Book Description

Once you discovered the dynamic, sophisticated sites you could create using DHTML and CSS, you wanted more--more interaction, more accessibility, more animation, more interesting combinations of text and graphics, more everything! This book provides the key. By picking up where his enormously popular Visual QuickStart Guide left off, best-selling author Jason Cranford Teague explores the advanced DHTML and CSS programming techniques you need to take your Web sites to the next level. Covering everything from standards and accessibility to separating content from style; creating multicolumn layouts; combining text and graphics; creating controls, menus, forms, and special effects; working with other Web languages; and much more, this friendly, task-based volume is a must-have if you're serious about Web design. Step-by-step instructions and a strong visual format make complex topics understandable, even fun--especially when coupled with the loads of tips, screen shots and practical, working examples that Jason has provided.

Customer Reviews (7)

Not advanced and misses the point
I was greatly disappointed with this book. I have bought many other visual quickpro books which have been great.

This book is not advanced. The examples in this book do not separate content, presentation and function.

Javascript should be separated from the content of the page, not mashed into the (X)HTML as was typically done in early web sites. The javascript hooks in the code examples are invariably hard-coded into onclick=".." attributes. While that may work fine at first, just try updating pages full of onclick attributes and you'll be looking for a better way.

CSS should be used to separate the presentation from the content of the page as much as possible. It seems that the author has 'divitis': there are so many nested divs in some of the examples it's hard to follow the markup.

The book gives lip service to accessibility, but does not follow the concept through: many of the examples will not degrade gracefully in non-javascript enabled browsers. Dynamic html pages _can_ play well with all browsers: this is advanced javascript. If you follow the examples in this book, however, you'll be discriminating against a large part of your audience.

You will get better information in:
For css:
CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutions
Web Standards Solutions: The Markup and Style Handbook (Pioneering Series)
For javascript:
ppk on JavaScript, 1/e (VOICES)

Outstanding book - a must have for your library
When I first got interested in DHTML I purchased both of Teague's books on DHTML and CSS. They have proved to be invaluable. His writing is easy to understand. The format is easy to follow and consistent throughout. He uses just enough illustrations to demonstrate the subject. His knowledge of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS is exemplary and the examples used in the book are pretty much bug/error free (unlike many books I've read that contain code). If you're just getting started with DHTML, get both of Teague's books. You won't regret it.

It Flipped the Switch that other books didn't
I've actually been using CSS for about 8 years now. Mostly just for font/color control, as positioning support wasn't wide spread until the last few years.

This book helped flip the switch on just how pure CSS layouts (header, footer, left nav, body) need to be setup to work. I probably just skipped over something in my other books.

The layouts, practical DTHML menus, and a very useful section on making great looking and performing forms, make this book well worth the price.

Cookbook
This is the sequel to the excellent DHTML and CSS for the World Wide Web. It is merely a cookbook of techniques, whereas the first book is an outstanding introduction to an advanced subject.

This book is worth leafing through to find items of interest but it does not advance the state of the art in the way the first book did.

Good but not what I was expecting...
I was a little surprised that the one chapter on Advanced DHTML techniques could have been titled: "Intro to JavaScript."I was disappointed because there was little on advanced CSS layout (1 chapter) with examples that were difficult to follow.

If you want a book teaching JavaScript and PHP integration this book is for you.If you want a book on advanced CSS techniques that you might want to look elsewhere.
... Read more

Amazon.com
Ian Graham's HTML Stylesheet Sourcebook explains the hows and whys of cascading style sheets (CSS). This Web document standard allows you to update all of the pages on your Web site at once--substituting an entirely new graphical style for every page--by only editing one document. In CSS, text and formatting instructions are entirely separate. A single style sheet maintains the style information (fonts, backgrounds, colors). The text-and-graphics HTML document passes through this style sheet, making the creation of a Web page a two-step process.

Graham's writing style is easy to understand and he uses practical examples to support his message that CSS is a vast improvement over conventional HTML. You'll learn the finer points of formatting and how text can be displayed through different style sheets, radically altering the pages' presentations.

This is not a general "how-to" HTML book (although he does provide background information about HTML). Instead, it is a guide for Web designers who are sick of the tedium of updating pages one at a time and for Web masters who are thinking hundreds of Web pages into the future.Book Description
Create more sophisticated Web pages with the new HTML technology.

As Web technology evolves, Webmasters and developers are increasingly called on to provide greater sophistication and flexibility in their HTML design. Stylesheets are designed to help them meet these demands. This practical resource gives HTML users the tools to create, modify, and customize HTML stylesheets, covering the entire process of designing, testing, and redesigning a stylesheet. Web site provides sample HTML and stylesheet documents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

I haven't found a web site yet that can replace this book
I am a web developer and designer. When I can't remember what CSS properties go with which elements, I get my copy of the HTML Stylesheet Sourcebook off the shelf. I especially like the CSS language reference that explains exactly what each property does.

This is the book that got me away from font tags two years ago and set me on the road to HTML 4.01 compliance. The fact that I still haven't found a web site with the same information as accessible and well-organized is either a testament to the quality of Mr. Graham's book, or a lack of decent online CSS references.

Graham comes through again
Graham is able to explain things quite easily if you have any questions.Rarely, however, could I find myself reading a book like this cover to cover.If you want to learn how to design in CSS, then this book can helpyou, but you could save some money and look for on-line resources.Thisbook is best used as a reference tool and detailed information when youneed to understand something better.It can help you become quiteproficient.

On the plus side he is thorough and easy to understand, onthe negative side, all of the pictures are black and white. "Cascading Style Sheets: Designing for the Web" by Lie and Boshas all color pictures, making certain examples more powerful in nature.

Bottom Line: Both books are highly recommended, but neither should beused for people just starting HTML.Be proficient in HTML before you getthese books or you may be confused.I feel confident in CSS specs withthese books as a resource.

