How Do I ... Prepare a Web Document on my local Workstation
Users of PC and Mac computers are the primary audience for this document.
This document describes the basic steps to prepare a document for the Web on your local workstation, transfer it to the correct directory of your Web Server (you must have an assigned area on a server), and Telnet to the Web server.
This document makes the assumption that the reader is a UWO Web Information Provider and has an area on the UWO Web server where files will be located. If you have not covered these steps yet, you should read How do I... Become a Web Information Provider before proceeding.
You can prepare your Web document using a variety of different methods. These include:
- Creating an HTML file:
- Use your operating system editor or your favorite word processor to
type in your html document. You will need to type in both the text and the
HTML tags. The file is saved as text (ASCII) with an
.html or .htm extension. Example of system editors:
- Windows (All Versions) - notepad
- Mac - Simpletext
- Use an HTML Editor or translator. The following examples are a
sampling of what is available. New HTML editors continue to be
released for both the PC and Mac computers.
- PC -WordPerfect Internet Publisher, Adobe Contribute, Dreamweaver or the MS-Word Internet Assistant
- Mac - HTML Editor, HotMetal, or the MS-Word Internet Assistant.
- Use your operating system editor or your favorite word processor to type in your html document. You will need to type in both the text and the HTML tags. The file is saved as text (ASCII) with an .html or .htm extension. Example of system editors:
- Creating a Text (ASCII) File:
- You can use either your system editor or your usual word processor to produce a text (or ASCII) file with a .txt extension. This does not produce a very attractive looking page, but it is a quick way to produce a file which can be viewed on the Web, and can be useful for making meeting minutes etc. publicly available. If you use your word processor, remember to save your file as a text (ASCII) file.
While you are preparing your file, view it periodically with a Web browser to check the formatting. Firefox is a popular browser on most systems. Your file may need further adjustments before it is ready to be moved to the UWO Web server.
From PCs and Macs, you need to transfer your file to the Web Server. You transfer your HTML file (or Text file) and any related files and graphics to the correct directory of your Web Server.
When you become a UWO Web Information Provider, you are given an account which can be used to access UWO Web server.
You will recognize your own area because the directory path will begin with /web/www/ and then the name of your personal directory will follow.
On the PC, use WS_FTP and on the Mac use Fetch.
If necessary, rename the file so that the filename extension is html (The UWO Web server prefers the html extension over htm.) Windows will allow you to use the four-character extension.
Use your browser to view your file again in its new location to check the protection and appearance, and that all links work as you intended. The location (URL) will be http://www.uwo.ca/... where you complete the path by adding your directory and filename.
- Check your HTML file for problems using an HTML validation form such as the HTML Checker at http://www.uwo.ca/IP/checkers.html. This will find errors that may not cause your browser problems but may affect the text browsers or Web tools that try to create search indexes, etc. If necessary, use an editor (e.g. pico on Unix) to correct minor errors.
- It is a good idea to view your document from as many platforms as possible. If you have used your own graphics, check your page on a slow system (modem speeds) and high and low resolution screens.
- Create a link to your new HTML files. When you are satisfied that your HTML file is ready to be viewed by the world, it is time to create the link to your file. Assuming this current document is not your home page, it will be necessary to edit your home page file, often named index.html, to link in the new file to the home page.
If the HTML file that is to call your file is not yours, you will need to ask the author of that file to add a link to your page. (See the bottom of the page where the author's name and e-mail address is usually given.) You will need to give the URL of your page and then test the link once it is installed.
Disclaimer: The provided instructions are for information purposes only. Neither The University of Western Ontario nor the Division of Information Technology Services assume any responsibility for loss of use or damage to a computer system (including any data or software contained within the computer system) which is the result (directly or indirectly) of the application of these instructions. Any problems, questions or concerns not addressed by these instructions should be directed to the vendor and/or the manufacturer and not to The University of Western Ontario or any of its employees or incumbents.
©2010, The University of Western Ontario. Permission is granted to copy in whole or in part provided that due credit is given to the authors, Information Technology Services, and The University of Western Ontario.