HTML - (Re)Learn...

[Intrigued]

I just stopped off at a local book store and I bought the following book:

ISBN: 0-321-13007-3

It covers HTML and XHTML.

Why?

I want to be able to easily code some HTML without all the constant looking up of tag names and syntax.

At first glance I thought there may be to many pretty pictures and that such may detract from the overall usefulness of the book. However, after reading part of a chapter and looking closely through this book... it may just what I need to refine my HTML knowledge. Also, I like that there is a section on WML (web pages for mobile devices).

Has anyone purchased this or other HTML books that they found were very useful and helpful in (re)learning HTML and thus would recommend?

Sincerely,

[eric_darling]

Hey Intrigued,

I haven't bought an HTML book since the 90s, I don't think, so I don't know what's good that's out there these days. However, I will recommend that you give Macromedia Dreamweaver 2004 MX a try. Having hand-coded sites in Notepad before, it's easily the way to go for me now.

I find hand-coding to be wrought with problems for me. But first and foremost, it's way too slow. And with the tremendous user base that is out there, there are tremendous add-ons that are readily available - including DHTML menus, program extensions and tons and tons of advice. Additionally, there's an O'Reilly Reference for HTML built right into the software - you can call it up in a window in the interface whenever you need it.

I also love the way that MX 2004 shows CSS styles in the selection list - this is the way to code - visually!

Anyhoo - that's just my .02.

[TJ_Tigger]

This is a good coder as well

1stPage2000

tigg

[Intrigued]

eric, thanks for the suggestion!

I especially like this part:

Additionally, there's an O'Reilly Reference for HTML built right into the software - you can call it up in a window in the interface whenever you need it.

The reason I am wanting to learn more about HTML tags , and what not, is largely based on the position that I want to be able to expedite the creation of output from my AMS 5 projects to a Web Object. Also, to learn about tags I did not know existed in the first place.

[Lorne]

I'd recommend checking out TopStyle. By the same guy who made HomeSite.

It's one of those apps that I am constantly this close to purchasing. (I own ultraedit though, so that keeps holding me back, that **** familiarity thing again.)

[Corey]

Honestly, from someone who has looked at this one from *every* angle, the very best choice for you to start with right now is the link Tigger posted, hands down.

Dreamweaver is a must-have professional web workflow tool but not a good learning tool. Additionally the built in reference is ostensibly useless due to it's readability. Unless you like pane peering, i don't... Make no bones about it, Dreamweaver is not a good tool to learn HTML but it is an incredible tool for web site creation/maintenance.

Eversoft's 1st page is very, very good and it's close enough to both Dreamweaver and GoLive so that you can easily branch off when it's time to step up. It's free too. But make no bones about it, Ist page is still a full blown WSYIWYG editor which can easily handle professional web site creation also.

Just an opinion, and for the sake of having it said three times in one post, "make no bones about it", this opinion is the product of a lot of research into the "Teaching HTML" process. Hand coding is best reserved for your PHP which you may be inserting into your HTML. HTML as it is can be learned in a weekend for all ostensible purposes. There's no value in memorizing the lesser used stuff. There's tons and tons and tons of reference points on the net, if you ever need info on a tag you can find it on Google in two seconds, for free, 24/7...

P.S. IMO Homesite is luke warm-ish, TopSite is better suited to CSS design from my experience with it. That being said, CSS is very important, I would strongly reccomend using it for your site(s). Dreamweaver can also edit CSS but TopSite is superior. I would suggest that TopSite is a great piece of software to own in addition to Dreamweaver, specifically as a CSS development tool. Again, just an opinion.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[eric_darling]

Corey definitely does more web development that I do. And he's actually taught it before for a well known university. So, I say if he is recommending another tool over Dreamweaver for folks in your situation, that's probably better advice.

In the end, for me, it was about maximizing my time with the right software. I knew I would eventually have to migrate to Dreamweaver. My clients often use it, and that sort of sealed the deal for me, so that we could "be on the same page" and what not. And it's really not all that difficult to pick up and start using pretty quickly.

