Let's learn how to build a web page!
align="top">Hello. My name is Shelia and I'm going to give you a few simple lessons on how to make a Web Page. I must warn you though, this is for "all wet behinda ears" Newbies. If you're at all experienced at this sort of thing, you'll probably find this tutorial a bit of a yawner.

You'll be happy to learn that it's really pretty simple. The basic idea is this... A web page is nothing more than a file, a HTML file to be exact. It's called HTML because web page documents have the file extension .html or .htm. HTML stands for Hyper Text Mark-up Language. (If you are unclear about this file extension stuff, then you really are newbie!! Take a quick detour for a few ramblings on the subject).

Let's get started. First, if you have any of them fancy HTML editors and have an inkling to break em in now... forget it. The worst way to learn is to use one of those things. (Although there are a few that you will find helpful, they'll only help you once you learn the basics, so don't even worry about it now.) What's the best way to learn HTML?? Notepad**.

I know, I know, you got this 9 megabyte Wunder Wizzard that says it's gonna make putting up a web page as easy as scratching your head. Just trust me on this one. OK? OK.

Another tool you'll need is a browser to view your web pages. Netscape Navigator is what I use. If you're using some flavor of Windows, then Internet Explorer (also a browser) should be on your system somewhere.

If you're using an online service such as America Online, MSN etc, you can still easily make a web page using these tutorials. The lessons are applicable no matter what you are using. Also, just because you're using AOL (or some other online service), that doesn't mean you have to use their tools... you are welcome to use whatever you want. WebTV'ers - I don't know anything about WebTV, but I do know that people have been able to make web pages with it. You might want to look for some WebTV specific sites to learn how they do it. Then you can come back here and go through these lessons.

** FAQ: What the heck is Notepad and where do I get it?

A: Notepad is the default Windows text editor. On most Win9X systems, click your Start button and choose Programs then Accessories. It should be a little blue notebook. For our purposes, ANY text editor will do nicely. You can go to most any shareware/freeware site and pick yourself up a zippy new text editor, many of them being free. For the time being though, Notepad will do quite nicely.

Mac Users: SimpleText is the default text editor on the Mac. Mac users eventually might want to download BBedit Lite, a more powerful, and free mac text editor.

One thing you should avoid though is to use a word processor for authoring your HTML docs. For one, these are not very well suited for HTML authoring and two, unless you know what you're doing, your file won't save as a plain text html file, it will probably save in the word processor format and won't render in a browser.

And one more thing (again) at least while you're learning... put away Composer, put away Front Page, put away Sooper Dooper Web Page Cruncher. Just follow along with Notepad. Trust me. Would I lie?
With that out of the way I can say with confidence that you are less than 5 minutes away from making your first web page! So... off to Lesson 1.