Following is information for FAQS (Frequently Asked Questions). Rather than include a list of "how does" and "what is" link questions, or search box, I have listed the following FAQS in alphabetical order. If you are new to website creation it is recommended that you read though all of the FAQS. Otherwise you can use your browser Find function (or Ctrl-F) to search this list of FAQS. If any of the FAQS are wrong or misleading please click on the above CONTACT link and send me an email.
ANIMATION: There are software products that make it easy to create animated graphics. Animation can be effective for drawing attention to ad graphics but if you use too many on a page it will significantly increase the time it takes for the page to load.
APPLET: A small Java program that can be used with HTML. For example, to put a clock or calendar on a web page. The function of an applet is usually limited to the local computer displaying the web page (can not sent/receive data over the Internet).
API (Application Program Interface): A program that provides direct access to low-level functions on PC peripherals. For example, can be used to produce advertising pop-up windows when a web page is accessed.
BACKGROUND: Website design software allows you to create a background color or design. You may think a background color/design looks neat but it can detract from the information on the web page and slow down the page loading time. If you are doing a personal/for-fun website go for it and use all the background color, design, and pictures you like. Good professional designed websites rarely use background colors or designs. Dark (black, purple, etc.) backgrounds can be very hard to read and the printout quality for such pages is often not good.
BLOG: Use of a BLOG (weB LOG) is a way for people to publish information (their daily diary, thoughts, ideas, political views, etc.) on the web. There are many BLOG websites, some are free and some charge a monthly fee. If that is adequate you don't need to create your own website.
BMP (BitMaP): This type of file (".bmp") is created by some graphics programs (e.g., Windows Paint program). Saving files in ".bmp" format results in very large files. There are software products that allow you to capture and save such files as GIF or JPEG files (see JPEG).
CALL ALERT: If you use a dial-up Internet connection you can subscribe to a service that will alert you when someone tries to call you. You can either take the call or let the service take a message (click here to find out more).
CGI (Common Gateway Interface) SCRIPT: This is a computer program that can be included in a web page to perform a function that is not available in your website design software. For example, to include a login password for the webpage. CGI scripts can be written in various programming languages (Perl, C, Visual Basic, etc.).
COST FOR A WEBSITE: Other than the cost of designing a website (design software and labor), you have to pay for the use of the website name (registration) and for the use of disk space on a web server. If you use a registration service it can cost up to $35 a year to own (register) the website name. IX Web Hosting will register your website name for free if you purchase one of their hosting plans. Your hosting company cost depends mainly on how much disk space you need. That can be as little as a few dollars a month to over a hundred dollars a month for large commercial sites. Other hosting cost factors are site traffic (hits per day), number of email addresses, data transfers (uploads/downloads), etc. For example, porn sites have a huge number of hits every day and upload lots of pictures and movies every day so they have to pay more.
COUNTER: Some website hosts (like IX Web Hosting) provide counters that can be inserted into your web pages that will record how many times someone looks at your website (hits). There are also Internet companies that provide counters (see Links page). Most counters allow you to set the count starting number if you want it to look like a lot of people have already visited your website. Some counters can be set so the count display is only visible to you. Most website hosting companies also provide site statistics (including hit/visit count) that are usually accessed via the hosting company's control panel.
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): This is a method of defining colors and sizes as "styles" when coding in HTML so you don't have to redefine them each time they are used.
DESCRIPTION: Most web design software programs allow you to enter a short description of your web site. This is usually displayed below the heading when your site is listed by a search engine. It is a good idea to include a good description for each page so your search engine listing will make someone want to select your website. If you do it on your template you will not have to do it each time you create a new page (as long as you use the template).
DHTML (Dynamic Hyper Text Markup Language): An advanced version of HTML that specifies exactly how text and images will be displayed on a web page (combines the use of both CSS and JavaScript).
DIRECTX: Microsoft Windows API (Application Program Interface) program that provides direct access to low-level functions on PC peripherals. For example, can be used to produce advertising pop-up windows when a web page is accessed.
DOWNLOAD: The process of transferring data (web pages, pictures, music files, etc.) from a website server to your computer (or someone else's computer) is called DOWNLOADING. Most low-cost website hosting packages have limits as to the amount of data (MB - see MEGA BIT) that can be uploaded/downloaded. This should not be an issue unless your website is going to be doing an unusual amount of uploading/downloading. NOTE, if you ever need to you can download web page files and from you server to your computer with use of an FTP program. This can be helpful if the web page files on your computer become damaged or lost.
