So you've heard all the buzz over the Internet and now you are ready to design your own web page. If you are just starting out it can be a little daunting, but creating an attractive web page is easier than you might think.

Where do I begin?

Web pages are basically files that your computer reads over the Internet using your modem and phone line. Written in a scripting language called HTML (which stands for hypertext markup language), these files control how both pictures and text appear on the Web. When you go to a site on the Internet, your browser (Netscape, Explorer, etc) reads the HTML to tell it how to display the page.

For those who would like to learn HTML from the ground up, a wide assortment of books can be found in any bookstore. In addition, there are a number of excellent, free tutorials available on the Internet. A good place to start is the NCSA Beginner's Guide to HTML. There you will find an introduction to HTML as well as exercises you can try. Click here for more information on how to use WS_FTP

Of course, not everyone is interested in learning to write code. Luckily, with today's HTML editors, you don't have to know any HTML to create a dynamic page. HTML editors work very much like advanced word processors. Using an intuitive menu-driven interface, you can write out text, add colors, images, tables, links - everything you need to get your page up and running in a short amount of time.

Commercial HTML editors such Symantec's Visual Page and Adobe PageMill are available at most computer software resellers. One advantage of the commercial packages is that they usually include templates and clip art to help you design your page. For those on a budget, there are a number of excellent HTML editors that can be downloaded for free over the Internet. One popular choice is AOL Press from America Online. AOL Press features an online tutorial which will have you publishing to the web in no time. Another widely used editor is Composer - which comes included with Netscape's Communicator. Powerful and easy to use, this free package will enable you to create attractive pages by suppertime.

But these are not your only choices. A quick search on the Internet will reveal a multitude of both free and commercially available products. Check them out and see which best meets your needs and budget.

Size Matters

No doubt, you'll want to include pictures on your page. When scanning your images, you'll want to save them in either JPEG or GIF format. These are the two standard formats for images sent over the web. One important rule when publishing images to the web is to keep the size of your picture file as small as possible. Remember, most people will be using a 56K (or more likely) a 28.8 modem to view your pages. 56 and 28.8 refers to the speed at which the modem can transmit information over the Internet to your computer. Large image files can take a long time to download and many users will leave your site if they are left waiting too long for a picture to appear. Ideally, individual picture files should be 1-20k max in size. The total page (including all graphics) should be less than 45k. 60k is the maximum or the page will load very slow.

Strike a Pose

Up until now, we have been discussing largely technical concerns. The real fun is in creating a page that says something about your club and its activities. The pictures you choose; the colors; the text - all of these will create an impression on the net surfer visiting your site. Figure out what kind of image you want to project and then work on a page that gets your message across.

If you're new to design, spend some time looking at other people's sites for inspiration. Click here if you would like to see how other BC Student Clubs are using the Web. In addition, CNET's Web Builder site offers an excellent assortment of tips and techniques for both the beginner and advanced web mogul. Before you know it, you're message will be reaching millions.

Happy Publishing!

ITS Web Group

For Technical Support on FTP or uploading your web files, contact the ITS Web Group at 718/677-6180 or via e-mail: webgroup@brooklyn.cuny.edu