HTML 4 for Dummies [Paperback]

Ed Tittel (Author), Natanya Pitts (Author)

Book Description

Series: For Dummies | Publication Date: July 1999

Internet and networking experts Tittel and Pitts refresh their bestseller with updated examples and valuable search tools that make using HTML 4 easier than ever. The CD-ROM contains a new Java-based search tool for understanding the function of HTML 4 tags. 50 illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

HTML 4 for Dummies provides an introduction to Web publishing, but it contains less information than it should. If you don't know HTML at all, you'll be able to extract some worthwhile information from these pages. But if you're at all familiar with HTML and want this book to bring you up to speed on what's new in the HTML 4 specification, you'll be disappointed.

The book presents a super-simple "Hello, World" HTML document that illustrates the most basic structure of an HTML document. The authors then spend 100 pages flailing around with confusing discussions of organization and graphic design. (Sample sentence: "The Web is both a cooperative and a competitive environment; it depends on interdependence, but it's impatient with boredom.") Eventually, they get back to the information about tags that the intended audience needs--and they do a good job of explaining how to build headers, images, links, tables, and frames with HTML code. But the coverage would be better if they had included more illustrations of what the tags do. The discussion of cascading style sheets (CSS) is feeble, and there's no DHTML (dynamic HTML) code in evidence at all.

Your best bet is to look for a better HTML 4 text for beginners. HTML 4 for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide is a good choice, as is HTML 4 Bible. --David Wall

Review

“…a very useful reference tool that comes with a nice selection of programs…”(PC Utilities, June 2003) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Hungry Minds Inc; 2nd edition (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764505726
• ISBN-13: 978-0764505720
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,527,015 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book, for dummies ;), October 14, 2000

By 

Jason E. Smith "Web Developer" (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: HTML 4 for Dummies (with CD-ROM) (Paperback)

As the title says, this book is for people with very little knowledge of HTML - but knowledge of how to use a computer at an intermediate level. It covers most basic HTML tags, up to and including tables and a limited amount of framesets, as well as providing a large reference section aimed at the beginning HTML coder, becoming a decent reference manual even after the Tutorial section is finished.

It's not the be-all and end-all of coding references, but it's perfect for someone that is comfortable with a computer, and wants to being creating simple web pages. This can take an individual with little knowledge and give them enough information to where they can understand the more complex online references and puzzle out the rest, or to a level where they can successfully invest their time in learning more about CSS, JavaScript, and DHTML to move to more complex sites.

53 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't buy this book..., October 5, 2000

By 

Renaaah "Renaaah" (Bronxville, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: HTML 4 for Dummies (with CD-ROM) (Paperback)

I am currently taking an introductory class called "Build your Own Website." This book is required reading. When I went to my local bookstore to get "Html4 for Dummies with CD ROM," the sales associate did everything in her power to dissuade me from buying it. Now, 2 weeks into the course (and the book) I understand why.

There is too much text in this book: long, verbose explanations that make learning a chore. It is no fun to read, and is often confusing. Unless you are in the same situation as I (your professor demands that you use this, and only this, text) don't waste your money. Elizabeth Castro has written a much better book on this subject.

34 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Satisfactory job of explaining HTML language to new user, November 13, 2002

By 

R. Geissman "Lodi Shopper" (Lodi, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: HTML 4 for Dummies (with CD-ROM) (Paperback)

This book could have been about 200 pages shorter if they left out the redundant info on content and style of content. I would call this book "Keep it simple silly" as they must mention the KISS theory about 400 times. While I did get a better understanding of HTML after reading it. I was surely not prepared to make much of a web page when I was done digesting these 400 pages. I suggest picking it up at the library as I did and then getting a HTML reference book. Heck you can just go to WebMonkey or some other tutorial web site and learn just as much but quicker. It served it's usefullness but I would never buy it or reference back to it after reading it.