Your web browser is designed to use two types of file. These are text files and graphics files. The web ‘page’ is merely a file containing textual instructions which the browser ‘reads’, interprets and then acts upon. The action could be to display something; a box, a line or a piece of text. The action could be to download a graphic and another action could be to display it. The browser interprets files called HyperText Markup Language (HTML) files. Such a file, containing only HTML usually has the .htm or .html file extensions – as in ‘index.htm’.

Surfing the web however, you will have seen that whilst many files your browser downloads have the .htm or .html extensions, others will have extensions like .asp or .php (or .js or….there’s lots). ASP stands for Active Server Page and is one of Microsoft’s standards for accessing its applications across the web. PHP is a programming language closely related to the C programming language. A PHP programmer can write very powerful programs using internet technology. As the web browser can only handle HTML files, what PHP and other ‘server-side’ applications do, is execute the program on the web server (not your computer) and format the output as an HTML text stream, which is then returned to the browser for display.

If your web site contains a few pages with contact details, a few pictures and some text, then you would never need to worry about programming or the different ways you can write web pages. If you have a data entry form on your page, or you want to show data from a database, then it is a different story. If you want fancy graphics, neat effects when your mouse rolls over a link or graphic, or some other enhancement, you will need to look beyond HTML to some form of programming.

At this point, you need to ask yourself if you have the time (or the inclination) to do this. If you decide to go ahead and create your site, good luck. We mean that sincerely. A link (below) will take you to some of the most useful sites there are for help with web page programming. Yes, we could write it for you – and we would be happy to do so – click here if you have read enough and would like us to do it for you, but if you want to learn more, read on.

There are many types of application delivered by web pages; data entry forms, online games, forums, chat rooms, bulletin boards, quizzes, databases, accounts packages …. The list is endless (it really is!). A powerful programming language like PHP can do many of these (I should point out that I use PHP and prefer it, but then I came from a ‘C’ background. Other programmers would possibly use other languages as their main preference. Please be aware that there are several such languages available.). However the constraints of ‘legacy systems’ (those are the computer applications that you are currently using) sometimes mean that you have to choose your ‘programming environment’ (that is the collection of editors and language you use to program your pages) according to whether they have to interface with existing systems.

For example, if the databases you want to put online are Microsoft SQL tables, then ASP should be your preferred method. If on the other hand your tables are MySQL (or a choice of several others), then PHP would be a better option.

Whilst PHP (and others) can manipulate graphics, these pictures tend to be created (or edited from photographs) using a program designed to create web graphics. There are several of these (Corel, Xara-X, Macromedia Fireworks, etc etc). Browsers can display (at the time of writing) three types of graphic file. These are JPG or JPEG, GIF or PNG. GIF’s are limited to 256 colours, but can be transparent, allowing a background to show through. JPEG’s and PNG’s are usually used for photographs (they work by compressing the information to make smaller files), whilst GIF’s are used for clip-art type stuff. Any picture (or region of a picture) can be used to create a link to another page.

You have surfed the web. You have seen some good-looking sites – and you have seen some dogs. Only a short time ago web pages screamed at you to look at them. Bright, garish colours, oversized text; poorly designed pages proliferated in the over-enthusiastic rush when it became easy to publish your work onto a worldwide stage. But the internet has rapidly evolved. Now it is in the hands of professionals – the internet has created a vast new industry – and the best web pages need to look professional. With the best will in the world, if (like me) you are not a graphic designer or an artist of more than a medium talent, you might want to consider using someone who is. I do.

If you are now convinced you want to let us design your website, read through the following example and click the link below it. If on the other hand you are convinced that you want to dive in and go for it, click here.

As suggested earlier, you have to decide whether the cost of letting us design your site is less than, or greater than, the real cost of doing it yourself – assuming you are happy with your skill at creating a good-looking site. Let us assume that you want a simple ‘presence’ site to begin with. Look at the costs:

1. Web host (standard commercial package, using the annual payment to cut the cost): £75.00 (including email, visitor statistics etc)
2. Domain Name Registration £5.00 (some names can only be ‘bought’ for two-year periods)
3. Presence Site Programming (using customer-supplied text and pictures): £150.00

The package includes a 28-day period of free editing services. This means that you can ask us to alter any aspect, picture, feature, link, page layout – anything, for up to 28 days at no cost. These services usually cost £15 per hour.

Therefore, we have a total cost of £235 (assuming two years Domain Name Registration). Look at the programming element. This is £150 – (the other costs would not change if you wrote the site). Now calculate at the rate you value your time how long you would be able to spend on it. Not long is it? Could you do it in that time?

If not, click here.
If you fancy doing it yourself, but you read the example anyway, click here.
Alternatively, use your back button to return.