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Internet programmers have adopted PHP web development as a de-facto standard. PHP’s power lies in the ability to generate complete web pages or parts of pages as HTML code that can be rendered by browsers. This as-requested HTML can contain up-to-date information that static HTML coded pages cannot deliver. It is almost like the web server has an almost infinite number of HTML pages.

HTML can store tiny snippets of data on the user’s system for retrieval later. With PHP web development techniques programmers can use that bit of stored data as a key to information stored on a server-based database. This information is then used to generate a page customized for each user and each visit. This power of PHP web development is responsible for the interesting and user-friendly internet of today.

Using PHP web development, programmers are constantly finding new ways to interact with users. Users become regular visitors to dynamic sites, knowing that each visit will provide new and interesting content. Web-based businesses rely heavily on PHP web development to keep an active user base. Active users mean more revenue – either through advertising or direct sales.

With web-based businesses popping up constantly most of the user interaction relies on PHP web development. Customers can check databases to see if a particular product is available, place an order make a payment and arrange shipment – all with out any human involvement. Orders are recorded, databases are updated and verification emails sent to customers thanks to PHP web development.

Since PHP web development is so deeply intertwined in the recent growth of the internet the technology will exist for years to come. PHP is a very active and evolving language. New functionalities are being incorporated constantly and new technologies are embraced by the PHP community. PHP web development will be a vital component in future web activities worldwide.

Emerging concepts such cloud-based applications are already part of the PHP toolset. Integrated development tools for PHP web development have appeared on the scene making PHP web development even easier.

Visit the Macresource Computer Training website for courses on PHP and MySQL in London and UK wide or call 0800 1950 502.

Posted under Software

The main challenge in CSS web page layout is positioning blocks of content in different parts of the browser window. The key HTML element used to achieve this is the DIV element (short for DIVISION). The DIV element is pure vanilla: it has no inherent properties or sub-elements (unlike the TABLE element which was originally used for web page layout). It is a block element which can contain any web page content, including other DIVs.

Typically, when using CSS for page layout, related elements within the HTML page are placed within the same DIV. For example, there might be a DIV containing a logo or banner, another containing navigation links, another containing the main content of the page, and so on. Another common practice is to place all DIVs inside an outer or wrapper DIV which acts as the overall container for the page content. Key attributes such as width and alignment can then be applied to this wrapper.

The main DIVs that are being used for page layout will normally be given a unique ID; for example, div ‘id=”leftCol”‘. IDs can only occur once within an HTML page and can therefore be referred to in the CSS code; for example ‘#leftCol…’. Some subordinate DIVs (i.e. those contained within the main DIVs) will share attributes with several other DIVs on the page. These will be defined as a class in both the HTML page; e.g. ‘div class=imageLeft’ and in the CSS style sheet; e.g. ‘.imageLeft…’.

If you are using a wrapper DIV, as is usually the case, you will generally set its width to the overall width you want your page content to occupy. The width that you choose will depend on the typical monitor resolution used by your anticipated audience. The lowest common denominator is probably 800 x 600 pixels but many designers are now assuming 1024 x 768. Bear in mind that these pixel dimensions represent the entire screen. The actual web content will occupy only some of this. For this reason, designers usually use a width of 760 pixels when targeting the smaller resolution and 950 pixels when targeting the larger.

In CSS, there are two basic ways of specifying the width you want your content to occupy: using a fixed measurement or using percentages. Using pixels to specify the width you want your content to occupy offers you more control over your design but it can be inconvenient for visitors to your website. If their monitors are larger than your specified width, there will be a lot of wasted space. Those whose monitors are not as wide as your content will have to constantly scroll left and right to read your pages and who can blame them if they lose patience and go elsewhere. Percentage-based design is often referred to as liquid in that the content will simply readjust to fill as much of the available space as you specify.

The writer of this article is a developer and trainer with Macresource Computer Training, an independent computer training company offering ASP.NET Classes in London and throughout the UK.

