Customer Reviews

HTML 4.0 Sourcebook (Sourcebooks)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book delivers on its promise of a thorough review of HTML 4.0. Every tag and attribute is explained well enough for you to get the hang of it on your own. This is not the "end-all" book on HTML, but simply a quick (but thorough) reference and a starting guide. It explains HTML topics in a natural language that can appeal to all classes of readers.

I was greatly pleased with one feature that this book possessed where others did not. Every tag and attribute in the book is labeled so that you know exactly what is currently supported by which browser. That is immensely important in web design. Graham also consistently included pictures of how various web pages were interepreted by differing browsers, along with the code itself.

This book is good for a beginner as well as a quick reference for developers. If you want a large quantity of specific information on specific topics within or related to HTML (E.g. CSS, XML, cgi, etc), then buy a different book. However, for all of the features proprietary to HTML 4.0, this is the book to get.

I have read both this book and O'Reilly's _The Definitive Guide_. Both are excellent books. However, Graham (or his editor) has laid his book out in a more logical format and goes beyond simple HTML.

If you are a beginner, Graham will gently guide into the complexities of advanced web page and web site design.

If you are an experienced web document creator, you should find new and enlightening info in this book. The detailed descriptions of each individual tag can be compared to no other book.

Graham begins with an introduction to HTML and basic document design. He also includes very pertinent graphics information. In later chapters he returns to and expands on the basic tags. He thouroughly examines every tag, helpfully separating them into standard tags and advanced/proprietary features.

He goes far beyond any other HTML guide I have read by including information on page collection and site design, info that *should* be standard coverage when talking about the web. He also includes information on URLs, HTTP, and CGI.

What sets this book apart from any other computer book I have ever read is the unbelievable amount of reliable and pertinent external sources, books and web sites alike. That, and the excellent index, make this what should be a standard book the shelf of anyone who has anything to do with the web.

After reviewing the contents of this book, I found that it is very much misnamed. HTML 4.0 Sourcebook should definitely not be called a "sourcebook" because it is lacking in any valuable "sources." Having purchased it as a reference guide, I found that it touched on the needs of a Web developer, at best, on a limited basis. Other features lacking in this book: There is no quick reference section (as is often found in most HTML books), it is lacking in any substantial structure, and the layout is lacking in any type of usability. The book reads as if written by a professor desperately needing to get published. I recommend ANY other HTML book over this one.

I was looking for exactly what this book contains. I spent 20 minutes in a book-shop digging the shelves trying to find something that could explain HTML with short and clear examples, going directly to the grain, and I found it!. This book is well written, clear and give you a good practical perspective of how to design a web site.

I used this book during a summer internship in 1996 and I found it very useful. Whenever I had questions, I would email the author who would explain things to me in detail. Its been a while since I saw the latest version of this book, but the earlier ones were very useful!

I find that this book explanes very well how to program in HTML. It contains a lot of information that is useful in creating a great web site. It talks about the design of a web site and many HTML tags (elements). It includes information about graphics, linking to data, frames, fill-in forms, font control, meta and much more. Not only does it describe how to program in HTML, but it also contains sections explaning how HTML works. I think this book is a very useful tool in learning HTML.

This book makes a good bible, in that it has all the features of HTML, but it is NOT a book to use to learn from.

Not enough good examples nor summary tables of the HTML tags.

I know lots about HTML and this book shows it very well, its outdated but was deffinetely worth the price. If you are new to HTML I recommend this book because it shows you how to HTML in simple terms. Its VERY TIME CONSUMING!! BUT STILL GOOD!!

I have used this book since version 1, and have found it to present a good balance between the need for a quick reference and an in depth explaination of topics. The Explaination does not quite reach the ease of reading of "HTML for Dummies" but for someone with some understand of HTML concepts if not the launguage itself, if is more than adequate. The quick reference at the beginning of each chapter give a quick refresher for the Web designer who needs to review the format of a command. For first time users, I suggest you skip these pages, read the explaination, and then go back to the first pages.

Combining an engaging writing style with comprehensive and easy-to-understand content is no easy feat when it comes to computer books. Mr. Graham does an excellent job at both. The book is very well-organized and well-timed. The first few chapters give you enough information and motivation to try a web site and to be cognizant of functional design. The book then goes into more detail of each tag, attribute, etc. so you can further refine your work plus get more explanation of what you are doing. More advanced topics are covered toward the end. Throughout the book are a liberal sprinkling of url's to see real-life examples of what the author is talking about. He also does a good job of showing differences between browsers, discussing deprecated tags, tags not yet implemented, etc. This is a great book for reference and reading!