A copy of this class handout and copies of all the overhead transparencies shown in this class are in Volume 1. Example in this handout: T1 is for overhead transparency no. 1.
See my paper WEB SITE DESIGN, VALIDATION, SUBMISSION AND WEBMASTERING SUMMARY. Also see my WEBMASTERING - FREE TESTS, TIPS & LINKS paper. You may see both of them by accessing link 8. and link 9. at the "CLASS HANDOUTS" below.
See my Red 3-Ring Notebooks, "Genealogy Research on the Web", Volumes 1 and 2.
Additional genealogy information may be found in my other 73 Red 3-Ring Self-Help Notebooks. Most of the Notebooks are located in the Los Angeles Regional Family History Center (LARFHC) next to the entrance to the Microfilm Room in alphabetically order.
The larfhc is located at 10741 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, phone (310) 474-9990 and http://www.larfhc.org/ and the unofficial site at http://www.encinojon.com/larfhc/
See a complete list of my 75 Red 3 Ring Self-Help Notebooks at http://www.larfhc.org/notebooks.htm
• CLASS HANDOUTS
Covered in this class
1. Web Site Design for Beginners Class (this Web Site)
2. HTML Document General Format Structure
3. HTML Document Minimal Clear Format
4. Creating An HTML Document
5. Royalgen Web Site and HTML (don't use the HTML for this HTML)
6. Schweitzer Web Site and HTML (don't use the HTML for this HTML)
7. Bruce Clay Web Site - quality criteria pages
8. Webmastering - Free Tests, Tips And Links (Web Site)
9. Web Site Design, Validation, Submission And Webmastering Summary (Web Site)
Not covered in this class
10. Web Site Design - Intermediate Class (Web Site)
11. Web Site Design - Advanced Class (Web Site)
12. Making Multiple Web Surname Sites
13. Overview about how to place your genealogy database onto a web site
• MAIN CLASS TOPICS
1. ACCESS TO THE WEB
2. WEB SITE DESIGN - STARTING
3. HTML LANGUAGE - BASICS
4. WRITE HTML LANGUAGE
5. TEST/VALIDATE/CORRECT SITE DESIGN - UNLOADED SITE
6. INSTALL WEB SITE ON THE WEB
7. TEST/VALIDATE/CORRECT SITE DESIGN - LOADED SITE
8. PROMOTE WEB SITE
1. ACCESS TO THE WEB
A. World Wide Web System (The Web) (WWW) (3W)
Most public libraries have computers connected to the Web you may use.
B. Web Page Subject Matter
Examples of Genealogy Web sites
Business: The URL or Web address is http://www.encinojon.com/Royalgen/
Personal: http://www.encinojon.com/schweitzer/
Convert your genealogy database to HTML and place on Web site http://www.gentree.com/gentree.html
See the many "convert" programs and sites at http://www.cyndislist.com/construc.htm under "Content" in "2. Plan The Layout And Content Of Your Web Site." T1-2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 3-5, 5.1-5.5
C. Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
Most ISPs offer 1 to 10 Megs of free Web Site space as part of their monthly fee.
See my Web site about Finding And Choosing An ISP at http://www.encinojon.com/isp/
1stNetUSA is $9.50/mo, phone 818-247-3888, http://www.1stnetusa.com/
Free monthly publications that have ISP ads - Computer User and California Technology T6, 8
D. Browsers
A browser is a computer program that allows you use the HTML language that is in your computer or on the Internet to view the Web Site on your computer monitor.
The ISP normally supplies you with a browser and their software.
The most popular browser is Internet Explorer - download it free at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/Search.aspx?displaylang=en for PCs and for MACs.
