HTML Sandbox

Refreshed 1 July 03 | 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).

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Click here for previous HTML Sandbox thread.

[kstewskis]

Oh, this is going to be way too fun.

[glock rocks]

very good, grasshopper. now... click the pic time...

[Sabertooth]

Good work. Here are a few tips, if no one's told you yet. Images from Angelfire, Tripod, Crosswinds, and a few other sites won't work. Don't even bother.

Sometimes you'll get an image in your browser cache that won't link, but you won't know it because it's in your cache. Everyone's complaining about the red x, and you're scratching your head, because you see a pic.

You have two choices... either empty your browser cache before you preview the graphic, or (my preference) get your graphics in a different browser than the one you're using to post.

For example, if you're posting in Explorer, search in Netscape. That way, you'll never get a false positive in preview from an image in the Explorer browser, becasue you grabbed the code from Netscape.

Good luck!

[kstewskis]

Okay boys, this one's for you.

THANK YOU!!!

[glock rocks]

how do you clear the cache in ie?

dammit jim I'm a programmer, not a, um...

I really think you should ping laz to all your posts for the next couple weeks. just... well, just because.

let's see if he can really help himself.

[glock rocks]

oh, darlin.

[kstewskis]

For example, if you're posting in Explorer, search in Netscape. That way, you'll never get a false positive in preview from an image in the Explorer browser, becasue you grabbed the code from Netscape.

Excellent suggestion, thanks. I hate IE. I was wondering if my browser was causing the disturbance (I'm using whatever earthlink uses...not IE or Netscape). You're the best! Thanks!

[skinkinthegrass]

Hey! I thought all the civil engineers out there would enjoy this!

Hey! What the degree of curve on that Sucker...Item?

[kstewskis]

Master...

Ah...the "Mel" for flunkies...I was terrified by that image alone. It scared me into getting this right...or else!

Much gratitude and thanks to you!

...grasshopper

[Sabertooth]

How do you clear the cache in ie?

I'm on a Mac, so I just do it in my preferences, then to "advanced" where there's an option to empty your cache.

But that's a pain, way too much clicking. Also, a lot of your web pages will load more slowly if you're emptying your cache all the time.

Two browsers is definitely the way to go. Opera's pretty fast, try searching with that browser and posting in IE.

[glock rocks]

you are quite welcome.

[Fiddlstix]

[Brad’s Gramma]

HA HA HA HA HA!

[glock rocks]

you are quite welcome.

[Brad’s Gramma]

HA HA HA HA HA!

[Brad’s Gramma]

You THANK us by pointing a gun at us?

Oh good grief.

[Brad’s Gramma]

NOBODY eats the wings, do they?

Liver? Nope. They were all out tonight, they said they had a run on liver.

[glock rocks]

thanks, I'll try it.

[Brad’s Gramma]

heheeeeee

[glock rocks]

I had the runs on liver.

that's why I wanted the wings.