Introduction to Web Design

Introduction to Web Design - 1. Preface
Preface Markup Languages - A Definition and Some History Beginning HTML HTML Lists HTML Tables HTML - Color, Fonts and Special Characters HTML Links HTML Images HTML Frames Cascading Style Sheets MicroSoft PhotoDraw JavaScript HTML Forms and Form Handling VBScript MicroSoft FrontPage Active Server Pages Java Applets XML Meaning and More Macromedia Flash 5.0 References	These pages are a collection of tutorials, examples and explanations of terms, topics and techniques related to web page design and construction. These pages were compiled to support a first-time offering of an introductory Web Page Design Course (CS105) at Saint Vincent College. The information contained in these pages is for the most part, introductory in nature. The intent was to give both CIS majors and non-majors at least an introduction to various aspects of web page construction so that they might be able to construct web sites, but also get a basic understanding of web techniques. For those wanting more in depth information, please refer to the references section. These chapters in this document deal primarily with HTML and web programming techniques because I believe, as put by Jeffrey Veen (page 106), that "effective Web designers will also have a deep knowledge of the technology behind the products they are creating. They will understand the possibilities and limitations of the web." However, web page design and construction involves much more than techniques and technology. Web page design begins long before any HTML page is coded. It involves analysis of the goals of the web site, the goals of the target audience, usability and graphic design. These aspects of web page design and construction were discussed just as much in the course as the technical aspects of web pages. There are number of good references about these non-technical aspects of web page design which are often neglected. Eric Reiss has written a very readable book on the process of information architecture. For issues regarding design, the reader is referred to three other books by Jeffrey Veen, Steve Krug, Horton and Lynch. Please refer to the reference section of these pages for more information on each of those texts as well as a listing of other pertinent books and online references. The first subject covered in these web pages is mark-up languages and the differences between mark-up languages. Several subsequent sections are dedicated to explanations and tutorial-style examples of HTML tags. Chapter 10 deals with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and how they can be used to simplify web page design and enforce design consistency across all of the pages in a site. Subsequent sections deal with some of the techniques available for making HTML pages more interactive. These chapters include examples of JavaScript, HTML forms, CGI Scripts, VBScripts, Active Server Pages, etc. Section 15 contains a very brief overview of the capabilities of web construction and management with MicroSoft FrontPage. In keeping with my fundamental belief in keeping as many things in my life as simple as possible, these pages use a Cascading Style Sheet and were constructed using very basic HTML tags and a text editor. It was a time-consuming process, but I detest the size of the files (which consume space) generated by most commercial packages for even the simplest web pages. I also wanted these web pages to serve as examples of CSS and HTML as well as convey information, which is their main purposed. Therefore the design is relatively simple, clean and unadorned with unnecessary and distracting images, animations, etc. If you decide to print any of the documents in this set, please be aware that some are quite long and you may wish to highlight and print only the section in which you are interested.

Introduction to Web Design - 1. Preface

These pages are a collection of tutorials, examples and explanations of terms, topics and techniques related to web page design and construction. These pages were compiled to support a first-time offering of an introductory Web Page Design Course (CS105) at Saint Vincent College. The information contained in these pages is for the most part, introductory in nature. The intent was to give both CIS majors and non-majors at least an introduction to various aspects of web page construction so that they might be able to construct web sites, but also get a basic understanding of web techniques. For those wanting more in depth information, please refer to the references section.

These chapters in this document deal primarily with HTML and web programming techniques because I believe, as put by Jeffrey Veen (page 106), that "effective Web designers will also have a deep knowledge of the technology behind the products they are creating. They will understand the possibilities and limitations of the web." However, web page design and construction involves much more than techniques and technology. Web page design begins long before any HTML page is coded. It involves analysis of the goals of the web site, the goals of the target audience, usability and graphic design. These aspects of web page design and construction were discussed just as much in the course as the technical aspects of web pages. There are number of good references about these non-technical aspects of web page design which are often neglected. Eric Reiss has written a very readable book on the process of information architecture. For issues regarding design, the reader is referred to three other books by Jeffrey Veen, Steve Krug, Horton and Lynch. Please refer to the reference section of these pages for more information on each of those texts as well as a listing of other pertinent books and online references.

The first subject covered in these web pages is mark-up languages and the differences between mark-up languages. Several subsequent sections are dedicated to explanations and tutorial-style examples of HTML tags. Chapter 10 deals with Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and how they can be used to simplify web page design and enforce design consistency across all of the pages in a site. Subsequent sections deal with some of the techniques available for making HTML pages more interactive. These chapters include examples of JavaScript, HTML forms, CGI Scripts, VBScripts, Active Server Pages, etc. Section 15 contains a very brief overview of the capabilities of web construction and management with MicroSoft FrontPage.

In keeping with my fundamental belief in keeping as many things in my life as simple as possible, these pages use a Cascading Style Sheet and were constructed using very basic HTML tags and a text editor. It was a time-consuming process, but I detest the size of the files (which consume space) generated by most commercial packages for even the simplest web pages. I also wanted these web pages to serve as examples of CSS and HTML as well as convey information, which is their main purposed. Therefore the design is relatively simple, clean and unadorned with unnecessary and distracting images, animations, etc.

If you decide to print any of the documents in this set, please be aware that some are quite long and you may wish to highlight and print only the section in which you are interested.

Cynthia J. Martincic
cynthia.martincic@email.stvincent.edu
CIS Department
Saint Vincent College
Latrobe, PA 15650