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:

[Majie Purple]

Did it work again?Oh yes it did! Would you just look at that...Wow! Thanks!

[SkyDancer]

ok, well here goes ...

[SC Swamp Fox]

It appears you were successful.

[darkwing104]

What you may want to try what I sent you in Freepmail. Like so

[SkyDancer]

Yippie!!!!

[SkyDancer]

Yes, and I loaded several cute cartoon thingies too ...

[darkwing104]

You can practice in the sandbox before you try them out in the regular posts.

BTW. is that a picture of you?

[SkyDancer]

Yes, that's me ....

[darkwing104]

Just watch out for the wolves on the FR!

Just about all of them are mostly harmless.

[SkyDancer]

Ok, this place seems pretty safe but then I know how to handle myself ... also my dad is a former marine ... >grin<

[darkwing104]

Well then...Once you get familar with posting pictures check out the FR Canteen. That is the place to get ideas on HTML posting.

Just title search on canteen. That is a military friendly area of the FR. They welcome everybody.

I am retired Air Force.

[SkyDancer]

I don't think my dad would hold that against you ... I mean you served too ... Semper Fi ... don't know what the air force equivalent is ...

[darkwing104]

[SkyDancer]

Right ... did I send it to the wrong place?

[darkwing104]

Post this picture in the canteen

[TPartyType]

Atta kid!!!

[SkyDancer]

I didn't see anything about a canteen ... plus it doesn't look like me and I'd only use it if I was angry at someone's post ... >grin<

[darkwing104]

Click here to go to the latest FR Canteen...

[SkyDancer]

Wow .... there's like 700+ posts there and 600+ in the Sandbox ... I think I'll just stick to the regular news forum and emails here ... I printed out the pages that explain how to do things so it should keep me busy for a while ...

Thanks ... jane

[potlatch]

An Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
May the rain fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of His hand

Irish Jig