StyleSheet Made Easier
This book concentrates heavily on how the programming would affect typography on the web and explains in detail in how to achieve that look. Graham explains selectors, properties and values in detail and points out bugs in the popular browsers such as Explorer and Netscape. Every chapter has a summary. Inside the front and back covers of the book has a table of property summary for quick reference. Readers have to have some basic knowledge of HTML but this book does review some important HTML tags. As a typographic designer, I strongly recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you're a small business owner wanting to update your website to promote a big sale next month, a student assigned to create a website for a class, or you're curious about web design but you don't have any HTML experience, Macromedia Contribute 3 In a Snap can help. Organized into short, bite-sized tasks, you will quickly be able to accomplish the steps required to build a website without any HTML code. You will learn how to easily update text and images to existing web pages and create new pages with the use of Macromedia Contribute 3 and more familiar programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel. Use this tool to help you create web pages in a snap!Download Description
Whether you're a small business owner wanting to update your website to promote a big sale next month, a student assigned to create a website for a class, or you're curious about web design but you don't have any HTML experience, Macromedia Contribute 3 In a Snap can help. Organized into short, bite-sized tasks, you will quickly be able to accomplish the steps required to build a website without any HTML code. You will learn how to easily update text and images to existing web pages and create new pages with the use of Macromedia Contribute 3 and more familiar programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel. Use this tool to help you create web pages in a snap! ... Read more

Book Description

Businesses have come to realize that information resources and technologies are key corporate assets and decisions on these matters need to be made at the highest level in an enterprise (including public sector and not-for-profit organizations). As a result, when new standards come along with the potential for expanding collaborative e-business relationships that open new opportunities, improve cash flow, and reduce costs, business people need to know about them. That is the purpose of the new book, ebXML: the New Global Standard for doing Business On the Internet. The book describes this new set of specifications not only in terms of the technology, but also in terms of their impact on the way business really work.

Most of the larger enterprises in the world have done e-business for as long as 20 years, using a technology called electronic data interchange or EDI. While these larger companies have benefited from EDI, smaller companies rarely can afford the software or the internal management EDI requires. EbXML however, takes advantage of advances in Internet technologies and the large installed base of Internet-connected systems, to encourage the development of low-priced, plug-and-play solutions that many smaller companies can afford.

The book outlines the demanding and changing business conditions that make collaborative e-business imperative for growing numbers of companies, and show how ebXML is designed to meet these conditions. It offers an executive-level overview giving the ebXML specifications in a nutshell and scenarios of how ebXML can work in practice. The book then provides fuller descriptions of ebXMLs business requirements, XML, earlier work involving XML for business data exchange, related web services specifications, and more details of the ebXML technical architecture.

ebXML: the New Global Standard for doing Business On the Internet is the first book on ebXML, and the only extended work so far, either print or electronic, written for business managers. The technical documentation provides specific guidance for systems developers, but it is the business people who make the fundamental business decisions on using technology strategically, and this book addresses those concerns.

Customer Reviews (7)

poor focus, poor structure
The main problem with the book is it's lack of focus. It's neither a book for business people trying to value ebXML, it's neither a book for technical people trying to get more detail about ebXML.
The business intro is poor. It's a collection of trends without much structure or insights.
The technical part is mainly an intro.
I was disappointed. Is mainly my problem, but I would advise future buyers to look for more focused books.

Clear and in-depth description of ebXLM (and XML)
This book doesn't purport to cover programming.Instead it is a comprehensive guide that describes ebXML from business and technical perspectives, and does so is such a clear, well written manner that it deserves 5 stars.If you're more interested in writing ebXML applications you may want "ebXML Simplified" by Eric Chiu (ISBN 0471204757), which shows how and provides sample code.

What I most like about this book is the way the authors manage to integrate the technical details with the business value of ebXML without going over the heads of business users or talking down to IT professionals.I also like the fact that the book is kept up to date on the companion web site, and the additional information that is provided there to supplement what is covered in the book.

The highlights, in my opinion, are:

Chapter 2, ebXML in a nutshell.This chapter uses clear prose and illustrations to portray ebXML, how it fits into an enterprise solution, and all of the underpinnings.If you only read these 30 pages you'll come away with a solid understanding of what it is and how it works. The next chapter, ebXML at Work, takes this material a step further with case studies that are realistic.

All of Part II, which shows how ebXML fits into the much larger XML picture (including an interesting history of XML and how it evolved from SGML).History aside, this section ties together a number of related technologies, such as Java, XML, HTML and platforms.In fact, the four legs of a table metaphor that the authors use is one of the most elegant depictions of the interrelationships I've seen.They don't stay at high level, however.The book drills down into DTDs, and also does an excellent job of describing the business processes and technical architecture in terms that anyone can grasp.I especially liked the way UML and use cases were introduced.

If you want a book that describes ebXML (and in a larger sense, XML) from business and technical perspectives this is the one to read.

very much an introduction
I found this book nice to read but pretty poor in terms of practical information. If you're looking for material to waffle at a VC it's all here but don't expect to sit down and start writing applications after reading it...

Excellent synthesis of business and technology issues
This book provides a nice combination of the technical underpinnings of ebXML with an explanation of the new business strategies that it makes possible.

Too many managers believe that they can conceive and implement an eBusiness strategy without understanding the underlying technologies. This hubris contributed to the recent rash of web business failures. The Kotok and Webber book does an admirable job in explaining the technical to the business mind and the business to the technical mind. And I believe that even many of the more technically inclined will benefit from the history of how ebXML came about and how it leverages but is fundamentally different from Electronic Data Interchange.

The global focus and variety of examples from both business and not-profit organizations is also a welcome widening of the normal discussion of eBusiness.

I would read this book before many of the supposedly more business savvy tomes on eBusiness.

The first book, therefore a Must-Read
Like we know it from Alan and David both are good in describing complicated technical stuff so you can comprehend it. Therefore this book is a good introduction into ebXML's concepts, and even in some eBusiness, EDI and Markup Background.

One will recognize David's previous work on XML/EDI in that book. Very good examples about (mainly) small companies which can benefit from electronical exchange of business information.

This book does not aim to help programmers to implement ebXML, but it does aim to understand management, business analysts, edi experts and programers the requirements of business.

Personally I missed a bit the practical help you could expect from a writer so deep into ebXML and EDI. So the examples of possible gains in business sound a bit constructed, and you always miss kind of proof, that especially ebXML is the tool to make the job done.

If you are a troubled EDI Expert and wonder, how to solve those every day problems you have with "missing informations", "ERP systems which do not have article data", or simple "expensive carriers", you might wonder yourself, where in the ebXML technology is the solution to those little details. There are a lot of good concepts, which eventuelly will help you (if they get explored in great detail).

In the book you will learn a lot about the joy of automatically setting up a ad-hoc busines, you will learn that you never again have trouble receiving foreign char sets and you will learn how detailed industrie organisations can describe common knowledge in UML. How easy business would be if.... But you might actually feel, that there is something missing, which is not described in this book.

So in short, it is a good book to get to know ebXML and therefore it is highly recommended. I especially recommend this book because it is one source to establish knowege inside your company, no matter if it is an programmer, business analyst, sales guy or the manager of information systems or business development.

As a small side note, dont know how you feel about the layout, but I needed to get used to it.

On the other hand this book is a GREAT jump-platform. Each chapter is closed with dozents of links and ressources as footnotes. Dont miss to ander off and actually follow those references. ... Read more

Book Description

As the industry standard method for enriching the presentation of HTML-based web pages, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) allow you to give web pages more structure and a more sophisticated look. But first, you have to get past CSS theory and resolve real-world problems.

