by Doug Sahlin and Claudia Snell
Nine Books In One
Book I: Preparations
Book II: Site Design
Book III: Site Construction
Book IV: Web Graphics
Book V: Multimedia
Book VI: Audience Interaction
Book VII: E-Commerce
Book VIII: Site Management
Book IX: Case Studies
Book II: Site Design
Book III: Site Construction
Book IV: Web Graphics
Book V: Multimedia
Book VI: Audience Interaction
Book VII: E-Commerce
Book VIII: Site Management
Book IX: Case Studies
 |
| Building Web Sites AIO Desk Reference For Dummies |
Doug Sahlin is an author, photographer, and Web designer living in central
Florida. His clients include attorneys, authors, artists, doctors, and musicians.
He has written and coauthored over 16 books on office applications,
Web design applications, and digital photography. His books have been translated
into five foreign languages. When he’s not busy writing, photographing
clients, or designing Web sites, he enjoys playing the guitar and dabbling in
watercolor painting.
Claudia Snell is a new media designer based in Worcester, MA. She currently
works as an online producer at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, where she
works with Web and multimedia design and video for Web. Previously, she
has worked in an agency, as a freelance new media designer, and as a contract
Web/multimedia designer in large corporate environments. She has
been a guest speaker at the Boston Macromedia User Group, Society of
Professional Communicators, Worcester Computer Society, and on the
WPI Venture Forum radio show. She founded and managed the Worcester
Macromedia User Group and was a frequent presenter. She has written for
Macromedia The Edge and for FlashGoddess.com.
Authors’ Acknowledgments
From Doug: Thanks to Steve Hayes for making this project possible. Kudos
to project editor Nicole Sholly for her sense of humor and dedication to the
task at hand. Thanks to the fastidious Heidi Unger — who must be related to
Felix — for rendering squeaky clean text and providing insightful questions.
Special thanks to fellow authors Bonnie Blake, Joyce Evans, and Ken Milburn
for their friendship and inspiration. Thanks to literary agent extraordinaire,
Margot Maley Hutchison, who shall go forward in time with the nickname
Ollie. As always, thanks to my friends, mentors, and relatives, especially you Karen and Ted.
From Claudia: I would like to acknowledge the great support I have gotten
from the faculty at Assumption College and most especially: Dr. Robert Fry,
Scott Glushien, Brian Bercier, and Dr. Rockie Blunt. Their support and guidance
has made it possible for me to pursue my career.
I would also like to acknowledge the Macromedia User Group program, the
team at Macromedia, Ed Sullivan, and Amy Brooks, and all the managers.
Participating in the User Group program gave me tremendous opportunities
to learn. The user group managers are a fantastic resource. I always appreciated
their thoughts and advice on Web design and development.
I’d also like to acknowledge the people at Wiley publishing, including Steve
Hayes and Nicole Sholly who patiently guided me through this project.
Thanks also to the team of editors, reviewers, and production staff who have
worked hard to make this book better. And finally, a special thanks to my
coauthor, Doug Sahlin.
Introduction
Web sites can be very complex or very simple. When you’re building a
site, you have many decisions to make, all dependent on the needs of
a particular project. This can be overwhelming, but don’t fret — you have
Building Web Sites All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies to help you. It’s
so comprehensive and so flexible that it will help you in all aspects of Web
design, from the initial planning phases to testing and publishing your masterpiece.
This book can help you take on the role of project manager, graphic designer,
developer, or multimedia designer, and it has information about interacting
with different specialists on larger or more complex projects. So whether
you’re undertaking your first Web design project or are a veteran taking on a
Web design team, this book is for you.
About This Book
Here are some of the things you can do with this book:
✦ Plan your Web site project.
✦ Assemble and manage a Web team.
✦ Create layouts, graphics, navigation menus, and Web pages from scratch.
✦ Optimize graphic elements for your Web pages.
✦ Work with HTML and CSS to create and maintain your pages.
✦ Create HTML forms.
✦ Add multimedia content such as Flash movies and video clips.
✦ Integrate e-commerce into your Web site project.
✦ Maintain and promote a Web site.
✦ Explore server-side and client-side code.
