Do you want to create a Web site?
Confused by what you've heard and read? Here is my attempt at a simple explanation of how to get a simple Web site going.

In this introduction, I assume the following:

• You have Internet access and your provider (AOL, MSN, Earthlink, school, work, whatever) has provided you some space for a personal Web page or you otherwise have someone providing you space on a Web server. You need the ftp site where you will upload the files and the Web address used to view the files.
• You are using a PC or Macintosh
• You know just enough about computers to find create directories and find files once you have created them.
• You are willing to do a little work on your own, and you're not in too much of a hurry. (It won't take long, don't worry!)

The big picture:

1. The basic process is that (a) you create the Web page (say, "index.htm") on your PC's hard drive, (b) move the file up to the Web server, then (c) view the file using a Web browser.
2. A Web page is just a text file with special codes to format the text.  You could use Notepad (and many people do) but I recommend using a tool like AOLPress since it minimizes the amount of HTML you need to know.  For example, <b>dog</b> looks like dog when viewed in your Web browser.
3. To create and edit the pages, use AOLPress, which is one of many "HTML editors."
4. To move the files to the Web server, use LeechFTP, which is one of many "FTP programs."
5. To view the files, use Internet Explorer or Netscape, two of several "Web Browsers."

Getting started:

You will need to download some free software.  This is all safe, small software that won't screw up your computer.  (I make no guarantees, but it's behaved for me for years.)

• AOLPress: Used to create HTML (Web) pages. Underwritten by AOL and now abandoned, this 1997 program is still my tool of choice. Easy to use, small and free, and I can still read the files it creates. Download it here.
• LeechFTP: Used to move your new pages up to the Web server. Free, easy, and small, it makes moving files around the Internet as easy as using Windows Explorer.  Download it here.

Install these programs.

Create a local directory (on your hard drive) where you will create and edit your site. Call this "public_html". Then in public_html make a subdirectory for pictures called "images" where you can put puctures used on your site. Remember that the names of all files in a Web site should have no spaces, and I recommend using no capital letters because capitalization matters when typing a Web address.

Creating a page: Open AOLPress. Create a new page and save it in the directory you created. Save the file as index.html, since this is usually the name you have to call your home page (the first page most people will see.) Type anything you like on the page -- this is just a test page. You can easily change it later. Save your changes.

Move the file you your Web server: Get online, if necessary. Open LeechFTP. Click on the lightning on the toolbar.  Type in the name of the FTP server provided by AOL, MSN, or whoever is hosting your Web page.  It might look like ftp.earthlink.net or something like that. Enter your username and password. Click OK.  Then after a few seconds, the right pane will show your Web server directory. If you see a folder called public_html, you want you open that and put your files there.  Click on the middle pane and browse to the directory on your PC showing your new WEb page (index.html). Drag the file to the right pane to upload it.

View the file on the Web: Open Internet Explorer. Type the address provided by AOL or whoever. You should see your page, if everything worked.

References: I recommend you save a few of these references for your, well, reference.

• Learning HTML: Go to the Crash Course in HTML.  There are multiple copies of this great site.  One is http://www.kofc.ab.ca/course/HTMLMenu.html.
• General glossary of computer and Internet terms: Try the PC Webopedia.
• Ready to learn more than the basics: I rely on Webmonkey when I want to learn more.

Questions? If the above references don't answer your questions, I probably won't know, either. Ask someone you know. However, after getting this far, you have a good start. Good luck!

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