Designing your own web page will involve:

• Owning and knowing how to operate web page design and FTP (File Transfer Protocol) software.
• Graphic design, layout, HTML writing, marketing, and perhaps some programming knowledge.
• Transferring your files, once completed, from your computer to the STI web servers with FTP software.
• A strong working knowledge of Internet Search Engines so you can look up all the information you need, or a library of reference books on the various subjects above.

Web Pages are written in Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).

It really isn't a language but rather a system of "tags" inserted in text which cause web browser software like Netscape Communicator or Microsoft Internet Explorer to display your text the way you laid it out. In addition to HTML, certain features built into web pages can also involve the Java, C, Perl, Basic and other programming languages. Pages can certainly be built without additional programming, however, so HTML is the starting point.

Pictures to be displayed in web pages must be JPEGS or GIFS, two file formats indicated by their file extensions, .jpg and .gif. A photo used in a web page must be scanned by a digital scanner or come from a digital source such as a digital camera. Usually web designers use image manipulation software for the purpose of enlarging, shrinking, re-colorizing or otherwise modifying pictures.

Once you are well on your way to completing your web page design, you should send us an email and request a web hosting package so you can host your website on our web servers. This is your "space" into which you will FTP your files - pictures and text - that you have created.

You will most likely use File Transfer Protocol to send your files to STI's web servers. It's a good idea to name your main page (or "home page") index.html so that people typing in your web address will not have to also type in the name of a file.

If you use decide to use the free members web space included with your STI Internect connectivity account, your home page will have the URL (web address):

http://members.sti.net/yourusername

When we set up your directory on the web server, we place a "filler" index.html file in it so you can test, using the address above, to assure one can get to your website. When you over-write this file with your own index.html file, then your page is viewable.

If you choose to use authoring software for writing web pages such as Dreamweaver, Front Page, Adobe Page Mill, Net Objects Fusion, or other "drag and drop" authoring tools, we suggest reading your manual thoroughly before attempting to use the software, or contact the manufacturer for "how to" information and troubleshooting assistance. You can also use world wide web search engines to help diagnose problems as well.

DIAGNOSING PROBLEMS

HTML is the language of web pages. If you use software that creates web pages for you, and you do not know HTML, you will not be able to diagnose problems that prevent pages from displaying properly and will need to rely on the customer support services of the manufacturer of the software you are using.

If you have uploaded your completed files to your directory on our server, our engineers can check to assure your files are in place or not, and are properly named. Your web pages will display on the web if you have done the following:

1. Had a directory created for you under your dial-in username on our servers.
2. Uploaded your files to that directory with FTP software.
3. Made sure those files are in place.
4. Verified that all HTML files are in the proper directory.
5. Checked that your lead page (main page) is named index.html.
6. Checked that any necessary subdirectories have been created and are being addressed properly in your HTML code.

SOME IDEAS

If your web pages do not display even after the above have been checked,

• Check to assure your HTML tags do not contain capital letters, nor do the file names they refer to. Or, if they DO contain capital letters, that the same capitals appear in the file name as well. Internet servers are case sensitive. This means that if you type a name in all lowercase letters you are safe. If you type some capital and some lowercase letters, then the files and the HTML tags will need to be identical. Some computer operating systems are notorious for CHANGING file names, capitalizing the first letter, or all of them, when you save a file. The best way to assure everything is correct is to check your HTML code against the actual names as they appear in your SERVER DIRECTORY.
  
  
• Run one of the many "HTML Checkers" on the Internet that will take a look at your web page and diagnose obvious errors. Try Doctor HTML once you've uploaded your pages. They have free services to check 'em out!
  
  
• Use an Internet Search Engine to seek out HTML tutorials and references. One of the best is the Web Developers Virtual Library, or start out with some of the links below.