HTML 4 for the World Wide Web: Visual Quickstart Guide

by Castro, Elizabeth

• ISBN13: 9780201354935
• ISBN10: 0201354934
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-01-01
• Publisher: Peachpit Press

Summary

HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is the lingua franca of the Web, and like any language, it's constantly evolving. That's why Elizabeth Castro has writtenHTML 4 for the World Wide Web, Fourth Edition: Visual QuickStart Guide, an update to her blockbuster guide to HTML 4. You'll find all the concise, practical advice--and fun examples--that made the first edition a worldwide bestseller, plus entirely new coverage of debugging, JavaScript, and using tables for page layout, and an expanded section on Cascading Style Sheets.Like all the books in theVisual QuickStartseries, this one breaks even the most complex tasks into easy-to-follow steps illustrated with hundreds of screenshots and the actual code. The book presumes no prior knowledge of HTML, making it the perfect introduction for beginners. But its tabbed format and info-packed appendixes (on special HTML characters and Web-safe colors, for example) also make it a handy and indispensable reference for those who build Web pages for a living. Find out why Amazon called the previous edition a "dream guide" to HTML.

Author Biography

Elizabeth Castro has written three bestselling editions of HTML for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide. She also wrote the bestselling Perl and CGI for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide, and the Macintosh and Windows versions of the Netscape Communicator 4: Visual QuickStart Guide. She was the technical editor for Peachpit's The Macintosh Bible, Fifth Edition, and she founded Pagina Uno, a publishing house based in Barcelona, Spain.

