Help an idiot build a website

[Flashheart]

The idiot being myself.

No doubt I'll be using a wordpress template and diddling about with that (unless there's an easier option). But how? I don't have a host yet and want to build it on my PC first so I can get to grips with it all. How do I do that?

Cheers, big ears!

[dave_bambers_right_sock]

Not had a great deal of expertise with a website but have been told by a friend who has, that the Dreamweaver software was really easy to use,  just drag and drop to build it up, might be worth having a quick look on google or youtube for some demo video clips. I know I've not been very useful but at least it's a start  

**edit** Has you ISP got any info/free webspace on building a website? Virgin Media and some other isp's have template's and info on how to build one

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

Dreamweaver is easy to use. Basically it's a dummys guide to building a website. You create the website using the tools (as easy as creating a Powerpoint presentation) and it generates the HTML coding for you. The only problem is you'll need someone to send you a copy of the software as it's pretty pricey to buy yourself.

There are a number of websites online where you can create from templates but often options are limited and you have to pay a monthly fee for hosting them.

Alternatively you can be a geek and learn HTML coding by yourself and create the code in notepad before finding a host to publish it on the net.

[Flashheart]

Dreamweaver is easy to use. Basically it's a dummys guide to building a website. You create the website using the tools (as easy as creating a Powerpoint presentation) and it generates the HTML coding for you. The only problem is you'll need someone to send you a copy of the software as it's pretty pricey to buy yourself.

I imagine my old buddy thepiratebay could help me out there.

[dave_bambers_right_sock]

Pm on way 

[Samdy Gray]

Dreamweaver is overkill for a WordPress site.

Just find a theme that you vaguely like and then tinker with the CSS to change the colours etc.

As for getting to grips with it first, use Virtualbox or VMWare to set up a virtual webserver so you can do your tinkering with needing to use webhosting.

Good guide here: http://munkyonline.co.uk/blog/lamp-ubuntu-server-virtualbox

[Flashheart]

Cheers

[jonny72]

Easiest way for a beginner to set up a Wordpress site is to do it through wordpress.com, it's free for a basic site.

If you really want to run it on your PC, then use Virtualbox (or similar) and a pre-built Wordpress app from Turnkey Linux. Just install the virtualiser, load the app (ISO or VM) and you're ready to go.

Though there are a number of other options for building a decent site quickly, such as Moonfruit and 1&1.

If you decide to go for your own hosting, pick somewhere that offers Wordpress as an installable app. Will save a lot of time and reduce the chances of things going wrong.

[Barry Scott]

DO NOT, and I repeat for good measure, DO NOT, go anywhere near 1&1. They are so far removed from a web host it's untrue.

Wix is worth a look, http://www.wix.com, but for the long term your best bet is Wordpress. Although if you're after getting it up and running quickly, a simple free wysiwyg editor such as NVU (http://net2.com/nvu/) and a free css template (http://www.freecsstemplates.org) is probably the best option. You also don't need to have a virtual host and all the palaver that comes with it. Just save it in a folder on your pc and open the files in a browser, simple.

[jonny72]

Think 1&1 are fine for basic stuff. I've had problems with them (and a lot of the other big hosts) when doing anything more complicated, they all seem to have their own oddities which make hard work of things that should be simple.

Been using Amazon for my hosting for a while now. Works well, is pretty cheap and haven't had any issues with it.

[Barry Scott]

Think 1&1 are fine for basic stuff. I've had problems with them (and a lot of the other big hosts) when doing anything more complicated, they all seem to have their own oddities which make hard work of things that should be simple.

Been using Amazon for my hosting for a while now. Works well, is pretty cheap and haven't had any issues with it.

1&1s hosting is fine, although embarrassingly over priced with a crap control panel (or was) but as a company they're utter scum. If you're a customer you know the complexities of their cancellation procedure, that alone is disgusting.

I recently got a letter about money I owed them 5 years after transferring a domain out. I phoned them and their response was, tough it's still on your account, you owe us.

I could tell more than 10 similar tales of 1&1, all personal experiences. The way I got rid of that disease in the end was cancel cards and let all domains drop, I couldn't hate a company more.

And I second Amazon. Not that I use them anymore.

[@MacPhlea]

If anyone wants or needs web hosting I have two high end dedicated servers available One windows and one linux...

[Flashheart]

This is driving me insane.

I found some cool looking dreamweaver templates and with a free day, I though I'd finally get cracking. I've gotten nowhere, I can't even create a new page from the templates I have.

[url width=800 height=600]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/jamiethon/site1_zpsf0907c42.png[/url]

[url width=800 height=600]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/jamiethon/site2_zps8ab8dd0e.png[/url]

I've tried following guides but there is one thing that seems unusual.

[url width=800 height=600]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/jamiethon/site3_zpsa8cd642a.png[/url]

When I try to define the local folder it doesn't allow me to do it properly. Instead of allowing me to select/choose the local folder it only gives me the option to open it instead.

Help. I think I've already broken one shift key.
 

[welshred]

Sounds like Dreamweaver is over-complicating things for you.

What have you got in your index.html file?

[Flashheart]

It's a template thingamybob

[url width=800 height=600]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/jamiethon/site4_zps424fe823.png[/url]