Foolish Assumptions
We have, perhaps foolishly, made a few assumptions about our readers. We
expect that you have basic computer skills (either Windows or Mac) and a
basic understanding of how to use a browser and the Internet. The authors
and publisher of this book assume you’re a bright, intelligent person who
wants to learn but doesn’t have the time to read a book from cover to cover.
We assume you’ll find the information you need by perusing the index and
then cut to the chase and read that section.
If you don’t have any prior knowledge of HTML, CSS, or graphics software,
that’s okay; we give you the basics here. We do assume that you have more
than a passing interest in Web design. In fact, this book is geared for Web
designers, or anyone with aspirations of becoming a Web designer. If you
don’t have any prior experience with Web design or managing Web site
projects, that’s okay, too. This book starts at the beginning before moving
into more advanced topics.
Conventions Used in This Book
By conventions, we simply mean a set of rules we’ve employed in this book
to present information to you consistently. When you see a term italicized,
look for its definition, which we’ve included so that you know what things
mean in the context of Web site construction. Sometimes, we give you information
to enter on-screen; in this case, we’ve bolded what you need to type.
We’ve placed Web site addresses and e-mail addresses in monofont so that
they stand out from regular text. Code appears in its own font, set off from
the rest of the text, like this:
Never mind the furthermore, the plea is self-defense.
When we present complex information with copious amounts of code, we
present examples and then dissect the code. Blocks of code are neatly bundled
into a listing, which looks like this:
Listing Intro-1: Everything you wanted to
know about code, but were afraid to ask.
Throughout the book, you’ll find icons such as Tips, Warnings, and
Remember. These little tidbits are cold, hard facts we found out the
hard way. We sprinkle this information liberally so you won’t fall into
the same chuckholes we did, or worse, end up with egg on your face.
What You Don’t Have to Read
We’ve structured this book modularly — that is, it’s designed so that you can
easily find just the information you need — so you don’t have to read whatever
doesn’t pertain to your task at hand. We include sidebars here and
there throughout the book that contain interesting information that isn’t necessarily
integral to the discussion at hand; feel free to skip over these. You
also don’t have to read the paragraphs next to the Technical Stuff icons,
which parse out uber-techie tidbits (which might or might not be your cup of tea).
How This Book Is Organized
Building Web Sites All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies is split into nine
minibooks. You don’t have to read it sequentially, you don’t have to look at
every minibook, you don’t have to review each chapter, and you don’t even
have to read all the sections in any particular chapter. (Of course, you can if
you want to; it’s a good read.) The Table of Contents and the Index can help
you quickly find whatever information you need. In this section, we briefly
describe what each minibook contains.
Book I: Preparations
This minibook covers all the things you need to do before you start actually
creating a Web site. The topics of planning, managing your project, flying
solo on a project, and assembling and managing a Web design team are all
covered here. We’ve also included information about creating a site that portrays
the client and her organization in a flattering light while providing visitors
with content that keeps them coming back for more.
Book II: Site Design
Site design is about the nuts and bolts of how a site works and about making
the visual aspects work within the technical needs — this minibook helps
you make these two worlds come together. In short, if you’re looking for
information about creating layouts and planning site structure, implementing
appropriate design, and collecting and using feedback, you’ll want to
read this minibook.
Book III: Site Construction
Book III takes you into the hands-on creation of your site. The minibook
begins with an overview of the tools and materials necessary for Web
design; other chapters introduce you to graphics and Web design software
before delving into the details of preparing a site to go live. Book II is about
being an architect and designer; Book III is about being the crew that gets the job done.
Book IV: Web Graphics
A Web site without graphics is text, which won’t keep a visitor interested for
very long. Book IV begins with a section on finding inspiration. After you’re
inspired, it’s off to the races with information on how to create graphics in
Photoshop and Fireworks.
Book V: Multimedia
Book V shows you how to add multimedia content to your designs. We start
out by showing you how to incorporate Flash elements into your designs. If
your client wants music or other joyful noise on her Web site, read Chapter 2
of this minibook. If it’s full-motion video your client is after, we show you how
to add it in Chapter 3 of this minibook. If your client has copious amounts of
images to display in a short amount of space, check out Chapter 4, where we
show you how to add a tres-cool slide show to a Web site.