Table of Contents

Introduction	11	(10)
The Internet, the Web, and HTML	12	(1)
Open but Not Equal	13	(1)
The Browser Wars	14	(1)
The Push for Standards	15	(1)
The Current Battlegrounds	16	(2)
What To Do?	18	(1)
The Future: XML	19	(1)
The HTML VQS Web Site	20	(1)
Chapter 1: HTML Building Blocks	21	(10)
Writing HTML	21	(1)
HTML Tags	21	(2)
Nesting Tags	23	(1)
Spacing	24	(1)
Special Symbols	25	(1)
File Names	26	(1)
URLs	27	(4)
Chapter 2: Starting Your Web Page	31	(12)
Designing Your Site	32	(1)
Organizing Files	33	(1)
Creating a New Web Page	34	(1)
Starting Your Web Page	35	(1)
Creating the Foundation	36	(1)
Creating a Title	37	(1)
Organizing the Page	38	(1)
Starting a New Paragraph	39	(1)
Saving Your Web Page	40	(2)
Viewing Your Page in a Browser	42	(1)
Chapter 3: Text Formatting	43	(14)
About Deprecated Tags	44	(1)
Changing the Font	45	(1)
Making Text Bold or Italic	46	(1)
Choosing a Default Size for Text	47	(1)
Changing the Text Size	48	(2)
Choosing a Default Color for Text	50	(1)
Changing the Text Color	51	(1)
Creating Superscripts and Subscripts	52	(1)
Striking Out or Underlining Text	53	(1)
Using a Monospaced Font	54	(1)
Making Text Blink	55	(1)
Hiding Text (Adding Comments)	56	(1)
Chapter 4: Creating Web Images	57	(24)
Getting Images	61	(1)
Making Images Smaller	62	(2)
Exporting GIF Images from Photoshop	64	(2)
Using (Mostly) Browser Safe Colors	66	(2)
Converting to Browser Safe Colors	68	(1)
Reducing the Number of Colors	69	(1)
Creating Transparency	70	(2)
Creating Fake Transparency	72	(1)
Interlacing GIF Images	73	(1)
Creating Animated GIFs	74	(2)
Creating JPEG Images	76	(1)
Blurring Images to Aid JPEG Compression	77	(1)
Creating Low Resolution Images	78	(1)
Creating PNG Files	79	(2)
Chapter 5: Using Images	81	(16)
Inserting Images on a Page	82	(1)
Offering Alternate Text	83	(1)
Specifying Size for Speedier Viewing	84	(2)
Linking Icons to External Images	86	(1)
Using Low Resolution Images	87	(1)
Wrapping Text around Images	88	(2)
Stopping Text Wrap	90	(1)
Adding Space around an Image	91	(1)
Scaling an Image	92	(1)
Aligning Images	93	(1)
Using a Banner	94	(1)
Adding Horizontal Rules	95	(2)
Chapter 6: Page Layout	97	(20)
Using Background Color	98	(1)
Using Background Images	99	(1)
Centering Elements on a Page	100	(1)
Specifying the Margins	101	(1)
Creating a Line Break	102	(1)
Keeping Lines Together	103	(1)
Creating Discretionary Line Breaks	104	(1)
Specifying the Space Between Paragraphs	105	(1)
Creating Indents	106	(1)
Creating Indents (with Lists)	107	(1)
Creating Blocks of Space	108	(1)
Using Pixel Shims	109	(1)
Using Block Quotes	110	(1)
Quoting Short Passages of Text	111	(1)
Creating Columns	112	(1)
Using Preformatted Text	113	(1)
Positioning Elements with Layers	114	(3)
Chapter 7: Links	117	(18)
Creating a Link to Another Web Page	118	(2)
Creating Anchors	120	(1)
Linking to a Specific Anchor	121	(1)
Targeting Links to Specific Windows	122	(1)
Setting the Default Target	123	(1)
Creating Other Kinds of Links	124	(2)
Creating Keyboard Shortcuts for Links	126	(1)
Setting the Tab Order for Links	127	(1)
Using Images to Label Links	128	(1)
Dividing an Image into Clickable Regions	129	(1)
Creating a Client-Side Image Map	130	(2)
Using a Server-Side Image Map	132	(1)
Changing the Color of Links	133	(2)
Chapter 8: Lists	135	(8)
Creating Ordered Lists	136	(2)
Creating Unordered Lists	138	(2)
Creating Definition Lists	140	(1)
Creating Nested Lists	141	(2)
Chapter 9: Tables	143	(24)
Mapping Out Your Page	144	(1)
Creating a Simple Table	145	(1)
Adding a Border	146	(1)
Changing the Border Color	147	(1)
Setting the Width	148	(1)
Centering a Table on the Page	149	(1)
Wrapping Text around a Table	150	(1)
Adding Space around a Table	151	(1)
Spanning a Cell across Columns	152	(1)
Spanning a Cell across Rows	153	(1)
Aligning a Cell's Contents	154	(1)
Controlling Space in and Around Cells	155	(1)
Nesting One Table in Another	156	(2)
Changing a Cell's Color	158	(1)
Using a Background Image	159	(1)
Dividing Your Table into Column Groups	160	(2)
Dividing the Table into Horizontal Sections	162	(1)
Choosing Which Borders to Display	163	(2)
Controlling Line Breaks in a Cell	165	(1)
Speeding up Table Display	166	(1)
Chapter 10: Frames	167	(20)
Creating a Simple Frameset	168	(2)
Creating Frames in Columns	170	(1)
Creating Frames in Rows and Columns	171	(1)
Combining Framesets	172	(2)
Creating an Inline Frame	174	(1)
Adjusting a Frame's Margins	175	(1)
Showing or Hiding Scroll Bars	176	(1)
Adjusting the Color of the Borders	177	(1)
Adjusting the Frame Borders	178	(2)
Keeping Visitors from Resizing Frames	180	(1)
Targeting Links to Particular Frames	181	(1)
Targeting Links to Special Spots	182	(1)
Changing the Default Target	183	(1)
Nesting Framesets	184	(1)
Creating Alternatives to Frames	185	(2)
Chapter 11: Forms	187	(30)
About CGI Scripts	188	(2)
Getting a Script	190	(1)
Using the Scripts Included with This Book	191	(1)
Preparing a Script	192	(1)
Creating a Form	193	(1)
Sending Form Data via E-mail	194	(1)
Using a Form Hosting Service	195	(1)
Creating Text Boxes	196	(1)
Creating Password Boxes	197	(1)
Creating Larger Text Areas	198	(1)
Creating Radio Buttons	199	(1)
Creating Checkboxes	200	(1)
Creating Menus	201	(2)
Allowing Visitors to Upload Files	203	(1)
