How to Begin Building a Personal Web Site

In this book, I will provide you with a complete example of how to build a Web site, step by step. It is very important that you follow the instructions closely and precisely. I'm sure you will come up with some creative ideas of your own as you work, and you will probably want to deviate from the instructions in the book. Stop! Don't! You will have a chance to put your own ideas into practice, but not just yet. The first thing is to build a Web site according to the instructions provided in the book. Once you have done that - then the sky is the limit!

Why a personal Web site?

In order to build a Web site you must first choose a subject. Your Web site can be about Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera or Karl Malone. Maybe a Web site about dogs, cats or monkeys. Or your favorite TV soap or sitcom (Friends, Will & Grace, Fear Factor…). Even subjects such as gardening, vegetarian food, the Grand Canyon, the Los Angeles Lakers, horse riding, judo, wine, Mexican food, Pokemons are interesting - the possibilities are endless. The trouble is that if the sample Web site is about dogs, for instance, there will always be someone who will wonder: "Why you did not build a Web site about cats?" And if the sample Web site is about the Cincinnati Reds, someone else will want to know: "Why not about the New York Knicks?" And so on and so forth.

That is the reason we are going to create your sample Web site your own personal Web site, all about you, your life, your environment, your hobbies and more.

The demo Web site provided applies to Web sites of all topics.

Mom and Dad

Building a personal Web site is a great opportunity for your parents to be really involved with you and your ideas and to be your partners in the actual process of making the Web site (if you want them to, naturally). They will probably have some suggestions of their own and it might be worth listening to them.

Materials

All the materials you need to build a personal Web site (text and images) can be downloaded from the book's Web site.

The text portions and images you need for building your personal Web site can be found on this book's Web site under the chapter headings.

You are probably wondering how could the text and images of my personal Web site find their way onto the Internet, without anyone asking my permission or taking my picture?

Well, I'll tell you the truth - the personal Web site you are going to build is about a "virtual" boy.

It is not really a personal Web site in the sense that it's a Web site about you. You can change the text portions and the images as you like during the building process, but before you change, add or take away anything, please follow the instructions exactly as they are laid out.

The texts and the images that you will download are for practice purposes only.

Before you begin

What you will need:

• Personal computer (PC)
• Windows 9x/ME/2000/XP/Vista operating system
• Internet browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer browser or Mozilla Firefox browser
• Microsoft Windows Explorer
• Microsoft Notepad text editor

Where can I find these programs?

Text Editor

A Text Editor like Notepad, that can be found on any Windows operating system, can be used. For:

Windows 9x/ME: Click the Start button, choose Programs, select Accessories, and then select Notepad

Windows 2000/XP: Click the Start button, choose All Programs, select Accessories, and then select Notepad

Internet browser

1. Start your internet browser: Internet Explorer or Firefox
2. From the menu bar, choose Help, select About...
   Next to the word Version, you will see the number of your version.
3. Write down the version number.
4. Close the window.

I recommend that you have the latest version. For more information please go to Microsoft Internet Explorer Center or Mozila.

Windows Explorer

Windows 9x/ME: Click the Start button, choose Programs and then select Windows Explorer. Windows 2000/XP: Click the Start button, choose All Programs and then select Windows Explorer.

Or

press the + E keys together. First press the key (located between Alt and Ctrl) and hold it down, then lightly press the E key (located directly beneath the number keys 3 and 4 at the top of the keyboard). Only then release the key.

File extensions

To create Web pages easily, you must be sure that you can see the File extensions when you are working in Windows Explorer. Follow the instructions you see according to your operating system.

Identifying your operating system

1. Click the Start button.
   The name of your operating system is written vertically next to the menu.
2. Write down the name of your operating system.

And if you didn't find it, please try this:

1. Double click the My Computer icon on your desktop.
2. From the My Computer menu bar, choose Help, About Windows.
3. Write down the name of your operating system.
4. Click OK to close the window.

And if you still didn't find it, you may try this:

1. Right-click with the mouse (using your right mouse button to click instead of the more commonly used left mouse button) on the Start button and choose Explore.
2. From the menu bar, choose Help, About Windows.
3. Write down the name of your operating system.
4. Click OK to close the window.

Please follow the next procedure according to your operating system.

Windows 95

1. Open Windows Explorer .
2. From the View menu, select Options.
3. In the Options window, click the View tab.
4. Make sure that the Hide MS-DOS file extensions check box is not highlighted.
5. Click OK.
6. Close Windows Explorer.

Windows 98

1. Open Windows Explorer .
2. From the View menu, select Folder Options.
3. In the Folder Options window, click the View tab.
4. In the Files and Folders group, make sure that the Hide file extensions check box is not highlighted.
5. Click OK.
6. Close Windows Explorer.

Windows ME

1. Open Windows Explorer .
2. From the Tools menu, select Folder Options.
3. In the Folder Options window, click the View tab.
4. In the Files and Folders group, make sure that the Hide file extensions check box is not highlighted.
5. Click OK.
6. Close Windows Explorer.

Windows 2000

1. Open Windows Explorer .
2. From the Tools menu, select Folder Options.
3. In the Folder Options window, click the View tab.
4. In the Files and Folders group, make sure that the Hide file extensions check box is not highlighted.
5. Click OK.
6. Close Windows Explorer.

Windows XP

1. Open Windows Explorer .
2. From the Tools menu, select Folder Options.
3. In the Folder Options window, click the View tab.
4. In the Files and Folders group, make sure that the Hide file extensions check box is not highlighted.
5. Click OK.
6. Close Windows Explorer.

Windows Vista

1. Open Windows Explorer .
2. From the Organize menu, select Folder & Search Options.
3. In the Folder Options window, click the View tab.
4. In the Files and Folders group, make sure that the Hide extensions for known file types check box is not highlighted.
5. Click OK.
6. Close Windows Explorer.