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General discussion

Help - recommend basic but current guide to web design?

Jan 18, 2007 11:34PM PST

I cut my teeth building web pages in raw html many years ago, and my education stopped there. I still manage a couple of those sites that are getting pretty tired. It's time to upgrade my knowledge and learn how to use some more current approaches. I'm not looking for cutting-edge stuff, just good basic web page techniques.
Can someone recommend a good book or guide?
Thanks in advance

Perry B

Discussion is locked

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It's hard to...
Jan 30, 2007 2:55AM PST

It's hard to know everything about everything. So instead of trying to learn "random" new techniques, ask yourself: What do I want to be able to do? Do I want a blog? Do I want to be able to code from scratch? Do I want to offer a service? Once you know that, you can focus and target on a certain subject, and find it much easier to learn because you have a goal in mind, and you can see how much progress you are making.

Any goals in mind?

~Sovereign

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It's hard to know ...
Jan 30, 2007 4:27AM PST

I have a few basic information websites - local community centre, Lions Club, etc. My old text-in-frames style is looking pretty tired, so I just want to re-work the sites with some jazzier-looking style. Maybe have rollover hotspots and graphic menus instead of underlined links.

Perry B

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OK, here is what I would do
Jan 30, 2007 11:22AM PST

To get a website that looks good, largely depends on graphics... so you will need a good program with which you can create graphics... such as the one from Adobe.

HTML is HTML, so just to change the look will just require some recoding. To me, it's easier to use an editor where I can see what I do. There are many mixed feelings about frontpage, but all my websites are designed with that program. The good thing with frontpage is that it has many "cool" features built in, and it does not limit your capabilities, since you can still add any HTML you want. There are several free editors too if you like, and I'm sure Google could find you a couple.

So the basic looks of a page is based on graphics, and any effects probably dynamic HTML or some scripts. To find some interesting tips and tricks, you could take a look at hotscripts.com ... they have some cool menu effects.

Personally, I always use text links... you could put them on a cool button or a cool colored roll-over. Text links are much easier to edit, therefore I prefer them.

What I used to do is browse for many hours on different websites that looked kinda like I wanted my website to look. I played with their menu's, their html code, etc... and then I took some code here and there (as long as it's not copyrighted) and compiled my website from the best of the best.

One last thing, I used to love frames, since I didn't have to change the menu files etc, but now I'm 100% against frames. They bug me. So, you should research include files. You have many more options with them.

Let us know how you're doing!

~Sovereign

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Excellent - Thank you very much !!
Jan 30, 2007 9:16PM PST

Your suggestions look great - thanks again!

Perry B

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if i were u...
Mar 19, 2007 7:27AM PDT

If I were you I would definately would learn css, which is not very complicated, although sometimes is kind of hard for people who is used to use tables, but i guarantee you wont regret it.

hope it helps, Marcelo.