On-Line Web Site Production Workshop > Basic Web Site

Basic Web Site Development

A brief demonstration of how HTML programming language, which is the basis for most of the Web sites in the world today, was provided. However, it was a topic of discussion that today most people who make web pages use WYSIWYG, or "What You See, Is What You Get", web site authoring programs. These let a person design and lay out web pages without seeing, or needing to understand the HTML language that goes behind every text and layout element. Web authoring programs such as Adobe’s GoLive, Macromedia’s Dream Weaver, and Microsoft’s Front Page are examples of WYSWYG tools. Mountain Visions is using the GoLive program. It integrates easily with other Adobe programs such as Photoshop and Image Ready. (links to information about these programs are below)

It should be noted that people who produce professional web sites usually have at least a basic understanding of HTML. Some prefer to have an in-depth knowledge of HTML, because it helps them make very fine adjustments to page elements that a WSYWIG program may not have built in.

A starting point for the discussion was how to create a basic “Home” web page.” Considerations for layout and design, interactive navigation, graphic placement and web site structure were discussed. Other basic elements such as how to make links to other pages or other sites, and e-mail return addresses were also demonstrated. The Upper Sevier site is used to demonstrate these concepts. If you have not already, please visit the Detailed Overview section of this On-Line workshop.

An example of a fairly simple web site design is this Interactive Watersheds On-line Web Site Production Workshop you are looking at now. As a starting place where users can find this workshop project we decided to make a link in each of the 5 Interactive Watersheds web sites. The Education section of the Community Center seemed the logical place to start the link. We also decided to make only one copy of this workshop information. The actual content is housed on the Upper Sevier River web site. (< Link to window here?<)But active links on all 5 watershed sites make the information equally available from each site. Doing it this way saved storage space and production time.

Aspen-Mirror Lake

The Online Workshop page contains links to eight more pages; 1. Detailed Overview, 2. Basic Photography, 3. Digital Image Processing, 4. Digital Video, 5. 360 º Panoramas, 6. Basic Web Production (this page), 7. Advanced Web Production, 8. Public Demonstrations.

The Detailed Overview page identified above also contains nine links to pages which analyze the main pages of the Interactive Watershed web site template. These are; 1. Interactive Watersheds Home Page, 2. U.S. Map, 3. Welcome to the Upper Sevier Home Page, 4. Background, 5. Interactive Journey, 6. Resource Issues, 7. Watershed Community, 8. Partners, 9. Web Site Index.

Another subject of discussion during the workshop was how to obtain a domain name. Today several Internet companies will allow you to search for a name of your choice. If the name is taken already you may be given choices for similar names that are still available. .com /.org / and .net/ domain names were the first to be available in 1994. New extensions are now available such as; .info/ .biz/ .us/ .tv/ and .name/. One company that provides this service is DirecNic. (link below)

In conclusion, there are many different ways to produce simple web pages and sites. Many Internet Service providers give subscribers space and simple template programs to allow any person to produce their own “home page” as well as additional link pages. Users of this On-Line workshop should investigate this option. It is often a free service once you pay the provider for internet access.

Links to web sites with more detailed information:

• Use the Google search engine to find a wealth of material about Basic Web Site Production and other topics in this workshop.
• What you need to get started with HTML by John Pollock
• Introduction to HTML by Eric A. Meyer
• Adobe’s Web publishing products
• .Mac Home page publishing
• Microsoft Front Page- Web site creation and Management
• Direct nic – Domain name search