About Hidden Fields	204	(1)
Adding Hidden Fields to a Form	205	(1)
Creating the Submit Button	206	(2)
Resetting the Form	208	(2)
Using an Image to Submit Data	210	(1)
Organizing the Form Elements	211	(1)
Formally Labeling Form Parts	212	(1)
Setting the Tab Order	213	(1)
Adding Keyboard Shortcuts	214	(1)
Disabling Form Elements	215	(1)
Keeping Elements from Being Changed	216	(1)
Chapter 12: Multimedia	217	(22)
Helper Applications and Plug-ins	218	(1)
Non-Supported Images	219	(1)
Sound	220	(1)
Getting Sound	221	(1)
Embedding Sound in a Page	222	(2)
Adding a Link to a Sound	224	(1)
Adding Background Sound for Explorer	225	(1)
Creating RealMedia Files	226	(2)
Creating a RealMedia Metafile	228	(1)
Linking to a RealMedia Sound	229	(1)
Embedding RealMedia Files in Your Page	230	(2)
Video	232	(1)
Adding External Video to Your Page	233	(1)
Adding Internal Video	234	(1)
Adding Internal Video for Explorer	235	(1)
Creating a Marquee	236	(1)
Inserting Applets	237	(2)
Chapter 13: An Introduction to Cascading Style Sheets	239	(4)
The Advantages of Using Style Sheets	240	(1)
The Downside of Style Sheets	241	(1)
The Anatomy of a Style	242	(1)
Chapter 14: Setting up Style Sheets	243	(14)
Creating an Internal Style Sheet	244	(2)
Creating an External Style Sheet	246	(1)
Using an External Style Sheet	247	(1)
Applying Styles Locally	248	(1)
Defining Styles for Classes	249	(1)
Identifying Particular Tags	250	(1)
Creating Custom HTML Tags	251	(1)
Creating Custom Block-Level HTML Tags	252	(1)
Using Custom Block-Level HTML Tags	253	(1)
Creating Custom Inline HTML Tags	254	(1)
Using Custom Inline HTML Tags	255	(1)
Defining Styles for Links	256	(1)
Chapter 15: Formatting Text with Styles	257	(16)
Choosing a Font Family	258	(1)
Embedding Fonts on a Page	259	(1)
Creating Italics	260	(1)
Applying Bold Formatting	261	(1)
Setting the Font Size	262	(1)
Setting the Line Height	263	(1)
Setting All Font Values at Once	264	(1)
Setting the Text Color	265	(1)
Changing the Text's Background	266	(1)
Controlling Spacing	267	(1)
Setting White Space Properties	268	(1)
Aligning Text	269	(1)
Underlining Text	270	(1)
Making Text Blink	271	(1)
Changing the Text Case	272	(1)
Chapter 16: Layout with Styles	273	(18)
Offsetting Elements In the Natural Flow	274	(1)
Positioning Elements Absolutely	275	(1)
Positioning Elements in 3D	276	(1)
Displaying and Hiding Elements	277	(1)
Setting the Height or Width for an Element	278	(1)
Setting the Border	279	(1)
Adding Padding Around an Element	280	(1)
Setting the Margins around an Element	281	(1)
Aligning Elements Vertically	282	(1)
Wrapping Text around Elements	283	(1)
Stopping Text Wrap	284	(1)
Changing the Foreground Color	285	(1)
Changing the Background	286	(1)
Determining Where Overflow Should Go	287	(1)
Clipping an Element	288	(1)
Setting List Properties	289	(1)
Specifying Page Breaks	290	(1)
Chapter 17: Scripts	291	(10)
Adding an "Automatic" Script	292	(1)
Calling an External Automatic Script	293	(1)
Triggering a Script	294	(2)
Creating a Button that Executes a Script	296	(1)
Hiding Scripts from Older Browsers	297	(1)
Adding Alternate Information	298	(1)
Setting the Default Scripting Language	299	(2)
Chapter 18: JavaScript Essentials	301	(8)
Adding the Current Date and Time	302	(1)
Changing a Link's Status Label	303	(1)
Changing Multiple Frames with One Link	304	(1)
Loading Images into Cache	305	(1)
Changing an Image When a Visitor Points	306	(2)
Controlling a New Window's Size	308	(1)
Chapter 19: Extras	309	(14)
The Inspiration of Others	310	(1)
Password Protecting Your Page	311	(1)
Creating a Counter	312	(1)
Souping Up Mailto Links	313	(1)
Slicing Images into Pieces	314	(2)
Creating Buttons with Tables	316	(1)
Using Images for Table Borders	317	(1)
Creating Drop Caps	318	(1)
Using Vertical Rules	319	(1)
Labeling Elements in a Web Page	320	(1)
Creating an Automatic Slide Show	321	(2)
Chapter 20: Help! My Page Doesn't Work!	323	(6)
Checking Your Code	323	(1)
The Browser Displays the Code	324	(1)
Great in Explorer, Nothing in Netscape	325	(1)
Great in One Browser, Ugly in the Other	326	(1)
Images Don't Appear	327	(1)
Still Stuck?	328	(1)
Chapter 21: Publishing Your Page on the Web	329	(10)
Testing Your Page	330	(2)
Finding a Host for Your Site	332	(1)
Getting Your Own Domain Name	333	(1)
Transferring Files to the Server	334	(4)
Transferring Files to AOL	338	(1)
Chapter 22: Getting People to Visit	339	(10)
Helping Visitors Find Your Page	340	(1)
Controlling Your Page's Summary	341	(1)
Controlling Other Information	342	(1)
Keeping Visitors Away	343	(1)
Creating a Crawler Page	344	(2)
Submitting Your Site to a Search Engine	346	(1)
Appearing at the Top of the Search Results	347	(1)
Other Techniques for Publicizing Your Site	348	(1)
Appendix A: HTML Tools	349	(4)
HTML Editors	350	(2)
Free-use Images for Your Pages	352	(1)
Graphics Tools	352	(1)
Image Map Tools	352	(1)
Appendix B: Special Symbols	353	(4)
Using Special Symbols	354	(1)
Table I: Characters	355	(1)
Table II: Symbols	356	(1)
Appendix C: Colors in Hex	357	(4)
Finding a Color's RGB Components--in Hex	358	(1)
Hexadecimal Equivalents	359	(1)
The Hexadecimal System	359	(2)
Appendix D: HTML and Compatibility	361	(8)
HTML Tags	362	(6)
Intrinsic Events	368	(1)
Index	369