HTML Sandbox

Various FReepers | 11/22/04 | TPartyType

[TPartyType]

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Welcome Newcomers!

This Sandbox is devoted to giving you a place to practice basic HTML, and to get some coaching.

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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.

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Boring posts are a crime . . .

So practice here first!

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

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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:

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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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

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Finally . . .

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

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TOPICS:

[potlatch]

That looks just beautiful devolve, I'm impressed! The spaceship is a perfect touch for that scene.

[potlatch]

That is beautiful devolve, I'm impressed!! The spaceship is a perfect touch for that scene.

I think I even see people shooting out of some windows, LOL.

[The SISU kid]

what's your cowboy bebop theme song?

[sauron]

This is a test.

[Purple GOPer]

I am starting a Ben Stein Ping and I am trying to post an image. Can someone help? I post the link in between < > , but I keep getting broken links. Is there something I am doing wrong?.

Either of these two gifs would be great.

img src=www.learningware.com/ whatsnew/BenStein.gif

img src=www.jimmykimmeltv.com/ super_ben_tbn.gif

[michigander]

Try this:

<img src="http://www.learningware.com/whatsnew/BenStein.gif">

[Purple GOPer]

Here it is with quotes Here it is without quotes

[Purple GOPer]

Thanks for trying but it isn't even showing a broken link anymore.

[michigander]

This is what you're typing in:
<img src="www.learningware.com/whatsnew/BenStein.gif">

This is what I said you should try:
<img src="http://www.learningware.com/whatsnew/BenStein.gif">

<img src="www.learningware.com/whatsnew/BenStein.gif">
<img src="http://www.learningware.com/whatsnew/BenStein.gif">

Do you see the difference? You need to have http:// to have a valid address.

[Purple GOPer]

Thank you this looks so much better! Do you know if there is anyway I can shrink it?

[michigander]

Ah, "shrink" is a relative term.
As the image stands right now (which isn't within my or, presumaly, your ability to conrol since it's hosted on someone elses server) the "size" is 160595 bytes displayed at a width of 800 pixels and a height of 600 pixels.

You or I can control the display "size" by manipulating the height and width settings like this:

<img src="http://www.learningware.com/whatsnew/BenStein.gif" height="750" width="1000"> =

Or

<img src="http://www.learningware.com/whatsnew/BenStein.gif" height="150" width="200"> =

The thing is, the "size" in bytes remains constant (160595) regardless of how we manipulate the "size" of the width and height settings.

[Purple GOPer]

Thank you so much.

Back in the old days, 160K would be big, but now I don't know what the standards are? Do you think it will take to long to download to use for a ping?

I think I like the size you choose for the ping list.

[michigander]

Back in the old days, 160K would be big, but now I don't know what the standards are? Do you think it will take to long to download to use for a ping?

I don't know.
IMO, go with it until someone whines about it. ;-)

[bummerdude]

This is only a test

[bummerdude]

this is too

[bummerdude]

one more time

[bummerdude]

Sorry to bother you,
I found you on the HTML sandbox. I noticed your username has the comment "(Thank you Veterans past and present!)" next to it.

Can you tell me how to add these comments that show up behind your name after you post something?

I've been busting my brain trying to figure it out.

[bummerdude]

Oops, that last one was meant to be a private message.

Now everyone knows I'm a moron.

[bad company]

Can you tell me how to add these comments that show up behind your name after you post something?

When You go to post a comment to someone, just underneath the text box There is a text line that has "Tagline: (optional, printed after your name on post):" just above it. That's where you put your tagline.

[bummerdude]

Okay, thanks. So you basically have to do it everytime.
Gotcha.