Front Page Experience

[Billy B.]

An industry group that I belong to is looking for volunteers to assist with
the running of their website. I'd like to volunteer, however I have limited
computer experience. (I use them at work but we have IT people to do the
maintenance etc...)

Here are the requirements for the volunteer website assist. admin: Maintain
website content and links. Should have a grasp of HTML and/or an HTML editor
like FrontPage. Reports to Director of Information Technologies, and will
coordinate web site updates with Website Programmer.
FYI they are also looking for a volunteer website programer to do, I
suppose, the in depth programing.

What I'd like to know is could a person learn this by reading and self study
or would I need more education? I don't want to waste their time or bite off
more than I can chew. Any advise would be appreciated.
thanks
Bill

 

[Trevor L.]

What I'd like to know is could a person learn this by reading and
self study or would I need more education? I don't want to waste
their time or bite off more than I can chew. Any advise would be
appreciated.
thanks
Bill

My qualified answer is "Yes"

I knew nothing about writing web pages 3 years ago. Now, although I have a
long way to go, I can manage most things.

The reason for qualifying my answer is that I have a background in IT -
although as I said *none* in writing for the web.

You wrote: "I use them at work but we have IT people to do the maintenance
etc..."

I wonder what you mean by "use them". I guess a lot of (most?) people can
read stuff from the web.

I also wonder what you mean by "maintenance". Altering web pages to present
something different is not difficult with a little knowledge of HTML,
although it is not difficult to make mistakes as well. As a consolation,
mistakes are usually not fatal in the sense that everything stops working -
things may just work differently from what you expected.

Some queries:
1. Have you seen HTML code ?
2. Do you understand in a basic way what it does ?

If so, that may be enough to get you started. It was all I started with.

There is a lot of reading you can get from the web. A lot of contributors
here will give you many references. This is one I use a lot
http://www.w3schools.com/

 

[Billy B.]

By "them" I ment computers. At the moment I'm kind of a point and click guy.
Although I understand how the whole system works. I took an introductory
programing class in college 10 years ago to fullfill a requirement.

No I don't know what HTML code looks like or how it operates. If the
websites you suggested explain that I may be able to pick it up. I just
don't know how difficult it will be. If it could be done in a timely enough
manner to allow me to get started within a few weeks volunteering. Thanks
for the website sugestions I will be taking a look at them....

Do you know what the difference between using Front Page and a pay site that
allows you to "create" a website is??

Thanks,
Bill

What I'd like to know is could a person learn this by reading and
self study or would I need more education? I don't want to waste
their time or bite off more than I can chew. Any advise would be
appreciated.
thanks
Bill

My qualified answer is "Yes"

I knew nothing about writing web pages 3 years ago. Now, although I have a
long way to go, I can manage most things.

The reason for qualifying my answer is that I have a background in IT -
although as I said *none* in writing for the web.

You wrote: "I use them at work but we have IT people to do the maintenance
etc..."

I wonder what you mean by "use them". I guess a lot of (most?) people can
read stuff from the web.

I also wonder what you mean by "maintenance". Altering web pages to present
something different is not difficult with a little knowledge of HTML,
although it is not difficult to make mistakes as well. As a consolation,
mistakes are usually not fatal in the sense that everything stops working -
things may just work differently from what you expected.

Some queries:
1. Have you seen HTML code ?
2. Do you understand in a basic way what it does ?

If so, that may be enough to get you started. It was all I started with.

There is a lot of reading you can get from the web. A lot of contributors
here will give you many references. This is one I use a lot
http://www.w3schools.com/

--
Cheers,
Trevor L.
[ Microsoft MVP - FrontPage ]
MVPS Website: http://trevorl.mvps.org/

 

[Trevor L.]

Do you know what the difference between using Front Page and a pay
site that allows you to "create" a website is??

The short answer is "No".

But, I would avoid any site that asks you to pay to create a site. You can
learn lots without paying anything.

