Re: A newbie Question

Stephen:

Your question sounds so simple. In reality, it is the can of worms that is
being argued over by the whole HTML world at this time. Any objective answer
you receive will be bound to get the author of that advise, yelled at from
all sides.

Just like religion, every person having a viewpoint is absolutely SURE they
have the solution. The ONLY solution.

On the one hand, HTML at this point is close to where any number of
typesetting languages were a decade ago. When MS Word and Word Perfect came
out as stand alone programs, the various "languages" became obsolete
virtually overnight. Still--many persisted for quite some time. Some said
you just could not possibly set type without a knowledge of "WordStar" or
some such. I even found employment in the early "nineties" simply because I
knew the Compugraphic "language".

But--Once the Mac and Windows came out with drivers for the photo
typesetters, my "skill" was about as useful as my knowledge of Commodore's
BASIC.

Now we are at a point  in HTML where the programs, equivalent to
typesetting's Word and Quark Express, are springing up all over the place.
Such programs as Dreamweaver and FrontPage handle the BASIC HTML simply,
quickly and accurately. And--as they use a built in database of HTML code,
they self validate as they go.

A statement like this will of course, make the purest go straight into
orbit. And they will have a point. Because just like using Word to
write--where you have to know grammar and paragraph structure--using
FrontPage still requires some knowledge of the limitations of HTML and the
browsers that display the result.

However, when it comes to simple, basic HTML, these so called WYSIWYG
editors do a far better job than 90% of the hand coders simply because they
don't make typos. The big problem to overcome is that these programs will DO
WHAT THEY ARE TOLD. Just as you can do some gosh awful writing in Word, you
can do horrible web pages using a WYSIWYG editor.

So--One obvious answer is that regardless of anything else, you will need
background theory in just what can--and can not be done on a web page.

You will also need to develop skills in the newer "languages" now in the
process of development. Examples would be XML as CSS. Depending on the
platform you end up using and the host operating system, you may need to
learn how to use ASP and/or JavaScript. But personally, I am not sure that
Java is all that necessary. It would seem that most of Java's usefulness on
web pages has been overshadowed by Flash. Though here again, many would
argue the point.

So far--I have only hit a few of the high spots. But still--these
"objective" remarks are probably going to get me yelled at for days. So--as
long as I'm going to catch "hell", I might as well close with this advise.

Go get a copy of FrontPage 2000 or 2002 and set it for compatibility for
BOTH Netscape and IE. You will note that this setting causes several
"features" to be "grayed out". Don't try to over ride them and you will be
able to construct basic, simple but surprisingly sophisticated sites.

Then--as you discover something additional, you want to include on a web
site--you then go out and learn that skill.

And speaking of learning--all those flames about to explode from those on
this list who will consider my thoughts to be that of a deranged mind--may
offer some additional insights and suggestions that are valid.

Best wishes
Ted Temer
Temercraft Designs Redding, CA
temer(at)c-zone.net
www.temercraft.com/novels/
www.andersonparkflyers.org
www.newsredding.com/


> Dear fellow list members:
>
> I am asking this question as someone who uses the web all the time, but
who
> would like to get involved in the design and production of websites.
>
> My experience is as follows: I trained and worked for many years as a book
> designer/typographer using both manual and computerised methods. I now
work
> as a  technical writer.
>
> My question is: If I wish to learn basic HTML skills, what applications
> (such as Dreamweaver) would I best be advised to learn? Would it be better
> to learn HTML or Java, or concentrate on applications, or is that a
> limitation in the job market.
>
> My thanks in advance for your suggestions!
>
> Stephen Lubell
> Technical Writer
> INCONTROL for Security Administration
> BMC Software Israel Ltd
> Tel Aviv 61591 Israel
> Tel: 03-6451781
> Fax: 03-7664617
> Email: stephen_lubell(at)bmc.com
> Visit us at www.bmc.com
>
>

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