Web pages are written in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) so that they can be viewed by web browsers. The HTML code can be generated manually or automatically. All web pages are written first and then published on the web, just as an article or book is first written and then published. This page lists only tools that help you write, or "author," a web page.

• Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
  
  To write a page in HTML manually, use any text editor (such as Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, NoteTab, or Notepad) and save as ASCII text (also "DOS text" or "plain text") with an .html file extension.
  
  Writing a page manually necessarily takes more time, which makes it less useful for creating high-end web sites with lots of features. It is, however, very easy to get a basic page up and running with manual HTML. It's also good to understand some of the basic concepts of HTML before using automated programs.
  
  The library offers 2-hour short courses in HTML, and ITC offers a 4-hour HTML Introduction and a 4-hour HTML Intermediate class. Helpsheets for writing HTML are available at the following URLs:
   
• http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/helpsheets/helpsheets.html
• http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/General/Internet/WWW/HTMLPrimerP1 .html
   
• "Save as Web Page" from within a program
  
  WordPerfect 8, Microsoft Word 2000, like many programs these days (including PowerPoint) will allow you to save a document as a web page; the program will automatically generate the code. From within Word, choose File --> Save as Web Page; from within WordPerfect, choose File --> Internet Publisher.
  
  One problem with this, as with all automatically-generated pages, is that it can be difficult to change the code if you do not like the way the page looks once it has been generated. This happens frequently.
  
  Help on this is available at the following URLs:
   
• http://catalyst.washington.edu/catalyst/how-to/word2000/create.h tml
• http://eit.tamu.edu/eitdocs/wp8htm/wp8pf/wp8pf01.htm
   
• Netscape Composer
  
  The web browser program Netscape has a feature that will allow you to create a web page. Choose Communicator --> Composer to launch this feature. Composer has the look and feel of a word-processing program, with handy buttons for web-specific tasks such as creating links and adding images. 
  
  Netscape Composer is widely reviled among web developers; the consensus among professionals is that web pages created with Netscape Composer are riddled with errors that often cause the page not to work. There are also many stories about the program's tendency to lose data--in other words, you might write a web page only to see it "eaten" by Composer demons. However, it is easy to use, is available on any computer with Netscape, and may suit a simple web project.
  
  Help on Netscape Composer is available at the following URLs:
   
• http://help.netscape.com/products/client/communicator/IntroCom m/chap05.html
• http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/web/class_comp.html
• http://www.csulb.edu/~jvancamp/composer.html
• http://www.cs.trinity.edu/~thicks/Communicator/Composer1/Comp oserBasicIntroductionI.html
   
• Dreamweaver
  
  Dreamweaver is a WYSIWYG ("what you see is what you get") web page generation program. It is installed on the computers in the Digital Media Lab and is a well-liked industry standard for web page creation.
  
  Dreamweaver allows you to create sophisticated-looking web pages with minimal effort--once you've been trained to use the program. ITC offers a one-day class in Dreamweaver Fundamentals and a one-day class in Dreamweaver Advanced.
  
  See also the following URLs:
   
• http://www.iboost.com/build/software/dw/tutorial/786.htm
• http://www.macromedia.com/support/dreamweaver/tutorial.html
   
• Microsoft FrontPage
  
  This is another WYSIWYG web page builder, similar to Dreamweaver, that has received good reviews. It is not installed on any of the public computers at UVa--but ITC nevertheless offers a one-day class in FrontPage Fundamentals and a one-day class in FrontPage Advanced.
  
  See also the following URLs:
   
• http://www.actden.com/fp/ http://www.intranetjournal.com/articles/200003/fp_index.html

• http://www.engl.virginia.edu/webtools.html
• http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/web/
  
   

This site maintained by Amanda French. Last modified March 2002.