The 2nd most popular browser is Netscape - download it free at http://browser.netscape.com/ns8/download/default.jsp If you have AOL as an ISP, you should use a newer Netscape or Internet Explorer browser. See the details at the Web site http://www.comstock.com/AOL.htm
A Web Site to download many different browsers is at http://browsercomparison.esmartweb.com/resources/download.htm
You should have at least 2 versions each of Netscape and Explorer browsers installed in your computer. T9.2
E. Search Engines
Use Google, InferenceFind, Dogpile and others from Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet - Search Engines at http://cyndislist.com/search.htm
F. Bookmarks T12-13
2. WEB PAGE DESIGN - STARTING
A. Web Page Design Considerations
Some of the features of the each page should be: attractive, simple, well organized, interesting, use dark against light, few graphics and small file size graphics. Avoid "under construction" signs and frames. T14
B. Look At Other Good Web Sites For Ideas T15
C. Rough Contents
"Content Is King" and the heavy use of the keywords in the body of the site.
See the Genealogical Standards and Guidelines For Publishing Web Pages On The Internet at http://www.ngsgenealogy.org/comstandards.cfm
D. Rough Layout
MACs monitors have a narrower and brighter screen display. Design from the right side of the screen. Design for a lighter screen display if using a MAC so it wouldn't be too dark on a PC.
If you use 17" or more monitors, they show more pixels horizontally than 15" or less monitors. You have to design a narrower screen display on the wider monitors so the display will fit on the screens of the narrower monitors.
E. Final Layout
F. Web Site Construction - Starting
Choose from different methods of construction
Hire a Web site designer.
Use the free "Make your own Webpage" type services at the Web sites of the ISPs. Examples are at AOL at http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/hmtwn123/index.htm?mtbrand=AOL_us and at EarthLink at http://www.earthlink.net/home/tools/clicknbuild/
Use an HTML editor
Do it yourself by writing the HTML language T16-17
G. Helpful Web Site Design Site
The Cyndi's Genealogy Home Page Construction Kit Web site printout is in the Volume 3 Notebook. It is the most comprehensive self-help Web site for constructing a genealogy Web Page. The URL or Web Address is http://www.cyndislist.com/construc.htm T18
H. Design Help
Access the hundreds of free Web Site Design help, tutorials and tips pages on the Web. Consult Volumes 2 and 3 of my "Web Page Design, Development and Webmastering" Red 3-Ring Notebooks" and the "Web Page Design" section.
Look at http://davesite.com/webstation/html/ T19, 19.1, 19.2
I. Obtain Your URL
Domain Registration
Consult your ISP about the URL and a "root directory" to be used.
http://ISP part/"A" (root directory)/your web site name (i.e. SmithFamily)/
Do not use any underscores in your URL.
J. Special Design Help Sites
The best site for design criteria, promotion and a lot more is at http://www.bruceclay.com/ You should read every word on every page in every section of this wonderful site.
An excellent site for help is http://webtips.dan.info/
A great site to walk you through the steps of making a web page is at
http://www.pagetutor.com/pagetutor/makapage/index.html T19.3, 19.4
K. Printing
Money Saving Hints About Inkjet Printers And Refilling Cartridges http://www.encinojon.com/inkjet/ T20
3. HTML LANGUAGE - BASICS
A. HTML books - References
Buy at least one Visual book on HTML Web Page Design with many examples. I like and have "HTML 4 for the World Wide Web" (Visual QuickStart Guide) by Elizabeth Castro, Peachpit Press, 1999, ISBN 0201354934, the web site order page for HTML 4 is at A Very Long URL "HTML 3.2 Visual Quick Reference", Third Edition, by Dean Scharf, Que Corp., 1997 ISBN 0-7897-1103-6; "Easy Web Publishing with HTML 3.2", by Jonah Neugass, Oue Corp., 1997, ISBN 0-29236-1143-5 and "Creating Web Pages Simplified", by Ruth Maran and Paul Whitehead, IDG's 3-D Visual Series, IDG Books, 1996, ISBN 0-7645-6007-7.
