HTML for the complete beginner

FAQ

I get a few emails asking questions on things either I have missed or the reader has missed.
Drop by and ask a question or two if you have any. I check my logs and messages and change this site to suit requests or sections that people have trouble with.
I'll only be posting the most common questions on this page.

Q/ Why is EZHTML changing (naviagtion etc)?
A/ Layout - I've added a search function that works on the sites contents, with the navigation on the left the link names are being picked up before any results are. Also left hand navigation layouts aren't user friendly for disabled people. Content - Am updating all the pages to include how to upgrade to XHTML and CSS. As well as added some more features like forum etc.

Q/ My graphics don't show up
A/ The most common causes are a missing (") or the wrong case. A few servers wont except the name and the graphic in different case, as a rule of thumb, make them all lower case and you shouldn't have any problems

Q/ My page only loads 1/2 way?
A/ A common fault if using tables is a missing closing tag, or within the HTML it could be a missing </body> or </html> tag

Q/ My web site crashes or locks up other people's browsers.
A/ Could be anumber of things, could be a Java problem, Java over load, badly nested tables, missing tags ...

Q/ Why do I get a space around my tables?
A/ Set cellpadding and spacing to 0 (zero) to loose the gap inside of tables. Put your contents on the same line as your <td></td> tags or remove the DOC tag if used.

Q/ Why do I get a line besides my graphics when I use them as links?
A/ Put your graphic or contents between the <a href> and </a> tags, on the same line, not different lines.

Q/ My page locks up when loading but doesn't use Java applets?
A/ Are you using tables? If your page is one long table then this will do it, the contents of the table have to load before displayed hence the lock up, remake your page using separate tables, a smaller one at top so your guests can see/read something while the rest loads.

Q/ What is a good size to keep all my graphics to?
A/ Ideally you want to keep the .html and graphics (including music) on one page under 45kb, you'd be amazed how big a .html file can get. Text does load fast but things like tables (one big one) will add to your loading speed.

Q/ How do you keep the top and left graphics of the borders on your page?
A/ I use topmargin="0" leftmargin="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" in the body tag, this isn't a standard tag and isn't valid X/HTML.

Q/ Is showing my email address safe from spammers?
A/ Tricky question, in a sense yes, mailing list scouts mainly search out guest books or forums for their address, one bit of advice NEVER reply with the words remove, all you are doing is telling them it's a active email address and you'd more than likely be swimming in junk. Hotmail users can block key words, others can download programs to block spammers from sites like Tucows or Download.com.

Q/ Why do people hate Java applets etc so much?
A/ I don't think people hate them so much as are sick of them, like in life people follow trends, same as on the net, last month was applets, this month is Flash or Shockwave movies. People try to compete to try use all the fancy toys, they can look good if used right but most new comers over use them and kill off the appeal. They also can take forever to load when used by beginners.

Q/ If you know so much about all these fancy 'toys' as you call them, why don't you use them?
A/ I don't use them because I have no use for them, I maintain four big sites that work well on any browser and/or modem size. Why ruin that.

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