• Walks readers through the process of creating a basic Web site from scratch using HMTL, the basis for billions of Web pages, and then jazzing it up with advanced techniques from the author’s award-winning sites
• This updated edition features new material that shows readers how to attract visitors to a site and keep them there, including new JavaScript examples and coverage of cascading style sheets and XHTML, technologies that make building successful Web sites even easier
• Also features exciting new tips and tricks for beginning and advanced users, as well as more expanded examples and samples for users to incorporate in their own sites
• The book moves from basic design and deployment to advanced page layout strategies, showing how to spice up new or existing sites with sound, video, and animation

• Walks readers through the process of creating a basic Web site from scratch using HMTL, the basis for billions of Web pages, and then jazzing it up with advanced techniques from the author’s award-winning sites
• This updated edition features new material that shows readers how to attract visitors to a site and keep them there, including new JavaScript examples and coverage of cascading style sheets and XHTML, technologies that make building successful Web sites even easier
• Also features exciting new tips and tricks for beginning and advanced users, as well as more expanded examples and samples for users to incorporate in their own sites
• The book moves from basic design and deployment to advanced page layout strategies, showing how to spice up new or existing sites with sound, video, and animation

• Walks readers through the process of creating a basic Web site from scratch using HMTL, the basis for billions of Web pages, and then jazzing it up with advanced techniques from the author’s award-winning sites
• This updated edition features new material that shows readers how to attract visitors to a site and keep them there, including new JavaScript examples and coverage of cascading style sheets and XHTML, technologies that make building successful Web sites even easier
• Also features exciting new tips and tricks for beginning and advanced users, as well as more expanded examples and samples for users to incorporate in their own sites
• The book moves from basic design and deployment to advanced page layout strategies, showing how to spice up new or existing sites with sound, video, and animation

How to take command of the wide, wonderful Web

Thinking of launching a Web site or an e-business? Want to jazz up the site you already have? This book is jammed with secrets that entice Web wanderers to stop at your site and return again. You’ll find out how to create a basic Web page, enhance it using CSS and JavaScript™, morph it into a complete multipage site, add forms, video, and animation, and get a top ranking from leading search engines. Here’s the perfect mix of technology and creativity–the cool stuff you want to do, plus a thorough understanding of the tools that let you do it.

• Use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to maintain consistent formatting for a slick, professional look
• Improve the quality of your site with XHTML, the next generation of markup language
• Jazz up your site with appropriate use of color, graphics, animation, and sound
• Discover how to improve your site design to make it more user friendly
• Write your pages to make them search engine friendly and improve your ranking automatically
• Check out all the examples and much more at the author’s Web site: www.intuitive.com/coolsites/

How to take command of the wide, wonderful Web Thinking of launching a Web site or an e-business? Want to jazz up the site you already have? This book is jammed with secrets that entice Web wanderers to stop at your site and return again. You’ll find out how to create a basic Web page, enhance it using CSS and JavaScript, morph it into a complete multipage site, add forms, video, and animation, and get a top ranking from leading search engines. Here’s the perfect mix of technology and creativity-the cool stuff you want to do, plus a thorough understanding of the tools that let you do it. Use Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to maintain consistent formatting for a slick, professional look Improve the quality of your site with XHTML, the next generation of markup language Jazz up your site with appropriate use of color, graphics, animation, and sound Discover how to improve your site design to make it more user friendly Write your pages to make them search engine friendly and improve your ranking automatically Check out all the examples and much more at the author’s Web site: www.intuitive.com/coolsites/

* Walks readers through the process of creating a basic Web site from scratch using HMTL, the basis for billions of Web pages, and then jazzing it up with advanced techniques from the author’s award-winning sites
* This updated edition features new material that shows readers how to attract visitors to a site and keep them there, including new JavaScript examples and coverage of cascading style sheets and XHTML, technologies that make building successful Web sites even easier
* Also features exciting new tips and tricks for beginning and advanced users, as well as more expanded examples and samples for users to incorporate in their own sites
* The book moves from basic design and deployment to advanced page layout strategies, showing how to spice up new or existing sites with sound, video, and animation

Recommended for a class I’m taking ...
This book was (1) of (3) books recommended by the teacher of my online CSS & XHTML class.

It’s more like a workbook than a manual, so it helps to work chapter by chapter.

It’s easier to use than a manual and much less cumbersome.

However, I feel "Headfirst HTML with CSS & XHTML" by O’Reilly is more comprehensive while still holding onto the "workbook" style.

Make this book your SECOND choice to the O’Reilly book.

Beginner, but not "cool"...
I got this to be an aid in teaching HTML and CSS to a 13-yr-old.

