There are many ways of constructing html code.  As Allen points out, you
can simply use a text editor --- but text editors don't check html code
syntax, so pages often don't work.
 
Okay, so here is a brief lesson in HTML and then a discussion of editors:
 
HTML (hypertext markup language) is a rather clunky set of codes used to
construct WWW pages.  Houwever, the language is intuitive.
 
HTML uses command codes called tags.  For example, the letter B is the
bold tag, the letter I is the italic tag, the letter P is the paragraph
tag.  Really long commands use words like LEFT, RIGHT, CENTER, TITLE, etc.
 
Command codes are placed inside the less than and greater than brackets
<>.  For example, <B> starts bold, </B> stops bold.  Again, <P> marks the
start of a paragraph, </P> ends a paragraph.  HTML does not recognize
standard line returns, so hitting the enter or return key while composing
your text has no effect on the final page format.
 
Pictures are added by using the <IMG SRC> (image source) tag.  You simply
name the file containing the picture (which you can scan in, construct in
a paint-brush program, grab from another page, get from a digital camera,
or have your favorite photo-shop produce in a digital format.
 
Let us say you have a nice bee picture.  You either drew it in a
paintbrush program or you scanned it. Regardless of the origin of the
original picture, you must convert it to either a .gif or a .jpg file.
Most of the newer paintbrush, photoshop, and other graphics packages can
do this little trick.  If yours doesn't, you can get a conversion utility
from the web.
 
If you name your picture file bee.gif, then the html tag that finds and
places your picture on your web page will be:
 
<IMG SRC="bee.gif">     Just put this bit of text where you want the
picture.
 
One problem, it will end up on the left side of your page.  So, add a bit
more code
 
<IMG SRC="bee.gif" ALIGN=RIGHT ALIGN=MIDDLE>  Your picture will end up on
the right side of your WWW page, centered on the next paragraph.
 
 
So, how does one get those blue words or pictures that link to another
file on your web page or take you to another web site (which may be on the
other side of the globe)?  Easy - works just like adding a picture.  The
command is A HREF, which stands for Attach or Link to Referenced
location.  If the link is to a file on your server, the address can be as
simple as the name of a .htm (html on unix machines) file.  No fancy
conversions here, just add the .htm to the end of the name of your text
file.  For a site on another server, just add the entire address (as it
would appear on your bookmark).
 
 
Ok, let's say you wanted to link to a file that you placed on your
server's unix box (computer),the file contains information about
beekeeping  and  you want to use your bee picture as the clickable link.
Let's name your bee information file bee.html.
 
Therefore,
 
<A HREF="bee.html"><IMG SRC="bee.gif"></A>  would put a bee picture on
your web page.  Assuming you haven't changed any of the default settings
for HTML colors, a blue box will appear around the bee.  Click on the bee
and you would go to you bee information page.  A simple change <A
HREF="bee.html"><IMG SRC="bee.gif">Bee Information</A> would add the words
Bee Information to your link.  Adding alignment commands will place the
bee on the right, left, or center of the page.
 
Similarly, if you want to link to another web page via your picture, you
might use something like:
 
<A HREF="http://grizzly.umt.edu/biology/bees><IMG SRC="bee.gif">Bee Alert
Home Page</A> to connect to my research page and kids corner.
 
Notice that the only difference in the tag is the use of the complete URL
address.
 
 
Editors:
 
Anyone who ever used the older word processors like the first versions of
Word Star (remember the two key-stroke commands) or Word Perfect (F keys)
will find HTML easy.
 
Ok, as to editors for HTML - why get one?  Mainly so you can easily
preview your pages to see what they look like and if they work.
 
Also, don't compose your entire page and then see if it works.  Odds are,
it won't and you will have a difficult time debugging the code.  Write a
few lines and preview your page.
 
Don't worry if you don't have ready access to a server.  I build web pages
on airplanes using my notebook computer.  View it on your PC or Mac, the
only things that won't work are links to other web pages.
 
What to use?  As a University employee, I can't recommend a specific
product.  I can tell you that you don't have to spend lots of money -
although some firms would love to sell you high priced editors.  As Allen
commented, the major word processors now have add-on HTML editors.
 
Stand-alone HTML editors may work a bit better for checking that your
coding syntax is correct.  These don't have to be expensive.
Commercial programs like Hot Dog work just fine and won't break your piggy
bank
 
For a novice, I'd skip frames, Java scripts, etc.  All of these require
more extensive coding - and quite frankly, most load slowly and won't run
on lots of the older browsers and machines.  Stick to standard HTML -
things will work much better.  A simple, clean, attractive, and fast
loading page will get more visits than one with lots of features that
takes forewer to download and may not work properly.
 
One final thought.  Keep your files small and watch the size of your image
files.  A 60k file takes a minute to download on a 14.4 modem.  Depending
on the size, resolution, and number of colors, the same picture can range
from a few k to Mbs in size.
 
Cheers
 
Jerry Bromenshenk
The University of Montana
 
 
P.S.  I am in the process of improving our pages - smaller files, etc.