AuNix Homepage FAQ

Which webpage editing software should I use?

The question of which software best suits your needs depends on a number of factors, including how proficient you are with computers and the types of Web pages that you are going to be creating.

There are several Web authoring programs available for download, ranging from the ultra user-friendly beginner's software through to professional Web authoring suites. Some software is available free of charge or for a modest fee, while others can cost several hundred dollars (but offer extra features, such as electronic commerce options).

Below is a list of software suitable for novice users interested in creating their own, basic-to-modest Web pages:

Windows

Windows Notepad - good for if you are wanting to learn HTML the old fashioned way
HotDog Junior -www.sausage.com/
Coffee Cup HTML Express - www.coffeecup.com/
Splash! Web Author - www.gosplash.com/
Cool Page - www.3dize.com/
WebScrapbook - www.webprecinct.com/WebScrapbook/Introduction.htm

Macintosh

PageSpinner - www.optima-system.com/pagespinner/

How do I create my Web site?

Most Web authoring programs designed for beginners feature 'Web wizards'. These 'wizards' take users step-by-step through the process of creating a basic Web page, and do not require any knowledge of HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language - the language used to 'code' Web pages so that they can be properly displayed in Web browsers).

You should refer to your Web authoring software's help menu for detailed information on how to use the software and its 'wizards'. Alternatively, check the software vendor's Web site, as many offer online tutorials, complete with examples and screenshots.

Where can I learn more about Web page design and HTML?

Try the AuNix HTML tutorial, Web Design Guide and Web Graphics tutorial. If you are looking to learn more about HTML and the ins-and-outs of Web authoring, you will find some excellent resources and tutorials at these sites:

W3 Schools - www.w3schools.com/html/
HTML 4 Rookies - www.htmlprimer.com
About.com Webdesign Tutorial - webdesign.about.com

Do I need special names for my Web page files?

Your 'homepage' (that is, the screen first displayed when someone visits your site) must be named one of the following: index.html or index.htm, otherwise it will not load correctly in your visitor's Web browser.

There are no special name requirements for any secondary Web pages that you create, providing they have the .htm or .html extensions.

For example, if you were creating a 3 page Web site, you might name your homepage index.html, and include links on that page to two other pages that you create, called page2.html and page3.html.

Similarly, if you were creating a family Web site, you might name your main Web page index.htm with links to several Web pages called holidayphotos.htm and ourpets.htm

Any images you include in your Web page must also be uploaded to your site, as the Web page simply links to the image file, the image is not included as part of the Web page file.

How do I publish my homepage?

Click here to see what settings are required to publish your homepage. After you have created and saved your Web site files, you must place a copy of the files (or 'upload' them) into your user directory on AuNix's Web server. Once you have done this, your Web site will be available to all other Internet users.

Some Web authoring programs will also handle the process of uploading your Web files. If yours cannot, you will need to manually upload the files to the Web Server, using an FTP program.

A list of recommended FTP program's is available on the Settings page

More About FTP

The process by which files are transferred from your local computer to the Web server is called "FTP" (File Transfer Protocol). You have unlimited access via FTP 24-hours a day. As such, you can create and maintain your Web pages on your own computer and upload files to your Web site at your leisure.

Viewing Web Pages Online

Webmasters often modify HTML documents and re-upload it to the server. After returning to their Web browser they click RELOAD only to find the original document unchanged. This is a common occurrence which happens because of one of two reasons:

a) browser cache - most browsers save information so they don't have to download it again. It can be remedied, depending on your browser, by clearing your browser's cache, or deleting the temporary Internet files. The location of this option is different browsers. Use the help menu in your browser if you do not know where it is.

b) proxy server connection - if your browser is set up to download material from a proxy server, which 'mirrors' content from Internet sites, it is not automatically updated. Hold down the Shift key while you click RELOAD and this should fetch the material directly from the Internet, bypassing the proxy.