The ISP space thread is wonderful, and I've learned tons from it, but I didn't want to crowd it by now asking an html question there.
Okay, here goes:
I dummied up a template using MSWord. Then I "save as html." I tested it at eBay (by doing everything you do to list an auction except submitting) and it came out ok... except...
The problem is when I try to link a picture or a clickable email link. When viewing the 'auction,' the following happens:
(The pic shows up fine and the link works by the way.)
It seemed to me that since code was showing as text, something was being done twice in the source code, but if I edit anything out, then I get the url of the pic or email link in text instead of as a link.
Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?
Thanks so much in advance. I feel like I'm about 98% there in creating a fairly professional looking template, and can't wait to figure out how to get rid of those pesky brackets.
posted on March 4, 2001 04:56:49 PM new
Please be careful when using word as an HTML editor. It adds LOTS of junk HTML (mainly font tags) and does not always create correct HTML. It has a tendenancy to put tags in the incorrect order (i.e., <b><font></b></font>.
This was true of Office98, I have not done much with Office2000, but it was my understanding that it was still true.
posted on March 4, 2001 05:17:25 PM new
Office 2000 is worse if that is possible.
This is the code for an email address with a clickable image
<a href="mailto:YOUREMAILADDY"><img src="IMAGETOCLICK.jpg" width="35" height="35"><br><font face="Arial" color="#281074" size="2">Please e-mail any questions before bidding</font></a>
I added the font because MS Word will add the font. You really don't need the font code. Make sure you add the "" or Netscape won't load the page. 35 x 35 is button size.
I don't know why you have empty brackets, I would delete them. <p> is a paragrah spacer.
posted on March 4, 2001 05:42:35 PM new
smw - thank you.
The picture shows up fine. The link to the email shows up fine.
When I try to delete the brackets, the picture disappears. I can delete the paragraph, i.e. the <p>.
I guess I'll just have to go through the html and see what's there that shouldn't be. Or I could stop being lazy and just create my own darned chart. I was just hoping that w/MSWord, I could just create, save, and voila! Another fantasy shattered.
[ edited by sadie999 on Mar 4, 2001 05:43 PM ]
posted on March 4, 2001 06:49:39 PM new
You will probably get a whole lot cleaner HTML code by using a dedicated HTML editor instead of Word. There are many reasonable shareware and probably even a few freeware ones at most file resources.
I would look at www.tucows.com first - a great resource for communication programs.
posted on March 4, 2001 06:57:04 PM new
Netscape 4.76 comes with a WYSIWYG html program called Page Composer. It works great. And, if you're listing directly on eBay, you have much fewer problems using Netscape than using IE.
Don't get Netscape version 6, though; get 4.76 which is still available from Netscape's home page.
posted on March 4, 2001 07:15:42 PM new
If you are going to list items on eBay, I think load time is something to consider. If you are using Word to save as HTML, it is simple for you, but inefficient for the buyer.
If they are on a dial-up connection, it could make the difference between the buyer staying or fleeing.
posted on March 4, 2001 07:22:18 PM new
Look in your Windows accessories under Internet Options--you probably already have Front Page Express which is a snap to use.
posted on March 5, 2001 09:34:57 AM new
Thank you to everyone for your help! I finally figured what was happening. MSWord was inserting some quotation marks around things that shouldn't have had quotes. Go figure...
sun818? I'm a little confused about what you wrote. When I tested my template on eBay, it didn't seem to take long to load. It's really a very simple one and I don't use a lot of links and I keep my pics small. I have a clunker of a computer and a dial up service (more like 2 dixie cups and a string), but maybe I misunderstood what you meant?
MSWord was just a quicky fix for me - I want to do a template with me doing the html, but between figuring out ftp, this, etc. on the tail of the recent AW announcement.... well, time was tight.
posted on March 5, 2001 10:31:31 AM new
sadie999 - I just meant to say that any document you create on MSWord will have additional unnecessary coding for the web page. More data, more time to load. But it sounds like your template is small, so the load time is neglible.
posted on March 5, 2001 10:59:23 AM new
Also be aware that with all that extra code, it can cause problems if you list directly at eBay. Quite often I was having problems trying to get my auctions to submit without getting a "This page cannot be found" error. I then read a suggestion over on the eBay boards to take some of the HTML out.
I still use Word, but I'm only using basic HTML, not saving them as HTML. No more "This page cannot be found" errors since.
I tried the link to Microsoft but was unable to find Frontpage Express. A search for downloads brought up a lot of articles about Frontpage Express, but no software download. I was able to find some Frontpage 2000 and Frontpage 98 software, but no Frontpage Express. I'm using Windows 2000. Maybe Frontpage Express is not compatible with 2000 (an NT product), so the option to download it never appears. Do you have a more precise link to download Frontpage Express?
posted on March 5, 2001 04:13:45 PM new
It is possible that FrontPage Express is not compatible with Windows 2000. There has been reports of Personal Web Server (which includes FrontPage Express) not working with Windows Millenium or Windows 2000. There is a way around it, but it is a little complicated.
For searching, please use Google.com. I found this link using "download frontpage express" without quotes:
posted on March 6, 2001 03:36:39 PM new
Thanks for your help with Frontpage Express. I did a Google search and came up with this very good url to download it.
posted on March 6, 2001 04:51:25 PM new
If you are using Word 2000 or Office 2000, download this filter and after it is installed you will be able to clean up the tags that are Office 2000 specific.
.
[ edited by sadie999 on Mar 4, 2001 05:43 PM ]