Customer Reviews (27)

How can a 2nd edition still have so many errors?!
In the past I've had confidence in the quality of books published by O'Reilly, but this book was a huge disappointment. There are so many errors--both typos and grammatical errors--coupled with awkward writing, that I find it almost unreadable. Even the diagram for the box model on page 67 is messed up. How is it possible that this sloppiness could get published (again!) in a second edition? There may be some valuable information in the book, but with all the mistakes I don't trust it as a resource. Look for authors Eric Meyers, Jeffrey Zeldman, and Andy Clarke for better CSS books.

A helpful companion book, with a few flaws
In general, this is a helpful book if you need to research a particular design solution, but it should in no way be used exclusively to learn CSS.It's helpful to have CSS and javascript experience to fully take advantage of everything this book offers.

Unfortunately, the book contains some organizational flaws. The "General" chapter, which is meant to serve as an introduction to CSS, is a brief background to concepts and tools, but it doesn't always point out that certain selectors are not supported in every browser (child selectors and pseudo-elements are the most notable).I think it'd be helpful to state straight-up that many aspects of CSS are interpreted differently in various browsers, if supported at all, and then note which browsers support each feature as the feature is introduced to the reader.To their credit, they do include a "pitfalls/warnings" icon at the end of some sections, but it'd be helpful to know about them before you continue on to work through one of their examples, only to discover later that it doesn't work in IE6.Since most people would like to design for a cross-browser experience, they might just want to skip over certain CSS features that are not widely supported, so indicating browser support up-front would be very helpful.And I wonder how valuable it is to mention something like "text-shadow" if it is only currently supported by one browser?In addition, some important concepts are buried in the book (such as the fundamental concept of inheritance and the !important rule) - they might be better placed in the "General" chapter (introduction).

Though this book does have its flaws, I have to say that it does assemble some nice formatting tricks.I have previously scoured the Web searching for many of the techniques that are all nicely packaged in one place in the "Images" chapter, so I am sure this would be a real time-saver for many, as the leg-work is already done for you. Among some commonly sought out techniques are rounded corners, dropshadows, and the lightbox effect.The "Lists" and "Navigation" chapters are also pretty useful.The "recipes" this book includes are not only a means to accomplish a particular goal, but the solutions are creatively achieved so that you start thinking about using CSS in less out-of-the-box ways.And kudos to them for mentioning accessibility/usability in the "Typography" chapter - those concepts often fall to the wayside in comparison to glitzier topics.

CSS Seconds
The CSS Cookbook is written for those starting out with CSS and advanced users. It is not written as a tutorial in order to learn CSS but anyone with a basic grip on CSS will find the book a valuable companion. The clear explanations of many of the pitfalls we come across when writing CSS are simply stated in an easy to look up format.
Even though you may not want to read the book front to cover I think its a great experience to just pick your chapters by what interests you most and to work through a complete chapter following along and rewriting the code as indicated in order to get a good feel of what problems are solved so that if along the way you run in to a problem you find it back without mach ado. You might learn things you never knew where that simple ore useful. For those who are transitioning from table based layouts to CSS it might not be to book to get familiar with CSS because it is a technical book, a little to dry for just getting into using CSS. Once you have gone through the initial learning curve using books like Head First: HTML and CSS from O'Reilly or Eric Meyers on CSS from New Riders you will be ready to use the book as it is intended: A constant companion within reach whenever the going gets tough,
Chapter 9 on page layout for example clearly explains what took me a long time to understand when starting out trying to use floats for layout. A common problem like columns floated to the left being shorter then the second column located on the right and the resulting overflow of this right column below the left -floated column, I almost forgot that that took me hours to solve when starting out with CSS. In "CSS Cookbook" these behaviors/problems are explained almost in order of appearance as we are working to accomplice more complicated layouts using relative or absolute positioning. There are many resources out on the web but wadding through them is time consuming and being able to find your solutions in a one or two page example including code and images are a big time saver. After each problem there is almost always a "See Also" referral to either another recipe in the book or a link to a more detailed explanation online directing you not only to reliable CSS resources but also to the direct location of the particular problem at hand within these CSS online community resources.
In the same chapter on layout Christopher Schmitt takes us trough as step-by-step tutorial on Alex Robinson's influential article on creating the "any order Columns" published at postitioniseverything.com. A great exercise in understanding floats and how to be creative with code.
In chapter 4 on page elements you will find a great example on some creative ways to add java in your pages and I really appreciate the precise instructions here since that is still kind of new to me. The results are truly beautiful, and would inspire any visual designer and can even be applied to background images placed from a style sheet as you can see applied at [...] a small testing / playground of mine.

A whole chapter is dedicated to forms, another to print.
You will find a clear explanation of how to run multiple versions of i.e. and how to install them. I always new where to find them, just could not get them to work until now! I wish the same simple explanation were given on how to implement Shaun Inmans"clearing a float" in a absolute positioned design since it still is not working for me.(patience, patience...)

The books focus is on solving CSS problems so don't expect all files/example that accompany the book to be validating. I find that a bit of a draw back since the document type used is XHTML Strict in most example files. I think the book as well as the accompanying files may need someone to go through them one more time with a fine comb to correct some of the minor coding errors.
It's really not to be picking but the book is meant for those familiar with code looking to switch over to CSS and for those more advanced. Using a XTML strict Doc declaration in most documents, would it not be neater if the document where written and validated as such? Text without a paragraph surrounding it or a

inside a paragraph, missing closing tacks, make it hard for those who are starting out to find confidence when the CSS is somehow not working. Is it I, is it the book? Honestly, when I get stuck I like to know it's something I did wrong and not the book I am learning from. I did however not find any CSS errors in any of the samples I worked trough!

I never read the first edition of the CSS Cookbook but with the release of IE 7 the book has been updated.
In chapter 3 on images it is stated that at press time IE 5x and 6 do not support a fixed background image in a header to receive a particular effect. I tested inIE 7 and its now is now behaving as it should, so the book I think was released before IE `s 7 official release. Would it have been wiser to wait for this? I think there would have been a more structured outline then of what is still missing and a clearer picture of what to expect in the future working with multiple browsers and demands.

In a ocean of resources in print and online, in the midst of so many tutorials and inspirational articles written on CSS we need a book that works like a Swiss Army Knife to help us solve the problems and issues we come across when we are working on a project and don't have the time to wade trough some of the indeed fascinating and very valuable recourses we can find online. We need a direct solution...We need to know that when we do get stuck or want to push the boundaries that there is a resource that is not lost in a endless list of valuable bookmarks, however well organized, one we can access immediately. Therefore it can be a valuable reason to work through the chapters of interest so that when time is of the essence we know where to go.
Especially when working on commercial project and when we are not at liberty to suggest that, well maybe IE users will not get the full experience of some more advanced and also very popular browsers, but...

