Tags for this article: basics, html, hypertext, organisation, tutorial
HTML stands for Hypertext Markup Language. The user should be able to navigate through information they find interesting. For those who are interested in investigating this subject more closely, we will provide a detailed examination of hypertext in another segment.
With the hypertext information layout, it is necessary that the information is separated into smaller and closed units of information, which are interlocked with each other in an understandable and clear manner.
If, for example, you wanted to display your favourite football club online, then you would need the typical homepage with links to subordinate pages. Each of the subordinate pages should also include a link back to the homepage. You could easily use a subordinate page for the club’s standings, history, roster or schedule, for example. The roster page could then link to other subordinate pages for individual players. With such a subsidiary of a subsidiary page, it is wise to have a link going back the next highest page, as well as a link to the main page. More intersecting links from the standings page to the goal scorer’s page, for example, are also quite reasonable. A network of information then results. Additional links should then help complement the navigational possibilities. In many instances, it is also reasonable to offer so-called guided tours, or a succession of pages that the user can comfortably skim through. Regardless of which project you are undertaking: you should always keep in mind the notion of structure and linking that we explored here.
What we describe here as a page or subsidiary page, should also be a HTML file in a web project. Do not be overwhelmed by the amount of resulting files. The clear structuring of information should always remain the highest priority.
We will examine methods of linking more closely in a separate section and also provide more tips for producing web projects later on.
File Organisation
With every somewhat large project you will soon quickly realise how many HTML, graphics and all kinds of files you end up amassing. In order to keep everything in view, you should either consider a clever filename scheme or create separate subdirectories sorted by topic or area. If you wish to release your project online, then you will have to find out beforehand if you have the right or possibility to load subdirectories onto the web server, where you eventually plan to upload the project. Because in this case you will have to produce the same directory on the server computer as you produced locally, in order for all the references and links to function correctly.