FAQ

Introduction
The following is a collection of HTML/web desdign related questions I have asked, or been asked. It would be wise to refer back to this section after you have read the Tutorials under the HTML and CSS sections.

HTML
Q: I've seen some web pages without the <html> tags at the beginning. I've also seen pages with something else in front of the <html> tag. Why?
A: A lot of web browsers will let it slide if you forget the <html> tag, but it's still a good idea to include it because some software does need it to identify the page as valid HTML.

The official standard goes one step further and recommends that you put a tag at the beginning that looks like this: <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN//4.0">. This indicates that your document conforms to the HTML 4 standard. However, no software that I am aware of pays any attention to this tag. It's not likely to be required in the near future either, since so few people use it.

Q: I want the content of my web page to touch the edges, or I want it to come in more, how do I adjust the margins?
A: You would use the leftmargin, rightmargin, bottommargin, and topmargin attributes. These Internet Explorer attributes allow the margins of the document to be set.

However, this only works in Internet Explorer, so for NetScape users you also need to use the marginheight and marginwidth attributes.

If you want your document to touch the extreme edges of the pages, on all four sides, type your <body> tag like this:

<body leftmargin="0" topmargin="0" rightmargin="0" bottommargin="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0">

Sometimes you can leave rightmargin and bottommargin out, and still produce the same results. Occationally, I encounter problems because of this. If you encounter a margin problem, try putting right/bottommarin back in.

Q: I've seen some people type their HTML tags with capital letters, is that required?
A: Using capital letters in your HTML tags is a preference thing. An <HTML> tag is the same as a <html> tag. But, the latest standard called "XHTML" requires all code to be lowercase.

Q: How do I put Kanji, Arabic, Chinese, or other non-European characters on my page?
A: In order for a everyone to be able to even see these characters they must have the appropriate language fonts installed. If they do, you can use the character map accessory to get the numerical codes for each character.

The best way to ensure that all characters will display correctly is to simply make the text into a graphic.

Q: I set my list type to square, but the bullets still came out round. Why?
A: More then likely, it's because you are not using Netscape Navigator 2 +, or Microsoft Internet Explorer 4+. Alternate bullet types don't show up in any other web browsers.

Q: I've seen a lot of people type the <img /> tag without the fore slash at the end. Are they doing it wrong?
A: The new XML and XHTML standards will require any tag that doesn't have a closing tag to include a fore slash at the end. This means that tags such as <img />, <br />, and <hr /> are properly written with a fore slash to "close" them. However, just because new HTML standards are released doesn't mean that the people writing the web browsing software will require you to follow them. As of right now, and more then likely for quite some time, you should be able to write your non closing tags just as they are and not worry about using a fore slash. It would be a good idea to try and get into the habit of using them, however, simply because eventually web browsing software may not recognize the old HTML standards.

Q: I found an image that I like, can I just save it to my web space, or better yet just link to their URL wherever I want that image?
A: It's easy to do that, but it's also rude, and in most cases illegal.

When you find an image that you like, you absolutely have to obtain written permission from the web master to use it. If you do obtain permission, you need to upload it to your own web space, and link to it there.

Otherwise, you are doing something called direct linking. This is taking bandwidth from another person, and bandwidth cost money.

Some people are not aware that they are direct linking images. If you did not upload the image yourself, on your own web space account, and the URL of the image that your placed in your code looks something like http://www.someone_else.com/image.jpg, then odds are you are direct linking.

When you learn HTML make sure you read up extra hard on bandwidth and direct linking.

Q: Doesn't Netscape and Internet Explorer allow people to choose their own background and text colors?
A: Yes, which means that some people will see your black background with light gray text as their favorite color combination of pink text on a dark red background. Very few people use this option, however, so don't lose sleep over it.

Q: I've heard something about 231 "browser-safe-colors". Should I stick to just those colors?
A: Actually, there are 231 colors that appear less "fuzzy" on computers that operate on 256-color video mode. (The other 25 colors are used for menus, etc.) Some people like to stick to those colors, but really more and more people operate on true-color or high-color mode which displays all colors with equal clarity. But, some people still use 16-color video mode, which will make the 231 "browser-safe-colors" look fuzzy too. You just can't win, so use whatever colors you want. If you want to play it safe, stick to the 16 named colors for text, and you should be all right.

Q: All of my links are purple and blue? How can I change that?
A: Well, you have your links set to the default colors. By default, a blue link is a regular one, and purple link is one that you have already visited. The easiest way to make your links the way you want them color wise, is to use the link and vlink attribute in the body tag, like this:

<body link="#rrggbb" vlink="#rrggbb">

You can also use this method to set the active links, but it is Netscape specific. That attribute is alink.

Q: My links have underlines, and I don't want that. How do I change this, like some of the other websites I've seen?
A: It's a CSS thing. After the </title>, but before the </head> tag is where you will place the code.

<html>
<head>
<title> [title here] </title>

<style type="text/css">
a {
text-decoration: none;
}
</style>

</head>
<body>
[ content here ]
</body>
</html>

Q: What's the difference between a radio button and checkbox besides appearance?
A: The checkbox type will allow you to select as many as you like, the radio button type will only allow you to pick one.

Q: You didn't talk about Server-Side Image Maps! What are they?
A: In a nutshell, server-side image maps are the old way of making image maps. Client-Side Image maps didn't come out until 1995-ish, which means that your map will not be compatible with any version of Netscape and Internet Explorer below 2. These are really old versions, however, so the odds of you having a visitor with those versions are practically zero. If you ever work on a commercial websites however, it would be well worth your time to investigate how to make a server-side image map, and then a combined client/server image map.