In short it is imported to know what works or not and
to have some workarounds or at least to hide from those browsers who don't support what you are doing.
Me personally, I am passionate in my belief and the reasoning behind it, to not letting a product of lesser quality hold down a development....
And especially because of this is it so important to have the tools at hand to know when to support or bypass older browsers to know what works and what not etc.

I almost want to keep the book a secret just because of the fantastic light box example in chapter 4.6. What a beauty. The book really makes you want to explore and experiment with some more java code added in to your designs. A true gem released a bit to hasty. I don't want a refund and you cannot borrow my copy!

Too many "bugs"!
There are just too many "bugs" (typos, coding errors, misplaced figures, etc.) in this book to recommend it. I could forgive the many grammatical errors (though there's really no excuse for them), but when you're supposed to be passing along coding solutions and there are this many errors in the very code you're recommending, it's just unacceptable. I spent way too much time trying to unravel the coding errors to make this book really useful.

I also agree with the reviewer who said he couldn't figure out who the book was for (e.g., beginner, advanced programmer, etc.). I think the problem lies largely in the way the book was organized (or rather, wasn't organized). They need to take this book back to the workshop, clean up the errors, re-arrange the content and then, perhaps, they will have something worthy of publishing.

Shouldn't be your prime CSS source.
There is some excellent information here. The sections on forms and the CSS calendar were helpful for me. The nested list to breadcrumb solution is lovely, but this book was written too often for best case (or browser) scenarios, not always the world as it is.

Floats are covered for CSS layout but there is no mention of some common Internet Explorer bugs that make their use tricky, including common bugs like the expanding box and guillotine bugs. Holly Hack anybody? How about the problem with setting percent font sizes in the body selector without defining them first in html. Granted IE 7 fixes most of the shortcomings of older versions of the browser but to pretend they don't exist for a measurable percentage of the browsing population is negligent.

Where CSS works as it should, the solutions are fine. Where it doesn't there is too little discussion of the real everyday lack of support in various browsers. If discrete "solutions" are given, the problems associated with each "solution" should be mentioned in the "solution:, not left to a later section that is not cross-referenced. There is a token section at the end of the book on hack support but it is superficial. Even where browser support is mention, it is usually at the end of the solution, where we see it, if at all, after wasting time working through the code. A simple, "This works in xyz browsers at the beginning of each "solution" would have been a great improvement. As they are, some "solutions" only solve problems in a minority percentage of browsers.

There are simply too many good and complete CSS books like Meyer's CSS: The Definitive Guide and CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutionsby Andy Budd, Simon Collison, and Cameron Moll that give us better real world coverage of CSS usage. For beginners there is Stylin' with CSS: A Designer's Guide by Charles Wyke-Smith. For the experienced there is the stunning new Transcending CSS by Andy Clarke and Molly Holzschlag. I ordered CSS Cookbook in a moment of book craving and am not thrilled by it.

I'm torn on sending it back. It is far from the best general reference, but does have some good content. If I wasn't experienced enough to recognize where it offers less than complete information, it could cause me head scratching with the layout solutions.

Where was Dan Cederholm for this revision? ... Read more

Book Description
More proof that good things come in small--and sometimes even inexpensive--packages: the CSS Pocket Reference has been completely revised and updated to reflect the latest Cascading Style Sheet specifications, CSS2 and CSS2.1. An indispensable reference for web designers and developers, this slim little book covers the essential information needed to effectively implement CSS, with an introduction to the key concepts of CSS and a complete alphabetical reference to the CSS2 and CSS 2.1 properties. And since browser incompatibility is the biggest CSS headache for most developers, it also includes an invaluable chart displaying detailed information about CSS support for every style element across all browsers. For anyone who wants to correctly implement CSS, this book condenses all the details in its companion volume, Cascading Style Sheets: The Definitive Guide, into one easy-to-use cheat-sheet. The CSS Pocket Reference delivers just the CSS details that you need to complete the task at hand. When you're stuck and want an answer quickly, the tiny CSS Pocket Reference is the book you'll want by your keyboard or in your back pocket. (Yes, it really does fit in a back pocket, but it's too useful to stay there long.)Download Description
CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the W3C-approved method for enriching the visual presentation of web pages. CSS allows web pages to become more structural, and at the same time promises that they can have a more sophisticated look than ever before. With good implementations in Internet Explorer 5.0 and Opera 3.6, and 100% CSS1 support expected in Netscapes's Mozilla browser, signs are that CSS is rapidly becoming a useful, reliable, and powerful tool for web authors.

The CSS Pocket Referencebriefly introduces CSS and then lists all CSS1 properties, plus the CSS1 pseudo-elements and pseudo-classes. Since browser incompatibility is the biggest obstacle to CSS adoption, we've also included a comprehensive guide to how the browsers have implemented support for CSS1. For anyone who wants to correctly implement CSS, this is a handy condensed reference to all the details in the larger volume, Cascading Style Sheets: The Definitive Guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Such a great reference.
I used this book as a reference to take a certification exam without ever touching CSS and scored in the 96th percentile... enough said.

Indispensable Reference
Large books, by their very nature, can have good points and bad points. After all, if you have a couple or several hundred pages worth of material, you are bound to get some things right and some things wrong.
But these pocket reference books from O'Reilly are great. They aren't for learning, rather they are what they say they are: a pocket reference. (Nice to see some truth in advertising for a change.)
If you buy this book you will use it. A lot. Period.

Exactly what it is supposed to be ..
Great little reference book.It is not intended to be a learning tool.If you want that, try the Head First book on HTML/XHTML/CSS that O'Reilly also publishes.

It's a super little time-saver, and also makes for a quick read when designing a new page or project, to see if something you haven't used previously could benefit your work.

Works like expected.
I've used this pocket reference for a long time now and I love it. It's a great way to refresh your memory when you can't seem to remember a property and/or its value.

Although I must say that I refer to it much less now than I did when I first got it. Mostly because I know most of the properties and values by heart at this point and so I can use IDEs "IntelliSense" features.

Consequently, I must add that this is not a teaching aid. You will not learn how to style with CSS from this book! There are much better books on the topic! (For example: "Eric Meyer on CSS: Mastering the Language of Web Design")

Fits in your pocket - 2nd Edition
This small, handy book is packed with CSS references perfect for grabbing and flipping through when looking for that one piece of code to add to your site. It is not a book about learning CSS. This reference book is a alphabetical listing of CSS selectors and properties. As I was learning CSS I found this book very helpful in locating quickly the code I was looking for. ... Read more

Book Description
If Movable Type can do it, you can do it too

By its very nature, the Web encourages change at a frenetic pace. Movable Type helps you manage that pace, and this is your indispensable guide to installing and using the most popular server-based personal publishing tool. From exploring Movable Type's template-driven publishing system to developing your own plug-ins, here's what you need to know to create and maintain sites as adaptable as the Web itself.

