1.4 How to Create a file

 

This section will present a sample html file that can be used as an example when creating your own html file (this must be typed into a word processor). The example begins with an example homepage displayed in Mosaic. The Mosaic file that created this page is given after.

 

 

<HTML>

 

<HEAD> <TITLE> A Sample HTML Document </TITLE> </HEAD>

 

<BODY>

<H1> My First Home Page </H1>

<H2>

But Not My Last

<IMG SRC = “picture.gif” ALIGN=MIDDLE>

</H2>

<HR>

<P> This is a simple example of a paragraph entered into

Mosaic using a simple text editor, and with the lines

roughly scattered. For example I can <U> underline </U>

or make the text <I> italic </I> or I can even make

it <B> bold </B>. If I want a new line without a

paragraph spacing I can break it <BR> or I can start a

new paragraph.

</P>

<P> In other things I can also use point form </P>

<UL>

<LI> One

<LI> Two

</OL>

<P> Or numbered lists </P>

<OL>

<LI> Buckle

<LI> My

<LI> Shoe

</OL>

<P> Finally I will use a hypertext link to connect me to

another document. In this case it will be the main

page for <A HREF=”http://acs.ryerson.ca”> Ryerson </A>.

If you point to Ryerson and click, it will show you

the main campus home page.

</P>

<HR>

 

<ADDRESS> hjack@acs.ryerson.ca </ADDRESS>

 

</BODY>

</HTML>

 

 

In this file the instructions basically indicate where typesetting should occur (much like viewing the control codes in Wordperfect). There are some commands that should always be used. First the <HTML> and </HTML> pair should always be used at the beginning and end of the document. Within this there should be a <HEAD> and </HEAD> to define overall information. Notice that in the <HEAD> section there is a <TITLE> ____ </TITLE> pair that define the name of the document in the top of the Mosaic window. After the <HEAD> section comes the <BODY> section (this is followed by </BODY>). Within the section we define the Mosaic document. In this example there are defined heading (i.e., <H1>___</H1> and <H2>____</H2>). There is also a picture file included (i.e., <IMG SRC=”______”>). The preferred file format is GIF, but others are sometimes supported. A rule line is included to visually separate parts of the page (i.e., <HR> - Note this command does not need a second mate such as </HR>). Paragraphs are defined using <P> and </P>, so that the text will be kept in a block, and extra lines are added between paragraphs. A nice feature of Mosaic is the ability to create indented lists. Using the <UL> </UL> commands unordered lists with bullets can be made. Numbered lists can be made using <OL> and </OL>. Each point in any type of list begins with <LI>. At the end of the document is an <ADDRESS>_______</ADDRESS> definition where you can put your email address, or other contact information.

 

There are some control codes buried inside the HTML document that be used for various purposes. For example <I>__</I> gives italics, <U>___</U> gives underlines, and <B>___</B> gives bold text. The most powerful tool in Mosaic is the anchor <A>___<A>. In general this is how hypertext links are created. In the example given above the command used is <A HREF=”____”>____</A>. The effect this has is that the work displayed (i.e. Ryerson) will appear differently on the screen, and if a user clicks on it the Mosaic viewer will now try to open the new document (i.e. http://acs.ryerson.ca, this will call up Ryerson’s home page). These anchors can also refer to other locations in the same document.