P1: GIG WY021-FM WY021-Holzshlag-v2 June 5, 2004 3:29 250 HTML and Web Design Secrets P1: GIG WY021-FM WY021-Holzshlag-v2 June 5, 2004 3:29 P1: GIG WY021-FM WY021-Holzshlag-v2 June 5, 2004 3:29 250 HTML and Web Design Secrets Molly E. Holzschlag Wiley Publishing, Inc. P1: GIG WY021-FM WY021-Holzshlag-v2 June 5, 2004 3:29 Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., 10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256, www.wiley.com Copyright c  2004 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published simultaneously in Canada Manufactured in the United States of America 10987654321 No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600. 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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Trademarks: Wiley and related trade dress are registered trademarks of Wiley Publishing, Inc., in the United States and other countries, and may not be used without written permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Wiley Publishing, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. eISBN: 0-7645-7708-5 P1: GIG WY021-FM WY021-Holzshlag-v2 June 5, 2004 3:29 About the Author In the world of Web design and development, Molly E. Holzschlag is one of the most vibrant and influential people around. With over 30 Web development book titles to her credit, Molly is also a noted columnist, speaker, and educator. As a Steering Committee Member of the Web Standards Project (WaSP), Molly works along with a group of other dedicated Web developers and designers to pro- mote open standards for the Web. She serves as an advisor and spokeswoman for the World Organization of Webmasters. Molly speaks regularly at conferences in addition to teaching and developing curriculum for a number of colleges and uni- versities, including the University of Arizona, University of Phoenix, New School University, and Pima Community College. Many recognize Molly from her column, “Integrated Design,” which appeared in the much-missed Web Techniques Magazine for three years, and from sister publication Webreview.com, where Molly served as Executive Editor for a year during the best of the San Francisco dot.com era. Molly has been honored as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Women on the Web. For more information about Molly, drop by at www.molly.com/. P1: GIG WY021-FM WY021-Holzshlag-v2 June 5, 2004 3:29 Credits Acquisitions Editor Katie Mohr Development Editor Marcia Ellett Technical Editor Ethan Marcotte Production Editor Pamela Hanley Copy Editor TechBooks Editorial Manager Mary Beth Wakefield Vice President and Executive Group Publisher Richard Swadley Vice President and Executive Publisher Robert Ipsen Vice President and Publisher Joseph B. Wikert Executive Editorial Director Mary Bednarek Project Coordinator TechBooks Proofreading and Indexing TechBooks Production Services P1: GIG WY021-FM WY021-Holzshlag-v2 June 5, 2004 3:29 To Bill Cullifer for his unflagging enthusiasm for the Internet, desire to uplift and educate, and for his friendship P1: GIG WY021-FM WY021-Holzshlag-v2 June 5, 2004 3:29 P1: GIG WY021-FM WY021-Holzshlag-v2 June 5, 2004 3:29 Contents Acknowledgments . xvii Introduction xix Part I: Tools, Planning, and Content 1 Chapter 1: Setting up a Master Toolbox .3 Web Browsers 5 Choosing a Code Editor . . 8 File Management with FTP 11 Telnet and SSH . . . 12 Validation Tools . . . 14 PNH Toolbar . 16 Sidebar Reference Panels 17 Bitmap Image Programs . 17 Vector Image Programs . . 21 Web Animation Utilities . 22 Screen Capture Utilities . 24 Rename Utilities . . 25 Tag Strippers . 26 HTML Tidy . 26 Compression Utilities 27 Audio and Video Players . 29 Plug-Ins . . . . 29 SVG and SMIL Support . 30 Software for Security and Safety 30 Collaborative Communication Software . 32 Summary . . . 33 Chapter 2: Managing Your Web Project . 35 The Challenge of Web Project Management . . . 36 Toward Consistent Organizational Structure 36 Creating Industry-Wide Standards for Web Project Management . . 37 Fixing Disparities in Problem-solving Approaches . 37 Selecting the Project Manager . 38 Defining the Budget . 39 Identifying Goals . 39 Determining the Stakeholders . . 40 Determining Market Needs 41 Identifying Roles and Responsibilities . . . 41 Creating a Project Workflow 43 Listing Creative Tasks . . . 44 Clarifying Technical Tasks . 44 Defining Administrative Tasks . . 44 [...]