iWeb+HISD+Technology+Day+Presentation

iWeb is a [|website] and [|blog] creation tool. The end-user does not need to have any knowledge of web languages in order to effectively use the product. The features of iWeb include:
 * iWeb Description:**
 * Apple-designed templates
 * Easy website creation
 * An [|iLife] media browser
 * Drag and drop support for media files
 * Blogging in a limited sense
 * Podcasting
 * One-click [|MobileMe] publishing (non-MobileMe users can publish sites to a folder, then upload with third-party FTP services.)

//**Source**//: [|Wikipedia article on iWeb] media type="custom" key="3155646" If you’re looking to build a simple website, for yourself, your class, or even your student organization, your new Mac makes it very easy with “iWeb.” Your Macbook should have the [|iLife] suite already installed on your laptop. It’s even easier if you have a [|MobileMe] account, because with one touch of a button, you can publish your website to the Internet. Of course, if you don’t want to pay for MobileMe account or you already have a site you’d like to update, it’s not quite so obvious how to publish. I will try to show you how to see how to build your website using iWeb, and various ways to publish it.

The basic idea with iWeb is that you start with Apple designed templates (which are first rate) and modify them to your taste and needs. iWeb is perfect if you want to stay within the handful of most popular web page types that the templates give you. If you want a custom look and structure, you can do it, but you are not playing to iWeb's strengths and may meet some frustration with the limits of the program.

One benefit is that you can do it all by not knowing any HTML, but you should know because of the way Apple hides the complexity of websites in iWeb, the sites you create won't easily translate to other HTML editing software down the line if you graduate from iWeb.

media type="custom" key="3155324" [|Atomic Learning iWeb Video Tutorials] Many wonderful iWeb video resources
 * Building Your Site**

iWeb comes with iLife ’06 and iLife ’08. it’s almost a guarantee you have iWeb on your computer, if not contact the HISD Technology contact person at your school and they should be able to get the software for your. Once you open iWeb, you’ll see a page asking you what “template” you would like to use. Pick the template that is most like how you want your site to look. Don’t worry if there’s something about it you don’t like. iWeb pages are almost completely customizable.

Once you have picked your template, you will see the web page, with some default pictures and text on it. This is the way most Apple programs start. They have some placeholders in the design and you are to replace the text and images with your own stuff. Just click inside the text to start editing it.

To change the pictures, click on the “Media” button on the bottom toolbar. You’ll find that this media browser really comes in handy. You can drag any iPhoto picture onto the default picture to replace it. In this fashion, iWeb is pretty self-explanatory for those of you who want a nice looking website and don’t mind it being the exact template. But for those that want their website to be unique, there are plenty more options.

One of the most valuable options in iWeb is the Insert menu. You can insert almost anything. If it isn’t on the menu, just click “Choose…” at the bottom and choose any file. Once chosen, it will drop onto your webpage for resizing and effects.

Even more customization comes from the “Inspector” window. Down on the bottom bar with the media browser, this is where all the advanced photo and webpage options are. The different tabs at the top of the Inspector window allow you to edit your text styles, image embellishments such as drop shadows and reflections, and to edit the browser information for your webpage. The “Adjust” button allows you to edit your photo just as if it were in iPhoto, including saturation, brightness, and contrast. Explore around the bottom row of buttons for a little bit, and you’ll have iWeb’s power at your fingertips.


 * Getting Your Site Online**

Building the site is the easy part. Getting it online can be tricky. If you have MobileMe account, then it is really easy. Just go to the “File” menu and select “Publish All to MobileMe.” You can try MobileMe for free for 30 or 60 days, just go to [|me.com] and see if you like it before you pay for it. If you don’t have MobileMe account, it’s a little harder.

In the File menu, click “Publish to folder.” Follow the on screen directions, making sure to both publish to a new or empty folder and to type in the exact address of your website.

Once iWeb is done processing, go to the folder it published to. You will notice that there is an index.html file and a “Site” folder. Inside the site folder will be more html files and other corresponding file folders. The way the iWeb pages are set up, you must upload the folders and files in the same order that they appear in the folder on your computer.

Make sure that everything that you put on your iWeb pages are also in that folder, pictures, music, videos, podcasts, just about everything needs to be in that folder.

Once your folder is complete, you will either need to save it to a shared drive or save the folder on a portable drive like a USB flash drive, jump drive, or whatever you like to call it and then get it over to the HISD Technology Department so that they may upload your files. HISD will be hosting your website and they will upload your webpages to the server.

Overall, iWeb is a great tool and extremely easy to use. If you have a MobileMe account, getting your website from iWeb to the Internet is a breeze. If you don’t, it is still simple, but a little time consuming.

Publishing Your iWeb Files to a Folder
 * HISD Staff Web Page Publishing Procedure:**

Getting Started with iWeb .PDF
 * Handouts:**

[|iWeb Video Tutorials from Apple] [|iWeb Video Tutorials from Atomic Learning] [|25 iWeb Video Tutorials by Mark Richardson] [|iWeb Video Tutorial from Expert Village] [|iWeb Video Tutorial Mr. Farley]
 * Video Tutorials:**

[|Hereford High School Health Science Technology iWeb Page] [|HISD Technology Day iWeb Page] [|John Peters' Personal iWeb Page]
 * iWeb Examples:**

[|iWeb 09 Web Design For The Rest Of Us] [|Mac 101 iWeb from Apple] [|iWeb Hot Tips from Apple] [|Wikipedia - iWeb] [|iWeb Tutorials by Tom Avery] [|iWeb Review by Mac Guild]
 * Resources:**

If you have any comments, suggestions or ideas for future HISD Quick Tips, please let me know. You may send me an email, skype me or send me a tweet on twitter. Here is my contact information and please, feel free to let me know you what you think.
 * || **Comments, Suggestions, Ideas**

John Peters, EMT-LP Hereford High School 703 Grand Avenue 612 CT&E Building Hereford, TX 79045 (806) 363-7704 office email: johnpeters@herefordisd.net Twitter: [|johnpeters] [|Skype:] johnpeters1959 ClaimID: [|John Peters] ||