Book VI: Audience Interaction
Web sites come in many flavors. If your client has the need to give and
receive information via the World Wide Web, this minibook is your Rx for
Web interactivity. If your client’s site needs forms, see Chapter 1. In the latter
chapters of this book we also show you how to incorporate additional interactivity,
such as databases and pages that change depending on the needs of
the visitors. We end this book with an introduction to other forms of interactivity,
such as blogs, forums, and other such delights.
Book VII: E-Commerce
If your client wants to take his local, bricks-and-mortar business worldwide,
we show you how to accomplish this feat in Book VII. E-commerce is indeed
complex, but we do our best to simplify it for you. First, we explore basic
concepts such as credit card packages, secure Web sites, and PayPal. Then,
we move on to the technological and legal considerations of an e-commerce
Web site. Last but not least, we show you what you need to consider when
building and maintaining an e-commerce site.
Book VIII: Site Management
If you build it they will come. Not. The only way to get people to flock to a
Web site in droves is to promote it. We begin this book by exploring methods
you can use to promote a site and get it recognized by the search engines. Of
course, after the site has a steady stream of visitors, you or your client will
need to maintain the site. And if the site really catches on, your client will
probably need you to revise or redesign the site. We show you how to maintain
and expand a Web site in Chapters 2 and 3 of this minibook.
Book IX: Case Studies
The final minibook of this lofty tome is four chapters of case studies. We
learn a lot by surfing the Net and dissecting what’s good, bad, and downright
ugly about what’s out there. You can too. To give you an idea of what goes
into planning and then creating a site, we explore the needs of four different
clients and the resulting Web sites.
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Price
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File Size
| 26,458 KB |
Pages
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795 p |
File Type
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ISBN
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Copyright
| 2007 by Wiley Publishing, Inc |
Table of Contents
Introduction........
About This Book.....
Foolish Assumptions ....
Conventions Used in This Book ...
What You Don’t Have to Read ..
How This Book Is Organized........
Book I: Preparations................
Book II: Site Design.......
Book III: Site Construction...
Book IV: Web Graphics ...
Book V: Multimedia ....
Book VI: Audience Interaction .....
Book VII: E-Commerce.......
Book VIII: Site Management.....
Book IX: Case Studies.......
Icons Used in This Book.........
Where to Go from Here................
Book I: Preparations......................................................7
Chapter 1: Planning a Web Project . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Defining the Audience .....................................................................................9
Internal stakeholders ...........................................................................10
External audience.................................................................................10
Setting Goals ...................................................................................................12
Creating a Scope Document..........................................................................13
Preparing to Get Started ...............................................................................13
Defining why you’re doing the project ..............................................14
Brainstorming and evaluating your ideas .........................................14
Looking at budget and timelines ........................................................14
Considering collaborations.................................................................15
Selling the Idea ...............................................................................................15
Holding a Kick-Off Meeting ...........................................................................16
Revising Your Original Plans — Using Feedback to Improve ...................16
Receiving feedback ..............................................................................17
Giving feedback ....................................................................................18
Preparing to Redesign an Existing Site........................................................20
Chapter 2: Build a Web Team or Go It Alone .. . . . . . . . . . . .23
Flying Solo: Skills You Need to Go It Alone .................................................23
Managing the project ...........................................................................23
Serving your customer ........................................................................24
Dealing with HTML, CSS, and other scripting...................................25
Using Photoshop, Fireworks, and other graphics
applications .......................................................................................26
Developing content ..............................................................................28
Considering basic computer and Internet skills ..............................28
Incorporating multimedia in your project ........................................28
Handling a solo project........................................................................29
Hiring Members of the Team ........................................................................29
Project manager....................................................................................30
Web designer/new media designer ....................................................30
Web developer/programmer...............................................................31
Content developer/writer....................................................................31
Webmaster/host ...................................................................................32
Other professional help.......................................................................32
Managing the team...............................................................................32
Handing Off a Project to a Client..................................................................34
Chapter 3: Developing the Content . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .37
Knowing What to Put on Your Site...............................................................37
Finding out what your client’s visitors need ....................................38
Finding out what your client needs from site visitors.....................40
Reconciling the content with the goals .............................................41
Keeping It Fresh: An Ongoing Process ........................................................42
Assigning content development tasks...............................................42
Keeping the graphics fresh .................................................................42
Chapter 4: Creating Relevant Site Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Portraying Your Client’s Company...............................................................43
Defining your client’s voice.................................................................43
Developing your client’s look .............................................................45
Selling Goods or Services..............................................................................46
Emphasizing key points.......................................................................46
Highlighting the product .....................................................................47
Providing Information....................................................................................48
Handling large amounts of content....................................................48
Presenting information ........................................................................50
Including e-learning materials ............................................................52
Using Personas to Develop Content ............................................................53
Defining your client’s customers........................................................54
Delivering what they want ..................................................................54
