HTML Writers Guild Newsletter
Volume 5 Number 23, 19 December 1999
http://www.hwg.org/
mailto:editor@hwg.org
Table of Contents
1. HWG Invites You to VBits, Feb 12-17 in San Francisco
2. HWG-News Tips! Win a Stylish HWG T-Shirt!
3. Spotlight Course: Incorporating Java Applets into your Web Site!
4. HWG Online Education Schedule Winter 2000
5. HWG Supports Project Gutenberg
6. Guild Winter Holiday Schedule: Classes, Town Hall, Offices
7. HWG-News FAQ: Information Regarding Your Subscription
This issue of HWG-News is sponsored by:
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HWG-News Tip: If you use CSS, I strongly recommend that you browse
your site in both IE and Netscape before publishing it! I had
removed most HTML tags only to find that I had to put them back in
due to lack of acceptance of certain CSS specifications. An
excellent resource to determine what CSS is accepted in what
browser is http://webreview.com/wr/pub/guides/style/mastergrid.html
--Submitted by Howard Merrill
Howard won a great HWG T-shirt for his tip! You could win next.
For rules and past tips see: http://www.hwg.org/opcenter/newsletter/tips/
Next HWG-News Tip topic: Optimization Techniques
1. HWG Invites You to VBits, Feb 12-17 in San Francisco
(Frank Boumphrey, Vice President of Special Events, vp-events@hwg.org)
We're going to San Francisco -- and you're invited!
The HTML Writers Guild Speaker's Bureau is pleased to invite Guild
members to the VBits conference, which will feature HWG sponsored
presentations by Frank Boumphrey.
WHEN AND WHERE
* VBits
San Francisco, CA
Feb 12 - Feb 17, 2000
http://www.vbits99.com/
WHO AND WHAT
VBits is having its largest event ever in San Francisco! It promises to
be the best VBits yet with tons of sessions and 8 day-long workshops.
HWG Board Member Frank Boumphrey will be there to tell you how to use
VB and XML to create web applications.
2. HWG-News Tips! Win a stylish HWG T-Shirt!
(Kynn Bartlett, HWG-News Editor, editor@hwg.org)
The Guild's foundation is members helping members, sharing our expertise
and knowledge to improve our skills in the craft of web design. Everyone
has something to teach, and something to learn!
HWG-News features member-submitted "tips" in each issue, in the space
between articles and announcements.
Submitted tips MUST meet the following criteria:
1. They must be no more than 6 lines (420 characters, about 60
words) in length.
2. Tips must be quick, direct, and to-the-point. They should be
able to stand alone without further explanation. (URLs to more
information are acceptable.)
3. They must address the broad topic announced in the previous
newsletter.
4. Commercial advertisements or endorsements ("Use product ABC!
It's the best!") will most likely be rejected. In general,
tips should follow standard W3C specifications on HTML, CSS,
and accessibility when appropriate.
5. Tips must be received at least 3 days before the next
newsletter, by hwg-news-tips@hwg.org.
6. The HWG-News editorial staff are the final judge of what tips
are selected for publication.
What happens if your tip is selected? Each issue, the first-place
winner will receive a free HWG t-shirt; runner-up tips will be also
listed in the HWG-News newsletter as space permits!
You can also send your suggestions for tip categories to
hwg-news-tips@hwg.org. The category for the next newsletter is
"Optimization Techniques," so send in your hints for speeding up page
loading and decreasing file size before Wednesday, December 29!
Here's an example:
HWG-NEWS TIP: "Want to make your site LOOK like it loads faster?
Always use HEIGHT and WIDTH attributes in your image tags, it makes
the text on your page show up without having to wait for images to
load."
--Submitted by Marshall Jansen
3. Spotlight Course: Incorporating Java Applets into your Web Site!
(Ann Navarro, Online Education Director, classes@hwg.org)
The HWG Online Education program has been working hard to expand the
variety and number of courses that are available to our members. We are
pleased to announce the availability of this new course.
