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HTML file basics
If you plan to build Web pages, you should understand a few basics about HTML files.
1. Name all HTML files with lower-case letters and no spaces. Many servers are case-sensitive and will not show a page written with a capital letter if the visitor types the URL in lower-case. Many servers have problems with blank spaces. Don't use them. The file extensions .HTM and .HTML are identical. However, they must be typed correctly by your visitors or the page will not appear. Decide on an extension and be consistent. Most Web making programs automatically save as HTM. The dual extension issue stems from the old days when DOS could only create files with three-letter extensions. Now Windows can create four-letter extensions, but Microsoft always strives to be backwards compatible.
2. HTML files are TEXT ONLY. They POINT to image files. The HTML file does not contain the image files. If you include images in your Web page, you must keep the HTML file and the image files together in their original folders and upload the entire folder structure or your images will not appear.
This is a common mistake made my new Web designers. They think the HTML file holds all the graphics, sounds, movie clips, and such and they only upload the HTML file. Then nothing works.
For more on HTML basics, view the following online PowerPoint Presentation.
FYI Only
An HTML tag for an image would look like this:
<IMAGE SRC="picture.jpg">
If that picture file is different in any way, for example it starts with a capital P (Picture.jpg), it will not show up.
If that picture is in a different folder than the HTML file, it will not show up unless you create the path to the other folder, like so:
<IMAGE SRC="images/picture.jpg">
If the path to the picture is UP from the folder where the HTML file resides, the tag would include this line command of two periods and a forward slash : ../ which means back out of the existing directory.
<IMAGE SRC="../images/picture.jpg>
If you are using an HTML creation program, this is all done automatically for you. What you need to remember is to upload the HTML file and all its image files, and either keep them in the same directory, or upload the whole folder structure.
You can view the HTML code on any Web page by using your View > Source option in your browser.
For more on HTML basics, view the following online PowerPoint Presentation.