Ok...I am officially lost... - DPChallenge Forums

10/19/2004 05:37:16 PM · #1

I need a geek to help me.

To put it plain and simple...I want to make a website, but have no knowledge of anything. I NEED YOUR HELP. I downloaded Fireserv...and I am clueless as to what to do. The purpose of the website will basically be to display my photos in a professional manner. But I know absolutely nothing about PHP...and the only thing I know about servers is that they are usually hot at Hooters. So someone help me PLEASE! You can post here first...PM me...or log onto Fanatics...but I NEED YOU!!! I am such a noob and no nothing...so impress me with your great and honorable skills and help a stupid kid out!

Thanks a bunch,
Lee

letenele

Canon EOS-5D

10/19/2004 05:45:54 PM · #2

How about you get Dreamweaver and just start with simple html programming? (or, rather, Dreamweaver will do all that for you as it is a WYSIWYG program). I did my whole website //www.photokisses.com that way (plus Photoshop, obviously) and I've never needed anything more than knowing the basic clicks and some html.
Oh, and //www.lunarpages.com hosts my website for $110 per year.

mirdonamy

10/19/2004 05:47:57 PM · #3

Are you looking to learn how to do design or do you want to hire one of us to do a site for you? If you want to learn how to do a website, google "HTML Goodies" and go through the basics. Sign up for hosting at a free hosting company just to get started (like Yahoo or something) and upload your site through an ftp client (download a trial of WS FTP Pro). Your host (yahoo or whoever you choose) will have instructions as to how to connect to them. Once you have done a trial site, then you can buy your own domain, buy a hosting plan (nomonthlyfees.com or hostsave.com are two I use) and you can have your own site, looking the way you want to! Don't even think about php til you master html :) Best to you!!!

10/19/2004 05:49:09 PM · #4

How about Create Web Gallery through Photoshop (CS, 6, Elements)?
Buy Dreamweaver (how many hundread dollars?) I just got GoLive off of ebay for $250 (reg $400). I have used it before, but the learning curve is still high.
These two you can demo for like 30 days.
Pagespinner is a free one. there are quite a few free WYSIWYG creators out there.

Message edited by author 2004-10-19 17:50:52.

mirdonamy

10/19/2004 05:50:10 PM · #5

letenele, is right about Dreamweaver and PS (esp Image ready). They are great at making sites without making you do a lot of work, but the software is not cheap. Dreamweaver is worth it though. I use it for all my coding because i love how easy it makes things for me. Luckily, i learned html and php so I can alter and edit anything i want to, without being confined to the software, but those programs are a great place to start. You still need a host though...

10/19/2004 05:51:50 PM · #6

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

Thanks...well, I am doing the cheapest thing possible...trying to learn myself. Now can i do anything before i have a "host" (links to where i can do this)? And how do i make a site layout in order to upload through an ftp(?) client. You are dealing with someone who feels like this is a total new language :( sorry that im a little stupid about it but I'd rather ask than get nothing done.

10/19/2004 05:53:02 PM · #7

I am trying to learn PHP. SUX! Everything seems backwards. I am trying to put together my ideas for a new site (sort of like this one-since I love it's usability) and PHP seems to be the way. Reading way to many text manuls now, I am getting confused. (C:

10/19/2004 05:54:03 PM · #8

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

I have PS elements...hm...but where do i start in there...all i know how to do is edit images (and not well as it is)...if you cant build my site...you could help a little by giving me some step-by-step ideas so i can baby walk my way to at least something...ugh i am so frustrated :(

10/19/2004 05:59:17 PM · #9

I am currently experimenting with elements' photo gallery thingy...

10/19/2004 05:59:21 PM · #10

Originally posted by Tranquil:

Originally posted by mirdonamy:
Are you looking to learn how to do design or do you want to hire one of us to do a site for you? If you want to learn how to do a website, google "HTML Goodies" and go through the basics. Sign up for hosting at a free hosting company just to get started (like Yahoo or something) and upload your site through an ftp client (download a trial of WS FTP Pro). Your host (yahoo or whoever you choose) will have instructions as to how to connect to them. Once you have done a trial site, then you can buy your own domain, buy a hosting plan (nomonthlyfees.com or hostsave.com are two I use) and you can have your own site, looking the way you want to! Don't even think about php til you master html :) Best to you!!!

Thanks...well, I am doing the cheapest thing possible...trying to learn myself. Now can i do anything before i have a "host" (links to where i can do this)? And how do i make a site layout in order to upload through an ftp(?) client. You are dealing with someone who feels like this is a total new language :( sorry that im a little stupid about it but I'd rather ask than get nothing done.

If you're going to learn HTML then you can build your site on your computer (saving the files as you go along). As you work on the site you should be able to open it up in the web browser to see how it would llok. You don't have to 'ftp' it until you're ready (whether that be one single page or several links/pages.

10/19/2004 06:00:24 PM · #11

File->Create Web Photo Gallery->(have all the pics you want in a folder)Navigate to folder/Choose Folder and Destination Folder->Choose your options->OK
EDIT:You can then open this in (BBEdit Lite is free) a word processor if you want to look at the code and start learning what it does.

Message edited by author 2004-10-19 18:01:43.

letenele

Canon EOS-5D

10/19/2004 06:04:09 PM · #12

you can start with very simple stuff such as making buttons. That will include some fun and experimental clicks on the rectangle, paint brush, and type set. Then you can arrange them to form a navigation bar, although more and more websites these days use words on differently colored backgrounds (like DPC), so it's up to you to choose what you want to learn. Then you can choose which pictures to display, and what categories to put them in. YOu can even try putting everything together in microsoft word to see how it would look, and click on "save as webpage" for a better idea.

rennie

Nikon D40X

10/19/2004 06:06:15 PM · #13

Originally posted by DianaB:

Diana is right. I learned HTML myself in one week. It's fun and it's very simple. Dreamwaver is by far more complicated and it generates a lot of "rubbish" in the code. Pure HTML is a beauty.

