Most webpages are created in a tag language called HTML (Hyper Text Mark Up Language) but some are created in more advanced languages such as XML and DHTML (Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Langauge).
Don't be scared! You don't have to be a programmer to learn HTML! Anyone can do it!
There are many programs that will create the HTML automatically. Example include:
- Microsoft Frontpage
- Netscape Composer - Bundled with Netscape Communicator
These types of programs are called WYSIWYG or What You See Is What You Get editors. They are great for beginners but as you become more advanced, you will find them constricting.
Generally the web programming community frown upon these programs because it does not take any real knowledge to make a page in one of these WYSIWYG programs. There are many programs available that cater for advanced programmers but they are usually expensive to say the least.
A lot of web page designers make use of Notepad which comes with Windows. This is an extremely basic text editor but it is possible to create advanced pages. It allows you to have complete control over your code (HTML) which is a good thing. This site has been created in Notepad.
I recommed the WebMonkey Authoring Tutorials to help you create your pages. They are very easy to understand and with their help you will be well on your way to creating your first ATC Site!
Also, I found one the best ways to learn web design and web programming was to look at other peoples sites, simply right click on the page code (called page source) you wish to view and select Page Source (in Internet Explorer) or Frame Source (in Navigator). This will display all the code that is used to create that page!
Below is an HTML cheatsheet which shows some of the HTML tags available in HTML 4.
Need a HEX Colour chart? Then look no further!. Hex (hexidecimal) code is used to select the background and font colour for a webpage.
| Basic Tags | |
| <html></html> Creates an HTML document | |
| <head></head> Sets off the title and other information that isn't displayed on the Web page itself | |
| <body></body> Sets off the visible portion of the document | |
| Header Tags | |
| <title></title> Puts the name of the document in the title bar | |
| Body Attributes | |
| <body bgcolor=?> Sets the background color, using name or hex value | |
| <body text=?> Sets the text color, using name or hex value | |
| <body link=?> Sets the color of links, using name or hex value | |
| <body vlink=?> Sets the color of followed links, using name or hex value | |
| <body alink=?> Sets the color of links on click | |
| Text Tags | |
| <pre></pre> Creates preformatted text | |
| <h1></h1> Creates the largest headline | |
| <h6></h6> Creates the smallest headline | |
| <b></b> Creates bold text | |
| <i></i> Creates italic text | |
| <tt></tt> Creates teletype, or typewriter-style text | |
| <cite></cite> Creates a citation, usually italic | |
| <em></em> Emphasizes a word (with italic or bold) | |
| <strong></strong> Emphasizes a word (with italic or bold) | |
| <font size=?></font> Sets size of font, from 1 to 7) | |
| <font color=?></font> Sets font color, using name or hex value | |
| Links | |
| <a href="URL"></a> Creates a hyperlink | |
| <a href="mailto:EMAIL"></a> Creates a mailto link | |
| <a name="NAME"></a> Creates a target location within a document | |
| <a href="#NAME"></a> Links to that target location from elsewhere in the document | |
| Formatting | |
| <p></p> Creates a new paragraph | |
| <p align=?> Aligns a paragraph to the left, right, or center | |
| <br> Inserts a line break | |
| <blockquote> </blockquote> ndents text from both sides | |
| <dl></dl> Creates a definition list | |
| <dt> Precedes each definition term | |
| <dd> Precedes each definition | |
| <ol></ol> Creates a numbered list | |
| <li></li> Precedes each list item, and adds a number | |
| <ul></ul> Creates a bulleted list | |
| <div align=?> A generic tag used to format large blocks of HTML, also used for stylesheets | |
| Graphical Elements | |
| <img src="name"> Adds an image | |
| <img src="name" align=?> Aligns an image: left, right, center; bottom, top, middle | |
| <img src="name" border=?> Sets size of border around an image | |
| <hr> Inserts a horizontal rule | |
| <hr size=?> Sets size (height) of rule | |
| <hr width=?> Sets width of rule, in percentage or absolute value | |
| <hr noshade> Creates a rule without a shadow | |
| Tables | |
| <table></table> Creates a table | |
| <tr></tr> Sets off each row in a table | |
| <td></td> Sets off each cell in a row | |
| <th></th> Sets off the table header (a normal cell with bold, centered text) | |
| Table Attributes | |
| <table border=#> Sets width of border around table cells | |
| <table cellspacing=#> Sets amount of space between table cells | |
| <table cellpadding=#> Sets amount of space between a cell's border and its contents | |
| <table width=# or %> Sets width of table - in pixels or as a percentage of document width | |
| <tr align=?> or <td align=?> Sets alignment for cell(s) (left, center, or right) | |
| <tr valign=?> or <td valign=?> Sets vertical alignment for cell(s) (top, middle, or bottom) | |
| <td colspan=#> Sets number of columns a cell should span | |
| <td rowspan=#> Sets number of rows a cell should span (default=1) | |
| <td nowrap> Prevents the lines within a cell from being broken to fit | |
| Frames | |
| <frameset></frameset> tag in a frames document; can also be nested in other framesets | |
| <frameset rows="value,value"> Defines the rows within a frameset, using number in pixels, or percentage of w idth | |
| <frameset cols="value,value"> Defines the columns within a frameset, using number in pixels, or percentage of width | |
| <frame> Defines a single frame - or region - within a frameset | |
| <noframes></noframes> Defines what will appear on browsers that don't support frames | |
| Frames Attributes | |
| <frame src="URL"> Specifies which HTML document should be displayed | |
| <frame name="name"> Names the frame, or region, so it may be targeted by other frames | |
| <frame marginwidth=#> Defines the left and right margins for the frame; must be equal to or greater than 1 | |
| <frame marginheight=#> Defines the top and bottom margins for the frame; must be equal to or greater than 1 | |
| <frame scrolling=VALUE> Sets whether the frame has a scrollbar; value may equal "yes," "no," or "auto. " The default, as in ordinary documents, is auto. | |
| <frame noresize> Prevents the user from resizing a frame | |
| Forms | |
| For functional forms, you'll have to run a CGI script. The HTML just creates the appearance of a form. | |
| <form></form> Creates all forms | |
| <select multiple name="NAME" size=?></select> Creates a scrolling menu. Size sets the number of menu items visible before yo u need to scroll. | |
| <option> Sets off each menu item | |
| <select name="NAME"></select> Creates a pulldown menu | |
| <option> Sets off each menu item | |
| <textarea name="NAME" cols=40 rows=8></textarea> Creates a text box area. Columns set the width; rows set the height. | |
| <input type="checkbox" name="NAME"> Creates a checkbox. Text follows tag. | |
| <input type="radio" name="NAME" value="x"> Creates a radio button. Text follows tag | |
| <input type=text name="foo" size=20> Creates a one-line text area. Size sets length, in characters. | |
| <input type="submit" value="NAME"> Creates a Submit button | |
| <input type="image" border=0 name="NAME" src="name.gif"> Creates a Submit button using an image | |
| <input type="reset"> Creates a Reset button | |
Thanks to 
for this guide.