There is a lot of your standard HTML stuff in here and even some decent CSS basics, but as for being a good start towards creative or "cool" sites utilizing the contents; it’s not. Just some run of the mill examples. It even has whole sections dedicated to frames. Yech. The CSS examples are pretty limited too. One small chapter on CSS inline text formatting (no stylesheet use) followed by a large chapter on table based layouts. What a shame.

Decent for a beginner, but I’d gravitate towards "CSS Web Design for Dummies" instead.

Beginner, but not "cool"...
I got this to be an aid in teaching HTML and CSS to a 13-yr-old.



There is a lot of your standard HTML stuff in here and even some decent CSS basics, but as for being a good start towards creative or "cool" sites utilizing the contents; it’s not. Just some run of the mill examples. It even has whole sections dedicated to frames. Yech. The CSS examples are pretty limited too. One small chapter on CSS inline text formatting (no stylesheet use) followed by a large chapter on table based layouts. What a shame.



Decent for a beginner, but I’d gravitate towards "CSS Web Design for Dummies" instead.

Best of Show - also covers CGI and Javascript
Went to see if the bookstore had a CSS book, and found nearly two shelves of them! The best ones in terms of brevity, usefulness, and practicality were this one and "Eric Meyer on CSS." (Yes, I was there quite a while checking them out, and I hope you find this information useful.)

There isn’t much to know on CGI so it’s "all" here: it’s just an additional line of code for Perl hacks (assuming one is at least clinically sane regarding security). Doesn’t get into PHP. Has a good chapter on essential JavaScript (how to check form fields to make sure they were filled in, etc.). The book is aimed at beginners, yet I (a technical professional) did not find it annoying. It is to-the-point and I quickly found what I wanted --and more! Lots of cool tricks + good "under the hood" information such as, the head section loads entirely before the body, which is why it’s a good place to put the JavaScript, etc.

Best CSS primer also covers CGI and Javascript
Among nearly two shelves of CSS books at the store, this was the best ones in terms of brevity, usefulness, and practicality. (With honorable mention to "Eric Meyer on CSS." I was there quite a while checking books out, and I hope somebody finds this info useful.)

I had some experience with CSS which is why I had questions. Chapter 4 is twenty-odd pages that I assimilated in 15 minutes --it answered ALL of my questions and had me itching to try things out! I immediately re-factored my site’s pages and it ALL worked on the first crack! Chap. 4 alone justifies the book. If you’re still using the FONT tag or positioning images with TABLEs, kiss that goodbye forever! CSS is so much more professional and controllable, and this is a killer introduction.

There isn’t much to know on CGI so it’s "all" here: it’s just an additional line of code for Perl hacks, assuming one is at least clinically sane about security, i.e., doesn’t pass a form field to system("$cmd"). Doesn’t cover PHP. Has a good chapter on essential JavaScript (how to check form fields to make sure they were filled in, etc.). The book is aimed at beginners, yet I (a career techie) did not find it annoying. It is to-the-point and I quickly found what I wanted --and more! Lots of cool tricks + good "under the hood" info (such as: the HEAD section loads entirely before the BODY, which is why it’s a good place to put JavaScript functions so that they’re all ready by the time the user sees anything).

Best CSS primer also covers CGI and Javascript
Among nearly two shelves of CSS books at the store, this was the best one in terms of brevity, usefulness, and practicality. (With honorable mention to "Eric Meyer on CSS." I was there quite a while checking books out, and I hope somebody finds this opinion useful.)

I had some experience with CSS which is why I had questions. Chapter 4 is twenty-odd pages that I assimilated in 15 minutes --it answered ALL of my questions and had me itching to try things out! I immediately re-factored my site’s pages and it ALL worked on the first crack! Chap. 4 alone justifies the book. If you’re still using the FONT tag or positioning images with TABLEs, kiss that goodbye forever! CSS is so much more professional and controllable, and this is a killer introduction.

There isn’t much to know on CGI so it’s "all" here: it’s just an additional line of code for Perl hacks, assuming one is at least clinically sane about security, i.e., doesn’t pass a form field to system("$form{1}"). Doesn’t cover PHP. Has a good chapter on essential JavaScript (how to check form fields to make sure they were filled in, etc.). The book is aimed at beginners, yet I (a career techie) did not find it annoying. It is to-the-point and I quickly found what I wanted --and more! Lots of cool tricks + good "under the hood" info (such as: the HEAD section loads entirely before the BODY, which is why it’s a good place to put JavaScript functions so that they’re all ready by the time the user sees anything).

