Designing the web

What you need to make is files written in HTML language. You can pay a lot of money to buy a HTML program or you can use any text program. I did not do either. I did not want to spend lots of money, but did not want to write from the scratch. Fortunately the Nestscape browser had a component called Composer. You type, insert pictures, and create links. What you see on the screen is what you can publish on the web.

Getting the composer
As I mentioned above my first composer was Netscape. The one I am using is SeaMonkey. You can download it at Mozilla site. I understand Netscape, Firefox and SeaMonkey are almost the same web browser developed by Mozilla organization. And the way the composer works are the same in Netscape and in SeaMonkey. They are relatively simple and limited for what they can process, but they are free. They do not support framing, and their tables do not like to change the setting. However once you learn to use HTML, you can change and add more function using <HTML> Source page.

Another option is using Microsoft Word. Amazingly you will create a page under Online Layout view and save as a web page, your page is ready to be published. Not only it is easy, but it is pretty much compatible across the web browser.

Learning the HTML
I bought a book called "Late Night Netscape Communicator 4.0" several years ago. This book had an introduction for Composer. But a las, you do not need to purchase a book to learn HTML. There are lots of sites available on the web. Following are the ones I frequent.
HTML Goodies
HTML Code Tutorial

Or Comcast and/or Mac does it for you
Those mentioned above are 'hard way' these days. If you have Comcast account for your internet, their web builder has easy way to start your own web. It has some templates, precreated pages (Blog, Photo, Event, and Contact), and you need to start typing and uploading  photos.

If you own Mac, it comes with iLife, and one of the component - iWeb does it all for you. They have lots of templates, and iPhoto can create and publish your photos. But with a cost. It is all coordinated very well when you have a .Mac (dot Mac) membership. It is $100 a year, and now I can publish my photo page in less than 2 hours, and it looks good. Hey, it is the new age. Enjoy. Newest iLife2008  publishs your photos, and calendars in sync with your computer. I love it.

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