What is this "HTML" that I keep hearing about?

So, you have found the perfect template for you, but you have no idea how to get it to work with your auctions. Well, you need to customize the HTML.

• Q: HTML? What is it and most importantly how do I get it?



• A: HTML = "Hypertext Markup Language" Doesn't mean anything to you? (Me neither) The good news is that it doesn't matter, the better news is that you already have it! Click you right mouse button (right-click) HERE. See that pop-up menu? Play with it for a minute, right-click over images, over links, over image links, over text....Done? Did you notice all the different options you have? Ok, right-click over some text. One option on that pop-up menu is "view source", click on that option.

????? See a lot of German? French? Japanese? What is that stuff anyway? Ok, that is your HTML! That is the stuff that tells your web browser what to show. That is what we are going to learn how to open, change, and save.

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Is there a certain program I have to use to change my template?

No, there is not "a" certain program that you have to work with. There are many to choose from. In the Getting Started tutorial you used notepad.

Some HTML Editing Options Include:

• Text Editors (Notepad)
• HTML Editors (HTML Kit<--This is what I am using right now.)
• Web Authoring Tools (Microsoft Frontpage)

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We can work in Notepad, (remember when you clicked "view source"? That was notepad), or in an HTML editor (I don't use Web Authoring Tools, so I won't be going over those in this tutorial). In the beginning there is very little difference. There are only three four main differences.

1. It is easier to preview your work in an HTML editor.
2. It is easier to see what you need to change in an HTML editor.
3. You have to download an HTML editor, and because it has more options, they take longer to set-up.
4. A text editor came with your computer and HTML Editors can cost anywhere from nothing to hundreds of dollars.

Even though I prefer to work in an HTML editor. I end up working in notepad quite a bit. So, I do recommend that you learn the notepad way but I have my templates set up so that they are visually easier to work with an HTML editor. The rest of this tutorial is written using HTML Kit as the example editor. If you don't want to deal with the download, or the set-up time, please go through the Getting Started Tutorial so you know what I am taking about.
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Getting a work space ready.

1. First download an HTML editor



• Go to HTML Kit



• In the "How did you hear about HTML Kit" box type "DeSaCS.com".



• Click "Download HTML Kit"



• Click "Save"



• Remember where you save the file to ~ like "My Documents"



• A dialog box will open when the download is complete ~ Click "Open"






2. Install the HTML editor



• When you click "open" a dialog box will open. Follow the on screen instructions until "HTML Kit" is installed.

(You may have to reboot your computer after this step, so remember to book mark this page)


• Once installed, open HTML Kit, by clicking on the "HTML Kit" icon.
  
  (It may be on your desktop, or in "Start", "Programs", "HTML Kit", "HTML Kit")






3. Create your workspace



• When you open HTML Kit for the first time, you will see a dialog box, with a few options. The default set-up worked for me, so I just closed the box (or clicked ok, I forget the exact wording)



• Now that HTML Kit is installed, highlight the comment tags.


1. Click "View"




2. Click "Colorizer View"




3. Click "Customize Colorizer View"




4. In the Dialog Box, Click "HTML Comments"




5. Click "Background"




6. Click on a light yellow box




7. Click "OK"

You now have an HTML editor!

There are so many things you can do with this program. Every time I site down and work in it, I find something new. You can get it to read to you, you can change all of the colors, it will automatically fill in tags for you... and more. For now we will stick with the basics, but if you are ever bored, exploring this program would be a great time killer. :-)
Great job! On we go...