Learn basic HTML / CSS
Learn HTML - and take a CSS tutorial too
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So who needs to learn HTML and CSS?
That right - you guessed!
My firm recommendation here is that you take the time to learn HTML and CSS basics, using free online tutorials, before you try and go too far with your web editor.
Don't think I'm not sympathetic. I also read all those advertisements about being able to create a website in 30 minutes and not having to know a jot about HTML. I believed them too, or I certainly wanted to.
Unfortunately the reality for me was this: The web editor produced HTML code from the objects I placed on the page, but when I checked it in the browser, the effect wasn't exactly what I had intended.
Part of the problem was that I didn't know what I was doing with the web editor, so I kept on changing my mind about fonts, sizes, alignment and so on. I didn't realise (until I looked at it) that the editor was creating horrible, messy HTML code which got worse every time I changed my instructions.
Not only was that messy code offensive to the computer programmer in me, it just didn't work right. I didn't know whether to blame me or the editor, but the solution was for me to understand the HTML code so that I could fix it up - and tidy it up.
It can't be too unusual to have this problem. That's why these web editors generally allow you to access the HTML code directly, in addition to allowing you to place objects on the visual page.
So I learned about HTML tags. They're not very difficult really and you'll get the hang of them soon enough too. You don't need to be an HTML expert, just an appreciation will do for now.
So to spare you frustration, I encourage you to learn HTML. Just a short course should do it. I'm not even going to put it in this website, because there are several good HTML courses on the web. You'll see a selection of free ones in the Links / Resources section.
Please choose one and do it. It will save you time in the end and some frustration in the meanwhile. Besides, it's fun!
CSS - Cascading Style Scripts
CSS is a language for defining the style or presentation (e.g fonts, sizes, colors) of elements (such as paragraphs of text) in your web page.
The really great thing about CSS is that you can store all your style instructions in an external (not part of your web page) CSS file. Then when you change a style in the CSS file, all the elements which use that style in any of your web pages immediately reflect those changes. It's very powerful.
It is possible to create web pages without using CSS, so strictly speaking, you don't have to learn it. But I'm pretty sure that if you don't use it, you'll soon be wishing you had.
I recommend you take a CSS tutorial at the same time you learn HTML (all right then, soon afterwards). So you can use it (through your web editor) right from the beginning. You won't need to become a CSS expert, just get an appreciation for what CSS can do. You can always look up the exact syntax when you need it.
Make sure you understand about using CSS in an external file. That's a very useful aspect of CSS.
If you've been through all the steps in this Preparation category, you are ready now to start actually building your site. The first tutorial in the Build Site category will help you to decide if you want to use a website template...
Links / Resources
Free online HTML courses:
HTML Tutorial
W3Schools HTML Tutorial
J Gilson HTML Tutorials
HTML Code Tutorial
HTML Primer
HTML Made Really Easy
Free online CSS Courses
W3Schols Introduction to CSS
1keydata CSS Tutorial
Hscripts CSS Tutorial
About.com CSS Tutorial
Preparation: Learn basic HTML / CSS Top Prev Next: Use Website Template?
Copyright © 2009 - 2011 EasyWebsitePrimer.com Last updated: September 2011
The best time to learn HTML and CSS is right before you start creating your website