Book II: Site Design.....................................................55
Chapter 1: Conceptualizing Your Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Deciding What Types of Pages You Need....................................................57
Considering static Web pages.............................................................58
Freshening the content with dynamic Web pages ...........................60
Evaluating multimedia element choices............................................61
Choosing the Right Delivery Method ..........................................................64
Knowing when static pages suit your purpose ................................64
Using dynamic pages to manage complex information...................65
Considering multimedia ......................................................................67
Handling Printable Materials ........................................................................67
Chapter 2: Creating Effective Layouts . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Content Is Key: Making Sure It’s All Included .............................................72
Creating Order from Chaos: Consistency Is Your Friend ..........................73
Including Things That Every Page Needs ...................................................75
Banner....................................................................................................75
Page headline........................................................................................76
Global navigation..................................................................................76
Page title ................................................................................................77
Page description and keywords .........................................................77
Page footer ............................................................................................80
Planning How to Emphasize Important Information .................................81
Understanding the Basics of Usable and Accessible Design....................83
Creating a Layout Wire Frame ......................................................................85
Chapter 3: Organizing Your Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Considering File Management ......................................................................92
Keeping It Tidy ...............................................................................................94
Implementing Information Architecture .....................................................96
Developing section-level information architecture..........................97
Arranging page-level information.......................................................98
Avoiding Content Problems..........................................................................99
Chapter 4: Ensuring Visual Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Colors on the Web........................................................................................101
CMYK color .........................................................................................102
RGB color ............................................................................................102
Hexadecimal colors............................................................................102
Making nice with established color schemes.................................103
Web-safe colors...................................................................................104
Getting Familiar with Graphics File Formats ............................................107
xii Building Web Sites All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies
Using Fonts Effectively on Web Sites.........................................................109
Implementing Stock Images and Other Elements ....................................111
Facelifting an Existing Site ..........................................................................114
Choosing a new color scheme ..........................................................114
Figuring out which graphics to replace...........................................114
Creating a new prototype..................................................................115
Applying the new colors to your CSS file ........................................119
Book III: Site Construction .........................................121
Chapter 1: Pulling Together Tools and Materials . . . . . . . . .123
Matching the Tools to Your Needs.............................................................123
Hauling Out the Hardware ..........................................................................124
A computer..........................................................................................125
Computer monitor..............................................................................125
Backups and storage..........................................................................126
Printers and scanners........................................................................127
Cameras and camcorders..................................................................128
Graphics tablet ...................................................................................130
Setting Up Your Web Design Studio ...........................................................130
Desperately Seeking Software ....................................................................131
Researching software before you buy .............................................132
Graphics software ..............................................................................132
Multimedia software ..........................................................................136
Web design software ..........................................................................139
Browser software................................................................................141
Chapter 2: Making a Web Page with HTML . . . .. . . . . . .143
Getting Acquainted with the Basic Parts of an HTML Document..........143
Starting Your HTML Document Right ........................................................144
The document type definition ..........................................................145
The head tag and what goes in it .....................................................146
Now for some body! ...........................................................................149
The anatomy of a whole page...........................................................150
Controlling layouts with CSS.............................................................156
Helpful Development Practices..................................................................157
Chapter 3: Creating a Web Page Layout with HTML and CSS .159
Introducing CSS ............................................................................................159
Understanding why CSS can help your site — and you ................159
Checking the source...........................................................................161
Using CSS with other tools ................................................................162
Ways of Working with CSS...........................................................................163
Inline styles .........................................................................................164
Styles embedded in the head of the document..............................164
External style sheets..........................................................................165
Commenting your code .....................................................................166
Creating a CSS Document............................................................................167
Setting default selectors ....................................................................168
Setting class and ID selectors ...........................................................169
Special Effects with CSS...............................................................................174
Styling your links ................................................................................174
Cool headlines ....................................................................................175
Custom padding and margins ...........................................................175
Custom borders..................................................................................176
