Launching a WordPress Blog EBook Edition 2.0 by Tina Clarke Microsoft MVP – Expression Web and Pat Geary Microsoft MVP – Expression Web
Revised and Updated for WordPress Version 2.7.1 and available for FREE download NOW. There is a pdf version for MAC Users thanks to Scott Glasgow.
Learn to install and setup your own WordPress Blog with this easy to follow tutorial.
This Launching a WordPress Blog EBook is focused on giving a guideline for installing WordPress on your own host with your own domain or a sub-domain. It is intended as a beginner’s ebook and covers the basics. There are some advanced techniques included as well. It is essential that you start with Getting started with a WP Blog and follow step by step each page. Tick off each step as you go so you know you are following along. Having been through this process we have found this is truly the best way forward.
This checklist can be printed from the book and will give you an idea of the topics Covered Include:
One of the things Cricket Walker teaches in her SEO Training Class, is to add a robots.txt file to your website. Web site owners use the robots.txt file to give instructions to the web bots about their site. A basic file might consist of the following lines of code which tells on web bots NOT to index this site.
User-agent: *
Disallow: /
Why would you NOT want your site indexed? Perhaps it is a site you are working on and it is not yet ready for indexing.
To allow access to your entire site, the file would contain the following lines of code:
User-agent: *
Disallow:
The robots.txt file is located in the top level of your site, the root directory. Additional resources on creating and understanding the robots.txt file:
Cheryl Wise, of By Expression states: “You can’t create a website, at least not a functioning, attractive website with any of the programs listed above without actually learning some of the basics of HTML and even more importantly the completely omitted CSS.” After working with many folks to help them update their websites to meet today’s web standards, I agree completely. You can read Bad Website Advice from FOX News on her blog.
Have you been using FrontPage as your web editor? Have you recently made the move to the more standards compliant Expression Web? Maybe you have only thought about making the move.
Start to Web will be offering two classes on Expression Web for the April 5th session.
Migrating from FrontPage to Expression Web will give you the tools you need and teach you how to use them for cleaning up the code created by FrontPage so that it is standards compliant and you can move to using Expression Web. The EBook is included in the cost of the class so it is not necessary to purchase it separately. You will have two Microsoft MVP’s to hold your hand as you go through the process. Free templates are also included as part of the class. You can read more about the class and EBook at Migrating from FrontPage to Expression Web and register for the class.
Introduction to Expression Web will not make you an expert on Expression Web or a professional web designer BUT you will be able to create and manage small websites and with practice be able to expand on the skills you learn to create more complex websites using Expression Web. This book, Foundations of Expression Web: The Basics and Beyond is required for this class and is available at Amazon or a bookseller near you.
Classes will begin on April 5, 2009 and will last four weeks.
Readers of this blog may obtain a 10% discount on the cost of either class by using the code PGfriends when you register. REGISTER NOW so you can start at the beginning.
By now, all good designers and developers realize the importance of usability for their work. Usable websites offer great user experiences, and great user experiences lead to happy customers. Delight and satisfy your visitors, rather than frustrate and annoy them, with smart design decisions. Here are 9 usability problems that websites commonly face, and some recommended solutions for each of them.
He lists the following items:
Tiny clickable areas – links so small you can barely see them much less click on them.
Pagination used for the wrong purpose – pagination should be used to split a long article into easier to manage chunks rather than to increase page views on a site.
Duplicate page titles – using the same title on every page of your site rather than giving each page its own title reflecting the content of THAT page.
Content that is difficult to scan
No way to get in touch – give your viewers an easy way to get in touch with you.
No way to search – provide a way for your viewer to search your site.
Too much functionality that requires registration – do you require your viewers to register BEFORE they can use your site?
Old permalinks pointing nowhere – do your permalinks still work or do they go to nowhere?
Long registration forms - make your forms as short as possible
Registration opened today for the April session of classes offered by Start to Web . The instructor led classes offered this session which starts April 5, 2009 are:
Introduction to CSS – Cheryl D Wise, Instructor & Pat Geary, Teaching Assistant
Introduction to Expression Web – Cheryl D Wise, Instructor & Pat Geary, Teaching Assistant
Migrating From FrontPage to Expression Web- Tina Clarke and Pat Geary, Instructors
Also offered are the F REE self paced classes:
Language of wee Design
Fonts for the Web
Accessibility
Readers of this blog may obtain a discount on the cost of the class by using the coupon code PGfriends.