Inside, you'll find what you need to know about Movable Type

• Prepare your Web server and install Movable Type
• Set up and configure a weblog, using archives and categories to create a more sophisticated site
• Add visual elements with photos and graphics
• Design a weblog with templates and use template tags
• Establish communication among sites using trackback pings
• Add search capabilities and import content from other blogs
• Develop Perl-based plug-ins to enhance Movable Type
• Configure Movable Type to receive and manage comments from site visitors
• See what's new in Movable Type 3.1 in a bonus Movable Type 3.1 appendix

Customer Reviews (3)

Useful but becoming outdated
This book is great for experienced and curious users. It's quite technical for lay users and the way information is presented isn't terribly user-oriented.

But the biggest problem is that Six Apart has updated Movable Type in ways that make this book obsolete in some aspects and that make it necessary to translate concepts in others. At this point, it's probably not worth the trouble to buy the book, and also probably not worth the trouble to write this kind of book when updates are so extensive and frequent.

This book is difficult
Unless you already have solid experience writing software, you will find this book overwhelming.But it is better than the program documentation. There are few other choices.It looks like it was rushed to press and many of the examples don't quite work on my provider's server configuration, e.g., I don't have access to the unix command line so isn't always easy to envision the file structures. (If you didn't understand the last line, you might consider paying the folks at Movable Type to build your blog.)

But in all fairness, this is a difficult subject to explain.Since personal blogging is so new on the scene, it seems like the blog jargon is still a little fuzzy.Liberal use of Google helps.Since many of the concepts in blogging software are new to me, I would have appreciated a clearer explaination in the introduction, perhaps with some graphic illustrations.Some of the topics here, "Publishing with Movable Type" for example, are filled with examples and terminology that belong in a later section of the book.It would suffice to just give the reader a broader overview of how the software works.

In-depth and practical
Anyone who uses Movable Type on a regular basis needed the book. It covers all of the basics around installation, setting up blogs and writing entries. But then it goes into more advanced topics like alternating the template and adding plugins. And even more advanced topics like RSS, Atom, and writing your own plugins. This is thorough book that is well written and will cover everything you need to know to blog with Movable Type. ... Read more

Book Description
This 160 page workbook--published in a convenient spiral-bound format--is a detailed tutorial that teaches you how to create Web pages using the HyperText Markup Language, more commonly known as HTML. This versatile course, intended for both self-paced environments and instructor-led classrooms, is designed for those with little or no knowledge of HTML. "HTML Fundamentals" is popular with all types of users, both new and experienced, because it is written in plain English, rather than confusing technobabble. The straightforward style and convenient reference appendices make this one of Quessing's most popular courses.

"HTML Fundamentals" employs useful aids to make learning about HTML enjoyable and easy. At the conclusion of each lesson is a detailed summary and a challenging quiz. An extensive glossary and detailed index close out the course. Appendices listing useful Web sites and other beneficial pieces of information are also provided, allowing the workbook to serve as a valuable reference long after you have completed the course. This comprehensive Internet course combines readable text with detailed, intuitive schematics that illustrate complex Internet mechanisms and processes. High-resolution graphics of actual Web sites guide you through lecture text and dozens of hands-on exercises. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Hard core programmers would say that HTML is for dummies. Evenso, for those of us who want to build and maintain our own Web sites, but cringeat the sight of anything resembling a programming language, HTML 4 forDummies is the hand-holding guide to help us through those processes.

Because many HTML editors do all the site-building work for you, it's strangethe authors chose to wait until appendix C in the back of the book to explainwhy you must know HTML. Still, their reasons for learning HTML are sound, andthe advice they dispense is solid.

Beyond going through the ins and outs of HTML tags, the book does a fine job ofexplaining what design elements work and how to avoid common mistakes. Thesection on XHTML ensures that budding site builders have all the latest tools attheir disposal.

Whether your goal is to build a simple, text-oriented Web site or one loadedwith frames, graphics, and animation, HTML 4 for Dummies will put you onthe right track. --John Frederick MooreBook Description
Simply put, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the magic Web authors use to create readable, attractive pages for all the world to see. At first glance, building Web pages may seem to require years of arduous training, advanced aesthetic capabilities, and hours of exhausting trial-and-error exercises. But if you can tell somebody how to drive across town to your house, you can certainly build a Web document that performs to your expectations.

HTML 4 For Dummies, 4th Edition, shows the full range of design and technical elements you need to build good-looking, useful Web pages, and gives you the know-how and confidence to do it! This remarkable markup reference gets down to the basics about

• Coming up with a document structure
• Working with blocks of text
• Laying out lists of several kinds
• Linking to online resources
• Adding images to your page
• Setting colors and backgrounds

Loaded with examples, illustrations, and step-by-step instructions, HTML 4 For Dummies, 4th Edition, can get you going or growing with your Web page-building know-how. Whether your online presence serves as a personal hobby, a greeting to the world, or a managed, professional resource on the job, this up-to-date resource is the one to rely on for all your Web adventures.Download Description
"* Now features a full-color, six-panel tear-out Cheat Sheet that's packed with information-an HTML command and syntax reference, a chart of Web-safe colors, and an alphabetical listing of CSS elements
* Despite new Web-authoring technologies, HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) remains the one fundamental building block of the Web
* Updates to this classic guide include a totally revamped description of XHTML syntax, expanded CSS coverage, and a new section on building navigation elements
* Includes an all-new section of example projects-creating an eBay auction page, designing an online product catalog, and adding multimedia elements to an existing site" ... Read more

Customer Reviews (69)

A baby steps book
This is not a book for jumping into WEB development. It claims to be but itreally is not.

It's a good intro book for HTML for the absolute beginner. But, I must mention you have to be a reader versus an examples person. There is a great deal of discussion and only so much code examples.However, it did answer a couple questions.

I found this book good for getting to know what is out there. The book offers useful links to sites for getting more information. This saved time and it offers a "warm fuzzy" since it is suggested versus wandering around the Net.

The book also suggests some tools to use which again saved a little time.

I don't know if I would call this a good reference book.For example, it lightly touches CSS, XHTML and CGI and the design suggestions?Well you probably could get a design book to handle that better as I think they are rather basic in this book.

If you can get it from the library or get it used, it might be worth a look.

If you understand basic HTML, you might avoid it.

