Help with creating template in Webcreator4

I need to update my existing website (www.balloonique.com.au) I have never created a website before, but I will be starting from scratch. I was assured that Webcreator 4 was easy to use and customise. I want to create a template that reflects my corporate image and new logo, then add small portions of text and lots of pages of photos. I didn't think I was dumb, but I can't figure out how to use the program even with the help centre. Apparently it is supposed to be one of the easiest programs ou there. If anyone has used this program and is willing to give me step by step instructions to start me off, I'd be most appreciative. I also have front page which I'm willing to use if its easier, but I found I couldn't change some of the items to reflect my image appropriately, thats why I got web creator instead. Thanks in advance.

There isn't a program that is going to completely do everything for you. Dreamweaver comes close, but you still have to have some knowledge if you plan on using all the Dreamweaver tools. Your problems stem from not knowing the syntax. I would suggest some HTML tutorials and posting back here when you get stuck.

HTML Tutorial

HTML Dog

Use the above links to get started or simply go a search for HTML tutorials.

Good Luck,
Scott

I'm just about finished with a site I made in WebCreator4 Pro. There was a PDF manual w/ version 3, but not w/ 4. The "help" section in WC4 is almost word for word what was in the manual though, too bad it's not more in depth! Are you using one of their templates or creating your own? I didn't have any problems with it, and really liked using it. I'll try to help you get it figured out, if you want to stick with it. Will you be building other web sites, or is it just a one-time deal? If this is the only one, then Dreamweaver would be quite an investment (in dollars & time to learn it). If you plan on creating more sites, it would be worth the time & effort to learn html/css so you could do what you want without being limited by any one particular program/software.

Hi Callie, Any help would be wonderful! This is a one time only design, but I need to master how to do it so I can modify the site as required.
I would prefer to start with a blank page as I know exactly what I want, but as that was a dead loss, I have tried to modify an existing page instead. It will mainly be a photo gallery or online portfolio. The problem is I need about 20 pages all up, so once I get the template designed, I just want to change the photos in each page, with a small amount of info. There will be 7 main pages, and 3 of those will have a heap of pages in subcategories. ie - the Decor page will have a page for Ceiling balloons, entrance decor, table centres etc.

I want to make the template a cross between my business card and existing website, but I don't know how the existing website was created, and when I tried to modify it in frontpage, It messed up the whole lot.

I just don't know what all the "elements" mean, and how to get my logo onto the header. It's a jpeg, and I can't get rid of the background on the file to make it look ok as a header.
If you can explain how to put the image in my head onto that blank page would be great.

Thanks.

Hi Jewel - I think going with a blank page is the easiest way, that's how I did my site. As for your logo - what software are you using for the logo, photos etc... ? You should have some options for file type when saving; .gif and .png, as well as .jpeg. The first two will let you have a transparent backround (although not all versions of Internet Explorer will display .png files properly).
I didn't like the way my logo looked in .gif, and didn't want to deal with work-arounds for IE, so I used a .jpeg and made the backround the same as the website backround. You can see it here:

http://iclimb-ica.org/pages/index.html

This site isn't finished yet, but there's enough done to see what you can do with WC4. I think the first step is getting all your graphics in order. Create your backround (keep it simple), your logo, get your photos ready (consistent sizes, thumbnails if needed, edited to look their best. Save everything in one file for easy access later. Now, on paper, plan your pages. First is Index. Give the other pages clear, easy to remember names because this is what they'll be saved as when you get ready to ftp your files (for ex: my "Links We Like" page is named "links" in WC4). Use this list to make notes about what needs to be on each page and make sure you have those files ready to go. Also, this will help you plan your navigation, so you won't have to re-work it later.
I woke up today to find the infamous Blue Screen of Death on my main computer - the one that has Web Creator on it - after I get that taken care of (and can have WC4 open in front of me) it will be easier to explain how to use all that stuff in the sidebar. I think you'll enjoy it once you get it figured out. I'm off to fix my computer now:throw: ...wish me luck!

Nice post Callie...

