Ideas and help?

[WallaceWrite]

I'm pretty new at this so bear with me.

I need to set up a page where readers can click on something like a thumbnail and a separate page will open with a document.

I don't care if they click on words or a thumbnail but I need a popup (or new page) that opens the document they are looking for. The documents are both PDF and Word documents.

Before I decided to use SiteBuilder, I tried to learn and make a page in Dreamweaver - couldn't pull it off. When I sent a ticket asking a techie how to do the above process - he just said to download one of the free templates and use a program to fill it out. Been there - couldn't do that...he said they don't help with design - which is not really what I was asking anyway...but...

So, here I am asking other hostgator customers to help me out.

If you have any ideas what I can do - please let me know.

Thank you in advance.

WW

[dewt]

If all you want is for the target of the link to open in a new window/tab then add target="_blank" to the link. The first example below is a link from one of the sites that I look after. It opens the file menu.pdf in a new window/tab. The second shows a link to the download page for Adobe Reader, again this opens in a new window/page.

<a href="pdf/menu.pdf" target="_blank">Main Menu</a>

<a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html"         target="_blank">Adobe Reader.</a>

[WallaceWrite]

Thank you very much for responding - that sounds like what I would like but I don't have any idea how to do something like that.

Is that something that you must know programing code to be able to do?

I'm just using SiteBuilder because I was too stupid to figure out the stuff on Dreamweaver - but I tried.

Do you know how I could put those codes in somewhere? On SiteBuilder?

Thank you so much.

[virtvir5]

Dave's suggestion involves editing the <a href="xxx"> links contained in your web site pages that open the documents you referred to in your original question.

All web site creation products (Sitebuilder, Dreamweaver, Frontpage and many others) are essentially just tools for manipulating the HTML and other types of files that actually make up your web site's content. In some ways, despite their allegedly "user friendly" interfaces, they actually end up making the whole process more complicated than just working directly with those site content files.

In any case, none of them are sufficiently flexible to perform every possible "fine tuning" task that various individuals might wish to accomlish for their own puposes. At some point, therefore, it is almost inevitable that you will need to become at least somewhat familiar with the real content of your site and how it works. Personally, I would recommend taking initial steps in that direction as early as possible and there are many online tutorials available on the subject.

Here are just a few to help you to get started with the basics:
Introduction to HTML
Basic HTML Tutorial
A basic tutorial on HTML and building a web page

And here is the definitive word from W3C on using links:
Links in HTML documents

[gwyneth]

And if you have full forum access here, this thread offers several very easy methods to get started:

Site studio/builder alternatives even novices can use

[dewt]

Originally Posted by WallaceWrite

Thank you very much for responding - that sounds like what I would like but I don't have any idea how to do something like that.

Is that something that you must know programing code to be able to do?

I'm just using SiteBuilder because I was too stupid to figure out the stuff on Dreamweaver - but I tried.

Do you know how I could put those codes in somewhere? On SiteBuilder?

Thank you so much.

As both Richard and Gwyneth said you really are much better learning some basic html so you can at the very least understand what these 'programs' are doing. Having said that I've put together a fairly basic set of instructions on how to edit the links produced by Sitebuilder for you. You will need to be able to use ftp to download the source file and then upload it again once you have finished editing.

1. Make a backup of your site. This way you can always revert back if you mess everything up.
2. Download the page that has the links you want to have open in a new tab.
3. Open the file in your chosen text editor. Sitebuilder files are just one very long line. Your browser wont have a problem with that but it makes it very hard to edit manually.
4. Using the Find option, locate each occurrence of <a href
5. If this is the link that you want to open in a new tab/window then scroll along the line until you come to the closing >
6. Just before this symbol you need to insert target="_blank" Please note that there is a space before the word target.
7. Repeat steps 3-5 for each link on this page that you want to open in a new tab.
8. Upload the amended file making sure that it has the same name.