Posted under Software

One of the easiest ways to understand Ajax is to get an idea of what you can achieve with it, what it can do for your web development. Principally, Ajax can help you develop web pages and websites that function and respond like desktop applications. The Ajax technology achieves this by working away in the background, grabbing data from a server and then displaying it as it’s needed. As internet access speeds continue to increase, there will come a time when the user will not be able to perceive any difference between the performance of a web application and that of regular desktop software.

So, if you are already engaged in web development but have not started to delve into the world of Ajax, now is a good time to seriously consider finding some form of Ajax training.

Ajax-powered webpages differ from classic server-side pages in one important regard: with the classic page, to retrieve data from the server, the user normally has to submit information via the form and then wait for the page to reload and display a set of search results. With Ajax, interaction with the server can take place in a much more subtle manner, often without a form having to be submitted or the page having to reload.

The term Ajax is short for Asynchronous JavaScript and XML and Ajax involves the use of several web technologies. First of all, we have HTML and CSS, the raw material of which web pages are constructed. HTML defines the structure of the page content while CSS controls the layout and formatting of those elements. Next, we have XML data sources residing on a server. XML is a neutral standard for describing and storing information. Then there is JavaScript, the main scripting language used to add interactivity to web pages, which is used to fetch data from XML sources and use it to update the web page.

The XMLHttpRequest object plays a key role in the way that JavaScript implements Ajax. It is used to send requests to the server without the need of refreshing the page. The key feature of this process is that it is asynchronous. This means that when a request is made for data from the server, the browser doesn’t need to wait for the data to come back. Therefore the page continues to function and when the data has been retrieved, the necessary parts of the page are updated.

If you are a web developer looking to expand you skill-set, look no further than Ajax. Ajax training will definitely enable you to take your web development expertise to a new level.

Posted under Software

Dreamweaver templates are one of the program’s most powerful features. Templates allow you to control and update the appearance of an entire site. They are one of the features covered in detail on our Dreamweaver training courses. This article looks at how to set up, apply and modify templates. Templates facilitate site management by allowing you to modify and update several pages at once. A template is a web document (HTML, ASP, ASP.NET, etc. ) which contains a combination of locked elements and editable regions. When creating a new document, if you opt to base it on a template, the page will inherit all of the elements which the template contains. You individualise the page by modifying the content of the editable areas. If you later modify the template, all of the pages which are based on it can be automatically updated.

Templates can be created from scratch or you can take an existing document and convert it into a template. To create a template from scratch

1. Choose New from the File menu.

2. In the first column of the New Document window, choose the New Template option.

3. In the second column, specify the type of template you want ((HTML, ASP, ASP.NET, etc. ).

4. In the third column, optionally choose one of Dreamweaver’s preset CSS layouts or click None to start with a blank page.

5. Should you decide to use one of the CSS layout, in the forth column, you will need to specify whether the necessary code is placed in the head of the document, in a new CSS file or an existing one.

6. Click Create to generate your new template.

As soon as you start using templates, Dreamweaver creates a special Templates folder which it stores in the root folder of the site. All templates are automatically stored in this folder. You can also take a regular HTML document and convert it into a template.

1. Open the document which you wish to convert into a template.

2. Choose Save As Template from the File menu.

3. Enter a name for the new template and click Save.

By default, all of the elements that you place on a template will be locked. They will appear on each page based on the template but will not be editable. To create the locked regions of a template

1. In the templates folder, double-click the name of the template you wish to edit.

2. Create the elements which you wish to appear on every page.

3. All of these elements will remain locked and unchangeable on all pages based on the template.

4. When you save the changes you have made to the template, Dreamweaver will remind you that you have not yet created any editable regions. Click OK.

Author is a developer and trainer with Macresource Computer Training, a UK IT training company offering Adobe Dreamweaver training courses at their central London training centre.

Posted under Software

Adobe Dreamweaver contains a large array of floating palettes called panels. Some of these contain options that are duplicated both in the main and context menus or which can be accessed with keyboard shortcuts. You will therefore find that you do not need to keep all of Dreamweaver’s panels open.