Chapter 4: Introducing Web and Graphics Software . . . . .179
Choosing Graphics Software.......................................................................179
Adobe Photoshop...............................................................................179
Adobe Illustrator ................................................................................181
Other professional-grade graphics software ..................................182
Considering Web-Design Software .............................................................183
Deciding on Multimedia Software ..............................................................184
Touring Photoshop CS2...............................................................................185
The Welcome Screen..........................................................................185
The default workspace ......................................................................186
The work area .....................................................................................187
Layers and the Layer palette ............................................................188
Tools and the toolbox........................................................................190
Chapter 5: Getting Started with Dreamweaver . . . . . . .203
Exploring the Dreamweaver Interface.......................................................203
The Start Page.....................................................................................205
The New Document dialog box.........................................................206
The Files panel....................................................................................210
The Document window......................................................................214
The Preferences dialog box...............................................................219
The Properties inspector (panel).....................................................220
The CSS Styles panel..........................................................................221
The Insert bar .....................................................................................223
Creating a Web Site with Dreamweaver ....................................................223
Testing Your Pages and Validating the Code ............................................225
Publishing Your Web Site with Dreamweaver ..........................................227
Chapter 6: Using Dreamweaver: Advanced Techniques . . .231
Creating a Site with Prebuilt Page Designs ...............................................232
Creating Templates to Ease Site Maintenance .........................................235
Making a template ..............................................................................235
Including editable regions.................................................................237
Creating a page using a template .....................................................237
Updating a template...........................................................................238
Exploring the Assets Panel and Library Items .........................................240
Touring the Assets panel...................................................................240
Discovering library items..................................................................242
Adding Functionality with Dreamweaver Behaviors ...............................246
Including the Open Browser Window behavior .............................248
Editing a behavior via the Behaviors panel ....................................252
Creating a pop-up message ...............................................................253
Chapter 7: Creating a Web Page from a Photoshop File . . .255
Taking a Wire Frame to a Finished Design ................................................255
Finishing the Artwork..................................................................................261
Placing a photo in your banner ........................................................262
Creating a clipping mask ...................................................................262
Implementing filters, adjustment layers, and blend modes .........263
Slicing a Photoshop Document ..................................................................266
Optimizing Graphics for the Web...............................................................268
Making a Graphic Transparent...................................................................272
Chapter 8: Meeting HTML’s Powerful Friends . . . . . . .275
Web Technologies Defined..........................................................................275
Vary your content with variables.....................................................276
Conditional statements .....................................................................277
Here we go loop-de-loop....................................................................278
Creating functional functions ...........................................................280
Looking on the Server Side .........................................................................281
ASP/ASP.NET .......................................................................................281
.NET Framework .................................................................................282
JavaScript ............................................................................................282
PHP.......................................................................................................284
CGI/PERL .............................................................................................284
Checking Out the Client Side ......................................................................287
Java.......................................................................................................287
VBScript...............................................................................................288
Chapter 9: Web Site Usability and Accessibility . . . . .291
Ensuring Your Site Is Easy to Use...............................................................291
Helping Users Access Your Site..................................................................293
Images need alternate content .........................................................294
Use more than one method to convey your information..............295
Pictures are important.......................................................................296
Orientation tools are helpful.............................................................296
Creating Accessible Web Pages..................................................................297
Using Dreamweaver to insert accessible elements .......................297
Using Dreamweaver to check your site’s accessibility .................299
Chapter 10: Publishing the Web Site . . . . . . . . . .303
Look Before You Leap: What to Do before Launch ..................................303
Develop a checklist ............................................................................303
Get opinions........................................................................................306
Going Live .....................................................................................................308
Using Dreamweaver to upload content ...........................................309
Uploading pages with an FTP client.................................................312
What Next? The Launch Is Not the End of the Project............................314
Submitting the site to search engines .............................................315
Implementing marketing....................................................................315
Requesting link exchanges................................................................316
Book IV: Web Graphics ..............................................317
Chapter 1: Finding Inspiration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .319
Finding Fresh Ideas ......................................................................................319
Respecting the Copyrights of Others ........................................................320
Protecting Your Own Copyrights ...............................................................322
Working with Colors (Web Safe versus Not Web Safe)............................322
Creativity Tools — Color Charts and More...............................................325
Font/Type Issues on Web Sites...................................................................326