One word of advice no matter what software you choose - learn how tables work - all the ins and outs. Tables are of crucial importance in web design, and possibly the single most important facet of HTML.

[Corey]

Yes, tables are everything. Containers for content. Very simple but also very important, Dreamweaver makes it very easy to experiment with various table sets, nesting them, etc.

Eric has a good point. If you wish to "create or maintain quality web sites" and you want to do it fast, then eventually you will *have* to learn/use Dreamweaver. It is the only choice at that level. And I agree with his approach, better to take a few lumps and jump right in, but if you want a soft transition and have some extra time, 1st page is a nice way to dip your toe. But make no bones about it Dreamweaver is definitely the Emerald City.

To some extent 1st page is modelled on Dreamweaver though so just as a PS it's good to note that all time spent leaning 1st page is not *lost time* vis-a-vis using Dreamweaver. It all comes down to your personal choice, if yo uare someone who prefers Swish to Flash then 1st Page is the right choice, but if you are a Flash user who isn't even sure what Swish is, then Dreamweaver is a better starting choice.

BTW If you know any other Macromedia software, then you'll have a head start with Dreamweaver, it's all based on the same palette metaphor. Not hard to use per se, just a broad based application with a steep learning curve.

If you do decide to go for Dreamweaver right out of the gate, you can count on us for help, I've been using Dreamweaver since version 2.0 so... Plus of course there's *tons* of Dreamweaver tutorials out there on the web. The documentation itself is fairly decent for Dreamweaver also. One good way to approach it is to install Dreamweaver trial and Ist Page full version and then fool around in each a little bit.

Actually come to think of it, you're a pretty clever dude. Forget everything I said and go for Dreamweaver, you can handle it. I didn't really consider that before, busy day. For most people the above advice is good to consider, but for people who are highly adept with software and the whole digital workflow process, they can pretty much ignore that and go for Dreamweaver. The only reason I even mentioned this stuff is because I noticed that Dreamweaver confounds many beginners who are not advanced software users in the beginning, often resulting in a motivational drain... The key to this process is motivation.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[Intrigued]

All three of you have give me some food for thought. I really appreciate that!

Anytime folks that have solid experience over my knowledge base I try to listen and incoroprate such into my final decision or thought process!

Well, it's not so much the creation of web pages (I have done a few). It is that I want to see how HTML and the various elements, attributes flow together at the code level.

I have found in the past that if I read upon a subject that affects my work flow in some shape or form then I can see the big picture or at least more of it and how, for example, my AMS 5 Pro code can fit in with code in a Web Object embedded document. Corey, for instance, your suggestion, in so many words, that one should not try to remember every aspect of HTML is something I will most definitely keep (and remember you stating before, thanks!) in mind through all of this. After all, I surely don't want to go crazy (no, mentally! Ha!).

After reading still more of HTML FOR THE WORLD WIDE WEB 5th Edition(title's in all caps)... I can truly say I really appreciate this book! It's great for an off-line reference from my testing too!

Thanks Corey, Lorne, and Eric!

Very Sincerely,

[Corey]

One good aspect of almost all WYSIWYG editors is that you can view the code and the layout windows at the same time in split screen. As you type code you see the result on the page... That's great for learning.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[Intrigued]

I do like the split-screen function. Nothing like seeing both sides of the equation in real-time! Joy!

[Intrigued]

Just an update on my take on this book (ISBN: 0-32113007-3).

I am close to finishing this book and I do recommend it for those folks that want to get a good fundamentals grasp on (X)HTML and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets).

Sincerely,

[playmenow]

No more books...forget them! http://www.w3schools.com
If you haven't heard of it, VISIT IT NOW!

[Intrigued]

Yup, been there a few times, as I believe Corey suggested last year.

I agree, a good Website to get going with.

[Corey]

W3 schools is an absolutely superb site for learning a wide variety of stuff, one of the best on the net.