Q, re: website creation

Goodwing · #1 07-09-2007, 08:01 PM

G'day all,

Been a LOOOONG time since I created/set-up a website (university days, circa '96). I'm currently shopping for a web hosting site (any suggestions?) and even toying with getting my own domain name.

Here's the question: Do I need to be aware of anything special when choosing a webhosting site, seeing that I'm using a mac now?

Thanks,
Mike

**mrcqm** · #2 07-09-2007, 09:00 PM

You're locked into only hosting with Apple. Aside from that, not really. (of course I'm kidding)

Files are files so not at all under normal circumstances. One possible hang-up if you use iWeb: I believe there are things it will let you do that aren't going to be well liked on a server other than the .mac default. If I remember correctly it had to do with spaces in the page names – read something about it in a MacLife issue from a year or so ago along with a trick to fix it.

sunik · #3 07-11-2007, 07:33 PM

I have websites on many servers, all built on a Mac. The only one I had any trouble with was Geocities (years ago), I was using their web building program and it wasn't very Mac friendly. In fact, they were amazed to find that I was able to build a site at all using their program and a Mac.

The site is still up there, and I don't think I can edit it any longer, I would have to start from scratch (it's something I've meant to do for years). I have never had an issue with any other hosing site.

tww · #4 07-12-2007, 03:09 PM

You can run into some issues with iWeb sites on non-Mac servers (maybe non-*nix servers- I'm not sure). Some of the issues can be dealt with by logging in using SMB (Samba) protocol (?). I think both spaces and long file names can be an issue there. iWeb can generate some long file names which jam up everything. Going back and sorting out which one is the issue is a real pain.

There's also some of the fancier stuff that will need work arounds depending on what you're doing- comments for instance on non-.mac accounts require extra effort when you're using iWeb.

I have pages on BlueHost and LunarPages and have had no problems creating/managing them with a Mac.

Cyberduck, as mentioned here somewhere before, is a great ftp utility for the Mac.

Goodwing · #5 07-12-2007, 10:12 PM

Thanks for the replies. I've actually made the jump - registered a domain name and got a web hosting site at the same time. It cost me a few dollars over $100. (cdn). I looked at .mac closely - but the cost was prohibitive. Was actually surprised that their pricing is so far off the mark. $135 cdn and no domain name either.

In any case, I've started looking at the various tools, etc. It's greek for the moment. But, one of the reasons I wanted to do this is to get re-acquainted with building websites - a tad bit different (okay, way different) from what I did circa '95/'96. LOL. I remember then that the most complex 'programming' was including a hit-counter.

You can count on some 'queries' in the near future....thanks in advance?!
Mike

macnewbie · #6 07-13-2007, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrcqm

You're locked into only hosting with Apple. Aside from that, not really. (of course I'm kidding)

Files are files so not at all under normal circumstances. One possible hang-up if you use iWeb: I believe there are things it will let you do that aren't going to be well liked on a server other than the .mac default. If I remember correctly it had to do with spaces in the page names – read something about it in a MacLife issue from a year or so ago along with a trick to fix it.

Do you remember what the article said "how" to fix it? I have a couple of sites that I use with Go-Daddy as my server. The sites look fine, except that the names of the pages look funny (long) in the url window. Curious.

**mrcqm** · #7 07-13-2007, 10:13 PM

I believe the "fix" was just to not use long page names. I could be mistaken.

Sonoran · #8 07-14-2007, 04:02 PM

Goodwing,

I am a web developer that just switched from PC to Mac a month ago. I use Dreamweaver on the Mac and have used it on the PC since version 2.0.

I have not run into any problems with the switch. However, HTML file names can cause problems especially if you keep spaces between the words (i.e.: About The Comapny.htm instead of AboutTheCompany.htm.) Some web servers do not like spaces & add filler such as "%20" between the words. Also, don't use odd characters in file names such as *, !, : many servers won't even allow them to be uploaded.

Be sure you have a way of testing the pages in Internet Explorer on a PC. Since IE is still the most popular out there you have to be sure things look OK with that. Since I have made the switch I view my pages in Safari & Opera on the Mac & then move over to my old PC & check the page out in IE & Firefox.

Goodwing · #9 07-14-2007, 10:53 PM

Sonoran,

Thanks for the advice. I actually looked up Dreamweaver on the net last night - as I've got everything ready to go (email accounts are good, FTP is all set-up, preliminary design plan done) to start creating the site. Found out that this software package is most expensive. Seeing as I'm doing this for my students (I'm a HS teacher) and I've already absorbed the costs for getting a site - I'm not too keen on spending much more of my own $$.

So, I'm stuck with doing it with freeware, or editing the text myself.

My domain host offers access to site design software (Soho Pro) but I found out late last night that it doesn't work on OS platform. For now, I'm thinking of simply using the iWeb stuff. But, I'm worried about how I'll integrate some of the 'stuff' that the domain host offers with iWeb (stuff = blogging, bulletin board, forms, etc.).

Okay, time to watch another tutorial on html!
Cheers,
Mike

bajagrrrl · #10 07-23-2007, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonoran

Goodwing,

I have not run into any problems with the switch. However, HTML file names can cause problems especially if you keep spaces between the words (i.e.: About The Comapny.htm instead of AboutTheCompany.htm.) Some web servers do not like spaces & add filler such as "%20" between the words. Also, don't use odd characters in file names such as *, !, : many servers won't even allow them to be uploaded.

in html you should never use spaces in html file names, always use underscores _ or one word file name but don't use spaces as you will run into problems.

I program in straight html and downloaded and use taco html that I found for free online. It seems to work well enough and html hasn't changed much in ten years.

**mrcqm** · #11 07-24-2007, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bajagrrrl

in html you should never use spaces in html file names, always use underscores _ or one word file name but don't use spaces as you will run into problems.

This is a true best practice for dev work in general. Since iWeb allows you to use nonstandard file names (from a web perspective), you can accidentally get yourself in trouble and iWeb won't do a thing to stop you. It lets the nonstandard names pass because of the assumption that you will publish to .mac.