You guys really shouldn't be using that program to design. I know it's easy to use and it's affordable and it's has a nice sales pitch, but the code it's producing is sinful. The sites that are made with this have an enormous amount of html validation errors.

Sorry.... I just couldn't sit back and bite my tongue any longer. It would be great if you could handcode. If not, at least upgrade to Microsoft Web Expressions or Dreamweaver.

Those will at least produce a code that is a lot cleaner.

I know WC4 (or any other wysiwyg) leaves a lot to be desired, so I've abandoned my personal site until I learn to do it "from scratch". I really do believe it's best to know how to use html/css to build a clean, efficient site. But, I also know what it's like to run a small business on a tight budget with not enough hours in the day to get everything done. For the time being, this is better (for JewelWillow's business) than no web presence at all. Most customers don't care to check the code behind the site. Even if she does want to learn to do it herself, her business won't be off-line while she's learning how, and she can replace the WC4 site when she's ready. I hope that's not too evil - I don't want to be found guilty of promoting sinful coding! Well, I've got to replace the graphics card on my computer now, so that's it for me. JewelWillow - what do you think? I'll talk to you all later!

Callie, You've got it in one with the small business time and budget factor! I have all the photos sorted and compressed ready to be inserted onto the relevant pages- now I'm just working on getting something to insert them into. I've tried saving the jpeg as a gif, but when it exports it, it says merging background to save. I've been using Adobe Photo deluxe, but from looking through help forums it appears I should be using Adobe Photo shop, so I'll download a trial version and see if I can do more with that.

The main reason I bought WC4 is that I thought it would lead me through the process. If I'd known I needed to learn all the coding etc, I wouldn't have wasted the money. Especially if the code it uses is dodgy, I presume it will cause problems down the track.

I'll keep you posted once I have the graphics sorted out.

Thanks guys!

It's true that your average customer isn't going to look at or care about the code, but one of the reasons why you should care about having good clean code is that it helps you with the search engines - it helps them more easily find what your site is about without having to battle through a load of bad bloated code, so if you're hoping for search engines to find your site, then good, clean, valid code is a factor (it's not the only factor of course, but it's an important one).

There are a lot of new web designers who are willing to do sites for very cheap (or in some cases free) to help them practice and build their portfolio, so that might have been (or might still be) a better route for you. They could incorporate a Content Management System to enable you to easily update your site in the future. If you do go this route though, you should still make sure you have a proper contract with the designer, and treat it as real business arrangement so that you both know where you stand and what is expected on both sides. It protects both of you.

I know you didn't ask for a critique on your current site, but one thing I do have to say (I was trying not to, but I can't help it!) - have you got some better photos for you redesigned site? I hope I'm not offending you, but the photos on your current site look very amateurish and really don't do justice to what are obviously beautiful balloons and balloon displays. For something like this your photos are your key selling point, people have to be able to look at the photos and just think "Wow! I have to have that at my function!".

Good luck with it, whichever route you go

You might want to check out Photoshop Elements:

http://www.adobe.com/products/photos...overview2.html

It's got everything you need to edit/correct your photos and create graphic elements (buttons, etc...). It makes it easy to save your files for the web and comes with an organizer that saves a thumbnail view of your photos/graphics. And, it costs a lot less than Photoshop - not as involved to learn, either.

Or you can download Gimp which is free! It has a lot of the same functions as Photoshop, certainly should have everything you need for what you're doing.

Hi Vanessa, No offense taken on the photos, I agree 110%. The original site was done in my first 6 months of business, so I only had limited photos to use. Now I have thousands of photos- literally, so I have the best of the best for each design, and a heap of unique designs that people haven't seen before. I cringe when people phone, and say, I'm just looking at your website....... I have downloaded a trial of photo shop to try to work on the logo, background etc, but gimp sounds great- I haven't heard of it before. If there are any other comments or critiques you have (or anyone else out there!) that I need to take into account, I'd love to hear them. If I'm going to have the site, I want it to be the best it can be, so any input is genuinely appreciated. Todays plan- plowing through graphics.

Cheers, Jewelwillow.