Web Design in a Nutshell

Larger Cover

By Jennifer Niederst

Publisher: O'Reilly Media

Released: November 1998

Pages: 578

Web Design in a Nutshell contains the nitty-gritty on everything you need to know to design Web pages. It's the good stuff, without the fluff, written and organized so that answers can be found quickly. Written by veteran Web designer Jennifer Niederst, this book provides quick access to the wide range of front-end technologies and techniques from which Web designers and authors must draw.

                                                        <p>It is an excellent reference for HTML 4.0 tags (including tables, frames, andCascading Style Sheets) with special attention given to browser support and platformidiosyncrasies. The HTML section is more than a reference work, though. It detailsstrange behavior in tables, for instance, and gives ideas and workarounds for usingtables and frames on your site. <i>Web Design in a Nutshell</i> also coversmultimedia and interactivity, audio and video, and emerging technologies like DynamicHTML, XML, embedded fonts, and internationalization.</p><p>The book includes:</p><ul>  <li>Discussions of the Web environment, monitors, and browsers</li>  <li>A complete reference to HTML and Server Side Includes, including browser  support for every tag and attribute</li>  <li>Chapters on creating GIF, JPEG and PNG graphics, including designing with the  Web Palette</li>  <li>Information on multimedia and interactivity, including audio, video, Flash,  Shockwave, and JavaScript</li>  <li>Detailed tutorial and reference on Cascading Style Sheets, including an  appendix of browser compatibility information</li>  <li>Appendices detailing HTML tags, attributes, deprecated tags, proprietary tags,  and CSS compatibility</li></ul><br /><br />