This book is an antique.
I’m glad I didn’t open the enclosed CD. I’d then be selling this book. I understand the basics of HTML coding haven’t changed, but when I read the forward of this book, I knew it was out of date. 2nd edition, first published in 2000 this book is behind the times in computer time. Netscape the wave of the Future? All code checked with windows 98? What good could the enclosed CD be with a 2000 version of Explorer and Coffee Cup. This book would be of no help to a Myspace user and was no help to me. Still looking for an up to date guide.

hurricanejerry

I am not a techie . . .
And I don’t even play one on TV. But I sometimes find myself having to do techie things, such as making revisions to my Web site, or trying to figure out why the $%@!#$ thing isn’t doing what I thought it was supposed to do. That is when I reach for this book.

Dave Taylor is a techie, but fortunately for us, he is able to communicate with those of us for whom HTML, CSS and XHTML are not our native languages. The explanations and examples in the book are easy to follow, and the companion Web site provides additional information.

Although the reason I wanted this book was to help with coding issues, it is much more. Creating Cool Web Sites is a one-stop shop with information about building Web pages, adding features such as graphics, audio and video, forms, and more. You even get suggestions on making your site more user-friendly, and attracting search engines and visitors.

There are hundreds of books out there about HTML, CSS, Web design, graphics, Java script, RSS, search engine marketing, etc. If you want one book that will explain all of this to you from start to finish in easy-to-understand language, Creating Cool Web Sites is the one you need.

Cathy Stucker, IdeaLady.com

Excellent Resource to get Your Web Site Up and Running
This is one of the best organized, well-written technical books I have encountered in the last 15 years! The examples in the book and the companion web-site make step by step learning simple and clear. I went from knowing nothing about creating a website to launching one in one week, using no other references. This book is a must-read for anyone getting started on the web.This is a concise, fact and example-packed, logical guide to getting up and running - a keeper for sure!

Good but perhaps too extensive
The didactic work is perfect the author is really expert in the subject and the expression is very didactic the examples are very well selected.
The Web that accompanies the book he is excellent.
Although you dominate to the Web the book can teach of rigorous way many aspecteos to you that we do not know demasido.
It is an excellent tool to consult and to clarify ideas.
Jordi Guim Jordi Guim

Learn From a Gifted Teacher
Learn Web site design the easy way, from a gifted teacher! Dave Taylor is one of those rare authors that is truly gifted at teaching his subject. He makes HTML easy to understand and enjoyable.

I do a little programming and recently got involved with doing some CGI stuff for a website. The CGI stuff came easy, but my site design was extremely lame. This book makes it simple to move beyond the boring and put in a little fun.

My two daughters are interested in doing Web design and kept taking my book, so I bought two more copies for them.

If you are just starting out, this is the place to start!

An excellent book..
This book is great for teaching you how HTML really works. He provides a lot of good examples and makes some fairly difficult concepts easy-to-understand. I wish I’d had this book when I began learning HTML.

Reasonable starting point for the beginner
It’s not about learning keys strokes, or commands with HTML. It’s about learning the syntax of the language. It’s about having an idea about what you want your site to convey, and how you want it to look and expressing it through HTML. So a book that teaches HTML must acts as language primer and select a subset of the language to introduce.

This is exactly what this book does. It doesn’t provide in-depth coverage of every detail of every tag. It provides an overall look at HTML, then page design, then site design. As such, this is a good book to take you from zero to beginner with HTML. To advance beyond there you will want a book like O’Reilly’s "HTML: The Definitive Guide", or moving beyond that O’Reilly’s massive "Dynamic HTML: The Definitive Reference".

I recommend this book for absolute beginners who know nothing about the web and who want to build sites. There is enough there to get you up the ramp of basic knowledge and to get you pointed in the right direction. Sure there are problems, some of the topics (Java, XSLT) could be stripped altogether, but in generally it’s a consistently high quality book that covers the three fundamentals; HTML, Page Design and Site Design.

where is the cool web sites
the book is ok for beginner level,
it looks same like any other dhtml book with java script and css,
but i don’t see any cool web site examples .

Excellent Step by Step Guide
If you want a Web site with more than the cookie-cutter templates offered by Front Page, read this book! It takes the intimidation out of those weird looking HTML, CSS, and Javascript commands, and gives you the tools to bring your Web sites into the 21st century.

Dave gives us the benefit of his experience with a wide variety of browsers on Microsoft, Macintosh, and Unix/Linux platforms, which can help you bring your Web site to the widest possible audience.

This book reminds me of the old game creation books, which build your skills step by step. By the end, I got the same feeling of joy that I got after coding my first version of Space Invaders.

It starts with instructions on how to create simple Web pages. By the time you’re done, you’ll know how to create the Web pages that work best for you.

When you read this book, follow along with a text editor and the browser(s) of your choice. Dave builds your skills, step by step. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the Web pages that you create.