FrontPage will allow you to create a site quite easily. The "bells and
whistles" need more work, but the knowledge to do that can be acquired
little by little.

I think I should not advise you one way or the other. If you have an ability
to pick up use of FrontPage and (as you progress) of the HTML behind it,
then you should go ahead.

If not, not.

 

[Billy B.]

thanks a lot for all the advice....I've been checking out the website you
suggested and have been able to pick up the basics of html already (which
surprises me). Creating a html file with paragraphs, bold lettering,
changing the back ground color etc.....
It's a good website especially the practice pages. I think I've come to the
conclusion that the Front page is what they call a "what you see is what you
get" type of page. Sounds like point and click to me. But I can totally see
how understanding HTML is benefitial. I'll keep using the site to learn
more. I stopped by your website and typed a note into the bulletin board.....
I'm signing off the computer soon but thanks for the advice...
Bill

Do you know what the difference between using Front Page and a pay
site that allows you to "create" a website is??

The short answer is "No".

But, I would avoid any site that asks you to pay to create a site. You can
learn lots without paying anything.

FrontPage will allow you to create a site quite easily. The "bells and
whistles" need more work, but the knowledge to do that can be acquired
little by little.

I think I should not advise you one way or the other. If you have an ability
to pick up use of FrontPage and (as you progress) of the HTML behind it,
then you should go ahead.

If not, not.

--
Cheers,
Trevor L.
[ Microsoft MVP - FrontPage ]
MVPS Website: http://trevorl.mvps.org/

 

[Trevor L.]

thanks a lot for all the advice....I've been checking out the website
you suggested and have been able to pick up the basics of html
already (which surprises me). Creating a html file with paragraphs,
bold lettering, changing the back ground color etc.....
It's a good website especially the practice pages. I think I've come
to the conclusion that the Front page is what they call a "what you
see is what you get" type of page. Sounds like point and click to
me. But I can totally see how understanding HTML is benefitial.
I'll keep using the site to learn more. I stopped by your website
and typed a note into the bulletin board..... I'm signing off the
computer soon but thanks for the advice...
Bill

Well, I am glad that I gave some help

Yes, I saw the message on the site and thought it may have been from you. I
am not sure about all the others; some of them seem strangely
complimentary - after all there is nothing really great about my sites -
either the mvps site or the one I have linked there.

Keep trying with HTML - it won't take long to get some expertise. Yes,
FrontPage is a WYSIWYG, but it has the great advantage that just by clicking
on Code or HTML view, you can alter the code directly yourself once you know
what you are doing (or even if you don't !!)

As another poster here says:.
Keep Having Fun

 

[Murray]

The more you know about HTML, the more suited you will be for this task.
Focus on learning the HTML, and you'll be golden.

--
Murray
--------------
MVP FrontPage

thanks a lot for all the advice....I've been checking out the website
you suggested and have been able to pick up the basics of html
already (which surprises me). Creating a html file with paragraphs,
bold lettering, changing the back ground color etc.....
It's a good website especially the practice pages. I think I've come
to the conclusion that the Front page is what they call a "what you
see is what you get" type of page. Sounds like point and click to
me. But I can totally see how understanding HTML is benefitial.
I'll keep using the site to learn more. I stopped by your website
and typed a note into the bulletin board..... I'm signing off the
computer soon but thanks for the advice...
Bill

Well, I am glad that I gave some help

Yes, I saw the message on the site and thought it may have been from you.
I am not sure about all the others; some of them seem strangely
complimentary - after all there is nothing really great about my sites -
either the mvps site or the one I have linked there.

Keep trying with HTML - it won't take long to get some expertise. Yes,
FrontPage is a WYSIWYG, but it has the great advantage that just by
clicking on Code or HTML view, you can alter the code directly yourself
once you know what you are doing (or even if you don't !!)

As another poster here says:.
Keep Having Fun
--
Cheers,
Trevor L.
[ Microsoft MVP - FrontPage ]
MVPS Website: http://trevorl.mvps.org/