Expression Web is a web editor from Microsoft that was released December 4, 2006 and is the successor to MS FrontPage. Cheryl Wise is the author of Foundations of Expression Web: The Basics and Beyond and is the instructor for this four week course which begins April 5, 2009.
Introduction to Expression Web – This class is newly updated for Expression Web 2 but you may take this class using either version of Expression Web.
Are you ready to take the plunge and move to a standards based web editor?
This class has been restructured to get you up and running with Expression Web in just 4 weeks. While you will not be an expert on Expression Web or a professional web designer you will be able to create and manage small websites and, with practice, be able to expand on the skills you learn to create more complex websites using Expression Web.
Prerequisite:
Expression Web – You may download the 60 day trial version from the Microsoft Expression Web Site our class is 4 weeks long so the 60 day trial is adequate. If you choose to take this class with the trial version make sure that you obtain and use the registration key or your trial will end before the full trial period.
Prior Experience:
No prior web design experience required but will be useful.
Book:
The book required for this class is Foundations of Expression Web: The Basics and Beyond available at Amazon or a bookseller near you. ( There will be reference to sections of this book that will help you better understand CSS.
Introduction to Expression Web – The Class
This course covers the fundamentals of standards based web design, including xhtml and css:
Week 1 – Getting Started
Why Worry About Standards
Why CSS Layouts?
Website Planning
Installing Expression Web
Interface
Configuring Expression Web
Site Settings
Page Editor Options Overview
Version 1
Version 2
CSS Tab
Font Family Tab
File Menu
Page Properties
Semantic HTML – Structuring Your Page
Publishing
Week 2
CSS Basics
CSS Tools
Fonts
Block
Background
Box
Positioning
Options in the New-Modify Styles Dialog box
Float vs Positioning
Lists & Tables
Applying Styles
Week 3
Contextual Selectors
Creating Page layouts
Layout Examples
Week 4
Dynamic Web Templates
Creating the DWT
New Pages and DWTS
Editing a DWT
Detaching or Changing a DWT
Preparing an Existing Page for a DWT
Site Reports
Report Options
Slow Pages
Hyperlinks
Accessibility Report
Compatibility Reports
CSS Reports
External Stylesheets
By the end of the 4week course you will have a simple multi-page website that will work on all modern browsers. You will have an understanding of the underlying principles of effective web design that will look good.
If you are interested in taking this class, you can read more about Introduction to Expression Web and register for the class at Start To Web. Cost of the Class is $89.95. Readers of this blog can obtain a 10% discount by using the coupon code PGfriends.
The next class will begin on April 5, 2009 and will last four weeks. The eBook is included as part of the class. Readers of this blog may obtain a 10% discount on the $79.95 cost of the class by using the code PGfriends when you register. REGISTER NOW so you can start at the beginning.
If the class does not fit into your current schedule, you may purchase the eBook separately.
Migrating from FrontPage to Expression EBook $29.00
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Perhaps you are using FrontPage 1998, one of the earliest versions of FrontPage to design your websites. Maybe you are using a later version 2000 or 2002. Are you still using Themes, Shared Borders, and the Navigation Bots? Have you upgraded to FrontPage 2003 but still using the formatting toolbar which adds all of those <font> tags? Is your site accessible to those visitors who cannot “see” you site?
Do you already have Expression Web or maybe you are thinking of getting it? Perhaps you have it but have decided the process of cleaning up your site is just “too much.”
(Did you know you can upgrade for less than $99 if you have a qualifying application which includes many of the Microsoft products?) Not in your budget right now?
You still might consider taking Migrating from FrontPage to Expression Web. Why? In the class we teach you to use many of Expression Web’s clean up tools and EW does help where FrontPage simply cannot. Some of cleanup can just as easily be done with other third party tools or using FrontPage 2003 in particular. Microsoft does provide a free 30 day trial of Expression Web so you can test out the software, but the software may expire BEFORE you have completed the class. We are also teaching you how to make use of accessibility features.
