Running a website with freeware
Running a website with freeware
I began my website with HomeSite 5, a cheap HTML editor, WS-FTP for file transfer and a free Geocities site. I've replaced HomeSite with freeware (TSW WebCoder 5) and WS-FTP with Core FTP Lite. I process images with Paint Shop Pro and capture images with SnagIt. IrfanView and ScreenHunter are good freeware for image processing and screen capture respectively.
Begin by getting a free web site. Try this site or Google for "free" plus "web hosting". You get up to 100Mb. My Geocities site has only 15Mb, which is OK since I use mostly text. If you're "image heavy" you'll need more. Free sites normally incorporate advertising.
You can download programs from CNET Downloads. I searched various categories and looked for highly rated, free programs. Before downloading a program check out what it actually does. Not all programs in a given category do everything.
Next you need an HTML editor. This inserts code and toggles between code and the actual page. You can insert code from a menu and even write your own tags. I prefer a "hand coder". This minimizes code and lets me know exactly what I'm doing. After I insert code I toggle to make sure it's done what I thought it would do. TSW Web Coder 5 is similar to HomeSite. In many ways (including cost) it's better - some suggestions for first time users.
My Geocities site has a proprietary file transfer protocol to move pages from my computer to the web site. Most sites require an FTP (file transfer protocol) program. Core FTP Lite works well. You begin with a site manager dialog box. Enter site address, user name and password as well as the folders you're transferring from and to. Clicking "connect" displays "from" and "to" directories. Simply highlight a folder and click the arrow to move it from one side to the other. The directories display the dates that files were created so you know which are new and which are old. Be careful not to replace new files for old (unless you intend to).
Irfanview converts picture file formats, crops pictures and changes dimensions (see web tutorial). You'll need to learn about different file formats (.bmp, .jpg, .gif, .png)
Screenhunter captures images (or parts thereof) from you computer screen. Process these with Irfanview or incorporate them directly into a web site.