http://www.ionet.net/webpage/webpage.html (PC Press Internet CD, 03/1996)

How to Write A Home Page

OK, so you've seen the other users' nifty home pages and you want to know how to go about writing your own. Here's the process:

Write the HTML file (this is not rocket science, don't be intimidated).
Transfer it to your personal WWW directory on our web server.
Send E-mail to pageink@ionet.net letting him know what you named the file.

Specific details on the process:

WRITE THE HTML FILE

HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. HTML files are simple ASCII files, and they resemble old-time word processor files with "embedded" codes. Many resources exist on the net to teach you how to write HTML. A good place to start is to go to Yahoo (click Net Directory in Netscape), then go to Computers/World Wide Web.

A great program to allow beginners to write simple web pages is WebWizard for Windows. To download the WebWizard, click here.

Once you learn a bit (computer joke) about HTML, you will want a more capable tool. HTMLed is an excellent Windows-based HTML editor. Download HTMLed by clicking here.

Much of the fun in writing a home page is finding just the right graphics to include. If you're in need of graphics, click here.

TIP: You can examine the HTML file for any web page by choosing View/Source from the Netscape menu. That way you can see how other people use HTML (no need to reinvent the wheel). If View/Source doesn't work for you, select Options/Preferences/Directories, Applications & News from the Netscape menu. Make sure the field for View Source is empty.

You can test your file or files by using Netscape. Click "File" from the Netscape menu, then "Open". NOTE: While working in the PC environment, all files should be .htm files (DOS only allows 3-character file extensions). If you are creating multiple files that link to each other, go ahead and write your links for 'whatever.html'. DOS will ignore the 'l' and run 'whatever.htm' just fine. That way you won't have to change your code before sending the files to our server.

By the way, most folks name their main file "index.html". This works sort of the same way that "autoexec.bat" does on a hard drive. When someone uses their web browser to look into your personal directory, the program looks around for a file called "index.html" and then runs it. If such a file does not exist, the browser displays the contents of the directory. So unless you want strangers examining all your files, use "index.html".

PUT THE FILE(S) IN YOUR PERSONAL WWW DIRECTORY ON OUR SERVER

The easiest way to do this is to use the WSFTP program.

When you first start the program, the Session Profile screen appears. Make sure the profile is set for Internet Oklahoma, and make sure the box for Anonymous Login is NOT checked.

The host name area should be ftp.ionet.net.

In the USER ID field, put your Internet Oklahoma user name (NOT your email address). In the PASSWORD field, put your Internet Oklahoma password. At the bottom of the Session Profile screen, under Initial Directories/Remote Host, type "www" (minus the quote marks, of course). Click OK. You will be connected to your personal www directory on our web server.

The lower half of the WSFTP screen shows our web server. You will see your files appear in the lower right-hand window as you transfer them to our web server.

The top half of the WSFTP screen shows your local machine. It will probably be pointing to your c:\ionet\wsftp directory. Navigate your way around your local directories until you see your .htm files (and any .gif files you are using), and double-click them. They will be transferred to our web server. Once you have transferred them, select each .htm file you have put on our machine by single-clicking the file and use the "Rename" button to rename them as .html files.

E-MAIL THE NAME OF YOUR MAIN HTML FILE

Send E-mail to pageink@ionet.net letting him know what you have named your main HTML file. He will add your page to the "IONet User Pages" list.

That's it, folks! Have fun, and be creative.