| Thinking about CSS, but want to learn what you | | | | The syntax of CSS consists of the selector and the |
| need to know, or need to learn before jumping onto | | | | declaration. The selector is the identifier within the |
| the CSS bandwagon? Let me begin by saying that | | | | body of your web page; the declaration is the code |
| CSS can reduce your time at the computer. But | | | | that identifies the style that you want to put into |
| knowledge do you need to learn and is CSS | | | | place as to property and rule. Lets say you want all |
| compatible with the search engines and your | | | | your H1 headlines to be green, with the font Arial. the |
| browsers? These are some of the questions I'll try | | | | code for CSS would be as follows: |
| to answer,as well as, explain a little about what CSS | | | | Note: Do not include quotes around the code. |
| is all about. | | | | "selector {property: rule;}" |
| What is CSS? | | | | "H1 {color: green; font-family: Arial;}" |
| CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. CSS is a set | | | | Note: Notice that the property and rule must be |
| of formatting instructions that controls the looks of a | | | | enclosed in {}. |
| web page or pages. Some of the browsers that | | | | Placement of CSS |
| support CSS is: (Firefox,IE3 or later, NN4 or later). | | | | There are three places to put your CSS code: |
| You may be saying, great this will definitely save me | | | | In the Head (Internal), in an external file, or within an |
| some time. Not so fast, you also need to know that | | | | individual tag (Inline style). |
| though, the majority of the browsers understand | | | | Internal -is used within a single web page that may |
| CSS, they do not fully support all of it's capabilities. | | | | have a unique style. |
| XHTML - XHTML is EXtensible HyperText Markup | | | | Inline - mixes code with content. Sometimes you |
| Language. XHTML Is HTML with stricter rules-that | | | | may need to use it, but this style does seem to |
| adds conformity and, is 100% XML compliant. So you | | | | eliminate the need of even using a CSS style sheet. |
| should be familiar with or become more comfortable | | | | External - The CSS is separate from the body of the |
| with HTML, XHTML, and the style properties of CSS. | | | | web page and is linked with the web page. Thus, to |
| What can you do with CSS | | | | link an external file into a web page you will need to |
| You can build your layout,adjusting size and color of | | | | use the link tag. |
| your headings or body text, as well as positioning | | | | Example: (Goes in the head section after the title |
| your pictures. This translates into like pages being | | | | tag) |
| programmed once, without the choice of inputting | | | | Which way do you go? If you have a large site or a |
| the same coding into each of your web pages | | | | site that will be expanding, an external file would be a |
| manually. Translated, elimination of duplicate | | | | better way to quickly and easily manipulate all your |
| formatting. | | | | web pages at once. |
| How to get the Search Engines to See Your Copy | | | | Watch out for Spam |
| It has been said that the Search Engines still have | | | | But with anything on the Internet, CSS can be used |
| some problems with understanding CSS. But if you | | | | for the good and the bad. And obviously, if you want |
| want to use CSS, is there a way to get the search | | | | to keep your site up and running for a long time, |
| engines to see what you want. | | | | some CSS techniques should be avoided. Why? |
| 1. Keep your text clean, if you have to much | | | | Because some CSS techniques can be considered |
| garbage in your web page, than the spiders will have | | | | spam by the search engines and thus, ban your site |
| a difficult time in determining what is relevant and | | | | if you use the techniques. The blackhat tactics include |
| what is not. Thus, CSS keeps your web page clean, | | | | such things as: 1) using CSS to hide text-from |
| without the redundant coding needed for each | | | | headlines to body from the human eye; 2) hiding and |
| individual element of code. Here is an example of | | | | bolding or italicizing copy for search engine spiders |
| how to code a headline; with the CSS code below. | | | | benefit only. |
| Example: "h1"Title"/h1" (replace beginning and end | | | | To conclude, CSS can and is a viable way to making |
| quotes with ) | | | | your web pages easier to maintain-if the majority of |
| "CSS code: H1 {font family: Arial size: 18 px; bold;}" | | | | your pages follow the same format. If you are not all |
| (leave off quotes) | | | | that familiar with CSS, then take the time to look at |
| Syntax of CSS | | | | tutorial. It's very informative and can get you started |
| First, CSS can be written within any text editor. But | | | | with CSS.. |
| the text file must be saved with a CSS extension. | | | | |