What's the best way to build a web site?

[DRMsMR2]

Should I use one of the internet sites to build a web page? I have Dreamweaver that I am trying to learn how to use as well. Where can I find a web site that I can have a *free* web site? What are the best sites to make/host a web page and why? Any help regarding what web sites I should check out would be very helpful. i.e. What should I use to make a web site for a business versus just making a homepage? Thanks!

[Hot Rod]

I use Notepad and hand code all my HTML. I don't really care for wysiwyg type Web Site creators. I have used them before. They are nice to quickly go through and try different layouts and designs for sites but then when I get a layout put together that I like, I go back and hand code the HTML for it. I know it seems like a lot of extra work, but what I find is that the code that is set up by wysiwyg programs is sometimes difficult to read or hard to find a particular thing. If I have to go back in and change one little thing, it is much easier if I wrote the code to begin with. I also like to add notes to my code to organize it better.

As far as free web hosting....I can't really comment as to the best as I haven't used any free services. I feel that the free services are good if you are just going to create a personal site for yourself or a buddy. But if you are going to be doing sites for businesses, go with a pay service. The reason being, with a pay service you can usually offer more features to your customers such as more space, email accts, CGI scripts, and generally you have better support from the web hosting company. I currently host my customers' sites with VIANetworks. The main thing is shop and compare what each offers.

Just some tips for actually creating a site for a business. Once you get a layout....continue it through all the pages for the site. Don't change backgrounds, font styles, colors, general layout. Small changes are okay but nothing drastic. It really makes the site look more cohesive. Spend extra time on setting up a way to navigate through the site. Menus....bars...links...those types of things. If your site is too difficult to navigate...people won't stick around to fight with it. Also, put the navigation tool in the same place on each page so they don't have to search for it. Design the Web site to match the business. If it is a suit and tie type place, present a very professional web site...nothing fancy. If it is a local record store...you may have more freedom to experiment.

Hope this helps.

[doctorgonzo]

For a free web hosting services, I use Angelfire, which works for all I need it for (that is to say, not very much).

I also code all of my HTML by hand in Notepad. Anything else is cheating. If you take the trouble to build a website, you really should take the trouble to learn HTML. It really isn't that hard. Letting some WYSIWYG program do it for you is like letting somebody build your computer for you!

[DrZaius]

I agree with learning to code HTML without using a WYSIWYG editor like Dreamweaver or Front Page. Check out HTML Goodies for tutorials and more info. As for hosting, most ISPs provide some hosting space.

[Penguin]

I use a piece of freeware called SiteAid. It is wysiwyg program, but it is free and easy. It basically a drop and drag program that will write the HTML code for you as you go along.

you can find here.

[mairving]

Originally posted by DRMsMR2 What's the best way to build a web site?

The correct answer is very carefully. Dreamweaver is an okay WYSIWYG HTML editor. You are still much better off learing HTML first. Once you know your way around HTML, then use Dreamweaver if you want. The thing in HTML that you must master if you want to succeed is how to make tables. If you understand tables you can do most anything on a web page. But you have to know about sizing them, why they collapse in Netscape, how to nest tables like this:

Table 2

Table 3

Table 4

So there are four tables on the page, but only three show since the fourth is the table that contains the other three. The code to this is pretty simple:

PHP Code:

<table width=600 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<tr>
<td width="200" valign=top>
<table width=200 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 bgcolor="#FF0000">
<tr align="center">
<td height="200">Table 2</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
<td width="200" valign=top>
<table width=200 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 bgcolor="#00FF00">
<tr align="center">
<td height="200">Table 3</td>
</tr>
</table>
<td width="200" valign=top>
<table width=200 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 bgcolor="#0000FF">
<tr align="center">
<td height="200">Table 4</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
</tr>
</table> 


[shecky981]

there are a few things to remember here...

1. Bieng able to code HTML and being able to design a user experience are two radically different things, and, just beacuase you can do one, does not mean you can do the other. Code takes you to a very bad site unless you have the design knowledge to make the code work.

2. You can learn how to code from scratch but you can only develop innate design sensibilities that were already there to start with.

3. The first step in desiging a website is to sit down with a cup of cofee (or tea), a sketchbook, and some time.

4. Bad content in a well-designed site is better than good content in a badly designed site. This is unfortunate, but, true.

5. Web experiences are different than any other kind of media on the planet. You need to use create something that uses its advantages and hides its negatives in an appropriate way.

6. You DO need to know HTML, but WYSIWYG editors like Dreamweaver are an excellent tool once you know the HTML.

7. Run away from FrontPage. Run as fast as you can. If you find a FrontPage, a shotgun to the back of it's head will kill it neatly and completely. Do the world a favor.

8. Unless you are proficient in Flash, please do not use it.

9. Not understanding the above points are why most web sites suck. Anyone can code HTML, anyone can find content, anyone can find a webhost, anyone can buy a domain name. Not anyone can put the pieces together in a way that works well. Thats the way the world works. Not everyone is meant to build websites.

As a designer, i both love and hate the fact that anyone with a computer and an internet connection can throw up a website. I love it because most people make horrible websites, so, when you see something that is good, you KNOW its good, and a client can be made to understand its good. I hate it because most people can make horrible websites, it is sometimes difficult to make a client understand why i charge them 5 times as much as their neighbor's kid for the same thing.

EDIT: forgot to say, there are obviously tons of resources out there, but, WebSavant is a great way to learn the basics.