Print to Web — Making Your Web Site Work
with Existing Materials ............................................................................327
Understanding Image Formats for Web Design........................................328
Using the GIF image file format.........................................................328
Using the JPEG image file format......................................................330
Using the PNG image file format.......................................................331
Chapter 2: Bringing Your Vision to Life . .. . . . . . . .333
Introducing Fireworks 8 ..............................................................................333
Vector and raster images...................................................................333
The PNG file format............................................................................335
Fireworks interface mini-tour ...........................................................336
Creating Art with Other Tools ....................................................................343
Adding Photoshop CS2 to your graphics toolbox..........................343
Getting graphics ready for the Web with ImageReady ..................344
Creating painterly images in Corel Painter .....................................348
Chapter 3: Workhorse Graphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .351
Creating Buttons in Fireworks....................................................................351
Introducing the Button Editor ..........................................................352
Creating a simple two-state button ..................................................352
Creating buttons with pizzazz ..........................................................356
Creating a Vertical Navigation Menu .........................................................357
Creating a Pop-Up Menu..............................................................................360
Recycling — Reuse Everything ..................................................................365
Making a reusable graphic template................................................365
Organizing a site .................................................................................366
A Doodle to a Working Page — Concept to Completion .........................367
Mind mapping .....................................................................................367
Creating a client mockup...................................................................368
Optimizing Artwork in Fireworks...............................................................368
Optimizing GIF artwork .....................................................................369
Optimizing JPEG artwork ..................................................................370
Exporting Artwork from Fireworks............................................................372
Chapter 4: Creating Compelling Graphics . . . . . . . . . .373
Creating Banner Graphics...........................................................................373
Using Photoshop to create a banner ...............................................374
Including all the important information ..........................................376
Working with an existing logo...........................................................376
Create Promotional Graphics .....................................................................378
Emphasize your point........................................................................379
Complement your style .....................................................................380
Creating Fast-Loading, Beautiful Photos ...................................................382
Resizing your photos for the Web....................................................382
Using professional optimization techniques ..................................385
Creating a Photo Gallery .............................................................................390
Choosing your photos .......................................................................390
Putting the photos in order...............................................................392
Using Photoshop to create a photo gallery ....................................393
Using Dreamweaver to create a photo gallery ...............................396
Book V: Multimedia...................................................399
Chapter 1: Incorporating Flash Creations . . . . . . .401
Introducing Flash 8 ......................................................................................401
Touring the interface .........................................................................402
Getting comfortable with Flash ........................................................407
Setting up your workspace ...............................................................413
Building Flashy Navigation .........................................................................415
Creating the navigation menu document ........................................415
Creating buttons in Flash ..................................................................416
Assembling your menu ......................................................................421
Adding functionality to the buttons.................................................423
Publishing your file and adding it to your page .............................425
Flash as an Animation Tool.........................................................................426
Create a Flash Presentation ........................................................................427
Exploring the Many Tricks of Flash ...........................................................428
Chapter 2: Using Sound . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .431
Exploring Audio Formats for the Web .......................................................431
Adding Flash Audio to a Page.....................................................................432
Creating Flash audio ..........................................................................432
Adding sound to a Web page ............................................................435
Embedding a QuickTime Player in a Page ................................................437
Adding the RealMedia Player to a Page.....................................................438
Adding the Windows Media Player to a Web Page ..................................440
Delivering Your Message.............................................................................443
Chapter 3: Using Web Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .445
Exploring Web Video Formats ....................................................................445
Working with Digital Video..........................................................................446
Capturing video ..................................................................................446
Encoding video ...................................................................................447
Creating and Encoding Flash Video ...........................................................449
Adding Flash Video to a Web Page.............................................................455
Adding QuickTime Player to a Page ..........................................................458
Adding Windows Media Player to a Page..................................................461
Avoiding DV Pitfalls .....................................................................................462
Chapter 4: Slideshow Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465
About Slideshow Pro ...................................................................................465
Installing the Extension ...............................................................................466
Creating a Slide Show ..................................................................................467
Launching Slideshow Pro ..................................................................467
Adding slides to your show ..............................................................471
Adding text and sound to a slide......................................................474
Editing a slide show ...........................................................................478
Book VI: Audience Interaction....................................479
Chapter 1: Adding Basic Interactivity with HTML
Forms and JavaScript . . . . . . . . . . .481
