Webmaster Resources:
Getting Started
Jumping into creating a website is tempting, but there are a few things
that you should know before getting started.
First, look over the USCJ's guidelines for web sites. You may not understand everything
outlined, or some of it may not apply to you. Don't worry. Just
be familiar with the contents.
Second, you need to decide what to put on
your site. If you are creating a chapter web site, this should be
done in the company of your chapter board and staff. Other pages
in the Resources area
provide good examples of what you might want on your site. If you
need more suggestions, assitance, or just a friendly person to
talk to, e-mail your online chairperson.
Third, how are you going to create your
site? There are still a number of people who program their web
pages by hand. This way, you don't have to learn any new
software: just use Notepad (part of Windows) or any word
processor and save as a text file. The following is an example of
actual web page code:
<html>
<head>
<title>Main Chapter Page</title>
</head>
<body background="bg_grnmr.gif">
<div align="center"><center>
<table border="0" cellpadding="4"
bordercolor="#FFFFFF"
bordercolordark="#808080"
bordercolorlight="#C0C0C0">
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img
src="stars.gif" width="20"
height="130"></td>
<td> </td>
<td align="center"><h1><font
color="#FFFF00">CONGREGATION<br>
B'NAI SHLOMO USY</font></h1>
<h2><font color="#FFFFFF">Cedar Heights,
Montana</font></h2>
</td>
<td> </td>
<td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><img
src="stars.gif" width="20"
height="130"></td>
</tr>
</table>
</center></div>
</body>
</html>
For many of us, this is a tad overwhelming. That is why we computer-folk
use a program called a WYSIWYG (say "wizzy-wig") editor. WYSIWYG
stands for "What You See Is What You Get." One excellent editor
of this type is Microsoft FrontPage. Another near-WYSIWYG
editor is available with Netscape Navigator Gold
There are many non-WYSIWYG editors, but they are generally souped-up text
editors. However, all text-based editors offer good support for inserting
common commands. Whatever you do, though, make sure you surf to some of
the sites listed under HTML
Info.
Fourth, think about where you are going to
put the actual site. A growing number of synagogues have
directories on the USCJ server while others have sites elsewhere
on the Internet. Although you might be more familiar with a
"foreign" site, it's always a better idea to have your site on the USCJ
server. Talk to your rabbi or
synagogue president to see if your synagogue is already online or
to direct you to the one who could best field your questions. At
this point, if you've come up short contact your communications
vice president.
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