Incorporating Java Applets into your Web Site
Dates: January 10, 2000 - February 4, 2000 (4 weeks)
Tuition: $25 Full members, $50 Trial members
Are you fascinated by the Java applets you've seen out on the Web, and
wondering if you might be able to do something similar on your site?
This is the class for you! Students will learn how to incorporate
existing Java applets into their web pages -- you'll use ticker tapes,
animations, and even games! No programming experience is required --
so please note that this is _not_ a programming class!
Join instructor Marshall Jansen for this quick 4 week course and have
some fun with Java!
Prerequisites: Students should know the rudiments of HTML and be
familiar with the DOS file system. For maximum benefit, they should
have IE 4 or 5 installed on their machines. A Visual Basic program
would be useful, but is not essential.
Find out more or register for this new course at:
http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/h171.1.html
HWG-News Tip Runner Up: ALWAYS test in both Internet Explorer and
Netscape; each browser has a subset of proprietary classes, and
interpret CSS more uniquely than HTML.
-- Submitted by Don Franke
4. HWG Online Education Schedule Winter 2000
(Ann Navarro, Online Education Director, classes@hwg.org)
The Guild's Online Education program features a wide variety of
classes in the field of web creation, taught by experienced fellow
members! All classes take place on our interactive classroom server
that allows you to participate and learn according to YOUR schedule!
Using Macromedia Dreamweaver - Part 1
Dates: January 3, 2000 - January 31, 2000 (4 weeks)
Tuition: $25 Full members, $50 Trial members
Details: http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/a131.5.html
This one-month course is designed to allow you to master the basics
of the popular Dreamweaver web creation tool during Macromedia's
one-month free trial period.
Practical Web Management: Creating an Effective Web Site
Dates: January 3, 2000 - February 13, 2000 (6 weeks)
Tuition: $25 Full members, $50 Trial members
Details: http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/w201.3.html
Covering everything from personalization to usability studies,
this course is a perfect fit if you're struggling with how
to manage your new or growing website!
Creating Web Graphics with Paint Shop Pro
Dates: January 10, 2000 - February 18, 2000 (6 weeks)
Tuition: $25 Full members, $50 Trial members
Details: http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/g201.4.html
Release your inner artist! This graphics course will teach
you to create your own stunning images for use on your website,
using the Paint Shop Pro program.
Introduction to JavaScript
Dates: January 10, 2000 - February 25, 2000 (7 weeks)
Tuition: $25 Full members, $50 Trial members
Details: http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/p151.6.html
The Javascript language allows you to add interactivity to your web
pages -- this course will teach you the basics of programming in
Javascript for multiple browser types.
*** NEW COURSE! ***
Incorporating Java Applets into your Web Sites
Dates: January 10, 2000 - February 4, 2000 (4 weeks)
Tuition: $25 Full members, $50 Trial members
Details: http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/h171.1.html
Designed for the beginning student with some knowledge of creating
HTML files by hand or with a WYSIWYG editing tool. This class will
show you where to find applets to use on your pages, and how to
customize them using parameters. This is NOT a programming class!
Applets will range from simple 'ticker style' text applets, to
animations, and to Java games.
Active Server Pages for Non-Programmers
Dates: January 17, 2000 - February 25, 2000 (6 weeks)
Tuition: $40 Full members, $70 Trial members
Details: http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/ms101.3.html
This newly revamped course is designed for students proficient in HTML
but with little or no programming experience. The programming techniques
of ASP introduce interactive dimensions to static web pages. To employ
these techniques non-programmers will develop some basic programming
skills in VBScript. (Students with proficiency in writing original
VBScript, PerlScript, or JavaScript code may wish to wait for course
MS102.1: Programming with Active Server Pages)
Introduction to XML
Dates: January 17, 2000 - February 25, 2000 (6 weeks)
Tuition: $25 Full members, $50 Trial members
Details: http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/x101.5.html
Come find out what the buzz is all about! XML, the Extensible
Markup Language, is driving the future of data storage and
exchange. Get hands on development experience using
freely available tools.
