Web Page Design Basics
Answers to some basic questions
Do you need to learn HTML? How about Javascript? Flash?
The answer to all these questions is Yes and Not Right Now. Yes, because to be good at what you do, you really need to learn enough HTML so you can see what is going on behind the page. There are so many times when I have to look at the HTML to figure out why something is not working right, etc. However, I say “Not Right Now”, because with today’s great visual tools, you can get started creating good designs and learn HTML as you go, on the fly (at least that is how I did it).
Modern visual HTML editors like Dreamweaver, and GoLive allow you to create pages in a visual environment. When creating page elements in the visual editing environment, they create the HTML for you in the background. These editors have a split screen environment, so you can actually watch them create the HTML code while you are creating page elements in the visual environment. So, if you create a table or add a picture to the web page, you can see the valid HTML code created by the editor. Or, you can place your cursor anywhere on the page and you will immediately see the code that created the item the cursor is on. This is a great way to learn how HTML how HTML works. You can also use the online help to understand any of the HTML commands right on the spot.
Learn From the Masters - Web Pages Are An Open Book
One of the beautiful things about web pages – they are an open book. If you see a page on the web that you really like, you can save the page on your computer and open it in your HTML editor and examine how it was put together. Or choose the “view source” option in your browser to view the HTML.
Utilize Pre-Built Web Page Components
There are many pre-built functions in Javascript that you can simply plug-in to your site without your having to understand how to use Javascript. These are called Behaviors in Dreamweaver, and are available from menus within the program. It is an easy way to add functionality to your site without having to get your hands dirty. Visit the Dreamweaver Exchange to download hundreds of pre-built behaviors.