EMAIL: You can include a link in a web page that will allow the website viewer to send email to the address you specify. The link can be text (e.g., "Click Here to Send Me Email") or an icon/graphic. To make the link work you must include "mailto:" and the email address as the link-to data. For example; mailto: feedback@doawebsite.com
EZINE (Electronic Magazine): These are most commonly newsletter emails that include referral links. The idea is to get someone to read the email newsletter and click on one of the referral links. Ezine's are only sent to people who have agreed to receive the newsletter so they are OPT-IN emails and are not considered SPAM emails.
FIREWALL: In buildings a firewall is usually a brick/concrete wall that serves the function of preventing a fire in one part of the building from spreading to the adjacent part of the building. Computer firewall software serves the function of preventing unwanted people/programs from getting into a computer from the Internet. Firewall software is an absolute requirement for anyone that wants to prevent hackers and unwanted programs from getting into your computer.
FRAME: Most website design programs allow you to design a page with frames. This means you can have two or more sections of a web page that will function independently with their own scroll bars. Each frame is like a separate web page with its own HTML source code.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol): This is a standard digital communication method/protocol that was developed to allow the transfer of files (upload/download) between computers/servers on the Internet. Most web design programs have a publish/upload function that allows you to easily do an FTP by just clicking a button or doing a drag-and-drop for your website files. Microsoft Internet Explorer can be used to FTP files to/from some host servers (see IE Help). There are also FTP programs (see the Links page). If your website design software has an FTP/Publish function you will likely only need an FTP program if you want to download files from your host server to your local computer (see the Links page).
GIF (Graphic Interchange Format): This is a compressed file format similar to JPEG but is limited to 256 colors. GIF files are smaller than JPEG files but the color quality is not as good. Animation graphics are often ".gif" files. See JPEG for more information on compressed files.
HOST: For a website to be viewed from the Internet it must be on a server that is connected to the Internet. Hosting companies sell/rent server space for website pages ("host" the web pages).
HTM: HTM is sometimes used as the file extension for an HTML file (e.g., index.htm). HTML is normally used but it does not make any different which one is used (see HTML).
HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language): This is a programming language used to display text and graphics in a web browser. If you know how you can use a text editor (e.g., WordPad) and create a web page by writing all the necessary HTML code. Even professional website designers rarely do this any more because it is so much easier to use website design software that automtically creates the HTML code. Following is an example of the HTML code required to put the words
I can code HTML in the middle of a web page.
<DIV ID="idElement1" style="position:absolute; top:182px; left:262px;
width:162px;height:21px;"><TABLE BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0
WIDTH=162><TR VALIGN=top><TD><DIV align=left><FONT CLASS=Arial-18pxb>
I can code HTML</FONT></DIV></TD></TR></TABLE></DIV>
HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol): The protocol used to move hypertext files (HTML web pages) across the Internet. The http and www preceding a domain name (e.g., http://www.doawebsite.com) specify that the http protocol is to be used to get the doawebsite.com web page from a www server.
INTERNET: A global network of inter-connected communication systems that allows computers, and similar devices, all over the world to communicate with each other.
IP ADDRESS: Every computer/server/website connected to the Internet has a unique IP (Internet Protocol) numeric identifier/address. The IP address is what makes it possible for specific computers/servers/websites to be found on the Internet. For example; the IP address for this doawebsite.com website is 66.116.147.131. Instead of using http://www.doawebsite.com you could use http://66.116.147.131
ISP (Internet Service Provider): Your ISP is the company that provides your Internet connection.
JAVA: Java is an object oriented programming language that can be used with HTML to perform web page functions. For example, to create a shopping cart function. It is platform-independent so it will run on any operating system (LINUX, UNIX, MACINTOSH, or WINDOWS).
JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): This is a compressed file format for graphics/pictures. Files created by scanners and digital cameras are very large files - often over 1 MB in size. If you include large files like this in a web page it will take a long time to load and someone trying to display your web page will probable give up before it finishes loading. The same file saved as a JPEG file is much smaller file. The file extension is actually "jpg". Even saving it as a JPEG file may still result in a file that is too big for web page use. You want to keep your graphic file size to under 100K (0.1 MB). There are software products that will reduce the file size even more (see WEBSITE DESIGN SOFTWARE in Links page).
KB (Kilo Bit): One KB is 1,000 bits (0.1 MB). (See MEGA BIT)
KEY WORDS: Most website design software allows you to specific key words that search engines can use to rank your website. For example; if you include the key word "clock" than someone that does a search for "clock" would be more apt to see your website listed. Some of the major search engines no longer use your key words, they check your website and select the key words they want to put in their database. It is a good idea to put them in just in case they help. If you put them in your template you will not have to do it for each new page you create.
