HTML, XHTML and CSS All-In-One for Dummies - Andy Harris [11]
New for the Second Edition
This second edition keeps the organization and content of the first edition. I have made a few changes to keep up with advances in technology:
♦ Preview of HTML 5: HTML 5 and CSS 3 offer promising new features. While it may be too early to incorporate these features into every page, it’s time to learn what’s coming. Book I, Chapter 8 highlights these welcome new advances.
♦ Improved PHP coverage: I greatly enhanced and streamlined the PHP content, making it easier to follow. You’ll see these improvements throughout Book V.
♦ Enhanced jQuery coverage: The jQuery AJAX library has improved dramatically since the first edition. I provide much more detailed coverage including full support for jQuery UI and numerous cool widgets and tools. Book VII is much longer and more detailed than it was in the first edition.
♦ A new graphics chapter: A number of readers asked for more coverage of graphics tools, especially Gimp. I added a new chapter to Book VIII describing how to use Gimp to enhance your Web pages.
♦ Support for the Website Baker CMS: I use this CMS quite a bit in my Web business, and I find it especially easy to modify. I changed Book VIII, Chapter 3 to explain how to use and modify this excellent CMS.
♦ Various tweaks and improvements: No book is perfect (though I really try). There were a few passages in the previous edition that readers found difficult. I tried hard to clean up each of these areas. Many thanks to those who provided feedback!
Icons Used in This Book
This is a For Dummies book, so you have to expect some snazzy icons, right? I don’t disappoint. Here’s what you’ll see:
This is where I pass along any small insights I may have gleaned in my travels.
I can’t really help being geeky once in a while. Every so often, I want to explain something a little deeper. Read this to impress people at your next computer science cocktail party or skip it if you really don’t need the details.
A lot of details are here. I point out something important that’s easy to forget with this icon.
Watch out! Anything I mark with this icon is a place where things have blown up for me or my students. I point out any potential problems with this icon.
A lot of really great examples and software are on the CD. Whenever I mention software or examples that are available on the CD, I highlight it with this icon.
What’s Next?
Well, that’s really up to you. I sincerely believe you can use this book to turn into a top-notch Web developer. That’s my goal for you.
Although this is a massive book, there’s still more to figure out. If you have questions or just want to chat, feel free to e-mail me at andy@aharrisbooks.net. You can also visit my Web site at www.aharrisbooks.net for code examples, updates, and other good stuff. (You can also visit www.dummies.com/go/htmlxhtmlandcssaiofd2e for code examples from the book.)
I try hard to answer all reader e-mails but sometimes I get behind. Please be patient with me, and I’ll do my best to help.
I can’t wait to hear from you and see the incredible Web sites you develop. Have a great time, discover a lot, and stay in touch!
Please note that some special symbols used in this eBook may not display properly on all eReader devices. If you have trouble determining any symbol, please call Wiley Product Technical Support at 800-762-2974. Outside of the United States, please call 317-572-3993. You can also contact Wiley Product Technical Support at www.wiley.com/techsupport.
Book I
Creating the HTML/XHTML Foundation
Chapter 1: Sound HTML Foundations
In This Chapter
Creating a basic Web page
Understanding the most critical HTML tags
Setting up your system to work with HTML
Viewing your pages
This chapter is your introduction to building Web pages. Before this slim chapter is finished, you’ll have your first page up and running. Creating a basic page isn’t difficult, but building pages that can grow and expand while you discover more sophisticated techniques takes a little foresight.