Introduction to HTML 4.0
Dates: February 7, 2000 - March 17, 2000 (6 weeks)
Tuition: $40 Full members, $70 Trial members
Details: http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/h101.11.html
Leave your WYSIWYG editor behind and explore the nuts and bolts that
make web pages function!
Introduction to Cascading Style Sheets
Dates: February 7, 1999 - March 17, 2000 (6 weeks)
Tuition: $40 Full members, $70 Trial members
Details: http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/h151.8.html
Add a little style to your web design! This popular course covers
CSS 1 and 2, which can enhance the appearance of any web page!
You'll learn which CSS rules are -- and are not -- supported by the
major browsers, and more!
Designing for Universal Accessibility with HTML 4.0
Dates: February 14, 2000 - March 24, 2000 (6 weeks)
Tuition: $40 Full members, $70 Trial members
Details: http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/d201.8.html
Can your web site be used by everyone, including people with
disabilities, older browsers, and hand-held computers? If you're
not sure, take this course; it could change the way you view the
web!
COURSE FEES
Course fees are based on membership level; Full members receive a
discounted tuition price, while Trial members pay the standard price.
Full membership is only $40 per year, so upgrade your membership
before registering, and save money! Payments may be made online via
secure transaction; all figures are in U.S. funds.
A certificate of completion is available for an additional $5;
the request needs to be made at the time of registration. Textbooks
(when required) are separate and may be purchased through the Guild's
online bookstore, The Bookmark. Books should be purchased before the
first week of class! In addition, students should have regular access
to the web and the ability to post completed assignments on a
public (non-Intranet) web server.
Sign up today through our online enrollment forms or get more
information at:
http://www.hwg.org/services/classes/
HWG-News Tip Runner Up: When applying pseudo-styles to the tag
such as a.hover {} be careful using styles that change the size
(+1), shape (italic) or density (bold) of the text. In 'text-buttons'
using a table to arrange rows and columns of links, changing these
could break or alter the table, causing the whole page to shift
wildly as the user mouses over the links.
-- Submitted by Rick Miske
5. HWG Supports Project Gutenberg
(Frank Boumphrey, Vice President of Special Events, vp-events@hwg.org)
Project Gutenberg is an altruistic organization that is dedicated to
transcribing the world's documents, treaties, and books into ASCII text,
so that they will be available to future generations forever. You can
learn more about Project Gutenberg here:
http://promo.net/pg/history.html
Project Gutenberg has been remarkably successful, and thousands of
documents have been marked up. In fact Gutenburg accounts for over 98%
of all documents marked up as e-text!
The HWG Involvement
===================
HWG oversees a project that marks up Gutenberg documents as XML. Why XML?
Plain ASCII text has several downfalls, the most obvious being that it
only covers the western alphabets, omits potentially crucial
illustrations, and vital formatting is difficult, if not impossible.
Marking up documents in XML will solve all these problems.
The HWG will support Project Gutenberg by creating the necessary DTD's
for the XML markup, as well as overseeing the markup itself.
How do you get involved
=======================
Anyone is cordially invited to join this project! We are looking for
volunteers to markup e-texts and to help with the development of the
HWG family of DTD's. If you have a DTD that you feel is suitable for
markup, we would love to see it, and we will either host services for
you, or we will link to your page. We are trying to emulate the
Gutenberg philosophy that a good idea is self-replicating and does not
need elaborate organization.
We are also looking for server space to store marked up documents that
can be made available to the public.
Even if you are too busy at the present time, stay in touch by joining
our mailing list, and help spread the word!
Contact Frank Boumphrey if you want to volunteer! You can email him
at:
mailto:frank@hwg.org
6. Guild Winter Holiday Schedule: Classes, Town Hall, Offices
(Fred Barnett, HWG Assistant Secretary, fred@hwg.org)
Due to the Winter holiday season, some of the Guild's programs will
be rescheduled during the last two weeks of December.