One of the first document view keyboard shortcut any new Dreamweaver user should learn is F4. This is the shortcut for Window – Hide/Show Panels (or View – Hide/Show Panels). This very useful toggle causes all of Dreamweaver’s panels to disappear or reappear at their original positions.

Most of the options for showing, hiding and manipulating the various panels are to be found in the Window menu. However, in addition to the panels, Dreamweaver has two other tools palettes which are referred to as toolbars. One of these, the Document toolbar, is normally displayed at the document window. To make this toolbar visible, choose View-Toolbars-Document.

The first three icons on the Document toolbar are perhaps the most frequently used: Code, Split and Design views. The document title box is used to set the title which will appear in the title bar of the user’s browser (as opposed to the document’s file name). The file management pop-up menu contains options for uploading and downloading the document as well as commands to be used when working in collaboration. (These options are also available in the Site menu.) The browser preview pop-up menu allows you to preview your page in any of the browsers you specify using the Edit Browser List command.

You will only see the document toolbar if you are working in document view. In Dreamweaver, to be working in document view simply means to be editing an HTML, or other, document. If you are not in document view then you are normally working in the Files panel. There are three ways of entering document view from Files view.

Firstly, you can simply open an HTML document by double-clicking its name or by choosing File – Open.

2. You can also create a new blank file by choosing File – New.

3. Activate a document which is already open by clicking its button in the Windows Taskbar or by choosing its name from the bottom of the Window menu.

The author is a training consultant with Macresource Computer Training, a UK IT training company offering Adobe Dreamweaver Classes in London and throughout the UK.

Posted under Software

Surfing the Internet is a fun experience in boosting your creativity because there are so many websites with fantastic designs. Checking these sites out could be enough in inspiring you to make your own. If you have the creativity, you can probably start your own website by yourself. However, making a website isn’t a walk in the park and while there are workarounds like the use of a site builder or 3rd party web design kit, you might end up asking yourself if professional web designers take these workarounds.

The answer is no because they have good enough knowledge in HTML and other web development languages which is needed to bring any mockup design to live. Making a website design mockup can be difficult already if you take the screen size compatibilities into the picture. Making the website friendly for all the browsers and optimized enough to load without stressing out the bandwidth can be other hurdles to deal with.

Knowing all that is to keep in mind when designing a website, the question is then whether it should be left to a professional to do or if you are capable of doing it on your own. The professional web designer is the best choice, simply because they start from scratch and build the website starting from there. On top of that there are other advantages of letting a professional web designer create your website.

For starters you will be able to determine what you exactly want on your website and the web designer will do what they can to incorporate all of that. Most web designers also are very creative and place value on quality of their work, which means that your expectations will most likely be met or surpassed.

Another advantage is that web designers are capable of completing the job quicker than you would be able to. This is because they have experience with creating websites and by hiring someone who knows what they are doing you will be able to spend your valuable time doing other important jobs, such as marketing or adding web content to the site. This way the project will be completed quickly since everyone is doing something they are good at.

Having a visually appealing website is important, but so is user friendliness in regards to navigation. The website also has to stay with a chosen theme that is relevant to the content. It is best if the website is also modern and contains Web 2.0 elements. In order to get all this done you will have to work together with your web designer and do a lot of brainstorming, therefore the professional hired should be willing to do this to ensure the quality.

Once the design is finished, you get to enjoy a fully-polished website and all that you lose is just a fixed sum of money that you can get back by adding ads to your new site. Everything else is savings including time and possibly maintenance too as good professionals offer free maintenance for a limited time to ensure that the site runs smoothly.

As far as quality and having your website completed in a short amount of time go, if you check them out and choose a reputable professional web designer you can feel confident that all will go well and hassle free.