Understanding Interactivity........................................................................481
Getting Ready to Code.................................................................................482
Building an HTML Form ..............................................................................484
Form tags: <form> </form>................................................................484
Text fields: <input type=“text”> ........................................................485
xviii Building Web Sites All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies
Submit buttons: <input type=“submit”>..........................................485
Creating a simple form in Dreamweaver .........................................485
Testing the form .................................................................................490
Adding Elements to Your Form ..................................................................491
Password fields...................................................................................491
Hidden fields .......................................................................................491
Textarea form objects........................................................................493
Multiple choice types (check box and radio).................................494
Drop-down lists...................................................................................498
Event handlers and JavaScript .........................................................500
Making dynamic pages with server side technology.....................502
Chapter 2: An Introduction to ASP . . . . . . . . . . .505
Understanding ASP ......................................................................................505
Creating ASP Pages and Testing Them on Your Local System ...............507
Working with IIS ..................................................................................507
Setting up the Web site ......................................................................508
Defining the site in Dreamweaver ....................................................508
Creating ASP Pages in Dreamweaver.........................................................511
Using variables ...................................................................................513
Introducing VBScript functions ........................................................518
Discovering Cool ASP Tricks ......................................................................519
Displaying a random image...............................................................520
Create a rotating ad banner ..............................................................521
Chapter 3: Introduction to PHP . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .527
What Is PHP?.................................................................................................527
Fulfilling PHP Server Side Requirements ..................................................528
Creating PHP Pages......................................................................................528
Declaring and Using Variables....................................................................529
Working with Conditional Statements .......................................................531
Putting conditional statements into action ....................................532
Using comparison operators ............................................................534
Using logical operators......................................................................535
Repeating Lines of Code Using Loops .......................................................535
Using the while loop ..........................................................................535
Using the for loop...............................................................................536
Generating a Random Image.......................................................................536
Chapter 4: MySQL and PHP . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .539
Creating a Mailing List Form.......................................................................540
Creating the Database .................................................................................542
Creating the PHP Code ................................................................................545
Retrieving Information from a Database ...................................................547
Chapter 5: Additional Site Interactivity . . . . . . . .551
Engaging Visitors with an Online Journal (Blog) .....................................551
Initiating Online Conversations: Forums and Message Boards .............553
Establishing an Online Community: Wiki ..................................................555
Feeding Them Your Content: RSS...............................................................557
Using an online feed reader ..............................................................559
Creating an RSS feed ..........................................................................559
Validating your feed ...........................................................................562
Getting your feed going .....................................................................565
Branding through E-Mail .............................................................................566
Keeping Them Up to Date: Newsletters ....................................................568
Book VII: E-Commerce ...............................................569
Chapter 1: An E-Commerce Primer . . . . . . . . . . . . .571
Nailing Down E-Commerce Concepts ........................................................571
Establishing an online identity .........................................................572
Researching domain names ..............................................................572
Purchasing domain names ................................................................574
Choosing an e-commerce-friendly server .......................................575
Planning a user-friendly site .............................................................578
Brainstorming the site .......................................................................579
Adding Basic E-Commerce with PayPal.....................................................581
Integrating with Credit Card Authorization Packages.............................584
Solving the online payment maze ....................................................585
Internet fraud: An e-commerce merchant’s
worst nightmare..............................................................................586
SSL — What Is It?..........................................................................................586
Using a secure server.........................................................................587
Sharing an SSL certificate..................................................................587
E-commerce Do’s and Don’ts......................................................................588
Chapter 2: Building an E-Commerce Site . . . . . . . . . .591
Technological Considerations....................................................................591
Usability: Thinking Like a Customer..........................................................592
Legal Considerations — Call a Lawyer......................................................594
Cookies that don’t crumble...............................................................594
Spam, spam, spam, spam! .................................................................595
Creating an E-Commerce Site .....................................................................596
Setting up the e-mail addresses........................................................596
Selling items with a PayPal account.................................................599
Using a Shopping Cart .................................................................................605
Creating a mailing list form ...............................................................606
Forwarding the information to a database .....................................608
Test, test, and then test again...........................................................610
Selling Online ................................................................................................611
If you build it they won’t care...........................................................611
Security concerns...............................................................................612
