John Cletheroe's
PC and Internet Hints

Web Page Creation Hints and Resources - Sources of Information on HTML Syntax etc

Stephen Le Hunte's HTMLib, also called HTML Reference Library, is an extremely convenient source for the details of the syntax of HTML tags. It is in the form of a Windows compiled HTML (CHM) help file. Web site: http://hot.virtual-pc.com/htmlib
The following instructions are for HTMLib V4:
As well as downloading the main distribution file, also be sure to visit the "Where" page on the above site and downloaded the HTMLHelp V1.1 ActiveX Controls file, HHUPD.EXE (461KB). Installation of this file is extremely straightforward (just run the program). Without this file being installed, HTMLib will not display the contents or index in its lefthand panel (the lefthand panel appears blank except for a small red cross), the link on the opening page fails with "Object doesn't support this property of method", and runtime error 438 may occur. HTMLHelp is the system which creates and displays CHM (compiled HTML) files, the new format of Help file used with Internet Explorer V4. There is more information about HTMLHelp at http://www.microsoft.com/workshop/author/htmlhelp
Also note that HTMLib's startup jingle can be suppressed by adding /sssh to the command line.
The printed book "HTML Sourcebook" by Ian S Graham, published by John Wiley, contains a vast amount of useful information on the subject, including the syntax of tags, the rules regarding which tags can appear inside other tags and a list of ampersand special characters. As computer books go it is relatively inexpensive. The second edition, published in 1996, covers HTML Version 3.0.
A crash course in HTML is available at http://www.w3-tech.com/crash. This can be read online or downloaded as a single PKZIP file for use offline. The same site also offers crash courses on JavaScript and Java but these appear to only be available online. External link checked Apr-99.
At one time Virgin Net had an excellent series of articles on web page creation, called "Andy's Hints". This included not only a general introduction but also details of some advanced features implemented in manner specific to Virgin Net such as counters, guestbooks, etc. Since the Virgin Net content was revamped in early Apr-98 this sadly seems to have disappeared. As of 11-Apr-98 a very limited amount of information is available on the Freespace section of the Help pages, with a promise of more to come.

As with all the other pages on this personal web site, all the information on this page is solely the opinion of the author, who has no connection whatsoever with any of the companies and organisations mentioned other than as an actual or potential customer.

Web Page Creation Hints and Resources

PC and Internet Hints

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Most recently modified 21-Apr-07