LINKS: A link is something (text or icon/graphic) that will display another web page when someone clicks on the link. Text links are usually underlined and a different color than the rest of the text. They also usually change color when the have been clicked. You may have to specify the colors in the options of your website design software. To create a link you have to select the link words, or graphic, and specify the web page for the link. This can be one of your web pages or someone else's web page. If you link to someone else's web page you will need to include the complete web address for the link (e.g., http://www.doawebsite.com/).
LINUX: (see OPERATING SYSTEM)
MEGA BIT (MB): When you upload a web page or use the Internet to look at a web page all of the text and graphics is converted to/from digital data for transmission over the Internet. That digital data consists of bits of data. A bit is a digital one or zero. Following are the bits (1s and 0s) required for the word "Hello".
01001000 01100101 01101100 01101100 01101111
Each character of the word hello requires 8 bits (a digital word). Even graphics are converted to bits for transmission over the Internet. A mega bit is one millions bits. A page of text will only have about 50,000 to 100,000 bits (0.05 to 0.1 MB). A small JPEG picture (1/4 page) will have about the same amount of bits. The number of bits in a web page determines how long it will display (load) in a web browser and is why it is best not to put too much (especially graphics) in each web page.
META TAGS: These are HTML tags that provide information about a webpage. Meta tags are generated automatically by WSYSIWYG web design software when you enter a title, description, and key words for a web page.
MICROSOFT: (see OPERATING SYSTEM)
MPEG (Moving Picture Expert Group): MPEG files are movie files (".mpeg"). You can include links in a web page that will play a movie (assuming the user has media software that will play movies). Full-length movie files are extremely large and take hours to load even with a high speed ISP. The only practical movie files to be included in a web page are movies clips of only a minute or so.
MUSIC: You can design a web page so music is played when the web page loads or when a link (e.g., button) on the web page is clicked. Check the Help for your design program to see how it is done. You will have to have a music file (".wav", ".mp3", ",mid", etc.). Just like for graphic files, you need to consider the file size. Music files in ".wav" format are usually very large files and should be avoided. MIDI (".mid") and mp3 files are much smaller and can be used but you also need to consider the file size for these. If one of these file is to big (over 50K) you can use an audio program (see Links page) to create another file that has only a portion of the original music file. You can even link to a movie (e.g., ".mpeg") file.
NAMESERVER (PRIMARY & SECONDARY): The Internet only understands numbered addresses (see IP ADDRESS) so website names have to be converted to their IP address. This is done by a nameserver program. That is why you will have to take action to have your website IP address changed if you register your website name with a registration company before you purchase a website hosting company because the registration company will assign your website an IP address on one of their servers.
NETSCAPE: Netscape is a browser similar to Internet Explorer. It's use nearly died but it is now making a comeback and there are quite a few people who use is instead of Internet Explorer. This needs to be considered because some HTML files will not display in older versions of Netscape (V4.x and older). If you want to be sure all Netscape users will be able to see your web pages you need design software that creates both regular HTML files and duplicates that will work on old Netscape versions (e.g., index.html and index_nn4.html). This is probable not a big consideration as Netscape is now beyond version 7.x.
OPEN IN A NEW WINDOW: Normally when a link to another web page is clicked that web page is displayed in the same browser window. This is fine when the link is going to another page of your site. If you want your site to remain in the browser window the link needs to be programmed so it opens another browser window. This is important if you don't want your website display to be lost. If a user goes to another website and then views several pages in that site it may be difficult for the user to get back to your site and the user may not find it again. If a new browser window is opened the user will see your site again when the new browser window is closed. Use Help in your design software to find out how to do this.
OPERATING SYSTEM: Web hosting companies use various types of operating systems (usually LINUX, UNIX, or MICROSOFT) for their servers. Unless you use some unique programs that will only run on certain types of operating systems it doesn't make any different. Before you purchase a web hosting package be sure any unique requirements you have will be supported. For example; if you want to run MySQL you may need a Microsoft server. IX Web Hosting provides a choice of server types.
OPT-IN: An email marketing approach where a person has agreed to receive email update information or a newsletter. This usually happens when someone enters their email address in a website and checks a box that gives the website permission to sent them emails or a newsletter. DOUBLE OPT-IN means the person has confirmed their permission by responding to an email message.
PIXEL: A pixel is the smallest element of a display which can be assigned a color. The display on your computer screen is actually made up of thousands of little squares of different colors. If you open a picture with photo editing software and zoom in (e.g., 10:1) you will see these little colored squares. Computer screen displays are set to a specified resolution measured in pixels. The most common resolutions are 800 by 600 pixels (480,000 pixels) and 1024 by 768pixels (786,432 pixels). If you design a web page with your display set for 1024 by 768 the page will be larger than the screen for people using 800 by 600. It is best to design for 800 by 600 so people will not have to do horizontal scrolling when looking at your website.
