and AutoCAD) Scalable Can layer content (best suited for drawing objects) Illustration software (more complicated)
Choosing a Web Hosting Service (1)
Best to choose a Web hosting service or Web presence provider before beginning work on a Web site
Some Web sites are hosted by private (dedicated) Web servers that are managed and maintained by the organization that creates the sites
Other Web sites are hosted by independent ISPs that sell shared and dedicated server space to small and medium-size businesses
Choosing a Web Hosting Service (2) Should evaluate your Web site’s content and goals
and understand the tools that will be needed to create your Web pages
Good idea to create a storyboard or navigation structure
Should determine the type of server needed – your pages may require certain types of processing by the server and the server may not be able to support your needs
Any personal or confidential information collected requires a secure server, which encrypts data Web hosting site will require you to purchase and use a
dedicated server (only one Web site) Must also install a server certificate to prove to users that
the site is actually secure
Choosing a Web Hosting Service (3)
Evaluate amount of storage space your site will require (pictures and videos take-up a lot of space)
Determine bandwidth or data transfer potential to users
Hosting sites charge based on file size limits and daily or monthly data transfer limits – exceed this and fees will be higher or site may not be able to handle your Web site
Ensure host site has the technical support services that you need
Choosing a Web Hosting Service (4)
Use registrar, such as InterNIC, to check availability of proposed domain name – many Web hosting services offer free domain services with an annual service agreement + may provide name renewal service so your domain name does not expire
Inquire about other services offered, such as site statistics, e-mail accounts for the domain name, Web site templates, Web site construction tools database software, etc.
Choosing a Web Hosting Service (5)
Review Web server hosting services: Web Site Hosting Directory Web Hosting Resources
Publishing a Web Site
Moving your Web site to hosting company’s Web server May have to use FTP but some companies include a built-
in FTP interface that is part of your site’s control panel (Web page with all tools to access and manage your Web site)
After publishing, best strategy for maintaining Web site is to make any changes to Web file stored on your PC (local Web site), then move files to the Web server This way you have a back-up of your Web site if something
happens to the remote Web server If you make changes directly to remote Web server, anyone
accessing site may have problems with broken links and other problems
Search Engine Submission and Optimization
Promoting Web site: Be proactive and use <meta> tags (a summary of the
page’s contents that a search engine might include in its search results)
Search engine submission – process of submitting your site’s URL to one or more search engines so they list your site in their indexes
Search engine optimization – process of fine-tuning your site so it ranks well in a search engine’s results when a user searches the Web using your site’s keywords
Web sites Search Engine Watch Meta tag generator