Lee Switz and Associates - The Do-it-Yourself Website




		Lee Switz & Associates - Hot Sheets - The Do-it-Yourself Website Glossary of Terms by Karin Allen


		The four articles in "Do-it-Yourself Website" series are designed to help a nonprofit agency develop a website from the ground up, with little or no money. Readers need not be professional webheads, but they should possess a basic knowledge of internet terminology. If you are unsure of the meaning of any terms in these articles, this glossary will be of some assistance. Getting a Web Address Designing Your Site Adding Graphics to Your Site Promoting Your Site Browser - The "window" through which you view the Internet. The two most popular browsers are Netscape and Internet Explorer.	Home Services Associates Clients Hot Sheets Links
		Domain names - a form of "branding" on the internet. Domain names aren't free, but many organizations consider them worth the cost ($70 or less for a two-year subscription). Here is an example of the difference a domain name can make. If your host server is GeoCities, your web address might be something like this: www.geocities.com/mynonprofit - a bit unwieldy, but better than some addresses I've seen. However, if you purchased your own domain name, your website would stay at GeoCities, but your address would simply be www.mynonprofit.org . Download - to transfer information from someone else' website into your own computer. This information can include e-mail, programs, music, games, or even files in Adobe Acrobat Reader format. Freeware - programs which may be downloaded from the web and shared freely, such as the Juno e-mail program. You should always be careful when downloading from the net! Only download from sites you know and trust, or you could end up with a nasty computer virus. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) - a type of program which uploads your website material from your own computer to a host server, or the act of uploading itself. Most newer computers (and the latest versions of most browsers) come with an FTP program built in. Alternately, you may download one for free at shareware.com or a similar site. GIF - one of the two formats used for web graphics. A GIF is a low-resolution, cartoon-like image. ISP (Internet Service Provider) - if you have access to the Internet, then you already have an ISP. Popular examples include Earthlink, Mindspring and AOL. Your phone company may also provide internet access. Host server - The files in your website must be stored in a computer called a host server before they can be accessed via the Internet. Many ISP's provide such storage space, as do several online companies like Yahoo! GeoCities. HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) - the code language used to create a website. It's not hard to learn, and there are dozens of HTML tutorials online. JPG - one of two formats used for web graphics. A JPG is a high-resolution image - a photograph, for example. Search engine - the online equivalent of a phone book or card catalog, which allows you to find websites by name or by topic. The most popular search engine is Yahoo!, but Google is probably the best. Shareware - Similar to freeware, except that the creators expect payment for the program you download. You may not be able to access all the program's features until you pay, or if you do not pay within the required period of time, the program may stop working. As with freeware, always be careful when downloading from the net. Only download from sites you know and trust, or you could end up with a nasty computer virus. Upload - to transfer files from your own computer to a host server. This requires an FTP program. URL (Universal Resource Locator): The "address" of a website. It typically begins with "http://www." Web designer, webmaster/mistress - a web designer creates your website, and a webmaster/mistress keeps it updated. The terms are normally synonymous, since one person typically fills both positions. More Hot Sheets.... Getting a Web Address Designing Your Site Adding Graphics to Your Site Promoting Your Site Glossary of Terms Hot Sheets Main Menu --Karin Allen is a web designer and a former member of Lee Switz and Associates. This article was last updated July 2001. Home Services Associates Clients Hot Sheets Links


		19 Maxwell Road Richmond, Virginia 23226 phone 804.354.0820 fax 804.358.9746 e-mail ehs@leeswitzassociates.com