TYWC - Create Your Own Homepage

Notice: While it still works and should give you a few ideas, this way of creating a homepage is now very old and rather outdated. I suggest you use one of the free html editors such as FrontPage Express or the facilities provided by most free webpage sites to create a homepage on the web. David. (Dec.2001)

So, you have decided it's time you made your very own webpage, but you don't know how. No problem, your friends at TYWC can help, at least we will try! There are actually three steps to publishing your own page. First you make it, then you put it somewhere everyone can see it and finally you tell people about it. Here we will help you create a very simple personal webpage. The most difficult part is deciding what to include on your webpage. Don't worry, it's all really very easy and we provide lots of ideas to help you on your way. All you need to do is fill-out the form below and press the button at the end.

Before you do start, however, take a look at what you will need to do afterwards in order to connect your page to the web. Unfortunately, putting your new page somewhere where everyone can see it can be a little tricky. You will need to ask your Internet Service Provider about this. If they say, "No can do", don't worry, there are lots of places on the net which offer free webpages (the only catch is they may include adverts on it!) Exactly how you transfer your pages to a web site varies greatly. Again, talk to your folks and get them to ask the service provider or check the free sites. Once your page is visible, all you have to do is tell the world about it!

Let's get started...

Ok, but first it may be an idea to gather together some bits and pieces of information. For example, you will undoubtedly want to put links to some of your favourite places on the web and for that you will need to know their URL's (that's the http address). If you want others to be able to contact you, you will also need to know your email address. A few pictures would also be nice, particularly one of yourself! You will need to get them scanned in. Don't worry if you can't get your portrait onto the computer, you can still add some clip art to jazz things up a bit. It's probably best is to create a new directory on your computer, into which to put all the files you will use. Finally, it's a good idea to spend a few minutes thinking about what you want to say on your page. Try to find something different, unusual and, perhaps, personal. You should think about contributing information to the web, not just a set of links to existing sites. For example, you might include one of your poems or short stories, or even a picture you created on the computer. Or, you could write something special, explaining your feelings about an issue which is important to you. You can find some other ideas below. Note: You can make slightly fancier text layouts, if you want. So, when you're ready, let's start...

Step 1 - The Title

Your page must have a title. This will appear at the top of your page. It also appears in the caption of the browser window when someone looks at your page and will be used if someone "bookmarks" it. Most people put something which includes their name, for example "Jean's Home from Home", "Nigel's Personal TYWC Homepage"or "Derya's Place".

Enter the title for your page here:

Step 2 - Your email address

One of the fun things about the web is meeting new people, so you will almost certainly want to include an email address where people can contact you and tell you what a great page you have! It should look something like "me@myplace.onthe.net" Important: check with your folks to make sure it's ok for you to receive email.

Enter your email address here:

Step 3 - A bit about you

Now you really have to say a few words by way of introduction. Are you a boy or girl? How old are you? Whereabouts do you live (town & country only)? Important: Never give a full postal address without asking your parents first. Follow this with a few words of welcome.

Enter a bit about yourself here:

Step 4 - How about a picture?

If you have a photograph of yourself this is a good place to put it. If you don't have one, you can leave this place blank or put any other image you may have. For example, you could include your favourite cartoon character, a pet, a picture you have drawn or something else. Note: This must be the name of a .gif or .jpg file. For example, "mypicture.gif" or "mickeymouse.jpg". If you don't have any suitable pictures, try looking at some clip art.

Enter the filename of an image (do not include any path):

Step 5 - Some more text?

Perhaps a few words about the picture above or whatever else you want to say. For example, you might talk about what you like to do in your spare time, what sort of music you enjoy listening to, who your favourite pop group is, what you want to do in the future...

Step 6 - Some links, perhaps?

Here is a good place to add some links to your favourite places on the web. You need to enter the text for the link (this is what the viewer will see and click on) and the actual URL of the webpage that you want to link to. We have filled-in the first one for you as an example. You might also like to link your personal poems or stories on TYWC pages, or to ones written by other people that you think are particularly special. Don't forget, you can also put links to other pages that you create. These might be proper web pages like this one (when you learn how to make them), or they could be any other sort of files you want to share on the web. For instance, another picture, a word processor document, a spreadsheet or just plain text.

Link 1

Text:

URL:

Link 2

Text:

URL:

Link 3

Text:

URL:

Link 4

Text:

URL:

Link 5

Text:

URL:

Link 6

Text:

URL:

Step 7 - Some more pictures?

You can put two pictures here, one on the left, one on the right. As before, these must be .gif or .jpg files. You can choose to put either one, none or both pictures. The text in step 8 below will be placed between these images.

Picture on Left: Picture on Right:

Step 8 - A few more words?

You can include some more bits and pieces here. These will be placed between the pictures of step 7 above. You might like to put one of your poems or maybe a quotation you found particularly meaningful. How about a joke or two? Note: If you want the lines laid out exactly as you type them, for example when writing a poem here, mark this box or see further details on text layout.

Step 9 - Last, but not least!

Time to say goodbye. You can enter a few parting words here. Perhaps remind readers you would like to hear from them, thank them for dropping by or just say goodbye! Your email address will be added again below this (assuming you gave one before!)

Enter your parting words here:

All done

There, that was easy wasn't it. Now all you have to do is click on the button below and you will see your new homepage. Note: you probably won't see the pictures, but don't worry (yet). If there is any problem with the text simply press the "Back" button on your browser to come back here. You can then make any changes you want and try again. When you are happy with everything, save the page onto your computer using your browser's "File/Save As..." option.

Finally, to see the complete page, pictures and all, select "File/Open File in Browser" and then enter the path and filename you saved your page with. If you want, you can edit this file using a normal text editor. You shouldn't have too much trouble seeing how to change it. Now all you have to do is put it somewhere on the web where others can actually see it. Remember, you will need to put any picture files you used in the same place too.

Congratulations on your new homepage. Easy, wasn't it? For more tips, check out our other bits and pieces.