The cost for class has is $79.95 AND you will receive a copy of the eBook which contains additional material, lots of screenshots, and a selection of templates you can use. While the book is an excellent resource, the class gives you two Microsoft MVPs to hold your hand and answer your questions while you are migrating. What more could you want?
To register go to http://starttoweb.com/classes/fp-ew.php and start learning how to clean up your code. Remember, using cleaner coding methods means easier maintenance and easier maintainance me
Are you new to CSS? Confused about box models and how to create a CSS based page layout? This Introduction to CSS class is for you. You must be able to write or at least read HTML and familiar with the terms of web design to participate in this class.
Introduction to CSS is another class offered by Cheryl Wise at Start to Web and will begin April 5, 2009
Prerequisite:
Any CSS or text editor (code view of many popular HTML editors qualifies) maybe used in this class but the ability to work directly in the code is required.
Prior Experience:
Must be able to write or at least read HTML and familiar with the terms of web design. Minimum experience the equivalent of “The Language of Web Design” short class.
Book:
The book for this class is Cascading Style Sheets Separating Content From Presentation. There will be reference to sections of this book that will help you better understand CSS during this class so you should order it in time to receive it prior to the start of your class.
Other Requirements:
Web space to upload assignments. Minimum of 3 browsers for your operating system, recommended browsers: Firefox, Opera and either Internet Explorer 6 or Safari depending on your operating system.
Class Syllabus:
Week 1 Overview and Basic Concepts
What is CSS?
Types of Styles
Inline
Document Level
Linked or External
Order of the Cascade
Class, ID and Element Selectors
Attributes
Values
Units of Measurement
Colors
Shorthand
Pseudo Classes
Week 2 Fonts, Text Properties and Positioning
Font Families, Style, Weight and other font values
Spacing
Text-Decoration
Box Model
Margin
Padding
Borders
Size
The Box Model Differences
Between Browsers
How Doctype affects the box model.
Flow
Absolute
Relative
Floats
Week 3 & 4 Contextual Selectors & Pulling it All Together
What is a “contextual selector”?
Why and when you should use them.
menus
footer
content columns
How to write “contextual selectors”.
Media Type Styles
Creating page layouts
Final project – assigned week 3 for completion week 4
You can read more about Introduction to CSS and register for the class at Start to Web. Cost of the class is $89.95. Readers of this blog may obtain a 10% discount by using coupon code PGfriends.
I have been using WordPress for blogging for a couple of years now. Ever since taking Cricket Walker’s SEO Training Course and one of the lessons was The Benefits of Blogging. I moved the blog I had from blogger.com to my own server and installed WordPress following her tutorials. I wanted it to look more like my own creation so I started playing around with various themes and quickly learned not all of them are created equal.
My next step was working on an eBook on with my fellow MVP Tina Clarke on Launching a WordPress Blog which is offered F REE to anyone interested. It is soon to be revised to cover the latest version of WordPress 2.7.
Today I had the opportunity to watch a video produced by fellow MVP, Morten Rand-Hendriksen
Using WordPress in Alternate Configurations – My WordCamp Whistler 09 Presentation. After watching it I am again excited about WordPress and what I can do with it. Morten suggest using it more like a CMS which is the abbreviation for Content Management System. He shows you how using WordPress and Expression Web 2, you can customize your site so it looks more like a web site and less like a blog yet still functions as a blog. The site he uses in the tutorial is one he did AnnyChih.com which is fantastic. You can watch Using WordPress in Alternate Configurations – My WordCamp Whistler 09 Presentation and see for yourself how it is done. He also provides the code snippets you will need to try out his suggestions.
Genealogy Tips & Tutorials is the sister site of Genealogy Web Creations. Both were originally started to help those in the genealogy community who wanted/needed help in getting their genealogy information online. Much of the information will be of use to anyone who is wants to design and maintain their own website whether or not they are interested in genealogy.
and is the instructor for this four week course which begins April 5, 2009.
(affiliate link.)
