What is the best book to get to learn to make a web-page

from JoeUser Forums
I've been looking at a lot of books to learn how to make a web page. The Dummies guides aren't preferred because they are two years old now.

Basically, I am going to use GoDaddy.com because it will be convenient and to start with, I will use those tools. Getting something like dreamweaver is out of the question because of budgetary concerns. I tried geo cities but am not happy with their tools. ARe the godaddy tools about the same quality?

I pretty much know nothing about HTML and though I understand basic concepts of design and know what I want my webpage to look like, I don't know how to get there. I don't have a lot of access to people who speak my language where I live so classes are pretty much out of the question.

Any book recommends? What about "the Missing Manual" books?

Thanks in advance for your help.
39,499 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you're wanting to code your site using HTML, do a google search for "HTML website tutorials" ...there's tons on the net.

You might want to try one of the many free HTML programs that abound, also an FTP program, [though the latter may already be contained within the former] to upload your finished site to the host server. These programs often contain heaps of pre-formed editable "templates" ...there might be one there that you already like, thereby cutting down on what you need to do..

here's one I found at download.com ...and it appears to be quite popular

http://www.download.com/AceHTML-Freeware/3000-2048_4-10524593.html?tag=lst-0-8

Good luck.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

..took me 3 tries to get that post right ...damn FF keeps only posting half of what I write.

Think I was better off with the IE beta 

Incidentally, momijiki ...there's also also heaps of free templates on the net [google again]

Grab one, change it to your liking ..and go with it ..if it means it's easier for you to get your site up.

Test the changes in your web browser along the way, often ...

*edit ... not just firefox borking my posts ...ie also.    ...oh well... 

Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

The Dummies guides aren't preferred because they are two years old now


Maybe, but the code these books teach you is a lot older Like HTML 4.01 (1997)... XHTML 1 (2000)... CSS 1 (1996)... they get updated (XHTML 2 and CSS 3 are on the horizon) but you get the point now that a book two years old isn't going to be that out of date.

Reference sites such as http://www.w3.org/ and http://www.w3schools.com/

The publisher 'Sams' often put out good books


there's also also heaps of free templates on the net... Grab one, change it to your liking


Personally, I'd avoid doing that if possible, as you could end up totally lost in the often filthy code found in free web templates - your choice though.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
NVU is another great WYSIWYG editor, and it's free.

http://www.nvu.com/index.php

 
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The absolute best HTML book I ever had was "HTML in Plain English".  Instead of trying to teach you HTML through tutorials, it was a 1 command per page reference book.  Each page covered a command, gave basic syntax, a plain-english description, and then an in-context example, with small screenshots of how it looked in Netscape Navigator and in Internet Explorer.

It's out of print now, and very dated (1997), but the basics of HTML have remained the same and it's a staple reference book that as you get into making web pages you will find indespensable.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1558285873/sr=1-8/qid=1153009331/ref=sr_1_8/104-2965685-2000768?ie=UTF8&s=books

You can get it used from Amazon there.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
When I did not know anything about HTML here's where I started.

Robert
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Sorry about that
Link [link="http://www.htmlgoodies.com/primers/html/"]http://www.htmlgoodies.com/primers/html/">Link

Robert
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thanks for the advice folks.
Eric
do a google search for "HTML website tutorials
.
I think that is good advice (and Robert I've looked at htmlgoodies but you're right, it's a good site) and other online tutorials. I seem to do better when I have a book. I don't know why.

I've gotten burned with "free" downloads before so I won't be going that route.

I just saw a Sams book and quite liked it.

Thanks for the help. THis is a long term project so it will take a while to get it going, I guess. Thanks for the help though!
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Just saw this thread. Here's one of the best ones I've seen. Very easy to use, and keeps the topic interesting.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&isbn=059610197X&itm=1