Developing a Web Site. For Your Model Railroad. John Sing, Tues 7/5/11 8am

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1 Developing a Web Site For Your Model Railroad John Sing, singj@us.ibm.com Tues 7/5/11 8am 1

2 Today s Agenda Objective: easy to follow methods for building a web site for your model railroad. Assumes limited or no internet experience Specific, simple recommendations for: What should be my Givens and Druthers? (Design Process) What is the basic procedure and step-by-step?(overview) What are the simple starter steps? (Easy, do-today possibilities) Next steps for more sophistication (what you can do over time) Get a copy of this presentation: 2

3 What is a Web Site? 3

4 Just the facts: the pieces of a web site - 1 web server I m called a URL 4 URL = Universal Resource Locator

5 Just the facts: the pieces of a web site - 2 web server A different URL 5

6 1. Let s click on this icon Just the facts: the pieces of a web site 3 2. Clicking on this causes the web server to be given this URL web server 6

7 Just the facts: the pieces of a web site - 4 web server 3. Which caused the web server to send the web page that is named by this URL 7

8 Just the facts: the pieces of a web site - 5 my pictures on the web server web server my web page on the web server 8

9 Therefore, I must: create and upload my content to a web server web server create and upload my web page to a web server This URL given to me by my web provider 9

10 But Hang On one minute now!!!! First 10

11 Where to start? It s like designing a layout: Givens and Druthers 11 It s always good to start small, learn skills, build upwards. Over time you get the Lifetime Layout

What kind of web page do I want? Givens and Druthers Relative Emphasis: 1. Easy? Sophisticated? 2. Free vs. low cost? Operating Priorities and Goals: 1. Share pictures? 2. Share information?

12 What kind of web page do I want? Givens and Druthers Relative Emphasis: 1. Easy? Sophisticated? 2. Free vs. low cost? Operating Priorities and Goals: 1. Share pictures? 2. Share information? 3. Publish my ideas? 4. Tell about my railroad? 5. Find other interested parties? 6. Go for fame and fortune? Givens and Druthers by John Armstrong 12

Therefore, suggest to first do these steps: Determine givens and druthers

Operational goals: Share pictures? Share information? Publish my ideas?

13 Therefore, suggest to first do these steps: Determine givens and druthers Relative emphasis: Easy? Sophisticated? Free? Low Cost? Operational goals: Share pictures? Share information? Publish my ideas? Tell about my railroad? Find other interested parties? Go for fame and fortune? content Inventory your content for web site Do you have digital pictures already? Do you have a web site design in mind? Start out Easy Later, get sophisticated 13

14 Inventory your content: Do I have digital photos? content web server Do I have enough digital photos for my web page? 14

15 Creating Digital Content Other clinic: Photographing Railroad Models Wed 7/6, 230pm Get copy of handout at: 15

16 Now, let s examine the web page I have my digital photos for the web server web server need to create my web page for the web server 16

17 Easy 17

18 Easiest: Someone else does the web page PBase content web server web page Facebook Picasa, etc. 18

19 Easy because you basically provide the content, Someone else does the web page content Pictures Only: PBase web server web page Share, Blog, Photos, Videos: Facebook Free: Picasa, Flickr, etc. 19

20 Easy #1: Nice appearance, upload pictures, anyone can see, no advertisements, fast load, $23/year 20 I m sure there are hundreds of others out there

21 General Idea of Pbase from user perspective An easy option upload content pbase web server Pbase.com 1. Logon to PBase day trial 3. Upload photos 4. Select options for your main screen 5. Give out your URL to your friends 21

22 Example Pbase photo page 22

23 Example photo on PBase Pretty good! 23

24 Easy #2: Free. Has all the tools you need. Easy. Just sign up. Photo upload, organize, video upload, discussion forums, links, friends/fans. social network. Centralized. Everyone else is there. 600 million members (if it was a country, 3 th largest population on Earth) Largest online repository of photos worldwide iphone and ipad enabled Wave of the future 24

25 X2011 West Facebook Page 25

26 Wall Photos Discussions Video A way to blog every day Easily upload your photos Have discussions with your fans Upload videos 26

27 Facebook Photos Photos Multiple albums 27

28 Facebook photos Photos Just click on a photo Photos Easily upload your photos 28

29 Facebook Photos Photos are shareable worldwide Photos can be tagged for others to find Automatically submitted to Google for being found by search Does almost all the work for you 29

30 Many other easy-to-share railroad photo web sites Some examples: And many, many more Easy way to go! 30

31 Other easy ways to be online Forums Model Railroad Hobbyist Blogs And more alternatives coming every day 31

32 Participating in Forums Sharing information Learning from others Making virtual friends Include your web site URL in signature 32

33 Participation over time drives being found Because of consistent participation over time Top 2 listings out of 169 mllion Forums Active participation over time Put your web site URL in signature Web site Updated with content Consistently Try Googling John Sing 33

34 More Sophisticated Web Pages Goal of this section: Show you the flow for doing a web site the full function way We will not give specifics in this section, instead, concentrate on the process So that as you get more sophisticated in future.. You have a picture in your mind of how this works Example shown will be: Coast Division Web Site 34

35 I do the web page web server 1. Acquire web server disk space 35

36 I do the web page content 2. Use tools to help upload photos, web page to web server web server 1. Acquire web server disk space 36

37 I do the web page content 2. Use tools to help you upload photos, web page to web server web server web page 1. Acquire web server disk space Use web page tools to help build the web page

38 1. Acquire web server disk space These days: You usually get this as part of your internet service Or you purchase from someone The trick is: Figuring out what is available Under your existing contract content 1. Acquire web server disk space Here, there is no replacement For having a friend who can take you through this who has done it Or taking a few classes, and gaining knowledge of computers, web servers, and building of your own web pages It s not real difficult, just need someone who has been there web server Internet Service storage 38

39 2. Upload content to web server disk space The trick is: Figuring out the specific tools and parameters you need to specify Many good freeware File Transfer Programs for uploading your files I use WinSCP: This also is topic for you to get your knowledgeable friends help Depends on the Internet Service Provider (ISP) Cannot be specific in this lecture Different specific procedures and parameters for different Internet service providers Take a class to learn the specifics Or find good friends who will teach you, it s not hard! content Use File Transfer tools to help you upload photos to web server web server Internet Service storage 39 I will show example

3. Use tools to help you build the web pages There are many editors and tools for building web pages Pagebreeze is one freeware http://www.pagebreeze.

