HTML Sandbox

various freepers | Refreshed 6 Dec 02 | various freepers

[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).

[BJungNan]

Always love these posts. Thanks. FR should make this a link on the main page. btw, I learned much of my html here on FR.

[GailA]

MERRY CHRISTmas

[steveegg]

Blink is not recognized by Microsoft for some reason, even though you can put it in with FrontPage 2002, and it is a valid tag ("new" Netscape/Mozilla does display it properly).

FWIW, I'm also only average, especially with some of the coding pros that are around these parts.

[steveegg]

Amen.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

:-)

[Jackie]

BLOCKQUOTE only does a left indent, but leaves the right margin alone. Any tips for some simple HTML code that will do the trick?

You can make a basic table like this for perfect margins.

To learn how to make tables, either source my code here or go to Google and type in "html table tutorial."

Tables are easy and fun. I'd like to see examples of your and others' table art on this thread.

Cut and paste my coding and fool with numbers, colors, and content. Post your results!

[Jackie]

There's XHTML, DHTML, CSS, DOM... all of which take us into the future.

I have worked up a DHTML design which I can post at other sites, but not here. Don't know why.

[azGOPgal]

Just seeing if i can post a pick

[azGOPgal]

didn't work

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Certain protocols will be limited by format. XML is useless here. WML and WAP are necessary for you wireless freeks to play games and communicate. Bottom line HTML simply doesn't have the ability to expand further to accomodate needs of current technology. V4 will be replaced by V6 to create trillions of more opportunities for addresses, we're running out now. DHTML is capable of neat animations and great ability to position, and the ability to base things on user reactions - it's cool.

It will be less tolerant also. In this format there is no need for tags, others will compensate for non-closure in some cases, but in the protocols I described mistakes "aren't allowed". Paragraphs require a closing tag...

What do you do with DHTML?

[Jackie]

I agree. DHTML is very cool.

When I preview the design I have worked up here at FR, I get a bunch of graphics stacked on top of each other instead of floating down separately into position. My design isn't compatible here, but works perfectly at other sites.

I don't really do anything with DHTML -- just enjoy the challenge of figuring it all out. I am not a techie.

[Jackie]

I agree. DHTML is very cool.

When I preview the design I have worked up here at FR, I get a bunch of graphics stacked on top of each other instead of floating down separately into position. My design isn't compatible here, but works perfectly at other sites.

I don't really do anything with DHTML -- just enjoy the challenge of figuring it all out. I am not a techie.

[firewalk]

thank you for reminding me about this thread. (believe it or not) i had forgotten most of this....

best wishes
BIS

[SouthernHawk]

Not exactly an HTML question, but this seems like the right place to ask.

When the "TO" list (especially with large ping lists) is longer then the displayed information, (like your post #6 on this thread)how can you see who got the ping. Sometimes there isn't any need to ping somebody if they already got the ping from a previous reply.

If there was a way to see the complete ping list, we can be sure to get the word out to everyone WITHOUT unnecessary duplication.

Thanks for the help!

[TPartyType]

SouthernHawk, I think the answer is to ping in moderation. Prodigious pingage pepetuates potentially unpalatable posting problems.

[Jackie]

Are you connected to Tumbleweed Software?

Or is your name an EJ moniker and just a coincidence?

[2Jedismom]

Did he disable this type?

< embed src="http://bertino.tierranet.com/disney/midi/smlworld.mid" Autostart="true">

I put an extra space between the < and embed

[steveegg]

Yep; the <embed> tag is automatically filtered out (used the &lt; trick to avoid the space).

[2Jedismom]

Darn. It's a catchy little tune! ;-)

[SouthernHawk]

Positively Preposterous ! ! !