The Web Environment
1. Chapter 1 Designing for a Variety of Browsers
  1. Browsers
  2. Design Strategies
  3. Writing Good HTML
  4. Knowing Your Audience
  5. Considering Your Site’s Purpose
  6. Test! Test! Test!
2. Chapter 2 Designing for a Variety of Displays
  1. Dealing with Unknown Monitor Resolutions
  2. Fixed versus Flexible Web Page Design
  3. Accessibility
  4. Alternative Displays
3. Chapter 3 Web Design Principles for Print Designers
  1. Color on the Web
  2. Graphics on the Web
  3. Typography on the Web
4. Chapter 4 A Beginner’s Guide to the Server
  1. Servers 101
  2. Introduction to Unix
  3. File Naming Conventions
  4. Uploading Documents (FTP)
  5. File (MIME) Types
HTML
1. Chapter 5 HTML Overview
  1. HTML Editing Tools
  2. WYSIWYG Authoring Tools
  3. Document Structure
  4. HTML Tags
  5. Information Browsers Ignore
  6. Tips on Good HTML Style
  7. Specifying Color in HTML
  8. Character Entities
  9. HTML Resources in This Book
2. Chapter 6 Structural HTML Tags
  1. Summary of Structural Tags
  2. Setting Up an HTML Document
  3. Global Settings with the <body> Tag
  4. Using <meta> Tags
3. Chapter 7 Formatting Text
  1. Summary of Text Tags
  2. Working with HTML Text
  3. Inline Type Styles
  4. The <font> Tag
  5. Lists
  6. Layout Techniques with HTML
4. Chapter 8 Creating Links
  1. Summary of Tags Related to Linking
  2. Simple Hypertext Links
  3. Linking Within a Document
  4. Affecting the Appearance of Links
  5. Targeting Windows
  6. Imagemaps
  7. Non-Web Links and Protocols
5. Chapter 9 Adding Images and Other Page Elements
  1. Summary of Object Placement Tags
  2. Horizontal Rules
  3. Image Basics
  4. The <img> Tag and Its Attributes
  5. Adding Java Applets to the Page
  6. Adding Plug-in Media with <embed>
  7. Adding Media Files with <object>
6. Chapter 10 Tables
  1. Summary of Table Tags
  2. Introduction to Tables
  3. Basic Table Structure
  4. Affecting Table Appearance
  5. Table Troubleshooting
  6. Tips and Tricks
  7. Standard Table Templates
  8. Multipart Images in Tables
7. Chapter 11 Frames
  1. Summary of Frame Tags
  2. Introduction to Frames
  3. Basic Frameset Structure
  4. Frame Function and Appearance
  5. Targeting Frames
  6. Inline (Floating) Frames
  7. Frame Design Tips and Tricks
8. Chapter 12 Forms
  1. Summary of Form Tags
  2. Introduction to Forms
  3. The Basic Form (<form>)
  4. Form Elements
  5. New Form Attributes (HTML 4.0)
  6. Affecting the Appearance of Forms
  7. Unconventional Use of Form Elements
  8. Demystifying CGI
9. Chapter 13 Server Side Includes
  1. How SSI Is Used
  2. SSI and the Server
  3. Adding SSI Commands to a Document
  4. Using Environment Variables
  5. XSSI
  6. List of Elements
  7. Include Variables
  8. Time Formats for SSI Output
Graphics
1. Chapter 14 GIF Format
  1. GIF87a versus GIF89a
  2. Eight-Bit Indexed Color
  3. GIF Compression
  4. When to Use GIFs
  5. Tools Overview
  6. Interlacing
  7. Transparency
  8. Minimizing GIF File Sizes
2. Chapter 15 JPEG Format
  1. 24-bit Color
  2. JPEG Compression
  3. When to Use JPEGs
  4. Progressive JPEGs
  5. JPEGs in AOL BrowsersThanks to Max Leach for his assistance with this topic.
  6. Creating JPEGs
  7. Minimizing JPEG File Size
3. Chapter 16 PNG Format
  1. Platform/Browser Support
  2. 8-Bit Palette, Grayscale, and Truecolor
  3. PNG Compression
  4. When to Use PNGs
  5. Special Features
  6. Creating PNG Files
  7. Optimizing PNG File Size
  8. Online PNG Resources
4. Chapter 17 Designing Graphics with the Web Palette
  1. The Web Palette
  2. Other Palettes
  3. Image Types
  4. Designing with Web-Safe Colors
  5. Converting to the Web Palette
  6. Survey of Web Graphics Tools
  7. Color Blenders
  8. Where to Learn More
Multimedia and Interactivity
1. Chapter 18 Animated GIFs
  1. How They Work
  2. Using Animated GIFs
  3. Browser Support
  4. Tools
  5. Creating Animated GIFs
  6. Optimizing Animated GIFs
2. Chapter 19 Audio on the Web
  1. Copyright Issues
  2. Audio Tools OverviewA big thank you goes to Chris Florio for compiling this list of audio tools.
  3. Basic Digital Audio Concepts
  4. Nonstreaming versus Streaming
  5. Nonstreaming (Static) Audio
  6. Streaming Audio
  7. Bibliography
3. Chapter 20 Video on the Web
  1. Tools OverviewThanks go to Chris Florio for compiling this tools overview.
  2. Basic Digital Video Concepts
  3. Compression
  4. Video File Formats
  5. Streaming Video Technologies
  6. Adding Video to an HTML Document
  7. Bibliography
4. Chapter 21 Interactivity
  1. Flash
  2. Shockwave for Director
  3. Java Applets
  4. Interactive Buttons with JavaScript
5. Chapter 22 Introduction to JavaScript
  1. JavaScript Basics
  2. Sample Scripts
  3. Handling Multiple Browsers
  4. Browser Compatibility
Emerging Technologies
1. Chapter 23 Cascading Style Sheets
  1. Introduction
  2. How Style Sheets Work
  3. Selectors
  4. Specifying Values
  5. Properties
  6. Positioning with Style Sheets
  7. What’s New in CSS2
  8. Style Sheet Tips and Tricks
  9. Browser Support Charts
2. Chapter 24 Introduction to DHTML
  1. Advantages to Using DHTML
  2. Disadvantages
  3. Learning DHTML
  4. Browser Differences
  5. The Document Object Model
  6. DHTML Examples
  7. DHTML Tools
  8. Where to Learn More
3. Chapter 25 Introduction to XML
  1. Background
  2. Document Type Definition (DTD)
  3. XML Syntax Basics
  4. Examples of XML Technology
  5. Where to Learn More
4. Chapter 26 Embedded Font Technology
  1. Using Embedded Fonts
  2. TrueDoc Technology (“Dynamic Fonts”)
  3. OpenType (for Internet Explorer)
5. Chapter 27 Internationalization
  1. Character Sets
  2. HTML 4.0 Language Tags
  3. For More Information
Appendixes
1. Appendix HTML Tags and Elements
  1. Attributes Key
  2. <a>
  3. <abbr>
  4. <acronym>
  5. <address>
  6. <applet> —D
  7. <area>
  8. <b>
  9. <base>
  10. <basefont> —D
  11. <bdo>
  12. <bgsound> —IE
  13. <big>
  14. <blink> —NN
  15. <blockquote>
  16. <body>
  17. <br>
  18. <button>
  19. <caption>
  20. <center> —D
  21. <cite>
  22. <code>
  23. <col>
  24. <colgroup>
  25. <comment> —IE
  26. <dd>
  27. <del>
  28. <dfn>
  29. <dir> —D
  30. <div>
  31. <dl>
  32. <dt>
  33. <em>
  34. <embed>
  35. <fieldset>
  36. <font> —D
  37. <form>
  38. <frame>
  39. <frameset>
  40. <h1...h6>
  41. <head>
  42. <hr>
  43. <html>
  44. <i>
  45. <iframe>
  46. <img>
  47. <input>
  48. <ins>
  49. <isindex> —D
  50. <kbd>
  51. <label>
  52. <layer> —NN
  53. <legend>
  54. <li>
  55. <link>
  56. <map>
  57. <marquee> —IE
  58. <menu> —D
  59. <meta>
  60. <multicol> —NN
  61. <nobr>
  62. <noembed>
  63. <noframes>
  64. <noscript>
  65. <object>
  66. <ol>
  67. <optgroup>
  68. <option>
  69. <p>
  70. <param>
  71. <pre>
  72. <q>
  73. <s> —D
  74. <samp>
  75. <script>
  76. <select>
  77. <small>
  78. <spacer> —NN
  79. <span>
  80. <strike> —D
  81. <strong>
  82. <style>
  83. <sub>
  84. <sup>
  85. <table>
  86. <tbody>
  87. <td>
  88. <textarea>
  89. <tfoot>
  90. <th>
  91. <thead>
  92. <title>
  93. <tr>
  94. <tt>
  95. <u> —D
  96. <ul>
  97. <var>
  98. <wbr>
2. Appendix List of Attributes
3. Appendix Deprecated Tags
  1. Deprecated Elements
  2. Deprecated Attributes
4. Appendix Proprietary Tags
  1. Microsoft Internet Explorer Proprietary Tags
  2. Netscape Navigator Proprietary Tags
5. Appendix CSS Compatibility

