HTML Sandbox

Various FReepers | refreshed 10/31/03 | Various FReepers

[TPartyType]

Welcome Newcomers!

This Sandbox is devoted to giving you a place to practice basic HTML without getting flamed when you make a mistake, and to get some coaching.

---

So, first things first:

Go to michigander's [ HTML Bootcamp (Cyber patriot training)] and learn there how to change font color, font size, font face, and the like.
THERE'S A WEALTH OF INFORMATION THERE NOT COVERED HERE (so as to avoid duplication).
Learn there also how to post a link and an image, then come back here to practice.

If you're having problems, folks will drop by occasionally to give you pointers and help you troubleshoot.

---

Boring posts are a crime . . .

gif provided by The Animation Factory

So practice here first!

---

NEWCOMERS TIP: I just reread the FreeRepublic posting guidelines. They're worth a read by all newcomers [click here].

---

Following is an excellent previous post by Willie Green

But first, HTML advice from the FreeRepublic help page:

Basic HTML
The Free Republic forum uses standard HTML coding techniques. Use <p> to start new paragraphs. You may use <b> to begin bolding and <center> to center text, but please remember to end these items where appropriate with </b> and/or </center>, etc. If you post links or other advanced coding, be sure to test before posting.

Creating new paragraphs is about the only html that most posters ever need, but if you would like to learn more about html you may use any search engine on the internet to find tutorials. Simply search on "html tutorial". Here are links to a couple tutorials that I found:

• HTML Goodies

• Three Rivers Free-Net Beginning HTML

The Basics

Paragraphs, Line Breaks and Horizontal Lines
A lengthy article or reply can be very tedious to read if it does not contain some very simple HTML formating. Inserting either of the following codes will make your post much more readable:

• <br> is a line break. Text that follows this code will begin on the next line.

• <p> is a paragraph break. Text that follows this code will begin on a new line after skipping a line.

• <hr> is a horizontal rule. It draws a line across the page like this:

---

Character Formatting
Simple special effects may be created using Character Formatting Codes. These codes are used in pairs in the format: <?>words to be formatted</?>, where <?> turns the formatting "ON" and </?> turns the formating "OFF".

Please: ALWAYS turn "OFF" the formatting when you use it.

Some commonly used codes of this type are:

• <b> and </b> -- BOLD
• <i> and </i> -- Italic
• <u> and </u> -- Underline
• <blink> and </blink> -- Blink
• <strike> and </strike> -- Strike
• _and -- _Subscript
• ^and -- ^Superscript
• <big> and </big> -- Big text
• <small> and </small> -- Small text

These codes can be "nested" to produce multiple effects at the same time. For instance:

<b><i>Bold and Italic</i></b> produces Bold and Italic

---

Links
The method for posting a HTML link is fairly simple. The following format is used:

<a HREF="URL">Link Description</a>

where "URL" is the URL address you want to link to (and you gotta use the double quotes), and Link Description is whatever you want to call your link. For example:

<a HREF="http://www.drudgereport.com/">Link to Drudge</a>

becomes Link to Drudge

---

And another from the same previous post:

<FONT COLOR="COLOR">Sample</FONT> produces colorful text.

"COLOR" is often a Hexidecimal Code for whatever Color you want, but color names are also supported.
Examples:

<FONT COLOR="blue">blue text</font> produces blue text

<FONT COLOR="red">red text</font> produces red text

<FONT COLOR="green">green text</font> produces green text

---

To: foolproof formatting

Here is an easy way to REMEMBER TO TURN OFF THE FORMATTING.

To be sure I turn off the formatting I TYPE THE "OFF" COMMAND AT THE SAME TIME AS THE "ON" COMMAND.

An example:
I want to respond to a line in a post by another brilliant Freeper.
I type < I >""< /I >< BR>
I then "cut and paste" his remarks between the quotes:
< i>" You are a poopy head "< /I>< BR>
And type my equally brilliant response: "No, you're a poopy head!"
The result:

"You are a poopy head"
No, you're a poopy head!

It's very easy to forget to turn off your formatting!
Yes it is!

---

To: ftrader, deport

Actually, the <ul> tag is for a bulleted list and stands for unordered list. The missing part is the list item tag (<li>) Here's an example:

<ul>
<li>List item #1
<li>List item #2
<li>List item #3
</ul>

Would display:

• List item #1
• List item #2
• List item #3

---

Finally . . .

Here's the link for [Webmonkey] (a super HTML training site).

---

Link to previous Sandbox thread

[EsclavoDeCristo]

ping

[Mrs.Liberty]

Right above post number one...
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------
[ Report Abuse | Bookmark ]
-----------------------------------------------------------
---------------------
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments. first 1-50, 51-61 next last

CLick on the Bookmark link.

[endthematrix]

It is GREAT to be here today!
Is this what a line-brake is? What about links? New IRAQI Weapon?
Hey, I LOVE the color blue!

[endthematrix]

I'll try to post a pic too!

Sign up and have this injected under your skin! Everyone is doing it and your can only buy and sell things if you have it!

[JoJo Gunn]

Attempting to include a working link after HTML is encoded.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/browse?ao=1

[TPartyType]

Here's where you learn how to do a link. It's easy as [pumpkin] pie!

[pax_et_bonum]

Thank you!

[pax_et_bonum]

Okay, here goes my first link attempt: Family's Tragedy at Thanksgiving: Urgent Prayers Needed

I'm sorry to post a sad item on this fun thread, but this family must be frantic with fear.

Thanks again, TPartyType

pax

[TPartyType]

It works!!! Good job. You're batting 1,000!

[pax_et_bonum]

I even colored it red!

Posting photos is next! Nothing can stop me now! :)

[TPartyType]

whoa! watch out, FReeperdom!

[woodyinscc]

I just posted a cartoon copied from the Houston Chronicle.
I previewed the post and it showed up fine. When I went to the thread it shows up fine for me, even when I refresh. It shows up fine in my comments. If you go to me in forum you will see it under my comments. Everyone else sees a blank with the message not available at this time. What happened?

[DefCon]

Its a bandwidth thing.
It could be the site does not allow linking to its images
It could be the site has a 'throttle' or limit on downloads.
It shows up ok in your browser because the image is stored
in your browser's cache.
You did nothing wrong HTML-wise.

[woodyinscc]

Thank you very much. I am learning HTML on the fly, and each time I learn something new, I use it until I am proficient, then I go on the something new. This is the first picture I have posted.

[DefCon]

just try it again with something else
post it on this thread if you want to 'practice'
everybody had to start somewhere

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

< img src=http://store3.yimg.com/I/hobased_1764_1005318 >

[T Minus Four]

LOL! My slightly twisted 11-year old daughter insistes on making one of those every year. Be sure and put the quotes around the URL though to make the picture post.

[T Minus Four]

The first time I posted a picture, I wasn't sure if the preview feature would show my HTML stuff or the actual picture. When I saw just the HTML code, I took a deep breath and hit "post". Well, I narrowly escaped being called a newbie, but I did learn that what you see in "preview" is exactly what you will get when you post!

[T Minus Four]

Another thing that happens is you link to a site, and the cartoon or picture shows up fine for maybe a day or a week, then later you get the dreaded red x. See my post #50 as an example. It showed up fine at first, but the cartoon is no longer at that address. Too bad, it was very apropos :-) I'll have to go see if they archived it at another address.

[woodyinscc]

I wish to take this time to thank you very much for your thread. I have used it many times, and it has been very helpful.

Thanks

Woody