Creating a webpage in Geocities
RIVER BENDER -
February, 2008As far as I know there are three ways to create a webpage. The first and hardest way is to learn HTML programming language (ugh!). The second way - my way, is to use a webpage editor such as Microsoft's FrontPage, which is like a word processor that generates HTML statements that are then uploaded to a service provider using a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) program. The problem is that not everybody has FrontPage or FTP so the third way for everybody to create a webpage is to use a program like free GeoCities in Yahoo. If your service provider doesn't offer webpage storage this may be your only choice. It's easy to create a webpage with GeoCities so let's get started with a very simple one.
Getting started in GeoCities
The first thing you need is a free Yahoo account if you don't already have one. Go to http://www.yahoo.com/ and click on Free Mail Signup. After you have a mail account access GeoCities by going to http://geocities.yahoo.com/ and click on Sign In. GeoCities is loaded with many nice features but you're going to have to spend some time learning how to use them. I can only mention basics here. I should add, however, that if you already have a webpage elsewhere and wish to move it to a free host you can always use GeoCities as I did with my webpage at http://www.geocities.com/dave_alternate/Effie.htm
Steps to create a simple webpage with a photo at GeoCities
1. Go to the GeoCities website above and click on Create and Update.
2. Click on Yahoo PageBuilder then click on Launch Pagebuilder. This will take a few minutes if you are dial-up.
3. To make it simple, click File on the Taskbar and select New Page. Later when you come back to edit your page you will click Open Page. You might later try some of the ready-made templates to make your page fancy.
4. You are now looking at a blank page so you need a title or a header. Click on Insert, Basic, Text and type the title of your page in the block provided. Highlight your text and then select the font type and size from the two white blocks in the upper left. Click outside of the text box to move the cursor elsewhere then drag the text box where you want it. Center text using the centering icon on the taskbar. Do two clicks on the box to edit text. Play around with text and get familiar with options. The blue text box shows up only in the edit mode. See a preview of your webpage by going to File, Page Preview.
5. Now insert a photo that you have stored somewhere in your PC. Click on Insert, Basic, Pictures, Upload and select Browse to find your photo. After your photo is uploaded insert it in your webpage by going to Insert, Basic, Pictures, User Files and scrolling down the list of photos you have uploaded. Learn how to drag the photo where you want it and use the handles on the photo to resize it.
6. Add more text and more photos if you wish. Play around with different colors, text, and backgrounds. When your page is finished click on File, Save and you'll be asked to give your page a name. For example, I named mine "BasicPage" and since my Yahoo account sign-in name is "dave_alternate" my sample webpage address becomes http://www.geocities.com/dave_alternate/BasicPage.html so take a look at it. You can remove the Yahoo ad in the upper-right corner by clicking the ">>" characters. Good luck on your first web page. I hope I haven't made too many mistakes in my directions. As a starter, you might want to run their demo.