Newbie Questions

[sheryltoo]

I am feeling totally lost.

I just purchased a domain name and hosting service but I have no idea what I need to do first in order to set up my web site.

I figured out how to get to the Cpanel, but what do I do once I'm there?

If I want to use a certain graphic for my background, I assume I need to upload this to CPanel. Does it go in the File Manager folder?

If I want to use a banner, does this have to be uploaded into File Manager?

 

Once I figure out where these graphics need to be uploaded, then what?

How do I actually use them to set up my main page?

Do I need to set up a folder, file, or something that will hold all the information for my main page? The page people will see when they click on a link to my site?

 

As you can see, I haven't a clue what I'm doing, lol.

Sheryl

[TCH-Rob]

Sheryl,

 

You need to create an index page. Didnt I read you had Front Page? You might want to open that and begin there. Then you can upload it to your space here. You might want to do a search on making web pages if you are unfamiliar with creating a web page.

[sheryltoo]

Yes I do have Front page but I don't know how to use that either.

I'm sorry if I'm sounding pretty stupid but how do I set up an index page?

The other sites I've worked with have Site builders so everything has always been pretty much done for me.

If I do a search for building a web page, will the instructions basically be the same for all hosting sites?

Can you use something like Web Monkey to build your site? I'm not that familiar with Web Monkey either but I thought it was suppose to be kind of easy to use.

Then again, maybe my best bet is to figure out how to use Front page. I bought a book on Front page but reading it, is like reading a foreign language.

Sheryl

[TCH-Thomas]

Hi Sheryl,

In the following thread are some suggestions of different programs to build sites with.

I am myself using CuteSite Builder that are mentioned in that thread so that is what I would recommend to use but this is all about taste. Some people like or understands this and some likes or understands that better.

Edited November 12, 2004 by TCH-Thomas

[Newb1e]

Hiya Sheryltoo

 

I figured out how to get to the Cpanel, but what do I do once I'm there?

Well, you may not even have to use the cPanel just yet, depends on what you would like to do first, would you like to create a forum first, or work on the layout?

 

If I want to use a certain graphic for my background, I assume I need to upload this to CPanel. Does it go in the File Manager folder?

 

I find the best way of adding my content is directly through SmartFTP, you can download it from here.

 

Once installed, enter your account password/username and url you received in your TCH welcome email.

 

 

And uploading your index page to your public_html directory

 

Once I figure out where these graphics need to be uploaded, then what?

How do I actually use them to set up my main page?

Do I need to set up a folder, file, or something that will hold all the information for my main page? The page people will see when they click on a link to my site?

 

I think it would be best if you looked into website building software like Macromedia Dreamweaver, I haven't tried it but I hear it does all the hard work for you

 

http://www.macromedia.com/software/dreamweaver/

 

I remember someone suggesting a freeware one in another topic, I will edit my post when I find it.

[OldTimer]

I remember someone suggesting a freeware one in another topic, I will edit my post when I find it.

 

Are you thinking of this > http://www.nvu.com

[sheryltoo]

I'm still trying to figure out what to do. I don't think I want to use Front Page cause it sounds as if I have to come up with Front Page extensions and I have no idea how to do that.

I can't purchase any new software at the moment so I thought I'd try working with notepad and HTML codes since I'm a "little" familiar with them and have a book on HTML that can give me the codes I'll need.

I want to first work on my main page's layout and if I understand things I've been reading correctly, I have to come up with a name for my main page and add index.html to the end of it.

Should this index page read something like this....

www.domain.com/the name of my main page/index.html?

If that's right, can I create that name using Notepad?

And if so, do I then have to upload this site name to my public_html folder?

 

Do I have to create a folder for the images I want to use or do they go in the public_html folder?

Do all folders have to end in html?

I think I'll wait for some answers to these questions before I go any further.

 

I'm not having too much luck finding some good tutorials on the web. Most of the build your website sites assumes you know a lot more then I do.

I'm hoping everything's going to start clicking soon and this won't be such a head ache for me. Right now I'm still feeling terribly confused and lost.

 

Newbie, I appreciate your visual. I see your index file but it shows php at the end. I don't know what php is. Is that something I have to put at the end of my index file after html?

Sheryl

[LisaJill]

There is a great, step by step guide to starting your very first website here.

 

I'd read over that as it goes far more into depth than we really can here, then come back here with any further questions. =)

[TCH-Bruce]

Lot's of questions there.

 

FrontPage extensions you can install in cPanel. Not knowing which theme you have I cannot tell you exactly where it is. It's in the right hand column on my cPanel.

 

Your index page should be named index.html - nothing more, nothing less.

 

You upload all your pages which end in .html or .htm to the public_html folder.

 

You can put your images in this folder or create a folder called "images" and upload your images to that folder.

 

You might want to go to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of "HTML for Dummies". I am not calling you a dummy, the Dummies series books are quite good and I have several.

 

Hope some of this helps.

[sheryltoo]

Thanks both of you. I'm going to read over that site you linked me to Lisa, and Bruce, actually I have an HTML book. The first one listed on that tutorial page. HTML for the world wide web by Elizabeth Castro.

I'm also going to see if my son will help me over the weekend since he's real sharp when it comes to HTML. He's not always helpful but I'm hoping I can bribe him into helping me out, lol.

I think one of my biggest problems at the moment is knowing what to do with the information or pages I'm creating and I wasn't sure how to make that index page. I tried to set it up the way I explained in my last message but I guess that was wrong so I better delete it.

And Bruce, no offense takend when you suggested the Dummy book but to tell you the truth, those dummy books are too hard to follow. I like a book with lots of visuals which is why I bought the HTML book that I'm using.

I had another HTML book that was called something like teach yourself HTML in 24 hours, or something like that but it was for HTML 3.0 I believe.