POP3 & SMTP: When you set up your email software (e.g., Outlook Express) to get email from a website you will have to specify the POP3 (Post Office Protocol) and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) address. These address are used by the Internet to find your website mail box/server. They are both usually your website address preceded by "mail." (e.g.; mail.sitename.com).
PPC (Pay Per Click): You can pay a search engine for every time someone clicks on the search engine listing for your site. This is how search engines like Google make money. It is also the main determining factor in which websites are listed first in the search results. The more you pay per click the higher your listing rank.
PUBLISH: This is the process of uploading a web page to a host server.
REMOTE ACCESS: It is possible to access your computer remotely; for example, when traveling or while at work - or access your work computer from home. (click here to find out how).
REFERRAL MONEY: When you visit a website and see logos of other websites that you can click you are seeing "referral" links. This is how most websites earn money. There are a lot of websites the give information about this (see Links page).
SEARCH ENGINE SUBMISSION: This is the process of submitting your site to search engines to have a chance of your site being included in their search results. Most of the major search engines constantly search the web for new websites and may find your web site without it having been submitted but it is a good idea to do it anyway. If you buy a hosting package from IX Web Hosting they provide a function that will submit your website to over a dozen seach engines for free. NOTE, it may take weeks after submission before some search engines put your site in their database.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization): This is the process of designing your website so it will get the highest possible search engine rating. You can find information on the Internet about this and there are companies that you can pay to optimize you website (see Links page).
SERVER: A server is basically a computer that is configured to interface with the Internet. Website host servers have a lot of disk space to store website pages. Servers generally consist of only the main computer box (no monitor or keyboard). A central monitor and keyboard is used to access multiple servers.
SMPT: (see POP3 & SMTP)
SPLASH SCREEN: A "splashy" dramatic web page that is the first page displayed for a website. It usually includes advertising/introductory information for the website. If used, it should include a "skip intro" type link that can be use to get past the splash screen without having to wait for it to finish.
STATISTICS: Your hosting company maintains statistics (site hits/visits, upload MB, etc.) that can be accessed via you host control panel.
STORAGE SPACE: Your computer hard drive, a floppy disk, a CD, a digital camera card, and a hosting company server are examples of devices used to store computer files. There are also companies that will store your files so you can access the files remotely via a web browser. You can back-up your files this way, do it so your files will be available when you are away from your computer, and to allow the files to be shared with others.
STEAMING MEDIA: Streams of multimedia data (audio & video) that is transmitted over the Internet and played on a computer.
TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol): This is the specific format/convention (protocol) used by computers to communicate over the Internet.
TEMPLATE: A template is simply a file that contains all of the basic (boiler plate) text and graphics for a web page. Some design programs include some templates and you can create your own by saving a web page after you have designed the template contents. You can then modify that page to create a unique web page and do a save-as to save the modified page with a unique name. Templates can also be downloaded from the Internet, some for free and most for a price. Before you download a template be sure it will work with your design software. Templates are usually HTML files and not all WYSIWYG website design programs can import HTML files. Templates were used a lot when it was the vogue to have flashy web pages with lots of color and fancy headings. Now the trend is for clean easy-to-read web pages. Templates can be a pain to modify and it is usually better to go ahead and design your own template.
TITLE: A title should be assigned to each web page. The title is usually displayed by a search engine as the heading when the website is included in the listings. If you want people to pick your website out of many listings it is important that you use a good title. If you do it on your template you will not have to do it each time you create a new page (as long as you use the template).
UDP (User Datagram Protocol): This protocol is part of the TCP/IP suite of protocols and is used to send small packets of data.
UNIX: (see OPERATING SYSTEM)
UPLOAD: The process of transferring data (web pages, pictures, music files, etc.) from a computer to a website is called UPLOADING. Most low-cost website hosting packages have limits as to the amount of data (MB - see MEGA BIT) that can be uploaded/downloaded to your website host computer. This should not be an issue unless your website is going to be doing an unusual amount of uploading/downloading.
WEB MASTER: Some websites list an email contact for their webmaster and your hosting company may ask for webmaster/technical contact information. A webmaster is a website designer that maintains the website. If you are doing your own website you can list yourself as the webmaster/technical contact.
WHOIS: A WHOIS search can be accomplished to determine who owns a website and other information about the website (see Links page).
WWW (World Wide Web): The world wide collection of Internet servers that communicate using the hypertext language (HTML documents). The www preceding a domain name (e.g., www.doawebsite.com) specific that the doawebsite.com web page is on a www server.
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get): Website design programs that allow you to place text and graphics on the screen in the exact position and style you want them displayed for a web page are called WYSIWYG programs. This differs from HTML coding where you specify how you want he page to look but you will not know for sure how it looks until you execute the HTML code in a browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
