Starting up a webpage?? (software vanity)

[KantianBurke]

Hello fellow freepers. I've been reading up on HTML and other such web page goodies. To make a long story short I want to create a webpage but I was hoping that, before purchasing any software; i.e. Adobe GoLive etc, or getting a domain name someone might be able to steer me away from the junk and towards the decent markups out there. Any and all advice pertaining to beginning a webpage is welcome! Thanks guys

[RedBloodedAmerican]

You forgot to change your screen name to Illbay, goofy.

[Fiddlstix]

I've never used one of the html editors. I just write my code on notepad or sometimes wordpad and then save it with the html extension instead of the txt extension. I've never had a problem doing it that way. It's very easy to do. There are some very good html threads here at FR

• HTML Bootcamp (or Wow, how did they do that?)
  
  
• HTML for FReeper Newbies
  
  
• HTML Sandbox (Original Thread)
  
  
• HTML Sandbox (New Thread)
  
  
• Reference HTML Cheatsheet

There are some very good websites such as www.bignosebird.com
Hope this may be of help
J

[Keith in Iowa]

Every PC comes with the easiest to use web page editor - it's called Notepad. < /sarcasm>

Now to answer the question...Macromedia Dreamweaver if you can afford it.

[zeugma]

I've got to agree with you about Homesite. It makes really clean html. Just about anything but 'frontpage' will do though.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

http://www.notetab.com/ntl.htm

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Just dont get sucked into buying an FTP software; you can upload to an FTP right out of windows explorer or internet explorer to your site.

[ErnBatavia]

To: hole_n_one You forgot to change your screen name to Illbay

Glad that I scrolled, because I was about to say something close to identical. But, in defense of Illbay, he seems to have been beaten into submission and turned in his badge lately.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

we need a screen name "Illhole". :o)

[Capt. Tom]

Starting out, Frontpage would be fine. - Tom

[TomGuy]

If you run IE 4 up, you may already have FrontPage Express installed. It is an ok--basic to get started.

[hole_n_one]

LOL!

[Mannaggia l'America]

What's the purpose of the web page?

If you don't want to get that deep into HTML, I like MS FrontPage. I'm not recommending it over any of the others because I haven't use the others, but FP works well for me.

If you use FrontPage, you will want to use a web host that supports FrontPage extensions (most do). These extensions, among other things, let you easily manage the site without manually ftp'ing files.

If you hit a mental block in starting the site, there are built-in and third party FrontPage themes and templates available from many places on the web. Most of the themes I've tried seem to make an amateurish looking site, but there are some very nice templates available.

I just recently redesigned the web site for my small biz - I bought a template for $20 and practically just filled in the words (not that simple, but pretty close). It took me a day or two and (IMHO) looks as good as anything a pro would design.

[Lady Jag]

When I became a monthly donor I was surprised at how good it felt. Especially when one of these fundraisers come up and I don't feel guilty.

Bcome a monthly donor and get a free conscience. And when there's enough of us we won't have to put up with these annoying fundraisers anymore. Just do it. It's easy.

[montag813]

Hello! I hope you're not doing this for money... there's no money in making websites anymore (at least not unless you're an exceptionally great CG artist or a masterful programmer). Anyway... let's move on...

Indeed! How is it that I make a nice living merely redesigning corporate websites (completely aside from my 3D and video work)? No money in it? Who do you think designs and produces all the web pages we see every day? Robots? There is a tremendous opportunity and will remain as such for as long as there is the web, given that an individual has talent and cuts out a niche, as with all business endeavors.

[NewHampshireDuo]

I use HotMetal Pro from SoftQuad mostly because I started with the free version some years ago (no longer avail) and got to like it. The HotMetal Pro package comes with an FTP program (WS_FTP Pro) and an image editor (Photoimpact, full version). For hosting, I moved to Infopop as they include a free (and good) bulletin board with their hosting. All you have to do with the bulletin board is modify the template to suit your needs. Support has been great too.

[Nataku X]

First, let me congratulate you on your success. Your skills must be excellent if you are able to make a living purely by designing websites.

Second, let me admit my error. I should have said something akin to "the market for website designers is way overflooded." Everyone (non-programmers included) I know can do HTML and can thump out a few decent logos in PhotoShop, which is all what the majority of websites need. CSS isn't exactly the most difficult thing in the world. font-family:arial,helvetica; wheeeeee, how difficult.

Third, every dime-a-dozen programmer knows ASP/JSP/Perl/whatever now, these languages are as easy as heck. I did a basic Hotmail clone in last year out of boredom that would send and receive email, for example--which isn't to brag but to show how easy it is to do that kind of stuff. I have a very hard time believing that more than 1 out of 10 people who aspire to be full-time website designers can make it.

[MonroeDNA]

YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!

A thousand ponts of light lurk, and you shine!

[MonroeDNA]

Spot on, what you said. Yes, many folks at Fox lurk here. And many governments, too.

[MonroeDNA]

Yes, monthly is the way to go.

Contratulations, by the way, Patriot!

[Nataku X]

I forgot to add, this hotmail clone was done in one day--again, not to brag, but to show how easy it is to do server-side stuff.