Buy new and used books using http://www.addall.com/ The "HTML 4 for the World Wide Web" used price is as little as $4.80 plus shipping and maybe membership. T22, 22.1, 23, 24, 24.1
B. HTML (HyperText Markup Language) 3.2
HTML language
Default Settings: Paragraph-Left, Font Color-Black, Font Size="3"
Special Symbols or character entities
Don't use &, fractions or special symbols in your text unless you use the "character entities". The "character entity" for & is &. T25
Look at a very good list of them at http://www.ramsch.org/martin/uni/fmi-hp/iso8859-1.html
HTML 3.2 Document General Format Structure T26
HTML 3.2 Document Near Minimal Clear Format T27
!DOCTYPE tag
Comments - <!-- text -->
• Head
Meta tags
"Title" - use up to 60 characters and 10 words in the title.
"Description" of Web site. Use up to 150 characters and 28 words.
"Keywords" - that describe the Web Page and phases that persons will use in the search engines. Use up to 874 characters and 66 words.
"Copyright" - year and your name
"Addresses"- E-Mail and/or name-postal address
"Author" - your name T28
Refer to page 2 in "Webmastering - Free Tests, Tips & Links" in Volume 1.
• Body
Background and text colors in words and Hex code T29
Tags and Attributes -- ADDRESS, BODY, BR, CENTER,
COLOR (background and text), DOC, EM, FACE (text), FONT, HEAD, Hn, HR,
HTML, META, P, PRE, SIZE (text), STRONG, TITLE, U (don't use)
Text - fonts, size, colors
Text - breaking tags: <P>, <HR>, <BR> No closing tags are required
Text - formatting tags: use <STRONG> in place of <B>, and use <EM> in place of <I> T30
E-mail popup
Don't use tags and attributes that will not be recognized by both Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer browsers.
Support of all HTML tags in the Browsers is viewed at http://www.ncdesign.org/html/list.htm T31
Review my 4 Red 3-Ring Notebooks Volumes of "Web Page Design, Development and Webmastering" in the larfhc.
4. WRITE HTML LANGUAGE
A. Use Sites, Editors or Word Processors to Write The HTML Language
Choose a site name for your site.
Obtain the URL with a "root directory" from your ISP.
Sites To Try HTML Code
See QuickStart and steps 1 to 14 at http://www.devx.com/projectcool/Article/20045
Gain access to this Web site http://www.jmarshall.com/easy/html/testbed.html to practice your Web site construction. T32-34
Editors
Use HTML editors T35-36, 36.1
Try using the best free HTML editor - 1st Page 2000. Download it free at http://www.voodoofiles.com/4836 Look at a 1st Page 2000 tutorial at http://eastlrc.valencia.cc.fl.us/tutorials/1st_tutorial/index.shtml
Also try the new 1st Page 2006 NOT free editor. Download it at http://www.evrsoft.com/1stpage/
A forum for both is at http://developers.evrsoft.com/forum/
Word Processors
Write text in word processor
Construct pages using Word 97.
Use a spelling checker.
Save as a Word document
Convert text to HTML Web Page language.
"Save" as HTML file.
Look at page in Wordpad or Notepad and Netscape.
Edit page in Wordpad or Notepad.
See my paper "Creating an HTML Document".
Avoid spamming by not using the same words too many times.
B. Document Sources
Look under "View" at the Document Sources/File or Page Source on some good Web sites. T48-49
C. Final Decisions On Layout, Fonts And Colors
5. TEST/VALIDATE/CORRECT SITE DESIGN - UNLOADED SITE
Review And Corrections
Careful review your Web Page HTML language.
Save the text as HTML and name the file "index.html".
Make your corrections by opening the Web page file in Wordpad or Notepad.
Download the wonderful freeware PC program CSE HTML Validator Lite v2.50 at http://www.htmlvalidator.com/lite/ Open your HTML file in this program in your own computer and validate and much more.
Test, correct and test again.