40 3. Use tools to help you build the web pages There are many editors and tools for building web pages Pagebreeze is one freeware A older, free version tool, with excellent, very inexpensive instruction Dummies books available, is: Netscape Composer 7.2 I still use it it s free Windows download here: Taking a class is best idea also I will show example This book literally less than $1 used on Amazon 3. Web page tools to help build the web page 40

41 Let s see example of how to do this. No, it s not this difficult! 41

42 Coast Division Web Pages: here are the pieces content web server web pages est/contest_march_2010.shtml 42

43 Coast Division March 2010 Meet Report web page web server 1. Earthlink.net is the web server for:

44 Coast Division March 2010 Meet Report web page content 2. Use File Transfer Program to load photos and web page to Earthlink.net web server 1. Earthlink.net is the web server for:

45 Creating Content Edit pictures using freeware: IRFANVIEW 45

46 Edit the photos Edit procedure: 1. raw 2. select, rename, crop 3. resize 4. Make thumbnails 46 Quarterly web page = 170 pictures ( 85 pictures, 85 thumbnails) 5. Make captions

Coast Division March 2010 Meet Report web page content 2. Use File Transfer Program to load photos and web page to Earthlink.net web server Typically, this is your email ID / pswd 1.

47 Coast Division March 2010 Meet Report web page content 2. Use File Transfer Program to load photos and web page to Earthlink.net web server Typically, this is your ID / pswd 1. Earthlink.net is the web server for: WinSCP file transfer program

48 Transfer all photos to web server content 2. Use File Transfer Program to load photos and web page to Earthlink.net web server WinSCP file transfer program 48

49 Coast Division March 2010 Meet Report web page content 2. Use File Transfer Program to load photos and web page to Earthlink.net web server web page 1. Earthlink.net is the web server for: 3. Use web page tool to help build the web page 49

50 Create web page Create web page using tools: PageBreeze Netscape Composer 50 demo: Netscape Composer 7.2 This book literally less than $1 used on Amazon

51 Upload web page Upload web page to web server web page web server WinSCP file transfer program 1. Earthlink.net is the web server for: 51

web pages 1. Use web server and disk space 52 http://www.pcrnmra.

52 Coast Division Web Pages: That s how we do it! content 2. Use tools to help you upload photos, web page to web server web server web pages 1. Use web server and disk space 52 est/contest_march_2010.shtml 3. Use web page tools to help build, upload web page

53 Coast Division Web Pages: That s how we do it! 53

54 Learning Points: easier to start: you provide content, someone else does the web page content Pictures Only: PBase web server web page Share, Blog, Photos, Videos: Facebook Free: Picasa, etc. 54

55 Learning Points: then later, you gain the knowledge to use each of these 3 steps: content 2. Use tools to help you upload photos to web server web server web page 1. Need to acquire web server disk space 55 March_2010.shtml 3. Use web page tools to help build the web page

Now it s up to you Today s goal was provide a good base of information PBase Facebook But most importantly: You have easy options that you can be up online

Provides 80% of the value for 20% of the effort content web page You also now have a feeling of: Process and flow of building a web site the full function

56 Now it s up to you Today s goal was provide a good base of information PBase Facebook But most importantly: You have easy options that you can be up online by tonight Pbase, Facebook, etc. Provides 80% of the value for 20% of the effort content web page You also now have a feeling of: Process and flow of building a web site the full function way, if you want to You have suggestions for the tools to use And for the classes that you would take 2. Use tools to help you upload photos, web pages to web server web server 1. Acquire web server disk space 3. Use tools to help you build web page 56

57 57

58 John Sing s web site You can go to my web site for more examples 58

Next Steps If you want to get details on building your own web site the full function way Take classes and find friends who know how to do this It is becoming a common skill, similar to Word

59 Next Steps If you want to get details on building your own web site the full function way Take classes and find friends who know how to do this It is becoming a common skill, similar to Word Processing 25 years ago Download Dave Grenier s PCR Convention 2009 clinic: Website Design for Your Layout or Club Download that PowerPoint at: Go to SlideShare.net and search on building your web site 59

60 Downloadable clinics of great help: Photography These clinics can be of great help in making photographs for your web site John Sing s Photographing Railroad Models :: Anyone can make better photos! A step by step suggested checklist and guidelines December After seeing the above clinic, the next step in photography would be: Mark Schutzer s 2009 PCR Clinic on Model Photography : Mark s clinic is an excellent place to continue from where John leaves off above 60

61 More resources Free web site HTML editors There are literally hundreds out there Here s the one I use, even though it is very old The reason I like this one is that it is free, truly open source Is the one I still use for the Coast web site Netscape Composer, which is in the NetScape Suite 7.2: Here is the specific link for Windows download The point is: Use whatever HTML or web site editor works for you You want the end goal of a web page, the method is not as important 61

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