Actually I'm living in a different time zone, so I can't help you much, but there is a book I learned HTML from:

//www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0321130073/helion-20/104-6425237-6387915

Good luck

10/19/2004 06:10:38 PM · #14

Originally posted by DianaB:

This i understand...and I made a gallery in PS, which is good and all...but there is nothing to the effect of a home page and a place to link to multiple galleries other than having just that as my website.

I got a free server w/a domain that i should be receiving in the next 24 hours...but what I still find unclear is how you can go about to make a launching page linked to a homepage that has lists to multiple galleries, etc. just like any other photographer's site. Where/how is this done because I do not think that PS is able to perform these operations.

Ecce_Signum

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/19/2004 06:13:35 PM · #15

I have too many irons in the fire right now. I'm currently working flat out designing sites for clients using templates but am considering going back to the good old 'code it yourself' its much faster as you don't have the extra code holding things up. I'm also in talks with a host to get a decent price to resell space with the fotog in mind (coming soon). I like the idea of you you trialling your site with a free host before moving up with the big boys and paid hosting.

As for learning how to code yourself, its probably a steeper learning curve than PS, but well worth it.

Message edited by author 2004-10-19 18:15:03.

10/19/2004 06:15:46 PM · #16

Originally posted by Tranquil:

Originally posted by DianaB:
If you're going to learn HTML then you can build your site on your computer (saving the files as you go along). As you work on the site you should be able to open it up in the web browser to see how it would llok. You don't have to 'ftp' it until you're ready (whether that be one single page or several links/pages.

This i understand...and I made a gallery in PS, which is good and all...but there is nothing to the effect of a home page and a place to link to multiple galleries other than having just that as my website.

I got a free server w/a domain that i should be receiving in the next 24 hours...but what I still find unclear is how you can go about to make a launching page linked to a homepage that has lists to multiple galleries, etc. just like any other photographer's site. Where/how is this done because I do not think that PS is able to perform these operations.

You are right. PS elements will give you features that you will be able to incorporate into your web site, from what little I know of it, but it won't build your site. Rennie is right - HTML is very simple to learn. It sounds to me like you need to start by learning how to build your first opening page to your site - is that right? Then create links to further pages on your site and some links to other sites?

10/19/2004 06:17:29 PM · #17

Originally posted by DianaB:

It sounds to me like you need to start by learning how to build your first opening page to your site - is that right? Then create links to further pages on your site and some links to other sites?

Now, we're talking! Yes!

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/19/2004 06:21:05 PM · #18

If you're looking for a host, I'd suggest Verve Hosting, especially if you've never done this sort of thing before. I say this for two reasons. 1. They have excellent tech support. I email them doofy questions all the time and they write back right away. 2. They have an option in the control panel that will install all sorts of things for you, including a number of different photo galleries. That might be easier than trying to learn everything before you start.

As far as learning, I've never been a big fan of books (for this, that is. I love books in general.) There's really no need for them when there are eleventy billion HTML/PHP/etc resources on the internet. The best way to learn is just to practice. Find a site that has some basics and work with those. Look at sites you like and read the source code. Ask questions. Anyone who can write a book can surely learn some code in no time at all. :)

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

10/19/2004 06:23:17 PM · #19

Originally posted by Tranquil:

Originally posted by DianaB:
It sounds to me like you need to start by learning how to build your first opening page to your site - is that right? Then create links to further pages on your site and some links to other sites?

Now, we're talking! Yes!

Try //www.htmlgoodies.com/ or //webmonkey.com or //www.davesite.com/webstation/html/ or just do a search for "basic html" or "learn html" or something like that.

10/19/2004 06:24:34 PM · #20

Originally posted by Tranquil:

Okay. You can do it. I promise. All you need is a word processor or WordPad to write the HTML onto. It might be worth looking on the internet to see if you can find some straightforward instructions on HTML code and creating the first page to a site - or going to the library or bookshop and searching out whatever book looks like it could 'speak to you' to start writing HTML.

10/19/2004 06:26:02 PM · #21

Originally posted by mk:

If you're looking for a host, I'd suggest Verve Hosting,

Yea I've heard about Verve...and I will consider it down the line...but as for now I need a free host to play around with.

Diana...let's get rolling...i have wordpad out and im at your every whim!

10/19/2004 06:35:39 PM · #22

SOmething that may be of help, worth trying (I did this). Make a page in PSE. Then open it in WordPad and then try deleting parts out of the body, or changing them. Like it is said, it really isn't THE most complicated thing.
Actually you could probably make an index page out of it, just by replacing the tables, etc.

10/19/2004 06:41:28 PM · #23

Thanks to you guys...im off studying some html tuts and gonna start experimenting...last thing that i need to know for a couple days...how do i preview what ive done prior to getting a host...do i just open up with file in my browser or what?

10/19/2004 06:44:09 PM · #24

Originally posted by Tranquil:

Originally posted by mk:
If you're looking for a host, I'd suggest Verve Hosting,

Yea I've heard about Verve...and I will consider it down the line...but as for now I need a free host to play around with.

Diana...let's get rolling...i have wordpad out and im at your every whim!

LOL. Okay - go search out some 'learn html' on the internet! You'll be looking to do your 'title' page first, which will include a head and body no less!

mirdonamy