Q: My poly and circle shapes on my image map didn't work in Netscape 2, why?
A: Netscape and IE 2 only support rectangular regions, so polys and circles won't work.

Q: What is "client-side" and "server-side"?
A: Programs that run on the user's machine are referred to as client-side programs; progrmas running on the server (including Perl / CGI scripts) are called server-side programs.

Origenally, an image-map required the usage of CGI scripts, but now you can run an image-map with strait HTML.

Q: What is "streaming" video/audio?
A: With streaming video and audio, the file will play as the data is being recieved, rather then after.

Q: Wasn't a different way to embed audio and vido files made?
A: Yes, the <object>....</object> tag is the offical HTML 4 standard, but as far as I know Netscape's non-standard <embed /> tag proves more compatible.

The <object> tag was created to embed all types of content; images, video, Java applets, or ActiveX OLE controls.

Q: My table takes too long to load on my computer, is there anything I can do to speed things up?
A: Including the width and height attributes in the <table> tag, <tr> tag, and <td> tag will help greatly. The browser has to figure up the size of everything before it can display the table, so this will help.

Q: Can I display someone else's web page in one of my frames?
A: You can load any web page document into a frame, even if it that web page has frames itself. However, you should never frame someone else's pages in such a way that they appear to be your own. This could get you in legal trouble, in addition to being rude.

Q: My tables won't work in Netscape.
A: Here are a few ways to troubleshoot your tables.

CSS
Q: Can I link more then one style sheet?
A: Absolutely. Just place one <link > tag on top of the other. As a matter of fact, you can also link a style sheet, and place a style sheet on the same web page. If there is anything on the local style sheet that contradicts the external one, the local one will take precedence.


Q: If I have a local style sheet on my HTML document that says all text should be verdana, but I make a <font style="font-family : tahoma; "> tag, will the text in the tag be verdana or tahoma?
A: Tahoma. Inline styles take precedence over external, and local style sheet specifications.

Bandwidth
Q: ...So, if I link to someone else's website am I stealing bandwidth?
A: No, that's a bit different. When you link to someone, such as linking them on a "favorite links" page, then you are simply giving them a visitor. Only when you link to a file (like a .jpg, .gif, .avi, .zip, etc), or link to a section of their web page trying to pass that web page off as your own are you stealing bandwidth. But linking someone else's website is what the world wide web is all about, so as long as it's not a file, link away.


Q: As long as I don't direct link, can I put any file / image on my website that I find?
A: No, when you find a file on the Internet, you need to get written permission from the web master to use it. Getting files on the Internet takes some work, and often means hours of scanning for multiple images. You should respect the time that went into it.

Also, if you have a website that generates revenue of any type, you need to get permission to use any image that you did not create entirely from nothing, even ones that you scanned yourself. Getting in trouble with the owner of an image is never pretty. It's illegal, and can cost a lot of money to purchase the image if you are caught.

Etc.
Q: Testing takes way too long, isn't there a bare minimum?
A: If you're designing a large website, intended to generate revenue, then no, unless you only want the bare minimum of profits, that is.

But, if you're just designing a personal home page, or something for fun, then having a few visitors see a few errors isn't so bad. Just make sure that your website looks acceptable in:

The most recent versions of Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.
800 x 600
16 / 32 bit color
Recent versions of Windows and Mac OS (anything within the last 5-6 years.)
and, it has to have a fairly reasonable load time in 28.8 Kbps. Anyone dealing with less is probably used to waiting.

Q: What's VRML?
A: VRML: Virtual Reality Modeling Language. It's just as you would expect, interactive, 3D worlds that could become the new standard in web development. It's a quite possibly the next great thing, but isn't ready for the world. It should be compatible with the latest browsers, however, so if you want to get a head start on the next big thing, check out VRML.org.

Q: Can I write a review about a free server?
A: Sure can. If you do this for me, I'll even link you. The only rule is that you follow the format that I use, and make sure that your information is correct! Here is the format that I want you to follow for writing reviews:

Name of Web Space Provider and Address:
Web Space:
Bandwidth:
URL format:
File Transfer Method:
Advertisement:
FAQ page / Help:
Additional:

Web Space should be how many MB / GB of space you are giving, bandwidth needs to be the amount of data transfer giving (specify the size, and per month or per day) and you can also write down what happens when you exceed your daily/monthly bandwidth, URL Format needs to be what your address looks like (i.e.: http://provider.com/username). File Transfer Method needs to be all the different ways that you can upload your files to the website, Advertisement needs to be what type of ads are giving, and what options you have. FAQ page / Help needs to be what type of support they give, and how good/fast it is. Additional needs to be what type of advanced features they provide and extra information, such as CGI-bin support, who you would recommend them to if anyone, and any more comments you feel important.
When you are done, please email it to: jenni@jaydemail.com

Q: Can I write a review about a host that you have to pay for?
A: Absolutely! Same rules as above, and yes you will get a link and credit. You can also add a few things, just keep it nice and neat, or make it easy for me to edit. Include some prices also.

Q: Well, can I write a review about a free server that you have already written about?
A: Sure! I'll still post it, it's good to have different views on the same topic!

Q: Can I send you a tutorial on how to upload files to a free server / FTP using different programs, etc?
A: Yes! And I'll make sure to credit you and send everyone to your website with a link, of course. I ask that if you write a tutorial, make sure that it is in an easy to understand format, and that you are very specific and up to date. Feel free to include images and screen shots.

Note that I may edit your tutorials so that they are in step 1, step 2, step3, etc. format. (I'll inform the viewer that tutorial has been edited, however, and yes I will still credit you/link you.)

Email tutorials to: jenni@jaydemail.com

Q: Your information is out of date, man!
A: Really?? Could you tell me? jenni@jaydemail.com

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