Product Description

This best-selling HTML book has been updated to cover the important new features of HTML version 4 and teaches the reader how to write computer programs using the HTML language. It covers all the essential features of this complex topic and guides the reader gently through, to enable them to produce web pages and then to publish them to the Web.

Beginning with an introduction to the Internet and World Wide Web, the author provides a summary of HTML and discusses which tools may help in programming. The author then explores the method of adding scripts and style sheets to a Web page using HTML 4, as well as how to link resources.

Chapter Three demonstrates how to incorporate text content into the body section of a HTML document. All of the layout tags available in HTML 4 are described and examples of each one illustrates how they control the displayed text. Tag attributes and the principles of style sheets are introduced to the reader in the next chapter, and how they are used in documents. "Lists and Entities" are then looked at by demonstrating how entities can be used to add non-alphanumeric characters to the text and the different types of lists available in HTML 4. Next, a chapter on "Making Tables" describes the new table model introduced in HTML 4, which enables much faster display of table content. All the table tags are demonstrated so the reader can build a variety of tables on their web site and learn how to define a row, column and cell.

"Hyperlinks and Anchors" enable users to navigate around the Web and this chapter explains the special ability of HTML to define hyperlinks. Areas covered in this chapter: Creating Hyperlinks; Following Links; Fragment Anchors; Link to Element; Link Title Tooltip; Link to Protocol; Images as Hyperlinks; Image Map Hyperlinks; Mapping Co-ordinates. Following on from this, the reader is taught how to include other text, images, applets, animation, video and HTML documents onto a web page. The author them looks at Frames, which provide a way to display multiple HTML documents in a single browser window. This means that some documents can remain in display while others in a different frame are changed.

"Creating Forms" illustrates how HTML 4 forms can submit data to a Web server. Each type of form element is covered: A Simple Form; Submission Information; Text Inputs; Password Inputs; Checkboxes; Radio Buttons; File and Hidden Inputs; Push, Reset and Submit Buttons; Buttons with Graphics; Using Labels; Text Areas; Tab Order; Selection and Grouping Menus; Grouping Form Fields.

In chapter eleven, the author explains "Borders and Margins" and how style rules can be used in HTML 4 to manipulate each component: Content Box; Background and Border Colour; Border Style, Width and Shorthand; Add Padding; Relative Padding; Padding Shorthand; Set Margins; Margin Shorthand; Putting it Together. Further areas covering how different style rules can be used includes: Positioning Content Boxes; Stylish Text; List and Table Styles; and finally Styling Backgrounds.

HTML 4 in easy steps assumes no prior programming knowledge, and explains in clear, simple, steps each function that must be performed to create and publish a successful Web site. It is ideal for programming novices, and also serves as a useful reference guide for experienced programmers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1052596 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

From the Publisher
Mike McGrath is an expert on web development and has written other best selling in easy steps titles including 'CGI & Perl in easy steps' WAP in easy steps' and 'JavaScript in easy steps'.

Customer Reviews

A good book to learn about cascading style sheets
I know how to write HTML but I was curious about the changes in the latest HTML 4 standard. Basically it means that web pages should now only detail the page's content with HTML code, then decide how that content should appear by declaring Style Sheet rules. If you still do not know how to write Style Sheets this book will show you many new ways to display stuff on your web site. All of the stages are shown with code that you can copy so this book is very easy to follow.

The ideal introduction to HTML & Cascading Style Sheets
The explanations and illustrated examples of this book are laid out in a clear, descriptive format. I was able to grasp the essentials within a couple of hours!

Mike McGrath is able to demonstrate a variety of techniques by explaining the desired results in plain English.

Some authors may be good at designing websites, but sadly fail to hit the nail on the head when it comes to putting their knowledge across. Not everyone posesses these skills...Mike McGrath certainly does!

The book has been a very worthwhile investment and I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn HTML quickly.

Solid Beginning
I've just started properly getting into web design and this book has provided me with a solid grounding in the basics of HTML 4 & of course some Style Sheet information. Definatly worth checking out.