One of the ways to learn about publishing on the World Wide Web is to construct a webpage. The code for formatting a plain word processed text file to turn it into a webpage is called Hypertext Markup Language (html).

The basic html codes for producing a page can be learned in about 15 minutes. Creating the webpage takes a bit longer. There are also packages which are templates for webpages where you can input your text and graphics and the software will insert the html code to produce your webpage.

A webpage on a disk can be a type of presentation to a class or as part of a class project or assignment. While your webpage is not mounted on the Mount Mercy WWW server, it can still be viewed on computers having a World Wide Web browser such as Netscape or Microsoft Explorer. You may present it to a class using one of the "teaching cart computers" with the projector.

World Wide Web terminology is sometimes puzzling. Some call all webpages homepages. Others call all webpages. And others call the main page at a website the homepage and all subsequent pages, linked pages or webpages. Here we generally refer to them all as webpages.

The Busse Center Librarians and Computer Center Staff are available to assist you in preparing your webpage and in arranging a way to show it to your class.

WHAT IS A WEBPAGE?

A webpage is a hypertext document made up of text and graphic (sometimes sound) files. A hypertext document starts with a page often called a homepage or an index. Other pages or files are linked to it. The linked files need not be viewed in a linear order; hence the name, hypertext. Files linked to a document are usually designated by colored underlined titles or phrases.

Links may also be visible or invisible buttons. Wherever the mouse cursor arrow becomes a hand with pointing finger when moved across a webpage, is a place where a click will open a linked file.

Every webpage has a unique filename as does each of the linked files or documents. This name is called a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

The files reside on computers called servers which allow the URLs to be contacted and linked and viewed on remote computers. The URLs are important in making a webpage.

PLANNING A WEBPAGE

Guidelines to keep in mind when planning a webpage follow. You can think of a webpage as a billboard, overhead or 35mm slide. It should be eye-catching and easy to read. More detailed or dense information should be in linked files and not on the first page.

COMPONENT PARTS

1. title or page name
2. short description or explanation
3. appropriate links
4. identifying information - institution or person, address or telephone or email contact
5. the URL of this file
6. copyright notice
7. publication date or date of last revision of original material

We suggest that all the files you write to link to your main webpage or index have the same identifying information listed above. Search engines on the WWW sometimes retrieve files which have no identification because the writer has only put it on his/her index page. A page is more useful and credible if its origin can be easily identified.

ORGANIZATION

1. organization should be appropriate to content
2. use bulleted lists in preference to incorporating many links in paragraphs
3. create multiple paths to the same information
4. link files in both directions
5. all files should have a link to the main webpage

LAYOUT

1. use basic graphic design principles in layout
2. consider using or creating a basic template for the main webpage and all other linked pages you create
3. webpage (your starting page or index) should, if possible, fit on one screen and include a table of contents
4. put most important content first on each file
5. use graphic images sparingly for greatest effect and viewer loading ease
5. label byte size of large inline images
6. limit to 5-10 links from each page whenever feasible
7. tables in a webpage are an effective way of adding color without use of graphics

GRAPHICS

1. web graphics are .jpg for photographs and .gif for other artwork
2. packaged clipart images (.jpg or .gif)are usually small and will load quickly when inserted in your page
3. images in formats other than .jpg or .gif must be converted to use on a webpage
4. size your graphics in an editing software to dimensions similar to those wanted on the screen
5. compress .jpg files to the smallest still giving an acceptable image for easy loading

SELECTING LINKS

Selecting links is sometimes difficult. Care should be taken to determine the credibility of each link, as much as is possible. Credible links usually include the institution or author, a complete address, a feedback mechanism and some indication of the position taken by the author. There are no editors or publication procedures (other than what an institution may have for itself) on the World Wide Web.   There are few guarantees for accuracy in self published work other than the standards held by the writer.

The Busse Center Library includes a disclaimer on its main webpage: http://www.mtmercy.edu/busse.htm. You may want to do so also.

As in any form of writing, it is important to credit sources. Some of the ideas for this handout were found in:  Stover, M. & Zink, S.D. (1996). Would Wide Web home page design...RSR, 24 (3), 7-20.

OTHER WAYS

There are a growing number of software packages and format choices in word processing packages for creating basic webpages. You may want to use one of these for your class project webpages instead of using html language to format your own page. Microsoft FrontPage is available in the Busse Computer Classroom.  An online tutorial for using FrontPage is available here. WORD97 and Microsoft Publisher documents may be saved in HTML format.  You will probably want to edit the html of these authoring softwares after using them to prepare a draft of your webpage.   Editing html documents is easiest in Windows WordPad available on all machines in the Busse Computer Center.

FINISHING UP

When you have finished your text file on the word processor, you save the file to a 3 1/2 inch disk. Save it as a text file with an .htm extension, such as: assign1.htm     The disk can be inserted in a machine with a WWW browser and the file opened for viewing during your class presentation without mounting it on a server.