CSS/HTML programming.?

Question

I already know a little bit about HTML, and I'm looking to design a web page for the Unreal Tournament GOTY clan that I'm in. Now, I've done a page already and I think it doesn't look too bad - http://www.clanrsa.info/rsaautumncup/index.htm - and from this I know it can be improved. I'm looking to learn CSS and PHP as well so that the site can be used in more ways that one - and I'm looking for any tips and tricks that people have to offer. The things is, when it comes to CSS and PHP I don't honestly know where to start. Can anybody give me the best information as to where to look, and from this can anybody give me some really good pointers as to how to improve the site as a whole?

If so, it would be much appreciated, folks. :D

Answer 1

Start by learning proper XHTML and CSS together.
You will be extremely frustrated trying to implement CSS if you are not using standard HTML. The page you have done is coded with downgraded (no-longer) valid HTML tags like "". And you don't have a document type indicated at the top of your page.

This will put web browsers into "Quirks" mode instead of standards mode. This means the browser will be guessing at what you meant, and every browser and every browser version will have slight differences in the way they render your page.

Validate your code at http://www.w3.org. Here is a quick link to an evaluation of your code: http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.clanrsa.info%2Frsaautumncup%2Findex.htm

If you don't mind books, you can get books on XHTML and CSS. But if you just search Google for XHTML and CSS, you'll find plenty of great introductions.

For a php introduction, I recommend starting with "PHP 5 in easy steps" available at Barnes and Noble. Or a similar quick start guide. Eventually, you will need to learn SQL to connect to databases, and I'd recommend "Sam's Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes".

Finally, PAY for a web hosting account with php and MySQL, and practice constantly, making sure everything looks the same in all browsers at http://www.browsercam.com, and validating all your code and css at http://www.w3.org.

XHTML has fewer tags than the HTML 3 (There was an HTML 4 in 1997) type code you are currently using. So XHTML is not that difficult to change to. CSS tutorials are all over the internet, and if you go to a place like http://www.oswd.org, you'll find a lot of valid, interesting uses of it. The basics of PHP and MySQL are not very difficult, but you will need a little practice. Good Luck.

Answer 2

For PHP, I recommend "The PHP5 and MySQL Bible," published by Wiley. It's quite a bit more accessible than any of the PHP resources available online, which is important if you're a novice programmer.

You can find it here:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0764557467/sr=8-1/qid=1156080012/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-7404148-3384610?ie=UTF8

I don't really understand the negative reviews on Amazon; I didn't have the problems that they did, I guess.

For CSS, you don't really need a book. CSS is significantly easier to gain basic competency in. Mainly, go to this site and use it religiously:

http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_reference.asp

Answer 3

http://www.jirodesign.com .. web design articles, css tutorials, basic html creation and web hosting tips.