Posted under Programming

Teaching yourself a new skill is never easy. However, having an individual or a resource to teach you is always a big help. For example, if you’re trying to train yourself or colleagues how to use a sophisticated piece of software like Adobe Dreamweaver, you’ll likely experience better success in your endeavours if you invest in interactive training software or a tutor-led training course. This is because you’ll receive a hands-on training experience, and learn how the program works by using it, rather than reading about how it should work. Knowing the tools of your trade is crucial to your success as a web designer. If you run, or plan to run, a web design or web development business, having employees that are properly trained is essential to the success of your business.

To make sure that your employees are properly trained, you should consider using Adobe Dreamweaver training software. This will allow everyone to see the program, and learn how it works by example, rather than by just reading and memorizing information. When you’ve got a staff that needs to be properly trained, having the right software and training programs can make all the difference. Not everyone can learn from a textbook. Furthermore, many people can’t learn from textbooks at all. They simply can’t make the connection between written information and the actual use of the program without seeing it.

Adobe Dreamweaver training, whether from a tutor-led course or via the medium of training videos, will ensure that your staff learn what they need to know, by making the program more accessible for them. They will learn how Dreamweaver works by seeing how it works, which will help them to better understand the logic of the program and remember how to use the product.

As a web design company, your job is to be the best that you can be at the job that you do. That means making sure that your designers know what they’re doing, and that will require adequate training so that they can make the most of their Adobe Dreamweaver education. Making sure that everyone knows everything and learns it in the most efficient way is the goal of this training program. Dreamweaver makes web design easy and training software makes learning how to use Adobe Dreamweaver easy.

In short, Dreamweaver training will pay for itself both in terms of the savings made by companies and the profits made by those offering their web design and development services.

Posted under Software

There are many reasons to consider Adobe Dreamweaver training courses. Obviously, if you’re looking to learn to use Adobe Dreamweaver software, you’ll want to check out some form of training. There are many different benefits that tutor-led classes can offer you, and the most important consideration is that they can do help you get to grips with the software a lot more quickly. Training courses can significantly accelerate your mastery of software because your brain is being stimulated and interacted with, rather than just scanning information in a book and being expected to remember it. Some other benefits of Adobe Dreamweaver training courses include:

1. Better understanding of the program through experience and training use. You’ll practice the things you learn right in the program, which will help you to know it better when you go to use it.

2. Better understanding of the program through experience and training use. You’ll practice the things you learn right in the program, which will help you to know it better when you go to use it.

3. Better understanding of the program through experience and training use. You’ll practice the things you learn right in the program, which will help you to know it better when you go to use it.

4. Less checking information or referencing like you would do with a text book, because your brain remembers more.

5. More time enjoying web design because the training was quick and efficient.

6. Faster learning, because your brain will make connections much faster with interactive videos and tutorials than it might have otherwise.

It’s been proven that hands-on learning is better than just reading and memorizing facts, definitions, and information. It doesn’t matter if you are teaching a five-year-old or a 50-year-old. Adobe Dreamweaver training has something for all ages, and is simple enough for even the most novice of users to understand. All you need to do is invest the time to learn, which won’t take long with the interactive Dreamweaver training. Books might be cheaper, they might seem easier, or you might think it’s your only option. Books will teach you information about the program. Adobe Dreamweaver training will teach you how to use the program.

If you want to completely understand Adobe Dreamweaver and still have no idea how to use it, get yourself a textbook. However, if you actually want to learn how to use the program, a training course will be your best bet. You’ll learn more, you’ll learn faster, and you’ll have hands-on experience that you won’t find anywhere else. Before you go spending a ton of money on books that you really don’t need, give your brain a chance to take a training course, and see if you don’t learn things in a better way. Chances are, you’ll be successful, and you’ll see much better results than if you had bought the books.

Posted under Software

HTML is a markup language used to create documents designed to be accessed across the World Wide Web using browser software such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. The version of HTML in current use is known as XHTML, a stricter, rationalised version of the original HTML specification. One key thing to note about HTML and XHTML pages is that they describe the content and structure of the page rather than the position and presentation of the elements on the page.

