IT'S A BIG, BIG WORLD

So far we've practiced designing the text, hyperlinks, and picture specifications of any page within our website.  Web designers not only control the graphical content of a given website but also manage the files associated with that website.  The picture on the left shows a conceptual representation of the files and folders of a website with a given domain name.  The picture on the right shows the file transfer protocol software that move files from your local computer to a host server.

CREATE YOUR OWN THEME PARK

NVU provides an efficient way to create the basic content of any page within your site.  You might also use other software applications to create the general file/folder structure of a picture gallery or other website template. After the software creates the basic layout of the website you may use NVU to edit content and insert other hyperlinks and pictures. 

We'll use PS Elements for this demonstration.  In order to use Elements you must first create a folder with the pictures you want in your website. 

• Use the My Computer window and drop down lists to create a new folder and copy pictures from existing folders. 
• Rename pictures in folder to set order of appearance alphabetically or chronologically.  See "WorldTour" example in AccessCVU (g:)\Website\.
• Open PS Elements and click on File>Create Web Photo Gallery.
• Browse for the desired folder with web images.  Set Destination folder where the program can create the website.
• Set characteristics of Styles and other Options for layout, titles, thumbnails and original images.  Click OK and view your website as well as the contents of the Destination folder.

You may open up the index.htm or other pages in NVU.  Notice the table structure of your template when viewed in NVU.  Also notice the navigation structure of the buttons that links the Home (index) Page with all the other pages.

You may design your own graphics using other software and use the Insert > Images menu in NVU.  Edit other page graphical characteristics by changing the Format > Page Colors or Background. 

BUILD A GOOD STURDY TABLE

Tables provide the freedom to orient text, pictures, and links in relative positions on the page without causing conflicts for different browser displays.  Use the Table menu to create different sizes and adjust table width according to pixels or percents.  Do you want a border around your table?

Practice creating a table for your own website.  Use tables to organize links, thumbnails, or other text.  Try to recreate either of the examples below:

NEXT WEEK WE'LL GET OUR WEBSITE READY TO POST AND PERFORM