3.02H Publishing a Website

3.02 Develop webpages.

Before PublishingCheck spelling Spelling errors can turn visitors away from site.

Use web editor’s spell checking utility or copy text to a word processor to check for spelling errors.

Check relative and absolute links to makesure they work properly.

Common link errors: Forward slash in relative link

http:// before a relative link

Mistyping a web address using wrong case or mistaking a _ for a blank space

Before Publishing (Continued)

Check site in multiple browsers.

Check site in Internet Explorer, Opera, Firefox, etc.

Notice differences and adjust as necessary.

Before Publishing (continued)

Validate source code. Validating checks for errors in HTML code such as:

Tags spelled incorrectly

Tags left open

Validating does not find spelling errors in text.

Some validators correct errors while others just highlight the error.

Many web editors contain internal validating utilities.

For sites created in a text editor, validating is available online and via free downloads.

Example: http://validator.w3.org/

Choose a Web HostA web host is also called a web server.

A computer that stores web page files. Sends webpages to viewers over the Internet

upon request.

Types: Free Shared Dedicated

ISP is most common web host. Usually package Internet access, email, and limited

web site storage for its customers Can be a solution for personal or small business use

Free Web HostsGood for family, hobby or personal sites with low traffic.

Advantages No cost

May include free email account

May include online web editor with GUI

Disadvantages No personalized domain names; usually

combines the free site’s URL with the path to specific site.

Limited storage space.

Limited technical support.

Allows pop-up advertising in exchange for hosting site.

Shared Web HostsGood for small businesses websites with average traffic

Advantages Low cost because it is shared with others.

Own domain name.

Better technical support.

Disadvantages Restrictions on traffic volume (more traffic

costs more money!)

Offers many options such as email, database support and multiple web editor compatibility.

Dedicated Web Hosts

Good for large businesses with high traffic and multiple domain names.

Advantages

Website is hosted on its own server—not shared with others.

Very powerful—can accommodate any kind of software.

Disadvantages

Very expensive

Requires high-level computer skills.

Comparing Web HostsCost

What can the customer afford?

Storage

How much storage space can the customer afford?

What size is the site? Check the cumulative size of the root folder if no

web editor.

Reliability

Are backup servers in place to host site when main server is offline?

Comparing Web Hosts (Continued)

Traffic

Does the host allow a maximum number of “hits” per billing cycle?

What is the fee for exceeding the traffic allowance if the site becomes popular?

File transfer technology

(ftp, webDAV, editor compatibility)

Some hosts do not support some web editors and may require the use of their ftp program.

Obtain a Domain NameDomain names can be registered for a fixed

period of time (usually 1 year but no more than 10 years).

ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) maintains a list of accredited registrars.

Registrars are the only companies allowed to assign domain names.

Registration cost vary but are generally between $10 and $35 although some web hosts will register the domain for free.

ICANN manages InterNIC, a searchable list of URLs.

Has a WhoIs feature that provides information regarding the registered owner and the registrar that assigned the domain name.

Publish!Upload files to a web host. Know protocol being used.

FTP—File Transfer Protocol Non-secure transfer that doesn’t encrypt access

password or allow data encryption during transfer WebDAV-Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning

Secure file transfer that uses Web Folders to encrypt password and data during transfer; useful when using multiple authors to create site

Does the host require an external uploading application?

Does the host accept internal uploading utilities from web editing programs like Microsoft Expression Web or Dreamweaver?

Publish!

Site too large? Reduce number and/or size of

multimedia files. Reduce number and/or size of

images. Edit pages and remove links to files

that no longer exist. Remove unnecessary files from host

server. Pay for additional storage space.