Building a website

Smiler · 12-07-2004, 16:45

I should start with an apology to those of you who work in IT as I'm not looking to buy anything.

I am part of new non-professional theatre company and we are looking at developing a website. Are there any easy to follow instructions that can be downloaded anywhere on the web? I want to be able to include photos and several different pages. I'd be grateful for any useful suggestions.

PIF_Tails · 12-07-2004, 17:40

I would suggest buying a copy of dreamweaver software, which is easy to use and uses point & click tools, so you don't need to understand html code to produce a website.

Dreamweaver also has tutorials on-line to show you how to make pages and link them and post pictures.

Here is my first very basic and very purple web site, made using dreamweaver.
http://www.piftails.com

If I can learn to make a website anyone can

Good Luck

Rich · 12-07-2004, 18:48

Dreamweaver is good if you know at least basic HTML, but for complete beginners I'd recommend MS Frontpage, cos it does all the code for you while you're designing your page... Granted you don't learn anything by doing it that way but it's still easier for newbies IMO.

PIF_Tails · 12-07-2004, 19:18

I knew zero html when I started to use Dreamweaver, you just use the point & click menu systems no programming needed.

I have heard front page is a good beginner package too.

JoeP · 12-07-2004, 21:17

Dreamweaver is OK but it costs money.

Frontpage is generally viewed as being a bit 'non-standard' in terms of what it produces - it'll do the job but a Frontpage site always looks like a Frontpage site.

You'll also need somewhere to put it and a domain name. This will cost you a little bit - not too much though.

First question - what do you want to do with the website? What will it's purpose be? Because this will determine whether what you want to do can be done by yourselves or whether you'll need a little help.

For example, if you want something that people can sign up to to get newsletters from you, and that's regularly updated, you may wish to consider using an existing Portal Program like phpnuke or Mambo and configuring it to suit. Not a trivial job for the non-techie.

If you just want something that's got a few pages then you might want to look around for pre-existing templates. These can be often downloaded for free and then modified and used for non-commercial sites without charge.

Hope this helps,

Joe

Draggletail · 12-07-2004, 23:46

You can get FREE website at yahoo.com or Lycos.co.uk, use there easy point and click type software, or upload your own 'frontpage express' design.
My example included here - done on Frontpage, uploaded to Lycos, all absolutely FREE, OK, not the best site in the world, but not bad, I think. it does the job.
My only experiance at the time was with 'Microsoft Word'

http://members.lycos.co.uk/draggletail

Rich · 13-07-2004, 19:11

Quote:

Originally posted by draggletail
You can get FREE website at yahoo.com or Lycos.co.uk, use there easy point and click type software, or upload your own 'frontpage express' design.
My example included here - done on Frontpage, uploaded to Lycos, all absolutely FREE, OK, not the best site in the world, but not bad, I think. it does the job.
My only experiance at the time was with 'Microsoft Word'

http://members.lycos.co.uk/draggletail

Quite a nice little site that

Does what it sets out to do, ie tell us about your rubbish removal service (not that your service is rubbish or owt

) and is very well layed out.

Draggletail · 13-07-2004, 23:35

Aw.. shuks, mate ... S'nowt really

No, seriously, thanks for the feedback, Rich

Hope it encourages anyone else to have a bash...

nomme · 14-07-2004, 09:13

This site http://www.bravenet.com/ will give you a 20M for free plus loads of tools and scripts to add to your pages if you want. They have lots of templates you can use too.
Like I say, up to a point its all free so you you have nothing to lose to give it a go!

(I think you may have to put up with ads on the top of your pages unless you pay)

Nomme

Draggletail · 14-07-2004, 15:06

Yeah, bravenet is very good, loads of flash extras to add to your site, just with a couple of clicks of the mouse.
Didnt know they gave you web space, maybe that is fairly new?

alchresearch · 16-07-2004, 21:45

You can pick up a cheap copy of Dreamweaver & associated books on Ebay.

Set yourself a very long weekend for getting to grips with it though! I've been using it for years and still find new things! It's paid off though as last night I won an national award in London for my web work!

noseyrosie · 16-07-2004, 23:34

This is my website http://whatrhymeswithrosie.tripod.com , bucket loads of stuff, including some very funyn quotes and ridiculous photos of me in various costumes! I'm just not too organised, which shows!!! You can look at lots of pics of me in silly outfits if you like

.

When the hosting website is back online you should all sign my guestbook

It's a mixture of copy/pasted and modified code from this very useful basic html site: www.lissaexplains.com

It's designed for kids so is so easy to use. All other tutorials have just made my brain fizzle. I nicked the background off a very cool graphics site, www.pixeldecor.com but don't tell them cos they'll have a fit (no, I asked really!). The rest of the graphics, liek the buttons and the moose I made myself. RPG likes the moose very much

Draggletail · 16-07-2004, 23:45

Quote:

Originally posted by alchresearch
You can pick up a cheap copy of Dreamweaver & associated books on Ebay.

Set yourself a very long weekend for getting to grips with it though! I've been using it for years and still find new things! It's paid off though as last night I won an national award in London for my web work!

Don't be shy! Can we see any examples of your web work?
Congratulations anyway

Rich · 21-07-2004, 08:36

For an example of my own web work, click the link in my sig.

Note to the mods: This is not just an opportunist plug for my site, it's just an example of web design.

qazitory · 21-07-2004, 21:02

I used Dreamweaver to create this site:
http://www.gothicveils.co.uk

Although I can't get access to the programme now, so I'm making do with Front Page. I don't think it's that bad!!

Phanerothyme · 21-07-2004, 21:19

for general advice you can't beat www.webmonkey.com shut down in february, but reinstated due to popular demand (from me (and others)).

Just great short demos from people who are the forefront of the Wired Magazine Web Development Team. Pearls for novices, hackers and gods.