Appendix Glossary
Colophon

Title:

Web Design in a Nutshell

By:

Jennifer Niederst

Publisher:

O'Reilly Media

Formats:

Print
Safari Books Online

Print:

November 1998

Pages:

578

Print ISBN:

978-1-56592-515-1

| ISBN 10:

1-56592-515-7

Colophon

Our look is the result of reader comments, our own experimentation, and feedback from distribution channels. Distinctive covers complement our distinctive approach to technical topics, breathing personality and life into potentially dry subjects. The animal appearing on the cover of Web Design in a Nutshell is a least weasel (Mustela nivalis). There are 67 species of weasel, including the mink, ermine, ferret, otter, and skunk. Weasels, who are characterized by long, slender bodies and short legs, are found on all continents except Antarctica and Australia, and in a vast variety of habitats. The least weasel is the smallest of the 67 species of weasel. Weighing in at approximately two ounces and measuring less than ten inches long, the least weasel is the smallest carnivore on Earth. They are found throughout the world, in northern climates. In warm weather this weasel's coat is brown, with a white underside. In winter it turns completely white. Thanks to its camouflage abilities and its speed and agility, the least weasel is rarely caught. The diet of the least weasel is made up primarily of voles and mice, which, because of the weasels' high metabolism, they hunt constantly. One family of these little weasels can consume thousands of rodents each year, making them important in controlling pest populations. Because it is so small, the least weasel can follow mice into their burrows and eat them there. Like other weasels, they will occasionally then make their victim's home their own, lining it with the fur of the former resident when preparing to nest. Least weasels can produce two litters a year, with three to five young per litter. Clairemarie Fisher O'Leary was the production editor and copyeditor for this book; Sheryl Avruch was the production manager; Ellie Cutler and Kim Brown provided quality control. Chris Reilley created the illustrations using Adobe Photoshop 4 and Macromedia FreeHand 7. Mike Sierra provided FrameMaker technical support. Seth Maislin wrote the index. Melanie Wang, Amy Meterparel, and Jeffrey Liggett provided additional production support. Edie Freedman designed the cover of this book, using an original illustration by Lorrie LeJeune. The cover layout was produced with QuarkXPress 3.32 using the ITC Garamond font. Whenever possible, our books use RepKover, a durable and flexible lay-flat binding. If the page count exceeds RepKover's limit, perfect binding is used. The inside layout was designed by Nancy Priest and implemented in FrameMaker 5.0by Mike Sierra. The text and heading fonts are ITC Garamond Light and Garamond Book. This colophon was written by Clairemarie Fisher O'Leary.

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8/30/2001

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5.0

Web Design in a Nutshell Review

By Kiffin Gish

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Comments about O'Reilly Media Web Design in a Nutshell:

I could never imagine that so much useful information could be packed into a single nutshell edition. There is great coverage of every relevant issue concerning web design, and the book provides an accelerated look which is refreshing. This is by far the definitive source of information to which I regularly refer.

