The Internet and the ‘World Wide Web’ are frequently used as interchangeable terms, but while complementary, they are different. The Internet is a global system of very powerful interconnected computer terminals of amazing complexity. Originally designed by the US Pentagon to provide an almost indestructible alternative means of rapid electronic communication in case of war, it was rapidly adopted by universities, computer enthusiasts, and latterly the general public, as a frontier-free, universal communications network.
The World Wide Web (WWW) became a reality when the Hypertext Mark-up Language (HTML) was invented, providing a lingua franca which all computer platforms can share, enabling users to overlay the hard-wired digital connections of the Internet with a network of literal communications comprising discrete ‘websites’ which can be viewed with ‘browsers’ - software which translates the HTML code into pages of text, illustration and graphics. All the user requires is a computer with appropriate software, connected by modem to a telephone line and a subscription to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to provide a link to the Internet system.
There are now millions of available websites, covering every topic imaginable, and this publishing phenomenon is growing faster than any form of communication in publishing history. Other services have developed - ‘Email’, ‘Newsgroups’, ‘File Transfer Protocol’ (FTP) sites - but the first port of call remains the webpage - a shop window in which any individual, group or organisation can display wares and expound views, using a range of presentational devices to add interest to the site.
Until quite recently, web users who wished to design and build a site needed to possess intricate skills: some knowledge of programming to write the HTML code and insert the links to connect the page to other sites or add graphics and illustrations; design skills to create suitable images and graphics, and the experience to ‘upload’ the site to the appropriate ‘server’ or host computer.
HTMLEdit Studio puts all that knowledge in the hands of the absolute beginner, supported by a set of automated ‘assistants’ which guide the new user safely through the steps necessary to produce a competent, fully compatible website. But the program is also a set of advanced, fully integrated website creation tools capable of satisfying the demands of the most exacting and creative cyberspace designer. Truly an instrument for novice and expert alike, HTMLEdit Studio is constantly upgraded to incorporate the latest developments of the programming language; specifically written for the RiscOS platform, yet fully compatible with the Netscape®, Firefox® and Microsoft Internet Explorer® browsers which dominate the World Wide Web.
This user manual has been designed as a ‘quick-start guide’ to get you going fast and will help the relative novice to construct and view a simple ‘home page’ in around 15 minutes!
It is also a comprehensive reference to the many sophisticated and powerful tools within the HTMLEdit suite and an advanced tutorial to enable the user to exploit all the web page creation features and become a rounded designer of advanced websites. A complete glossary of terms and index is included for everyday use.
Many useful tips on successful webpage design are included in the tutorial section, making this manual a useful work of reference to all who ‘surf the net’ regardless of the computer system they use.
HTMLEdit is a dedicated RiscOS product and therefore exclusive to the users of Acorn computers. It can be used with RiscOS version 3 or greater, can be run from the hard drive or floppy discs and requires a minimum of 4 megabytes of RAM (although 8Mb is recommended).
As with all RiscOS products, the following conventions apply:
Mouse buttons: left = Select centre = Menu right = Adjust
Select is used to select and move icons displayed on the screen, or to choose from menus.
Pressing the Menu button causes a menu to appear.
The Adjust button is most often used to select from a menu without removing the menu from the screen.
The following operations are the most frequently used to operate within software programs:
Clicking - pressing the mouse button once and releasing it immediately, used to choose an icon or action.
Double clicking - pressing and releasing twice in quick succession, initiates an action or loads an application.
Dragging - moving an object from one place to another whilst holding down the Select or Adjust button.
For further detailed advice on the RiscOS desktop, new users should consult the Welcome Guide supplied with their Acorn computer.For ease of reference, mouse operations in this manual are referred to as follows:
Select click/double click/drag: operations performed with the left mouse button.
Menu: press the centre mouse button.
Adjust click/double click/drag: operations performed with the right mouse button.
Drop:Release the mouse button.
Please see the ReadMe file on your CD ROM for more information on installing
this version of HTMLEdit
Hard disc users should open their HTMLEdit directory and then double click select over the HTMLEdit icon, for floppy discs, load the disc in the drive, click twice to open the directory and then double click select on the HTMLEdit icon. When the icon appears on the right of the icon bar at the bottom of the screen, you are ready to use HTMLEdit.
HTMLEdit is equipped with a ‘Launcher’ accessed by clicking menu over the application icon. from which you can run all the utilities and applets available to extend the capabilities of the program.
Store all associated utilities in a subdirectory of HTMLEdit, within your main applications directory.