Just another Dummy!
As a novice or someone thinking about working with HTML, I think this book was over my head. If one had some background in HTML they could probably make full/better use of its content. Pork Chops and Applesauce: A Collection of Recipes and Reflections

and I always thought dummies books were for complete beginners...
Caveat emptor to the absolute beginner. This book is not written for the beginning web page creator. It is not written in a tutorial style. It is good as a reference source as you study a true tutorial type book. It discusses tags and their attributes one at a time without showing you how they fit into your web page code. The beginning chapters throw lots of advanced features at you and tell you they will be discussed in chapter 19 etc.
I was completely overwhelmed after 20 min of reading. So what's a beginner to do? I recommend Create Your First Web Page in a Weekend. By the time you get half way through that book then you can use this dummies book as a reference.
william

HTML 4 for Dummies
I found this item to be informative, easy to follow and well worth the price that I paid for it. The book arrived when I expected it.
I would recommend this book, as a starting point, to anyone who is interested in learning HTML.

Excellent book for a purest
I am a big fan of the "For Dummies" series and this book is no exception.The information in this book is best for someone who wants to create a web page literally from scratch and understand the basic tenants behind html.Those interested in creating a professional looking web page quickly should skip this book and refer to "Creating Web Pages for Dummies" which helps navigate the plethora of tools available for web page designers.

This book serves as an exceptional guide and as a reference. ... Read more

Book Description

The Web doesn't stand still, and neither does this guide: Completely updated to cover the new browsers, standards, and CSS, DHTML, and Ajax features that define the Web today, the one thing that hasn't changed in this edition is its task-based visual approach to the topic. In these pages, readers will find friendly, step-by-step instructions for using CSS, DHTML, and Ajax to add visually sophisticated, interactive elements to their Web sites. Using loads of tips and screen shots, veteran author Jason Cranford Teague covers a lot of ground--from basic and advanced dynamic techniques (for example, making objects appear and disappear) to creating effects for newer browsers, migrating from tables to CSS, and creating new DHTML scripts with embedded scroll areas, fixed menu bars, and more. Users new to CSS, DHTML, and Ajax will find this a quick, easy introduction to scripting, while more experienced programmers will be pleased to find practical, working examples throughout the book.

Customer Reviews (6)

Great Book!
This is a great book for learning CSS, DHTML & AJAX.I needed something quick to pick up this language and the book worked perfect.

A Great Book
A great book for beginners as well as a good reference tool for programmers as well.I bought this book for my 14 year old son who used it to teach himself. He said it was well laid out and has used it quite often.

Good idea, bad execution
I looked through this book at a bookstore before buying and I was impressed with the idea of working through with visual examples about what could be done with different manipulations of code (something that is hard to quickly get on the web with many many clicks).

In using this guide, I have though become frequently exasperated by the execution because of confusing examples, what I believe to be mistakes in the code examples in the text, etc...

Comprehensive guide for Server side developers
I was looking for a book to get better acquainted with CSS and Ajax.I picked up "Visual Quick start Guide.CSS, DHTML & Ajax." From Peachpit Press.The book is a quick read and it efficiently provides a quick start guide as promised.I particularly liked the example based introductions for all topics covered.Also, I enjoyed the brief introduction the book provides on Web 2.0 and the way the authors define it.
After going through it once you will probably keep it as a quick reference guide, although it is never too hard to find information on web technologies on the web.Overall I could recommend the book if you are not a client side developer and are in need of a brief and comprehensive look at CSS and DHTML.I cannot imagine client side developers being too impressed with the book though.

A good interrelated reference
The book does a good job of relating CSS to DHTML and AJAX.The examples are clear and, although simple, clearly demonstrate the interaffects of the 3 web design elements.I had to subtract a star for the inconsistencies between the book code and the downloadable code.They were serious enough to make book code fail.But, if you already understand CSS, are well-acquainted with HTML and can at least read Javascript, then this book will help you leap to DHTML and AJAX. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Cascading Style Sheets can put a great deal of control and flexibility into the hands of a Web designer--in theory.In reality, however, varying browser support for CSS1 and lack of CSS2 implementation makes CSS a very tricky topic.Cascading Style Sheets: The Definitive Guide is a comprehensive text that shows how to take advantage of the benefits of CSS while keeping compatibility issues in mind.

The book is very upfront about the spotty early browser support for CSS1 and the sluggish adoption of CSS2. However, enthusiasm for the technology spills out of the pages, making a strong case for even the most skeptical reader to give CSS a whirl and count on its future. The text covers CSS1 in impressive depth--not only the syntactical conventions but also more general concepts such as specificity and inheritance.Frequent warnings and tips alert the reader to browser-compatibility pitfalls.

Entire chapters are devoted to topics like units and values, visual formatting and positioning, and the usual text, fonts, and colors.This attention to both detail and architecture helps readers build a well-rounded knowledge of CSS and equips readers for a future of real-world debugging.Cascading Style Sheets honestly explains the reasons for avoiding an in-depth discussion of the still immature CSS2, but covers the general changes over CSS1 in a brief chapter near the end of the book.

When successfully implemented, Cascading Style Sheets result in much more elegant HTML that separates form from function.This fine guide delivers on its promise as an indispensable tool for CSS coders.--Stephen W. Plain

Topics covered:

• HTML with CSS
• Selectors and structure
• Units
• Text manipulation
• Colors and backgrounds
• Boxes and borders
• Visual formatting principles
• Positioning
• CSS2 preview
• CSS case studies

The author has extensive experience writing about pitfalls and interesting tricks in CSS. He is a member of the CSS&FP Working Group, coordinates the W3C's CSS1 Test Suite, remains active on CSS newsgroups, and edits Web Review's Style Sheets Reference Guide. He has built a widespread reputation as a CSS expert, particularly with regard to his understanding of the intricacies of browser support for CSS. He brings his knowledge and expertise to this book in the form of hints, workarounds, and many other tips for web authors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (91)

More than one edition of this book
Note that there are at least 3 editions of this book. Check for the latest edition if you want the latest.

A reference book, not a how-to
This book is not an explanation or tutorial of how to make beautiful pages with CSS. I think the people who give it below 3 stars may have been looking for that, and instead they should try CSS Mastery: Advanced Web Standards Solutions. This book IS, however, a complete reference to all CSS properties and values, and also contains some valuable tips on browser behavior and bugs. If I'm coding along and forget what all the possible values are for list-style-type, this is the book I reach for.

from Eric Myer (the man!) comes a must-have for anyone using CSS
This is the 'go-to' reference for me.The truly ultimate guide to CSS from one of the construct's primary innovators and authors.Mr. Meyer is the most knowledgeable person in the field of CSS, browser compatibility and all around HTML design.

was a great book a couple of years ago
Probably a bit out of date at this point. For me, this book wasn't that useful, since I generally refer to the W3C site for information about CSS. But it's a nice desk reference, and a standard tool for almost all CSS developers. There's probably a new version out by now to address all the developments that have happened in the past couple of years, I would look for that (or wait until one comes out, it won't be long).