[DRMsMR2]

Wow! Thanks for all the GREAT advice...it is very helpful in getting me started in the right direction. Hot Rod, now I understand that getting a pay site/domain is the only way to go. Good advice about the business web site too! I am still new to HTML code and I apologize for any *not so bright* questions that I ask. I appreciate all the input and it is helping me get an idea of what I need to do to begin. Let me know if there are any *hints* that would be helpful while trying to learn/understand the HTML code. Thanks again!

[Jason Padgett]

I'm inclined to disagree with you HTML guys v. WYSIWYG. Why is the old way better? I can understand that one needs to know some basic HTML, however, what's wrong with WYSIWYG? Sure, some of the pages created with WYSIWYG might be a little bloated with code, but is it that big of a deal when compared to the ease of use and quickness of a WYSIWYG editor? I think the bigger issue is the design...whether or not you hand code it or use a WYSIWYG editor. If the design sucks then it doesn't really matter.

While I don't consider myself a professional in this area, I have designed a web site which I think is pretty darn good. I mainly used FrontPage (gasp!) and some prewritten HTML/JAVA from other sites. I occasionally have to hand code/fix some HTML that FrontPage screws up, but overall using FrontPage allowed me to create this site in 1/8 (or less) of the time it would have taken me to learn HTML and code the site. I would be interested in the hardcore coder's opinion of the site. http://www.nccops.org/

FYI the site is hosted with doteasy.com. They've hosted it for over a year now and if it wasn't for needing FrontPage Extensions, the hosting would be free. I've had excellent up-time for the site. You might want to consider them...

[shecky981]

I would offer many opinions, but, I am a hardcore designer, not a hardcore coder; so i will only offer the following: for a so-called "non-professional" you did pretty good. There is stuff i would change, but, I won't get into it unless you ask.

as far a frontpage goes, it makes horrible bloated code that is quite buggy, i hit a few errors on your page. also, it loads a little sluggishly, and, i am on super-fast cable modem. once again, bloated code.

and, the reason you need to know HTML is that 'tweaking' a page to make it perfect is something that CAN NOT be done inside the WYSIWYG editor.

By the way, the content is excellent. You all are doing some great stuff down there in NC.

EDIT: you can see one of my more recent projects here: TrachtenbergMusic.com this was actually kind of a quickie i did for a friend. pretty happy with it tho.

[DrZaius]

I agree, not bad at all Jason. I would consider myself a "hardcore coder" since I write all my HTML code, and I looked through the code and there are some places where Front Page uses to many tags, and the navigation menu could have been simplified with style sheets rather than JavaScript, but the content and design are good.

[Jason Padgett]

Originally posted by shecky981 There is stuff i would change, but, I won't get into it unless you ask.

OK. I'll bite....I'm asking.

PS. Nice site you did for Trachtenberg. Is abrasive your company? I went to the site but there was only an e-mail link.

[mairving]

To me Front Page is not a bad HTML editor because of the code that it writes. It is a bad HTML editor mostly because of what it produces. It tends to produce somewhat boxy designs that look quite similar and plain. I can almost always spot a site done with FP. So that is my problem with FP. The code is generally okay except they tend to use quite a few font tags. It does tend to forget that there are other browsers out there. Some of the other WYSIWYG editors really bloat code. Adobe's GoLive really has code bloat. Dreamweaver although not my choice writes the least bloated code of any of them. It does however forget to fill cells so that they don't collapse in NS and often does align=middle instead of align=center.

There are certainly different ways to design a website. I mostly agreed with Shecky, except for the part on getting a sketch pad and drawing the site out. That just doesn't work for me. It usually works better if I just experiment with Homesite and Photoshop.

[shecky981]

Originally posted by Jason Padgett OK. I'll bite....I'm asking. PS. Nice site you did for Trachtenberg. Is abrasive your company? I went to the site but there was only an e-mail link.

Thanx for the comment on the Trachtenberg site. it is what i can in an "eternal beta" format, meaning i keep tweaking it to make it perfect. it needs work on the UI and a few other details.

abrasive is the name i do my design work under. the homepage is empty beacause due to my full time job, my unpaid personal design work and my paid freelance work, i have no time to make the page! eventually i will get my portfolio up there.

OK............. as far as your page goes.... don't get offended by my commentary....but...you asked....

1. the logo is bad. cannot read it, and is awkward on the page. i get the idea you are trying to convey, but, that needs reworking

2. too many navigation links on the side, they seem to be in no particular order.

3. the rollover color of the navigation is difficult to read (white on yellow) i would have done a dark blue rollover color

4. a lot of the content seems to just flow down the page. you need to visually break up the content logically

5. the homepage has WAY too much content on it. you generally want to try and avoid having a homepage that is more than 1.5 screenheights high. i would use just the title and 1st couple of lines of each news article and then linkt o the full articles from there

6. a lot of the pages are not consistently laid out. there is no conhesion to the content.

7. the nominate a cop page, the form fields are visual elements that need to be treated as such, not just thrown on the page, they should line up, etc...

8. the sign up page is awful in that it has no visual relationship to the rest of the site; you have no idea what you are siging up for! it needs to exisit within the structure of the site, not seperate from it.

Well. i am sure at this point you probbly think i am a complete jerk, but, it is always easyer to critique someone elses' work than it is your own. Once again, for a so-called "amature" page, it is quite good. Beleive me, it is 100 times better than the first few sites i did (which i have burned and buried. ugh! horrible, just horrible stuff)