Good question. Basically, you have three choices: Notepad, the Page Builder program that your web community offers, and an HTML editor (which is a program that you buy or download off the web for free.) Here is a rundown on each of the three: Notepad
This is a program that is included in your Windows package. If you click on "start", then "programs", you should be able to find it. There is also a program called Microsoft Front Page Express in there, which is an HTML editor. I'm in the process of creating test pages in these two places, so that I can tell you exactly how to do it. Check back in a few days for more info. Page Builder
This is the program that's in your web "community". It's there for you to use for free, to build pages with a template or by yourself. Once you sign up and get your password, you're free to use it. You can find the entrance to the program under "build pages" or "edit pages." There is usually an "easy" version (template), and an "advanced" version (write your own html). Once you pick the advanced version, a blank page will appear. Usually the first begin HTML, begin HEAD, and TITLE tags already written on there...you just fill in your title. Then scroll down and look for some kind of message that says "begin here." This is where you put your stuff!
Just like an HTML editor, you can view you work immediately. Just scroll up or down looking for a button that says "view" or something like that. In some of these programs, you have to save your work in order to see the changes. In others, you don't...just experiment and see.
The web community should have an archive of images (pictures) for you to use on your page. Look for a button called "graphics," "images," or "pictures" and follow the directions. If you want to put your own images on your page, you'll have to bring them to the web community and put them in your file there.
Most page builders have a function called "EZ upload" or "Upload" or something like that. Look for it in the "build and edit page" section. Just click on the button, and follow the directions. (Use the browse button to go through all the files on your computer, and pick out the ones you want to be uploaded.) Then hit the upload button and - viola! - your images have been taken from your hard drive and zoomed into your file there at the web community.
Until you upload your images, you will see little boxes with red X's in them where the pictures should be. Remember - on your page, type the name of your image exactly as it appears on your hard drive!
Editing Your Page in Page Builder
Edit your page (make changes) exactly the same way that you build it. Go to your community and sign in using your password. Then click on "edit pages" or "build and edit pages." The program will display a list of all your files. Your HTML files and your image (GIF and JPG and BMP) files will be there, all together. Choose the HTML file you want to edit, then click edit. Your file pops up, and there you go! Just remember to save your changes.... HTML Editor
This is software you either buy or download off the Web. It works very much like the page builders in your web community (see directions above). The advantage to an HTML editor is that you don't have to sign on to the internet to use it. Just open the program and you're ready to go. Also, you can usually view your changes more quickly. (If the web community is swamped with people trying to edit their pages, sometimes it takes a day or two for your changes to show up.)
To edit, just open your program and click on "edit." Most HTML editors have lots of little buttons that do work for you. The best way to get to know your program is just to click away, and figure out what they all do.
The downside is that your page does not automatically appear on the web. You have to learn to use three software programs in order to:
A) install the software to write your page,
B) write your page, and
C) send your page to the web community you're going to "live" in.
The first step is to find the HTML editor you want to use. To find a good HTML editor, check the links page and go to the (yes, it's exactly what it sounds like!) freeware and shareware sites. Look under "HTML editors."
Most downloads are sent in a compressed (zipped) state. This saves space on the hard drives of the sites that are storing them (for people like us to download.) It also saves space on our hard drives, after we do download them. After you download the editor from that site onto your hard drive, you will probably have to unzip it.
Therefore, you will need a program that unzips files. While you're at the freeware site, look for Unzip programs. (Most of these sites will have them right there, because they know you'll have to have one.)
Look for FTP programs, too. This is the one you'll need to send your page from your HTML editor to your web community. Choose one HTML editor, one Unzip program, and one FTP program. Download 'em.
Now you've got to Unzip 'em. When you downloaded the Unzip program, it should have automatically installed itself. There should be a button on your desktop (very first screen-the one with all the little pictures.) Just click on the button, and follow the directions. The Unzip program will take you to the place that your zipped files are stored. You click on the one you want to unzip, and it unzips it!
Now you've got to find the programs you've just unzipped - otherwise how are you going to install 'em? When you're in the freeware site, make a note of the name of each of the three programs you download. Now, just click on "start", then "find," then "find files/folders." Enter one of the names you wrote down, and the computer will find it for you.
When the computer displays a little picture of your program, click on it. The files that are inside that program will be displayed. Look for one called Install, click on it, and follow the directions.
Usually these programs will send a shortcut to your desktop (one of those little pictures on your very first screen), and you just click on that to use that program forevermore.
Otherwise, you have to click on "start", then "programs," and then look for the program in that list.
Disclaimer: I'm still learning, and all I know is what works for me...some of this may not be exactly perfect. So if there's an error, email me, and I'll fix it :)
