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2. HTML EDITING TOOLS

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INDEX CARD #2:

HTML EDITING TOOLS (2a)

What is an HTML document? It's an ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) file that contains HTML code. (Pronounce ASCII as "ASK-key.") Any minimal text editor can be used to write an HTML document. (ASCII is explored in LESSON 3.)
What is an HTML editor? It is an editing tool designed especially for writing HTML. It saves time by providing shortcuts for repetitive tasks. To use an HTML editor, you need to know how to compose HTML by hand; the editor just makes the process faster and easier.
Where can I get an HTML editor? Type "HTML Editor" in the search field of (http://www.download.com) and wade through the results. Some are free; some are shareware.
What is a WYSIWYG authoring tool? WYSIWYG stands for "What You See Is What You Get." (Pronounce WYSIWYG as "WIZ-ee-wig.") Using a WYSIWYG editor feels like using a word processor or page layout program. It creates the HTML code for you, behind-the-scenes, so (hypothetically) you don't need to know any HTML.

WYSIWYG AUTHORING TOOLS:
PROS and CONS (2b) [Weasel, p. 69]

PRO/CON: You can create an HTML document without knowing any HTML.
PRO: The editor can be used as a teaching tool. Like to learn by example? Do something, and then view the HTML code. (However, the code might not be as simple as possible.)
PRO: They're good for quick prototyping. Lots of ideas can be tried out quickly.
PRO: They can provide a good head start for creating complex tables and other advanced functions.
CON: They're infamous for not generating clean HTML documents. (Sometimes, not even correct code.)
CON: Software releases tend to lag behind the quickly-changing HTML standards, so the HTML code that's generated may not be up-to-date.
CON: They're expensive. The more powerful packages costs hundreds of dollars up front, and additional costs to upgrade.

Printable Version of Index Card 2a

Printable Version of Index Card 2b

WORKSHEET #2:

(W2.1) Get an HTML editor to use. (Again, check with your local computer guru before downloading anything.)
Since this course is largely a programming course, you will NOT be using a WYSIWYG editor. You'll be creating the HTML code yourself (with help from your non-WYSIWYG HTML editor).
(NOTE: Miss Hall's School students will be using SIMPLETEXT (a simple text editor on MACs) to write all their source code.)
Mac users should check out BBEdit.
(W2.2) Use your HTML editor to create and save a file named test.htm with the following single line of content:
<HTML> <CENTER> Hello! </CENTER> </HTML>
(W2.3) View the file. Your editor may have a built-in HTML previewer that you can use. Otherwise, call up your browser and type the file name (with appropriate path information) in the web address line.
(W2.4) Change the size of your viewing window (make it as large as possible; then really small; then some intermediate size). Does the text stay centered in the window?
(W2.5) Edit test.htm so that some of the HTML instructions are lowercase:
<HTML> <center> Hello! </center></HTML>
(W2.6) Edit test.htm so that it now looks like:
<HTML> <CeNtEr> Hello! </CENter></HTML> What have you learned?

ASSIGNMENT #2:

(A2.1) Read pages 67–70 (up to "Document Structure") in the Weasel book.
(A2.2) Begin thinking about what you want to put on your HOMEPAGE! You need to decide WHAT information you'd like to share with the world. Then, this course will help you with the presentation of this information.

2. HTML EDITING TOOLS

HTML EDITING TOOLS (2a)

WYSIWYG AUTHORING TOOLS: PROS and CONS (2b) [Weasel, p. 69]

WYSIWYG AUTHORING TOOLS:
PROS and CONS (2b) [Weasel, p. 69]