Teach Yourself CSS The Easy Way

I taught myself HTML back in the mid-nineties and was proud of the fact that I was able to accomplish the design of fairly complex web pages with nothing more than a starter HTML book, an HTML reference book, and the knowledge I had stored in my head. But back in those days, we web designers had what looking back was a fairly limited amount of tools with which to work, and the quality (or lack thereof) of sites on the web was lackluster at best.

Fast-forward to today: The hand-coder has more powerful and intuitive software packages available that will still allow us "to get our hands dirty", which brings us to the purpose of this article. With the standardization of the much anticipated Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) in the late-nineties, the web design community has become familiar with a much more powerful and precise method of web page layout.

"But how is an old-time web coder supposed to learn CSS the easy way?!" Well, I say you should learn it the way I, and countless others, have:

1. Download the Firefox browser

2. Install the Web Developer extension

3. Open one of your "old" HTML files

4. View the source, click the "Cleanup the page" button

5. Check the "replace FONT.....tags by CSS" box, then Refresh

Now you have a very neat and tidy piece of code, with all the CSS dirty work done for you! At this point you can copy & paste the resulting code and use it in your project and start figuring out what it's doing. I was amazed at how easily I was able to pick it up and start making changes on my own. When I wanted more information on a certain style it was a just a Google search away to many excellent CSS resources on the web. I find it much easier to learn CSS if I get to apply the modifications to the existing code that I've been working on, and I think you will too.

I hope you find this article helpful and if you follow these steps you should be able to add CSS to your web site design toolbox in no time!

Written by Erich Bihlman, of Bihlman Consulting - PC and Internet Tutoring and Website Design in Prescott, Arizona. http://www.bihlman.com For additional helpful articles visit http://www.bihlman.com/iqzone

[You may reprint this article provided it is not changed in any way, and my author information stays intact including the links.]

---

10 Things All Webmasters Should Know

Geared Up with a website and lots of energy to... Read More

Website Design: Redecorate Your Web Site To Increase Sales

Getting traffic to your website is not the only factor... Read More

Should I Use Pop-Up Ads?

Web advertising has taken many forms, including those that appear... Read More

6 Reasons Why Using Flash is a BIG Mistake

Most web designers and web design companies will try to... Read More

Get FASTER Download Times By Making BIGGER Web Pages!

As a webmaster you already know how important it is... Read More

Becoming A Website Designer

The ability to create simple, attractive and functional web pages... Read More

Build Web Pages from the Top Left Corner Down

There are two important reasons to build your website from... Read More

Setting Up a Website

Where does a person start when setting up a website?... Read More

Web Site Design Mistakes ? Database Parameters In URLs

Creating a web site takes thought, planning and execution. Unfortunately,... Read More

Developing Your Winning Web Site Strategy

Your web site is the key to your success on... Read More

Internet Tip of the Week: First Impressions

First impressions are extremely important if you hope to do... Read More

Website Design - Choosing Your Colors Wisely

Colors convey emotions and emotions heavily influence the decision-making process.... Read More

You Too Can Have Fun With Sepia Images!

If you are one of those who wonder how people... Read More

Using Your Personal Website To Clinch That Job!

With an increasing number of employment portals emerging, it is... Read More

Size Does Matter!

In this article we will be looking at why you... Read More

Selling Multiple Products? Avoid These Top Blunders

When your web site sells more than a dozen items,... Read More

10 Tips for Killer Website Design

Does website design make a difference in how long people... Read More

A Crash Course on Graphic Philosophy 101

Novice and professional graphic designers, we are aware that you... Read More

Build A Successful Website For Dummies

So you want to build a website here I will... Read More

Pop-Ups Still Work. At Least For The Time Being

Do you remember playing with the jack-in-the-box toy as a... Read More

How To Shop for a Web Design Firm?

While few companies can boast as we do that our... Read More

What You Should Ask a Web Designer Before You Hire Him

You've thought about it and you're ready to go. You're... Read More

Website Design Info - Part 1

What Will My Site Do?This is the first of eight... Read More

The Golden Rule Of Website Building

Copyright 2005 Robert EvansSetting yourself up to earn a steady... Read More

Color Psychology in Marketing

On the internet we don't deal with face to face... Read More

How to Make Effective Use of Web Fonts

Writing for your web site is not the same as... Read More

What to Ask Your Web Designer

If you need a web designer, but have no clue... Read More

Does Your Homepage Work?

All websites have a homepage. It is the most important... Read More

Every Website is a Human Being?s Attempt at Achieving a Goal or Obtaining Happiness

Have you ever thought about the real stories behind all... Read More

Why Use a Web Design Template?

What is a Website Template?Many smart and savvy businesses are... Read More

Maximising Web Site Viewability - Resolution

This is my second article on maximising web site viewability.... Read More

Web Design: How To Get Your Visitors To Stay

Remember the famous line from the movie Field of Dreams,... Read More

Questions to Ask When Designing a Website for Clients

Questions to ask when designing a Web Site for your... Read More