Writing on the Web

A look at Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)

Page 6

Tips and Tricks:

Keep it simple until you become familiar with HTML. Use an editor, if possible, and/or use the "page source" function of your browser if you have difficulties.
When you write your tags up, get into the habit of opening and closing the tags first, and then going back to add the information. For example:

Step 1 - 

Step 2 - Now go back and write your information in between tags.

That way you won't forget to close the tags. Some tags don't require closing: <img>, and <hr>.

When creating HTML documents, things become less confused if you open each new section or paragraph on a new line. <hr> tags should be on their own line, as well.
HTML tags are particular. There is no space between the opening sign (<) and the tag. There is one space between the tag and each attribute. (font [space] color="red" [space]size="5"). There are no spaces between the attribute, the equal sign (=), and the variable. The variables, or specific instructions (red, 5, center, etc.), are always enclosed in double quotation marks ("). There is no space between the final quotation mark and the ending sign of the tag (>).
If you are including images on your page or in your signature, make sure you include the image size in your description. "Height" and "width" instructions will help make loading times quicker.

Signatures for Message Boards and Discussion Forums

If you are going to use an image for your signature on a message board, there are a few courtesies to remember.

Don't make the image so large that it slows down page loading times. A good rule of thumb is to use images that are 5-10k in size or smaller. Stating the width and height of the image will help. The "Pegcrest" below is 7k.
Try not to bring your image in from another site. This ties up two servers and can create delays, especially if the page or image name changes without your knowledge. Ask the host if you can have a bit of storage space for your image, or some message boards and forums offer a small space for you to create a web page. Add your image to that and link to it from there.

Now, having said that, I will show you my link on the Delphi Discussion Forum. This is what it looks like (only I have my borders set for 0 on the table itself):

Stay Safe! Stay Gold!
Pegasus
Peg's Pad - The Swamp
International Guild of Role Players
Robinson's Place Forum
Career Matchmaking
Callahan's Saloon
The Pagan Times

This is what the code for it looks like. (Tables are quite handy for laying out signatures.)

<table border="1" cellpadding="5">
<tr>
<td><a href="mailto:ve5cap@excite.com"><img src="http://www.cheryl-lloyd.com/images/pages/animee/twirlpeg.gif" border="2" width="80" height=""76" align="absmiddle" ></a>
</td>
<td>
Stay Safe! Stay Gold! 
Pegasus 
<a href="http://www.cheryl-lloyd.com" target="_blank">Peg's Pad - The Swamp</a> 
<a href="http://forums.delphiforums.com/IGRP">International Guild of Role Players</a> 
<a href="http://forums.delphiforums.com/robinsons">Robinson's Place Forum</a> 
<a href="http://forums.delphiforums.com/jobseek">Career Matchmaking</a> 
<a href="http://forums.delphiforums.com/callahan">Callahan's Saloon</a> 
<a href="http://forums.delphifourms.com/thepagantimes/">The Pagan Times
</td>
</tr>
</table>

If you have any problems, questions or comments, feel free to contact me.

If you prefer, you can check out HTML Forums, Webmonkey or The Web Developers' Virtual Library yourself. They have a phenomenal amount of information and tutorials about HTML, DHMTL, creating web pages, working with images, and programming languages. The World Wide Consortium, the guys that come up with the standards for HTML and CSS and tutorials on a multitude of subjects, can be found at The World Wide Consortium