The first difference between an HTML and an XHTML page is the document type definition. There are a variety of ways in which this specification can be made in Dreamweaver. One of the easiest is to go to the Modify menu and choose Page Properties. Here, in the Title/Encoding section, one of the options reads Document Type (DTD).

There are several options available in the drop-down menu next to this setting, some relating to HTML version 4 and some to XHTML version 1. These DTD settings specify the rules for the mark-up language so that the browsers can render the content correctly. For any new content that you create, the best specification to choose is XHTML 1.0 transitional since it uses the current XHTML specification while allowing backward compatibility with slightly older browsers.

When looking at an HTML page, the structural content may not be immediately apparent. However Dreamweaver provides a number of useful tools for keeping tabs on the structure of your web page content. One of these is called the Tag Selector. Wherever the cursor is positioned, the HTML code relating to that part of the page is displayed in the bottom left of the page on the Status Bar in an area known as the Tag Selector.

When the browser reads the page, the tags surrounding text and other elements communicate to the browser the structural importance of each element. Thus, for example, the H1 tag tells the browser that a piece of text is a major heading, while the H2 tag signifies a sub-heading, and so on. When these tags are displayed in the Tag Selector, you can get an idea of the structure of the page and you can also click on any tag to select the element(s) it contains.

The tags tell the browser the structural importance of each element. However the page doesn’t contain any information that helps the browser decide how each element should be displayed. This is the job of CSS Cascading Style Sheets. An XHTML page is still essentially an HTML page. However, its syntax is stricter. Let’s take a couple of examples…

One example of this difference is that XHTML is case sensitive while HTML is not. In XHTML, all tags are lowercase so the H1 tag has to be written h1. In HTML, h1 or H1 can be used.

In XHTML, the closing tag of an element cannot be ommitted: in HTML it is permissible to have an opening tag without a closing tag. One such example is the horizontal rule element (hr) which creates a dividing line between two sections on a webpage. This element is represented by a single tag, since it can never be used as a container for other stuff. In XHTML, there is a special syntax for such non-container elements: a single tag which is both an opening and closing tag (hr/). In HTML, the single opening tag is used without the need for a closing tag (hr).

In summary, XHTML is the current version of HTML and this is the standard that should be used for any new projects. However, existing projects that one may inherit may well contain HTML rather the XHTML. Therefore, one should be aware of both. Remember also that HTML and XHTML describe only structural aspects of web page content: neither of them should contain information regarding the presentation and display of content. The display and presentation of web content should be specified using CSS.

Posted under Software

Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) is an XML-related technology which is used to transform XML data. XML file are used to set the ground-rules for a given body of data and to describe the data itself. XSL allows us to take that data and convert it into information which can be displayed in a web browser window or opened with a text editor. It can also be used to create an XML file which is a modified version of an original XML file.

When displaying XML elements in a browser window, the XSL elements which enable looping through an XML tree and decision-making really come into their own. One of the key methods used in XSL for looping through elements in an XML file is the the “For-each” element. This requires the “select” attribute to specify which element is to be used in the loop. The “For-each” element normally requires both an opening and a closing tag and any lines of markup placed between the opening and closing tags will be repeated each time the element specified in the “select” attribute is encountered in the XML file.

For example, let’s say we have an XML file containing a list of companies and the addresses of their websites. Let’s also say that the element which we will be targeting in the XSL “For-each” statement is called “company” and that, within each company element, we have a “name”, “telephone” and “website” element. Before beginning our “For-each” loop, we could place the opening tag of an HTML “ul” element (an unordered or bulleted list).

Inside the “For-each” loop, we could output an HTML “li” element and, between the opening and closing tag, output the contents of the “name” and “telephone” elements from the XML file. The data in the “website” could be used to convert the “name” into a clickable link.

As to the appearance of the data in the resulting HTML output, this would be controlled by a linked CSS file. CSS can be used to format the output in any way we desire, so our bulleted list can take on pretty much any appearance we desire.

Posted under Software