What is this course about?

In this course you learn the fundamentals of Web site development. Participants learn the core technologies they need to understand before developing a Web site: how to develop Web pages, including designing pages and placing text, graphics and multimedia appropriately; how to add dynamic content to the site and interface to a database using server-side scripts in ASP and PHP; and how to configure a Web server. This course gives you the solid knowledge base in HTML and the operation of server-side processing that you need to establish and maintain a Web site quickly and efficiently.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course benefits people who are in the process of, or are considering, building, contributing to or maintaining a Web site for themselves or their organisation. This includes:

• Those in charge of designing, creating, implementing and maintaining a Web site
• Web designers who need to understand the technical details and requirements of Web site development
• Managers of Web developers and Webmasters who need to know what's involved

System administrators are often interested in taking this course, especially if their organisation is planning to establish a Web or intranet site. Programmers benefit from this course by learning HyperText Markup Language (HTML), permitting them to create dynamic Web pages with content and server-side programming using PHP and Active Server Pages. Graphic designers with a technical background benefit from understanding the technical side of maintaining a Web site.

Does this course cover Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)?

Yes. This course provides an introduction to using Cascading Style Sheets to format the contents of a Web page.

For in-depth coverage of CSS, you may want to consider Course 522, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for Web Page Development: Hands-On.

What background should I have?

A working knowledge of computers and some experience using Windows is assumed. Knowledge of programming is not required, but is helpful. No special knowledge of TCP/IP is required.

Does the course cover configuring a Web server?

Yes, each pair of participants actually configures their own Web server. They run the server on their own machine and then establish a Web site using that server.

Does the course cover Active Server Pages? PHP?

While no attempt is made in this course to teach programming, the overall operation of server-side programming is discussed. Many options are available to perform server-side programming and all use the same basic mechanism for passing data between the server and the Web browser. Active Server Pages (ASP) and PHP programs are utilised in the course for capturing form data and interfacing to databases. In addition, similar examples that use Java Server Pages (JSP), ASP.NET and Perl are provided for reference.

Does this course cover interfacing a Web site to a database?

Yes. This course covers the process required to interface content on your Web site to a database. Examples of both Active Server Pages (ASP) and PHP programs are used to illustrate the process. Capturing user input and inserting the data into a database and also retrieving records from a database and formatting for display in a Web browser are covered. The hands-on exercises provide a choice between using ASP or PHP. Solutions to the exercises are also supplied in JSP, ASP.NET and Perl to be used as a reference.

Does the course cover Java and/or JavaScript?

While you don't learn programming in this course, you learn how to embed Java applets and JavaScript programs in your Web page.

Those who have no prior experience with C++ and are interested in learning Java programming can take Course 471, Java Programming: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction.

How much time is devoted to each topic?

What kinds of hands-on exercises are completed during the course?

Approximately 40% of the course is spent in hands-on exercises. By the end of the course, you have created a fully functioning Web site, complete with home page and subsidiary pages, text, graphics, and multimedia. The Web site includes forms that capture customer data and an interface to a database management system. You also configure your own Web server.

How is the classroom set up for the exercises?

The normal classroom set-up uses PCs running Windows XP Professional and a classroom server running Windows Server 2003. The PCs are equipped with the latest Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Netscape, and Opera browsers and a variety of commercial, shareware and freeware software.

Does this course cover the XHTML specification?

Yes, this course briefly introduces the XHTML specification. All course examples conform to XHTML.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

• 471, Java Programming: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction provides extensive experience in Java, a programming language used to develop dynamic content for Web pages. Course 471 is a natural successor to Course 470
• 522, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for Web Page Development: Hands-On provides the skills to design and develop efficient, accessible, cross-browser compatible and visually attractive Web pages using CSS and HTML
• 489, JavaScript for Web Development: Hands-On provides hands-on experience in client-side JavaScript and JScript (Microsoft's implementation of JavaScript)
• 221, Writing for the Web: Hands-On Skills for Reaching an Online Audience provides the skills to create and deliver compelling Web content that meets stakeholder needs and Web accessibility and Section 508 guidelines for broader audience usability
• 487, Designing and Building Great Web Pages: Hands-On offers experience designing the organisation and presentation of Web content, including the latest techniques and tools
• 542, XML: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction provides experience writing and validating well-formed XML documents
• 986, Developing Ajax Web 2.0 Applications: Hands-On provides the knowledge and practical skills required to efffectively design, create and implement Ajax-enabled Web sites
• 538, SharePoint® 2007 Technologies: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction provides the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to plan, design, deploy and utilize a real-world SharePoint solution for your organization
• 194, Hands-On Visio®: Designing Effective Visual Solutions offers experience in creating sophisticated diagrams with Microsoft Visio and incorporating them into Microsoft Office applications