Refer to page 1 and 2 in "Webmastering - Free Tests, Tips & Links" in Volume 1.
6. INSTALL WEB SITE ON THE WEB
Uploading the Web site onto the ISP Server.
Domain Registration
Consult your ISP about an URL and a "root directory" to be used.
http:// ISP part/"A" (root directory)/your web site name (i.e. SmithFamily)/ An example is http://members.1stnet.com/A/SmithFamily/
Most ISP's offer free Web Site space as part of their monthly fee.
Have your ISP upload your Web site and then learn one of the many uploading procedures.
Obtain the best free one for PCs which is WS_FTP LE. It is explained with tutorials at
http://www.cadtutor.net/wb/ftp/wsftp/wsftp.html or for Win XP at http://cas.uah.edu/tutorials/ftp.htm
Download the free version of WS_FTP LE at http://www.frognet.net/help/archives/wsftple_downloadinstall.php or at http://www.sharewareplaza.com/WS-FTP-LE-downloads_3187.html
The fine freeware FETCH FTP 3.0.3 program for MACs may be downloaded at http://www.mac.org/internet/fetch/ Instructions for FETCH is at http://www.elated.com/tutorials/management/ftp/fetch/
There are several Web sites that offer you Web site space entirely free. See page 2 of Cyndi's Genealogy Home Page Construction Kit printout in Volume 3.
Web Page Hosts- see page 3 of Cyndi's Genealogy Home Page Construction Kit printout in the Volume 3 Notebook. http://www.cyndislist.com/construc.htm T54
7. TEST/VALIDATE/CORRECT SITE DESIGN - LOADED SITE
Validations
Refer to page 1 in "Webmastering - Free Tests, Tips & Links" in Volume 1.
Check the validation of the Web Page by pasting the URL into the W3C HTML
Validation Service at http://validator.w3.org/
Test the links and HTML at http://www.elsop.com/quick/
Reviewing, testing and correction of the Web Page using Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, AOL and other browsers at Webxact Web site at http://webxact.watchfire.com/ Test, correct and test again. T54.1, 54.2
8. PROMOTE WEB SITE
A. Extra Email Address
Obtain an extra email address to use when you are submitting your Web pages.
B. Promotion
The best site for design criteria promotion and a lot more is at http://www.bruceclay.com/ You should read every word on every page in every section of this wonderful site.
Use the tools and Web promotion tips at the great site http://www.apromotionguide.com/ T55
C. Submissions
Announce to the Web that you have a Web page/site. You should announce or submit EACH of your pages in your site. The submissions allow the search engines to find your Web site and pages for the Web surfers.
Look at the "Search Engine Relationship Chart" at the bottom of http://www.bruceclay.com/seo/web_add.htm and print it out to study. The "Providers" of the Primary and Secondary Search Results to each search engine can change frequently. These changes makes you unable to to submit to a search engine that is no longer a "Provider". You must always submit only to the "Providers". At this time you should submit to at least Google, Inktomi and AllTheWeb.
This is a good place to submit http://www.things-more.com/search.html
Another site is http://myplaycheckgroup.com/office/duke13/submit.html
Use the Free Submission form to submit to up to 21 search engines at
http://websitesubmit.hypermart.net/freesubmit.htm
Make sure that there is a submission to Google because it will get your URL or Web site listed as a secondary Web site with YAHOO! T56-57
Refer to page 3, 4 and 5 "Webmastering - Free Tests, Tips & Links" in Volume 1.
See the two papers, "Webmastering - Free Tests, Tips and Links" and "Web Site Design, Validation, Submission and Webmastering Summary" in Volume 1 of the Web Page Design, Development and Webmastering Red 3 Ring Notebooks that are located in the Los Angeles Family History Center (larfhc) next to the Classroom in alphabetically order. They may also be accessed using the link 8. and link 9. in "CLASS HANDOUTS" on page 1.