HTML Sandbox

various freepers | Refreshed 6 Dec 02 | various freepers

[TPartyType]

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Welcome Newcomers!

This Sandbox is devoted to giving you a place to practice basic HTML, and to get some coaching.

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So, first things first:

Go to michigander's [ HTML Bootcamp (Cyber patriot training)] and learn there how to change font color, font size, font face, and the like.
THERE'S A WEALTH OF INFORMATION THERE NOT COVERED HERE (so as to avoid duplication).
Learn there also how to post a link and an image, then come back here to practice.

If you're having problems, folks will drop by occasionally to give you pointers and help you troubleshoot.

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Boring posts are a crime . . .

So practice here first!

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NEWCOMERS TIP: I just reread the FreeRepublic posting guidelines. They're worth a read by all newcomers [click here].

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Following is an excellent previous post by Willie Green

But first, HTML advice from the FreeRepublic help page:

Basic HTML
The Free Republic forum uses standard HTML coding techniques. Use <p> to start new paragraphs. You may use <b> to begin bolding and <center> to center text, but please remember to end these items where appropriate with </b> and/or </center>, etc. If you post links or other advanced coding, be sure to test before posting.

Creating new paragraphs is about the only html that most posters ever need, but if you would like to learn more about html you may use any search engine on the internet to find tutorials. Simply search on "html tutorial". Here are links to a couple tutorials that I found:

• HTML Goodies

• Three Rivers Free-Net Beginning HTML

The Basics

Paragraphs, Line Breaks and Horizontal Lines
A lengthy article or reply can be very tedious to read if it does not contain some very simple HTML formating. Inserting either of the following codes will make your post much more readable:

• <br> is a line break. Text that follows this code will begin on the next line.

• <p> is a paragraph break. Text that follows this code will begin on a new line after skipping a line.

• <hr> is a horizontal rule. It draws a line across the page like this:

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Character Formatting
Simple special effects may be created using Character Formatting Codes. These codes are used in pairs in the format: <?>words to be formatted</?>, where <?> turns the formatting "ON" and </?> turns the formating "OFF".

Please: ALWAYS turn "OFF" the formatting when you use it.

Some commonly used codes of this type are:

• <b> and </b> -- BOLD
• <i> and </i> -- Italic
• <u> and </u> -- Underline
• <blink> and </blink> -- Blink
• <strike> and </strike> -- Strike
• _and -- _Subscript
• ^and -- ^Superscript
• <big> and </big> -- Big text
• <small> and </small> -- Small text

These codes can be "nested" to produce multiple effects at the same time. For instance:

<b><i>Bold and Italic</i></b> produces Bold and Italic

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Links
The method for posting a HTML link is fairly simple. The following format is used:

<a HREF="URL">Link Description</a>

where "URL" is the URL address you want to link to (and you gotta use the double quotes), and Link Description is whatever you want to call your link. For example:

<a HREF="http://www.drudgereport.com/">Link to Drudge</a>

becomes Link to Drudge

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And another from the same previous post:

<FONT COLOR="COLOR">Sample</FONT> produces colorful text.

"COLOR" is often a Hexidecimal Code for whatever Color you want, but color names are also supported.
Examples:

<FONT COLOR="blue">blue text</font> produces blue text

<FONT COLOR="red">red text</font> produces red text

<FONT COLOR="green">green text</font> produces green text

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To: foolproof formatting

Here is an easy way to REMEMBER TO TURN OFF THE FORMATTING.

To be sure I turn off the formatting I TYPE THE "OFF" COMMAND AT THE SAME TIME AS THE "ON" COMMAND.

An example:
I want to respond to a line in a post by another brilliant Freeper.
I type < I >""< /I >< BR>
I then "cut and paste" his remarks between the quotes:
< i>" You are a poopy head "< /I>< BR>
And type my equally brilliant response: "No, you're a poopy head!"
The result:

"You are a poopy head"
No, you're a poopy head!

It's very easy to forget to turn off your formatting!
Yes it is!

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To: ftrader, deport

Actually, the <ul> tag is for a bulleted list and stands for unordered list. The missing part is the list item tag (<li>) Here's an example:

<ul>
<li>List item #1
<li>List item #2
<li>List item #3
</ul>

Would display:

• List item #1
• List item #2
• List item #3

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Finally . . .

Here's the link for [Webmonkey] (a super HTML training site).

[Jeff Head]

Well, you definitely need them on some server on the web before they can be posted for others to see in their browsers. Cannot do it from your own computer unless your computer is such a server.

So, wherever the server is where you have uploaded the pics, acts as a host.

[Jeff Head]

If push comes to shove, go to Amazon and search on my name. You'll find both volumes and all three of the formats (Printed, Adobe Reader and Microsoft Reader).

[MileHi]

That link works. I don't get it. The other page has no arrow down bar, just the title. Wierd, huh?

Anyway, thanks. I will get vol II pretty soon.

[potlatch]

Thanks, Jeff, that's something I didn't know!

[MileHi]

Does the book link work for you on Jeffs site?

[Squantos]

Yeah I'm able to get the links to work.....??? You trying to read the book or what ??

Stay Safe !

[EternalVigilance]

A personal BUMP to myself for some 'book-larnin' whenever I get the chance!

[Mo1]

Thanks for the ping .. Before I signed up with FR .. I never hear of HTML

[stands2reason]

How's this?

[stands2reason]

Testing, testing...

[MileHi]

The page won't load for me. Jeff gave me a link that works, I need to order vol II.

Must be me, I tried several times. Thanks for the reply.

FReegards, watch yer top knot.

[stands2reason]

Playing in the sandbox...

[stands2reason]

Yummy!

[Pippin]

KEWL! I need this thread!

I have it bookmarked for future referances. :^)

[Pippin]

Thanks, Tonkin!

I have this thread bookmarked!

[tictoc]

Thanks for this thread, TPT.

When I post an article (start a new thread), I'd like to have a wide margin to the left and an even wider margin to the right.

BLOCKQUOTE only does a left indent, but leaves the right margin alone.

Any tips for some simple HTML code that will do the trick?

Thanks!

[MeekOneGOP]

Alright ! We have our FReeper HTML Playground again. Yay !! lol....

Thanks.

[firewalk]

The sandbox! (-:

I forgot about this place....thank you Tonkin....

[radu]

THANX TONK! Do you realize what you've done by turning me on to this thread? ROTFLOL!! You're going to have a monster on your hands!! Actually, you'll probably have several! LOL!!!

Thank you, TPartyType, for posting this thread. I'm veeeery new to computers. This is the first one I've ever worked with and we've had it all of two months. I look forward to learning all I can here, as I'm sure many others do.

[steveegg]

Not even close; I'm just your friendly temp drill instructor. Most of what I learned I copied from somewhere.