In the early '90s, when the Internet was still new, only the boldest and bravest computer users dared to experiment with web-page creation. At the time, there were not a lot of tools to make the work easy and the Internet was still a place populated mostly by academics and computer scientists.

Now, seven years after the first multimedia web browser Netscape hit the market, all kinds of people are visiting the Internet. They're also creating their own web pages.

Creating your own web page is really not much harder than producing a document with a word processor such as Word Perfect. Nor is it any more expensive because web page creation tools and even Internet storage space can be had for free.

To get started, you will need software to assemble the text and pictures that you want to put onto the Internet. This software is referred to as a HyperText Markup Language (HTML) editor. You can purchase an editor anywhere software is sold or you can choose a free one from cpcug.org/user/mohnkern/htmled.html.

Netscape Composer is an easy to use, free HTML editor that is included with the Netscape browser. I would not recommend it for advanced users who want lots of design options to choose from but it is convenient and friendly for the new HTML user. If you do not have it already, you can download it from home.netscape.com/communicator/composer/v4.0/.

In addition to free editors, there are plenty of tutorials that can take you through the design process step by step. There is a very good Netscape Composer tutorial at www.furman.edu/~pecoy/mfl195/composer/. Another useful basic HTML tutorial can be found at tbns.net/webpages/. If you are an advanced or adventurous designer you can find design tips and tricks at www.smartwebby.com/web_site_design/fireworks_tips.asp.

My favourite of the design tricks and features is from Dynamic Drive at www.dynamicdrive.com/. Their site includes some of the most innovative effects you will find on the web such as text animations, dynamic clocks and dates as well as various special effects to dazzle viewers of your web-page. However, before you begin adding a lot of these effects to your page you might want to learn about some principles of web design like those found in the Yale Style Manual at info.med.yale.edu/caim/manual/contents.html.

Once you have created your page, you will need to load it up to the Internet. If you have purchased an Internet account which you use for your email, then the price you pay each month probably includes web-page storage. If you are wondering whether your account includes it, contact your service provider.

For example, if you have a RoadRunner account with Rogers Cable you are entitled to 5 megabytes of web space. If you want to make inquiries about setting up your web space you can send an email to info@roadrunner.nf.net. As with Roadrunner, Sympatico members also get free Web page space. The Sympatico site at [www1.sympatico.ca/help/Webspace/functions.html] provides detailed information for those wanting to put their pages onto the Internet. It also includes information about how you can improve your page and some tools you can use to do this.

If you are a student in a school, university or college, you may also be able to use the space on the institution's computer or server. Information about personal homepages at MUN can be found at.www.mun.ca/cc/tsg/www.html .

If you do not have access to web storage space from your provider, there are many places that will give you free online space as long as you include their advertising banner on your site. There is a list of free web-page hosts at 100best-free-web-space.com/.

Web page creation is for everyone. All you need is a computer, some tools and space. Of course it helps to have a willingness to learn and patience will also come in handy. If you have these ingredients then you are ready to create your own Internet presence.

Previously published in The Express 10/01
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