Simon Says HTML!
By Beth Candy
(July 30, 2000)
Q: What is HTML?
A: HTML is the command language that every single web site is built with. HTML reminds me of the children's game, "Simon Says!" In this game, the leader stands in front and shouts commands. The rest of the players will obey only the commands that start with "Simon Says..." For example, the leader will shout "Simon says... clap your hands!" and everyone claps their hands. Then the leader will shout "Stop!" Whoever stops is eliminated from the game because the leader didn't say "Simon Says stop!"
HTML is like a "Simon Says" game. The text won't underline until you correctly command it to underline. You can shout at it what you want it to do, but unless you give the proper command, it will not obey. When you give the HTML command to underline, the command will continue until you command it to stop.
HTML says stop underlining: </u>
Now, the only way you can get your friends to clap their hands when you say "Simon Says clap your hands" is to first agree to play the game. If you shouted "Simon Says clap your hands!" during a game of "Go Fish!" you would not get the result you wanted. You would get a blank stare. Maybe even make your friends mad. Same with HTML. You should tell the computer that you are playing HTML for it to join in.
The very first thing you write is the HTML command to begin playing HTML, and that is
Now, during the game of "Simon says!" do you repeatedly remind your pals that you are playing "Simon Says!"? Nope. That would be silly. You said it at the beginning and they are all playing along. No reminder needed. Same with HTML. You say it once at the beginning and that's enough for the entire game. At the end of the "Simon Says!" game, you have a winner or everyone just quits on you because you weren't a good leader. Nonetheless, there is an ending. Same with HTML. There is an ending and it is the very last thing written in an HTML document.
</html> is the same as "Let's quit this game."
With the WebTV Page Builder, no HTML knowledge is needed. The program writes the commands for us. Since it knows we are playing the HTML command game, the tags are already there. That means we would never enter
These tags are written once, only once and one is at the beginning and one is at the end. You still have questions, don't you?
Q: Are there any exceptions to this rule?
A: Nope.
Q: What if I add HTML commands?
A: See above.
Q: What if I was given code to paste in and it started with <html>?
A: Remove it.
Q: What if I put <HTML>
in my Page Builder 18 times?
A: You would be as annoying and disruptive as if 10 times during the "Simon Says!" game you said "We are playing Simon Says!"
Q: Should I go in and remove the 18 different times I put in <html>?
A: Yes
Q: What happens if I don't?
A: I'm sure Murphy's Law will be updated to include some kind of answer for you, but currently all I have is that this would probably make it difficult to troubleshoot errors.
Q: What is the difference between <html> and <HTML>?
A: None. HTML commands are not case sensitive. Get the letters right, stick them in brackets and you are good to go!
Q: What does HTML stand for?
A: Hypertext Markup Language
Q: What are some HTML commands?
<marquee> for scrolling text
You write the commands before the text, and in any order:
You write the closing commands in the opposite order with a slash:
HTML says stop underlining! </u>
HTML says stop italics </i>
HTML says stop being bold </b>
HTML says stop scrolling </marquee>
You never write <html> because Page Builder did the honors of calling the game. You can write them in upper or lower case and in any order, but when you close the tags, you do them in backwards order:
How do I insert HTML into the Page Builder?
- Go to your index
- Click on your page
- Click on "Add an item"
- Select "Text"
- Insert HTML code into the large text box.
- Press the "Done" button.
- Press the "Publish" button (on left sidebar).
To learn more about HTML, try: http://www.HTMLgoodies.com
with love from,
Beth Candy
My sitemap of PageBuilder Help Sites
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