4/13/2001

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Web Design in a Nutshell Review

By Rosemarie Wise

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Comments about O'Reilly Media Web Design in a Nutshell:

I recommend this to anyone who asks me for a book on HTML (and even those that don't but ask those basic HTML questions). This is my Web Design bible - the one book I just wouldn't do without. Looking forward to new editions of this book with anticipation as those reference tables are a God send! There is going to be new editions of this book right? After all, if it covered the compatibility issues of the version 6 browsers it would be even better... age is the only thing wrong with this book now.

1/11/2001

5.0

Web Design in a Nutshell Review

By Herman Hsu

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Comments about O'Reilly Media Web Design in a Nutshell:

This is the first O'reilly book that i've bought and it's simply amazing! I've only learnt HTML for about half a year and knows a little bit of JavaScript. This book has revealed a lot of HTML tips and gave some useful JavaScript (but some of the scripts didn't work though, i needed knowledge from other JavaScript books to fix the scripts). The greatest thing i find about this book is that it gets to the point and you can easily find answers quickly. The format of the book with its rich content makes it such a great reference book, it's always by my computer, i bring it to school (i'm only 14 right now). It gives details on individual HTML tags and CSS plus some details on JScript. It also covers different picture, audio and video formats and include information on which programs to use and a whole load of other stuff. It also has a little on SSI. A great reference book, any webmasters should own a copy, the price is very reasonable as well.

12/25/2000

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Web Design in a Nutshell Review

By Brian

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A perfect starting point for anyone interested in web development! All to often when querying software developers/programmers about a solution, they'll bombarded you with buzzword after buzzword to try and explain the best way to fix your problem. Funny thing though is when asked to explain these state-of-the-art terms the developer often gives you very basic explanations of what the technology does like, "It give you more control over style than HTML does -(CSS)". It's just this reason that this book is the definitive starting point for anyone interested in web development! This book simply, yet effectively, explains how to best utilize the various technologies available to create an effective web site! You'll walk away much smarter on the subject than you came!

12/18/2000

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Web Design in a Nutshell Review

By Chris

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This book was wicked!!!! Great for anyone who is interested in web design or has some knowledge of HTML. The author gives a good overview of various web applications and HTML tags.

10/1/2000

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Web Design in a Nutshell Review

By Michael Baraz

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Comments about O'Reilly Media Web Design in a Nutshell:

EXCELLENT! This book is the most worn book in my collection of 20-30 web books. It is the one must-have books beginners should

have and will continue to use long after seriously proficient. A compendium of the most useful information in an amazingly useful form factor.

9/11/2000

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Web Design in a Nutshell Review

By Mark Bazin

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Comments about O'Reilly Media Web Design in a Nutshell:

PHENOMENAL BOOK!! Gives experienced and novice users alike a good handle on many issues related to website development. This is an excellent companion to the "HTML Pocket Reference". Buy it, use it, love it.

8/26/2000

5.0

Web Design in a Nutshell Review

By Brian Downey

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From complete dodo to web-designer...get this book!!

8/12/2000

4.0

Web Design in a Nutshell Review

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Comments about O'Reilly Media Web Design in a Nutshell:

This was my first O'Reilly book, it got me hooked! I know that if I have a question about CSS, frames or forms all I need to do is reach out and get the answer from this book.

O'Reilly books are addictive. If I have a problem that needs a solution, I know that my local dealer (book) has a fix from O'Reilly. There really should be a payroll deduction for these books.

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The Web Environment

Chapter 1 Designing for a Variety of Browsers

Chapter 2 Designing for a Variety of Displays

Chapter 3 Web Design Principles for Print Designers

Chapter 4 A Beginner’s Guide to the Server

HTML

Chapter 5 HTML Overview

Chapter 6 Structural HTML Tags

Chapter 7 Formatting Text

Chapter 8 Creating Links

Chapter 9 Adding Images and Other Page Elements

Chapter 10 Tables

Chapter 11 Frames

Chapter 12 Forms

Chapter 13 Server Side Includes

Graphics

Chapter 14 GIF Format

Chapter 15 JPEG Format

Chapter 16 PNG Format

Chapter 17 Designing Graphics with the Web Palette

Multimedia and Interactivity

Chapter 18 Animated GIFs

Chapter 19 Audio on the Web

Chapter 20 Video on the Web

Chapter 21 Interactivity

Chapter 22 Introduction to JavaScript

Emerging Technologies

Chapter 23 Cascading Style Sheets

Chapter 24 Introduction to DHTML

Chapter 25 Introduction to XML

Chapter 26 Embedded Font Technology

Chapter 27 Internationalization

Appendixes

Appendix HTML Tags and Elements

Appendix List of Attributes

Appendix Deprecated Tags

Appendix Proprietary Tags

Appendix CSS Compatibility

Appendix Glossary

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