Good, thorough step-by-step guide
I had done some work with style sheets, but was confused bythe terms and had no idea what they can do. This book completely changed what I can do when I design web sites. It'sa real eye-opener and a great reference. ... Read more

Book Description

Learn from the newest, updated edition of the highly acclaimed introduction to HTML, Sams Teach Yourself HTML and CSS In 24 Hours. The seventh edition includes updates to introduce Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) in concert with HTML to produce quality web pages. You'll be able to study revisions that refine examples, as well as provide an enhanced integration with your web pages. You'll also gain a comprehensive understanding with new examples that match the current state of HTML.

This carefully organized, well-written tutorial teaches beginning web page development skills, covering only those HTML and CSS tags that are likely to be used on creating a beginning web page. The 24 separate, one hour-long tutorials follow the process by which you should be creating your web page, building knowledge not only of how to create a web page, but building a general knowledge of how to use HTML and CSS in other projects as well.

Chapters include:

• Understanding HTML and XHTML
• Creating Your Own Web Page Graphics
• Using Tables to Organize and Lay Out Your Pages
• Using Style Sheets for Page Layout
• Dynamic Web Pages

Customer Reviews (9)

HTML from SAM's helped a lot
As usual, I needed some additional infomation and I turned to Sams Teach Yourself books for the assistance I needed. Thank you for a good intro for HTML and CSS. It was just what I needed at just the right time. Thanks again.

Really enjoyed this book.
I really enjoyed this book, and would definitely recommend it to anyone I know who wants to learn (X)HTML, and basic CSS, I read this in a few weeks, did most of the examples, and found myself feeling sad when the book ended.I wish all technical books were written like this, I would definitely buy other books by Michael Morrison or Dick Oliver again.

I thought it would be so much harder to learn HTML, but with this book, it was relatively painless.This book, and the knowledge it has helped me to attain, has left me interested in learning more about XHTML, CSS, and possibly some programming.
This book is definitely for beginners, I don't know how useful it would be for someone with a knowledge of XHTML, and I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't be useful to someone who already knows some CSS, since it really just touches on style sheets.But, as I said, it is a perfect book for beginners.

After a week I am amazed!
Sams Teach Yourself HTML and CSS in 24 Hours has not only refreshed me on the ins and outs of XHTML but also given me a great introduction to CSS and how it works and is put to good use.

If you are looking to start making web pages with HTML and CSS this is definitly the first place you should look. The book dips first into the basics of XTHML (and HTML -- basically the same thing.)Later, it moves to Cascading Style Sheets and really educates you on how they can be used effectively and efficiently, without overdoing it super quick.

If you are new to web design, this book is for you.

Buy this book!!!!!

This book improved my skill level, are you ready to improve yours?
As an IT professional that has built and maintained personal web sites for several years, I decided I needed to better understand what I was doing.I have used Front page for years to build the basic structure of my web pages, then venturing into the HTML to modify and add functionality.I never have taken a class or read any other books on HTML, if I got stuck, I would do a search and find a solution. Before purchasing this book I would not say I was a beginner, but I also knew my skill level was not that of an expert.

Authors of how to books must decided who they are writing for.In this case the authors chose to write to beginners, a category I don't personally fit neatly into.Each chapter is about twenty pages long and includes Q&A, quiz, and exercise sections.Each hour is intended to take an hour to read and complete the quizzes and exercises.However since I am not a beginner I find many sections require much less time.I don't feed the need to practice inserting an image onto a page when I already can accomplish the task.

But if I can already do the task, why read the hour?Well for starters, I'm not skillful enough to assume I know anything beyond the basics.Not only that, this book is teaching XHTML when and where it can.I may know how to insert an image, but making the code XHTML compliant is not something I was previously aware of.Not only can I add an image, but now I can easily explain the whys and hows to others if they should ask.

As I progressed through the hours, the subjects got more complex.Even so the chapters where presented and the subjects explained in an easy to understand manner.Each progressive hour builds on the previous ones, however if I wanted to, I could skip ahead to a different chapter and still be able to understand the lesson.

If you are a total beginner to HTML and CSS, this is the book to get.If you are not quite a beginner like I was, this book will take you to the next level.If you are an expert looking to brush up on your skills, look elsewhere.An expert may learn a thing or two from this book, but it is clearly not written for experts.As for me, I have no doubt this book has helped be become a better web master.

PROS:
Very well written and structured in a way that promotes learning
In-depth discussions of CSS
Thorough list of subject matter
Worth every cent I paid and then some
Improved my skill level

CONS:
I didn't get this book sooner

Great learning tool
This book will get you up and running in, (as it boasts), 24 hours. Well worth it. ... Read more

Book Description
Practical HTML 4 is a straight forward, no-nonsense approach to creating web pages using HTML. Using practical advice and techniques that are used in the real world, this book helps you create web pages quickly and with minimum fuss. Task-oriented, easy-to-navigate tutorials begin on the basics of creating web pages, then move on to more complex tasks. You will learn to add images and multimedia, then control the presentation of your site using Cascading Style Sheets, Tables, and Frames. From there you'll move into more advanced topics, starting with Interactivity and Dynamic HTML. The book then shows how to market your site and how to get the most out of your efforts and design. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Poorly tested and formatted
I'm not sure why other people are giving this book such a high mark because my experience with this book is that it's written in haste without much check to the codes that are featured in this book. I would say that in many case using the example off the book would not yield the effect that is shown in the figures. For instance on page 272, the source has a typo where its supposed to say IMG src=" is written as IMGsrc=". With the example of this page the logo image will appear with borders ( an effect you don't want with your company logo ) but the figure in the book shows logo with no borders. I also find the format of presentation to be sketchy and not to be clear about what code produced what effects. The author presents a block of code and boom, this is how the page looks is the way things are explained (?). This is unhelpful especially if the code contains bugs. Readers who have minimal exposure to HTML will no doubt find the gap bewildering. The book also lacks scenario for gradually building up for practical application of each tags. (...)

They probably can lead you in a more concise step by step introduction to each tags and publishing on the web. If you're looking for a list of HTML 4 tag reference, you probably can find a better book than this.

Practical HTML 4 is a good book to learn HTML
This book is well layed out and has interesting examples that anyone who has never used HTML can follow. I would recomend it as an HTML text or reference book.

The more advanced sections of the book are an ok overview of concepts. Unfortunately, I found that there were a lot of type-o's and some of the javascript examples simply don't work with out being fixed. If the reader has never seen C++ or Java before I don't know how they will figure out what needs fixing.