CLASSES
Online Education classes will have a one-week "break" between Christmas
and New Years Day. No new assignments will be posted during this
time, but students may use the extra time to catch up or read ahead!
TOWN HALL MEETING
Each month, the Guild provides an opportunity for real-time discussion
and chatting via HWG Interactive. These monthly meetings are hosted by
members of the Governing Board (with most of them in attendance),
and give our members the chance to voice your views about the HWG.
Due to the holidays, the December Town Hall meeting will not be held
on the fourth Thursday of this month, but instead on Tuesday of that
same week:
21 December Town Hall Meeting
Date: Tuesday, 21 December 1999
Time: 6:30 p.m. PST, 9:30 p.m. EST
Server: HWG Interactive, http://interact.hwg.org/
IRC: irc.hwg.org, port 6667
Channel: #townhall
To connect, either go to the URL above and use the Java-based client
available via the web, or use your favorite IRC client and join channel
#townhall.
OFFICES CLOSED 24, 31 DECEMBER
The HWG's business offices in California and Florida will be closed
on Friday, December 24, and Friday, December 31. They will re-open
the following Mondays.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
7. HWG-News FAQ: Information Regarding Your Subscription
(HWG-News Newsletter Editor, editor@hwg.org)
Special thanks to Marshall Jansen for guest-editing
this issue of HWG-News.
Some questions you may be asking:
Q: Why did I get this mail?
A: You received this newsletter because you are a member of the
HTML Writers Guild. This message came from hwg-news, the Guild's
mandatory mailing list for all members. If you need more information
about hwg-news, please see the List Charter at:
http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-news/index.html
Q. Why doesn't this newsletter talk about web design or HTML?
A. The newsletter is the Guild's administrative bulletin to the
membership. If you are interested in the topics of Web design
and HTML, then you might want to subscribe to some of our
discussion lists devoted to those topics. More information on
the Guild's offering of discussion lists can be found at:
http://www.hwg.org/lists/mailinglists.html
Q. How can I find out more about Guild activities?
A. The Guild has set up a one-way announcement list, HWG-Announce,
that carries bulletins of day-to-day Guild business. For details
on how to subscribe, please see:
http://www.hwg.org/lists/hwg-announce/
Q: How do I unsubscribe from hwg-news?
A: Since this is a required list in order to maintain your
Guild membership, unsubscribing is the same as resigning from
the HTML Writers Guild.
If you have your Member ID and password, to resign your membership
in the Guild and to unsubscribe to hwg-news, visit:
http://www.hwg.org/member/resign.html
Fill in the pertinent information, and submit it.
If you don't have a Member ID, or have forgotten your password, send
mail to:
mailto:lost-password@hwg.org
with a Subject of: Resign membership
In the body of the message, provide the following information:
* Your email address(es)
* Your member ID if you have one.
* The list of discussion lists you are on.
Please remember that unsubscribing to hwg-news automatically
resigns you from the Guild. If you have problems with unsubscribing,
please contact the password support team
for help.
Q: Can my company advertise in the Guild's newsletter?
A: Yes; the Guild is offering sponsorship opportunities in HWG-News
on a limited basis. If you are interested in advertising your
web related product or service here, please send email to
advertising@hwg.org or call (714) 526-4963. Discounts are available
to Guild Business and Corporate members, as well as for multiple
placements. The Guild's newsletter reaches over 107,000 web authors
worldwide each month.
(Note: The Guild does not make our member database available for
third party use. We have a strong privacy policy and will not
release our members' personal information; our mailing list is
not for sale. Any questions regarding the Guild's advertising or
privacy policies can be directed to advertising@hwg.org.)
Q: What if I want to comment on this newsletter?
A: The HWG-News Mailing List is a "Read-Only" list -- please do not try
to reply to this message directly.
If you wish to contact the editor of this newsletter, you may do
so by sending email to editor@hwg.org. Each article begins with
the contact information for the author as well.
Copyright 1999, HTML Writers Guild, Inc., All Rights Reserved.
Published monthly via email and WWW.