Before the edit:

<a href="page2.html" class="menu">

After the edit:

<a href="page2.html" class="menu" target="_blank">

You can see this in action on a demo site that I've done at http://thequizzone.info/ The Add on page will open in a new tab.

Once again I have to recommend learning some html. Trying to wade through the files produced by sitebuilder etc is very hard work. Hope this helps.

[WallaceWrite]

Thank you for all the wonderful and very helpful ideas. I was unable to open the link Gweneth used although I've been a paying member of hostgator since January and I applied to the forums over a week ago - I guess that is just my tough luck.

I am definitely going to take some time to learn HTML, it looks as though I need it badly.

For now, though - I think the best step is to cancel my business acct with Hostgator and find another host that has a more inclusive wizard to accomplish this task.

I need basic, very basic education in html and I need a website up and running very soon.

The posters here are so helpful, I wish it would have worked out.

Thank you so much for your time and advice. I've printed out all the directions so I can continue to study.

[RainbowViper]

Wallace, if you STILL cannot access the other forums here, send a PM to GatorWesley and he'll straighten out your permissions. You should have full access.

[virtvir5]

Originally Posted by WallaceWrite

For now, though - I think the best step is to cancel my business acct with Hostgator and find another host that has a more inclusive wizard to accomplish this task.

It's your decision, of course, but I think you may regret it later on. Host Gator is the best hosting service I've found anywhere and I've tried quite a few over the years.

As for finding a "wizard" that requires no understanding of it's functionality and output, I can only wish you, very sincerely, good luck.

[striddy]

Originally Posted by WallaceWrite

I think the best step is to cancel my business acct with Hostgator and find another host that has a more inclusive wizard to accomplish this task.

I need basic, very basic education in html and I need a website up and running very soon.

I fail to see how changing hosts fixes anything. Hosting companies "host". They don't provide html tutorials or offer help with design. So wherever you move to the same challenge will apply.

HG has numerous simple to install (via fantastico in cpanel) scripts that require little html knowledge.

Dreamweaver is not an entry level product so I would never suggest using that if you are just starting out in designing your first site.

[gwyneth]

Originally Posted by striddy

I fail to see how changing hosts fixes anything. Hosting companies "host". They don't provide html tutorials or offer help with design. So wherever you move to the same challenge will apply.

HG has numerous simple to install (via fantastico in cpanel) scripts that require little html knowledge.

Also, this forum is a great learning tool--and the info isn't just static, people are good about hand-holding and walking newbies through all kinds of things.

[party789]

Wallace, the site builder will do what you want. I use site studio, so it may look a bit different, but here's what you need to do:

First, create a subpage (or a new page) and put all the info for the link here. This will be your "separate page will open with a document."

Second, on your page with the link, type out what you want it to say...For example, "The word document page has more info ." Then highlight "word document" and click on the icon in the toolbar that looks like a link from a chain link. A little box will open and let you insert the url that you want these words linked to. Click on "Browse" and all the pages on your site will be listed and you can choose the one you need. Click on your choice and this will make "word document" into a link to the page with all the extra info.
It is not hard...don't give up!

[virtvir5]

Originally Posted by party789

First, create a subpage (or a new page) and put all the info for the link here. This will be your "separate page will open with a document."

Only if the link to that page tells it to open separately in a new window, which is what dewt was trying to explain to the OP in his "how to" instructions on using target="_blank". Otherwise, the browser just moves to that page in the same window.

[nix1602]

WallaceWrite If I may add my 2 cents, I consider myself a newbie and I decided to teach myself HTML, while Frontpage has gotten a bad wrap and I do agree it is limited, it taught me how pages would work by trial and errors as you can see code and then what comes out of it. I would like to recommend reading but also download this HTMLKit
http://www.chami.com/html-kit/ It is not perfect but it is free and a good tool to get you started
As I said I am new and trying to learn PHP, but if I can help you with HTML let me know, that way I can do my part in return for the help I receive in this forum from others, and pls never be afraid of asking a question
Sincerely