Practical and Efficient
The layout and straightforward presentation of Practical HTML 4 allows the reader to efficiently absorb information very smoothly and quickly.It is a joy to read and cleanly organized with a nice amount of white space tojot down notes, etc.The dissected PARTS into smaller topics areespecially helpful.A reader may skip an entire portion without loosingnecessary information to move forward through the book.This book claimsto be for beginners.This is true but it will also be useful as areference book for those more experienced.You do not have to lookfurther.Enjoy!

Practical and Efficient
The layout and straightforward presentation of Practical HTML 4 allows the reader to efficiently absorb information very smoothly and quickly.It is a joy to read and cleanly organized with a nice amount of white space tojot down notes, etc.The dissected PARTS into smaller topics areespecially helpful.A reader may skip an entire portion without loosingnecessary information to move forward through the book.This book claimsto be for beginners.This is true but it will also be useful as areference book for those more experienced.You do not have to lookfurther.Enjoy!

Good Starting Point for Beginners
I recently bought this book because I'm very interested in making my own web pages and didn't know anything at all about HTML.Right from the introduction, I felt comfortable with my decision to buy the book.It wasdefinitely made with the beginner in mind and it even says so.With closeto 700 pages you'd think you were taking on a task that was next toastronomical but I assure you, you'll have fun learning with this book andvalue it's information. ... Read more

Book Description
The Knowledge, Skills, and Advice You Need to Build Effective Web Pages

Mastering HTML 4, Second Edition, is the perfect resource for Web developers and everyone else in need of complete, authoritative information on the latest version of HTML. Covering everything from basic tags to proprietary extensions and powerful scripting techniques, this book teaches you step by step how to build Web pages that look and behave the way you want. You'll also learn strategies for planning and developing sites that attract visitors and meet their needs-the true measure of your success.

Become a Master:
* Create basic and impressive HTML documents
* Link documents to the Web
* Use Cascading Style Sheets for a consistent look
* Use forms to enable user interaction
* Add visual impact with images
* Add structure with tables
* Create frames for improved usability
* Add pizzazz to your site with JavaScript
* Use sound, animation, and video
* Build a functional, easy-to-navigate Web site ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Well-Used Book For This Professional Web Designer
This book is fiercely awesome.

While the first half of the book teaches you all about proper HTML authoring, the back half of the book is a giant, yet easy to read reference of nearly all HTML tags, most of CSS2 style elements, and the most commonly used Javascript.

As a professional webmaster, most HTML books I've read have no re-readability value; you read them once and then they collect dust. This book, however, is a very different animal with it's excellent and extensive reference manual in the back. I've owned this book for almost 5 years, and all the pages are falling out of it and the edges of the pages are well-worn and dirty from the extensive usage of thumbing through pages and from using it as a makeshift pillow during those long nights at the office.

The rumors are true.

One drawback is that this book is swinging towards way past out-of-date -- I would strongly reccommend "Mastering HTML and XHTML" here on Amazon.com as that book is 3 years more up to date and written by the same authors.

excellent reference book for web designers
I found this book on the New Horizons Computer Learning Center website. I liked it so much I decided to buy it. Why? Because it offered more than just HTML. Not only did it provide all the information one needs to write a webpage, but also Cascading Style Sheets and Javascript.As more and more basic code becomes deprecated CSS is becoming the favored mode for writing HTML. Finding A comprehensive list of special codes also sold me on getting this guide.

average book for beginners
I bought this book in a hope that it will be similar to the Mastering java script book full of Javascript examples and code and tutorial. It had some tutorials but not enough examples. The book is basically in 4 sections 1:html tutorial, 2: CSS, 3: Javascript and 4: Html tags. the author quicklylost focus from HTML to CSS and Javascript. I would like the book but if Iwas a complete beginner, but it was not Mastering HTML. I hope it had moreexamples. A better book would be HTML source code or cook book I don'tremember. This book went back to the book shelf very quickly. ... Read more

Book Description
HTML and XML for Beginners provides Web coding beginners with a concise guide to the world of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), and previews even more powerful alternatives such as Extensible Markup Language (XML). Rich in examples,the book walks the Web beginner through basic HTML techniques such as creating and publishing Web pages, formatting text, adding graphics, and creating hyperlinks. It shows how to use tables to organize content, forms to gather input from site visitors, image maps to support point-and-click navigation, and styles, properties, and multimedia to add visual and sonic interest. It clearly demonstrates how to spice up Web pages with interactive elements by using Dynamic HTML (DHTML). The book ends with an extensive discussion of the most important new language on the Web, XML, and its relevance for data exchange. The book also explores XML variants such as Vector Markup Language (VML), the standard for creating, storing, and exchanging vector drawings on the Internet, and XHTMLthe merger of XML and HTML. All in all, this title provides the fastest way to get started coding a Web page. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Great Service
Excellent Service. Ordered this product internationally, and within the specified time as specified according to my shipment plan, was with me.

NOT A CONCISE GUIDE
This book is NOT a concise guide as the editorial review says. It is cluttered up with wordy, conversational talk unrelated to learning html/xml. The author tells about him, his family, his friends, skateboarding, christmas toys, FOX news, and everything else under the sun, cluttering up the actual learning of html/xml. And he continually clutters up the text with phrases such as; as you can see, earlier I mentioned, as you know, as previously mentioned, earlier in the chapter you learned, etc.

If I had known this was written in a redundant, wordy style, I would not have wasted my money on it. This is the style the online computer course in XML I'm taking is written in. I'm failing it and bought this book hoping it was "concise" and to the point without profuse clutter in the text.

Impressive!
I was asked if I would be willing to teach web design as an advanced course offering for high school students. I'm not new to HTML, but I have been using a WISIWYG app to manage website for years. With this course, I felt it was important to start at the beginning in order for the students to have the solid foundation of web design and it' code, and then move into the current apps. I also fekt I needed a quick refresher. Thus I was looking for a book that would clearly explain the fundamentals of HTML and be simplistic enough for high school students. After seaching I came across this one.
This book clearly explains the basic HTML and much more. After reviewing the book, I felt confident that this book would meet my students and my needs.

MSorientation
One of those "should have known"

This is from Microsoft Press and when possible it speaks from a Microsoft perspective; not necessarily selling but certainly letting you know when Explore does this or Front Page does that.

It also spends too much ink on analogies and could have packed more technical content in all those pages.

Very Cool
Well, As A guy who has his own web page, I find that it is very important to have a neat looking website, in order to aquire an audience.However, getting a website to look excelent, requires hard work.So, After Checking This Book Out At the Borders Store, I thought this book might be a nessecity for my webpage.Basically, HTML is the origin of all web designs, and anything computer related.This Book Has NEVER let me down, and has become my new best friend!At First, I had to re-read a lot of things in order to get everything straight, but now its a lot easier!I think you should get this book, because believe it or not, It WILL pay off in the long run!Your shooting yourself in the foot if you DONT get it !!!So, what are you waiting for?Get This Book! ... Read more