I never really used the book but my son did and that's how he learned HTML.

Well I'm off to read that website building guide.

Thanks again for the help.

Sheryl

[LisaJill]

That's excellent that you have that book - I like that tutorial because it assumes no prior knowledge with HTML. You mentioned that a lot of the tutorials assumed some knowledge so I thought that tutorial, in particular, might help ya out a bit. =)

[TCH-Don]

Sheryl, that book 'teach yourself HTML in 24 hours'

is the first one I bought, and still have it beside the computer.

Its excellant, and can be a big help as your son has shown.

take the time to just skim through it

and then go back and try the examples

As you are already a little familiar with html

I bet you will find it easier than you think.

 

Once you create a page

name it index.html and transfer it to your public_html folder

with an ftp program (bribe your son to help )

 

Once you see the process of editing a text file on your computer and then sending it to your web space, you will have the fever

 

And don't be afraid to ask for help as you get more into it.

[sheryltoo]

Thanks again. I read through that tutorial a little but stopped to watch a TV show. I'm calling it a night right now but I think I'll pull that other HTML book out of the cob webs and see if it will help me out.

As to bribing my son, I'm toying with the idea of asking him if he wants me to purchase his own hosting plan on TCH. I figure if he uses TCH, he'll figure out how to set up a web page and can then help me out.

He already has a domain name and uses it on a free hosting site but he might like having more storage space.

I think once I get pointed in the right direction, I'll be ok. I like working with HTML even though I need a to have a book in front of me showing me each tag that needs to be used.

I did make a practice title page so I'm getting there.

Well good night all.

Sheryl

[TCH-Don]

Great idea

Show him this forum too Thumbs Up

[sheryltoo]

I think I'm making some progress. I started working on my index.html page and uploaded it to my public_html folder along with some images I want to use, however, when I click the index file and say I want to view it, my images aren't showing. Are they suppose to show or could I have done something wrong?

Do I need to link my images to my web site?

For example, would this be the html code I should use when including an image:

<img src="http://www.domain.com/image.gif"

or do I leave out the http address?

I actually tired both ways and neither showed my image plus I made a folder called backgrounds.html, put it in my public_html folder and uploaded my images and background tiles to it. Was that right?

If my domain name hasn't completed the propagation yet, does that mean I can't see what I'm trying to create?

One more thing, I can open my index.html page from my computer's document folder and everything looks fine so I "think" I must have used the correct html codes but now my problem is getting it seen on my web site.

My son's been tied up today so I couldn't get much help out of him except he did show me how to center my Welcome image.

 

BTW, I decided to buy another HTML book since I couldn't find the one that teaches you HTML in 24 hours. Of course once I got home with my new book, there was my old book in the one spot I forgot to check but I think I'll keep this newer book anyways.

Sheryl

[TCH-Bruce]

I would rename that folder you created called backgrounds.html to "images".

 

Any images you put into this folder can be put onto your web pages using this.

 

 

If your domain name has not propogated yet you cannot get anything to display referencing your domain name. You would be able to display the pages you create using the information in your welcome email. Using the link as I referenced above the images would also display.

Edited November 14, 2004 by TCH-Bruce

[sheryltoo]

Hi Bruce. Don't ask me what I must have done before because after typing out my problem, I went back to my Cpanel and couldn't find my index.html page that I knew I had uploaded since I viewed it.

I have no idea what happened to it so I uploaded it again and rechecked my html codes using the edit file in Cpanel. After saving some changes since I hadn't linked my background images to the page, I opened up index.html again and everything showed up.

The wonders of computers, lol.

I can't do any more work on it tonight but I guess I'm heading in the right direction.

Thanks for the help.

Sheryl

[sheryltoo]

I think I figured out why I had a problem seeing what I was working on yesterday. I had logged into CPanel through my domain name rather then the ip address. (I think that's what you call it.)

I was afraid I'd open up Cpanel again today and not find my file but it's still there and still working so I'm assuming I just uploaded everything at the wrong log in address.

 

I have another question though. Once the domain name propagation is complete and people can see my site do they see it by going to www.domainname.com/index.html? Obviously domainname will be replaced with my actual domain name.

 

I'm getting excited about seeing my site on the web and wish the propagation would speed up, lol.

Sheryl

[TCH-Bruce]

They can enter www.****** to get to your site. They don't need to add the index.html for it to load. That is the default start page name.

[sheryltoo]

Good Morning Bruce and thanks.

BTW, I've been reading some of the client written tutorials and found a question where someone was wondering how they could see their site before propagation and I had forgotten that I was sent an address to use. I clicked on my address and there was my site with my background tiles and welcome sign. It was exciting seeing it.

I still need to work on my font color and size but I haven't gotten to those instructions in my HTML book yet. I was kind of anxious to get a background going.

I'm not feeling quite so lost any more. This is really easier to do then I anticipated. Of course I haven't gotten into setting up links or directing people to a second page or linking words to a different web address so I'm not sure if I'll get confused again.

And I have to figure out how to set up a forum. Is there a tutorial on that? I did a search but came up with nothing.

Sheryl

[TCH-Thomas]

And I have to figure out how to set up a forum. Is there a tutorial on that? I did a search but came up with nothing.

The absolute easiest way would be to install either Invision power board (same as this forum) or phpbb through your cpanel.

[sheryltoo]

Could you please tell me what the difference is between these 2 message boards? Is one easier to use then the other?

And if I go with Invision power, where do I upload it to and where do I find the file to upload?

Sheryl

[Deverill]

Hi Sheryl,

You can find out all about these boards at their respective web sites - phpbb.com and invisionboard.com which has all kinds of info. It may be more info than you want but something we may consider irrelevant may be very important to you so it's best to check them out at the source.