... Technologies and topics covered include tools, project management, information architecture, usability, content development and management, HTML, XHTML, and CSS, graphics and multimedia for the Web, accessibility, best uses of dynamic content and rich media, keeping content fresh, improving site ranking and promotions, and managing redesigns Using This Book Focusing on theory, standards, and rigid practices... Planning, and Content ࡗࡗࡗ W hy start a book on Web design secrets with tools? Shouldn’t that be something left for an appendix, perhaps? After all, you want to get right down to the nitty-gritty, and I appreciate that As any working Web designer knows, the master designer really needs very few tools at hand to create the ultimate Web design toolbox A great designer can make do with a text editor, a Web browser,... devices such as cell phones and PDAs, create sites that meet legal concerns regarding content and accessibility, managing sites for the long term, and improve the financial bottom line by significantly reducing bandwidth and increasing revenue Most likely you are a person who is working on public or private Web sites and is somewhat experienced with HTML and Web graphic design and are interested in ramping... professions, and we come from all parts of the globe Some readers will be avid hobbyists, too, using the Web as a means for self-expression via Weblogs, social networks, and special interest groups 250 HTML and Web Design Secrets looks into the detailed work required to create successful Web sites and provides extremely up-to-date approaches to dealing with an array of challenges that the creation of Web sites... Boxes and Arrows, Digital Web Magazine, the entire blogging community, and, of course, to all my readers who keep me inspired and happy as a computer book author—no easy task Introduction Web design has come a long way in just over a decade The concerns facing anyone working on Web sites are so complex and changing so rapidly that it’s downright overwhelming From a consumer perspective, Web designs and. .. flux, and historically have been in a state of flux Web browsers have been a number one concern for designers The Web browser is the primary piece of software used by the designer and the site visitor to access Web pages As a result, the ways in which browsers interpret (or don’t interpret) the languages and techniques we use to design our pages can cause significant frustration for both the designers and. .. the design process and management, and increasing awareness and promotion of the sites you design and develop Your primary job might not even be that of a Web designer—perhaps you are a scientist, librarian, documentation specialist, promotions specialist, educator, or serving in the armed forces The people working on Web sites at this point in history come from a very wide range of backgrounds and. .. standalone for Windows that validates XHTML, HTML, CSS, and Accessibility Very powerful, highly recommended www.htmlvalidator.com/ Bobby Offers both online and standalone validation for accessibility Standalone:www.watchfire.com/products/ desktop/bobby/default.aspx Online: http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby /html/ en/index.jsp Cynthia Says Online validator www.cynthiasays.com/ Lift Multiple plug-in, standalone,... redesigns; and take your sites from the past into a successful future Another unique quality of the Secrets format of this book is that while it’s written to be read from start to finish, it can also be used as a quick reference when you’re facing a specific problem The book consists of 15 chapters broken into three parts: “Tools, Planning, and Content;” HTML, XHTML, CSS and Accessibility;” and “Designing... CSE HTML Pro standalone validator Table 1-5: Validation Tools for Markup, CSS, and Accessibility Validation Tool Platform and Usage Availability W3C HTML and XHTML Validation Online service You can add by URL or by upload http://validator.w3.org/ W3C CSS Validation Online service Validate by URI, paste into text area or upload A standalone version is available http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/ CSE HTML . ranking and promotions, and managing redesigns. Using This Book Focusing on theory, standards, and rigid practices is, in a word, dry. 250 HTML and Web Design. hobbyists, too, using the Web as a means for self-expression via Weblogs, social networks, and special interest groups. 250 HTML and Web Design Secrets looks into