Following through on every sale ......................................................613
Chapter 3: Maintaining an E-Commerce Site . . . . . .615
When Technology Breaks Down.................................................................615
When client-side technology runs amuck .......................................615
Server-side technology, or code sleight of hand............................616
Handling Customers ....................................................................................617
Getting it in writing ............................................................................617
Documenting everything ...................................................................619
Handling e-commerce customers.....................................................619
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Marketing ..................................620
Optimizing the site for search engines............................................620
Finding sites to link to the e-commerce site ...................................622
Danger, Will Robinson! These do not compute ..............................623
Using search engine software ...........................................................625
Marketing the site to the world ........................................................625
Figuring Out When to Upgrade...................................................................629
Upgrading to a more robust Web hosting package........................630
Upgrading to another server ............................................................631
Book VIII: Site Management ......................................633
Chapter 1: Helping a Site Succeed . . . . . . . . . . . . .635
Planning and Incorporating Search Engine Optimization (SEO)............635
Seeing why SEO is essential ..............................................................636
Understanding the mechanisms: Meta tags,
keywords, descriptions, and alt text ............................................636
Improving site searchability .............................................................638
Hiring the Right Professional Help.............................................................642
Deciding between SEO and paid advertising ..................................643
Submitting your site to search engines ...........................................643
Using a service to submit your site .................................................645
Determining If Your SEO Is Working...........................................................646
Reading your Web stats .....................................................................646
Defining Web stat terms ....................................................................646
Adjusting the site and driving traffic ...............................................648
Using Reciprocal Links to Boost the Site’s Visibility ...............................649
Promoting a Site with Traditional Marketing ...........................................650
Keeping Them Coming Back.......................................................................650
Ongoing content development .........................................................651
Creating content to keep them coming back..................................652
Chapter 2: Maintaining a Web Site . . . . . . . . . .653
Updating Pages without Destroying Them ...............................................653
Sharing the Work with Contribute .............................................................655
Creating a connection........................................................................656
Administering the Web site ...............................................................659
Sending a connection key..................................................................662
Editing Web pages ..............................................................................665
Managing a Site with Dreamweaver...........................................................667
Editing new pages...............................................................................667
Archiving pages ..................................................................................670
Tips for Managing Tasks..............................................................................671
Simplifying repetitive tasks with Snippets ......................................671
Taking advantage of your assets ......................................................674
Using the Dreamweaver Library.......................................................676
Chapter 3: Expanding a Site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681
Use It or Lose It: Should You Add On or Redesign? .................................681
Adding on to an existing site ............................................................681
Redesigning the site from scratch....................................................682
Headache-Free Expansion...........................................................................684
Things to consider when redesigning..............................................684
Trauma-free site expansion...............................................................688
After Launching the Expanded Site ...........................................................690
Book IX: Case Studies................................................693
Chapter 1: Personal Web Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .695
Tailoring the Site to Your Client .................................................................695
Creating the Home Page ..............................................................................696
Creating Other Pages...................................................................................697
The photo gallery...............................................................................697
The discography page .......................................................................698
The events page..................................................................................698
The multimedia gallery......................................................................700
Editing a Personal Web Site ........................................................................701
Chapter 2: Blog Site . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .703
Examining Blog Software and Services .....................................................703
b2evolution .........................................................................................704
WordPress ...........................................................................................708
Exploring other options: Blogger.com.............................................716
Adding a Blog to an Existing Web Site .......................................................716
Chapter 3: Online Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .719
Building a Mailing List .................................................................................719
Making It Easy to Add People .....................................................................721
Managing the Mailing List ...........................................................................723
Give Subscribers Something Useful...........................................................723
Case Study: Newsletter for an Acupuncture Clinic..................................725
Chapter 4: Photographer/Portfolio Site . . . . . . . . . .727
Defining Goals for the Site...........................................................................727
Designing the Site.........................................................................................728
Creating the navigation menu in Fireworks ....................................728
Optimizing images in Fireworks .......................................................730
Creating thumbnails in Fireworks ....................................................731
Creating the other assets ..................................................................731
Putting it together in Dreamweaver.................................................733
Creating the portfolio pages .............................................................735
Showing off without snootiness .......................................................737
Index........................................................................739
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