Customer Reviews

HTML, XHTML, and CSS: Your visual blueprint for designing effective Web pages (Wiley Desktop Editions)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a Web design teacher who deals with these issues on a daily basis, I have already decided I will use this as a textbook in the future. My students range from completely uninformed to reasonably practiced developers. This book will work equally with all of them.

Others have addressed the depth of the topics of the book, so there is little I can add there. I wanted to say how much I appreciate how short the lessons are. Although the book is designed for more advanced Web designers, a neophyte wanting to learn to develop Web pages could pick this book up and work through the lessons in short and easy steps, becoming reasonably well informed developers.

I also particularly appreciate the appendices in the back. One addresses XHTML, and the other Cascading Style Sheets. They are both easily used and full of information.

I highly recommend this book and plan to use it in relevant graduate and undergraduate courses (actually, I also plan to keep it by my side while I work). Now if I could just find a similarly satisfying XML book.

Thanks

What a great pickup this book has been! As someone who has worked with html at the code level for many years, I picked this up with the intention of honing my CSS skills. After reviewing the topics I already felt comfortable with so as to make sure I was doing things correctly, I was able to quickly get up to speed on the topics that most interested me.

Arranged so that skills build progressively through the book coupled with clear, bold page headers it is simple to flip through and easily find any section you are looking for. I especially like the way the author broke down large topics into smaller, scalable sub-topics that are clearly explained on two pages, eliminating the back and forth page flipping that some authors make necessary.

In addition to covering the most basic of html and CSS, the author doesn't shy away from introducing more advanced uses such as alternate-use style sheets and even the creation and implementation of RSS feeds.

This isn't a `dummies' book that tries too hard to be clever and jokey, it is a serious resource that quickly and clearly gets to the point while avoiding the dryness that some books fall prey to. I've never picked up a Wiley Press book before but will definitely consider them in the future.

This is a really great book for learning XHTML, CSS, and related web technologies. I like how comprehensive it is, covering topics that are mostly ignored by other HTML books like search engines, CSS hacks, and common pitfalls. Jam packed with very useful, well presented, and up to date information, you will get your moneys worth on this one.

And I thought that I would actually be able to produce a review that showed this book in a more glowing light. Alas...nope! As I sit here toughing this book out guess what else I discovered? There are actually bits of code missing in the visual depictions in the exercises. For example on page 166 in the exercise for working with element over flow.....it tells you how to make a scrolling table while leaving out one very important detail. That detail is to add a div tag in the html in order to call the #content id selector that is in the CSS at the beginning of the document. Is that anywhere in the picture? Nope! Had to figure it out for myself. And that's fine because it proves that I am learning and that I know what I am doing. Imagine that! I'm actually filling in the missing pieces of a book that is supposed to teach me. Why is only the CSS shown? The HTML should also be shown IN THE BOOK so that we know that the div tag is calling the #content ID selector. All in all the book isn't horrible.....but its VERY frustrating to plod through this and discover bits and pieces missing and the overall instruction to be vague at best. I am disappointed overall. The book seriously needs a major re edit if any other editions are to be released. I don't know...why am I the only one panning it? Everyone else seems happy! Have I gone mad? :)

Every opening in this book is an individual lesson. You turn a page and you get a new lesson. There is no fluff and no puff, just plain facts. The writer knows his stuff and writes in a pleasant and effective manner. Everything is easy to understand. Most of the teaching is done through pictures. The HTML pages and CSS files used in the book can be downloaded from the web. I did not know a thing about the HTML and now I have two web sites running! Mind you, this a good book to start with but you will also need more advanced books later on. The blueprint concept of this book is excellent. And the book is compact and can be easily carried along. It is worth mentioning that this book is up-to-date as RSS feeds, Google Maps and Blogs are discussed in detail.

The transition from the HTML to CSS was good but not perfect. Some of my concerns were not fully addressed and I had to use the web to find the answers. In any case I highly recommend this book for the novices and internediates as well. You cannot go wrong by choosing this book.

The great thing about this book is that all the tasks are broken down into (mostly) two-page sections and the organization lends itself to being a great reference book.

PLUS - the information is current and easy to follow.

highly recommended for any web developer.

I bought this book thinking it would provide a good overview of HTML. Turns out it also provides a very good understanding of web page design. I've been doing (very poor) HTML and some CSS for years. Now I realize that I still have a lot to learn, and this is the book that will help with the learning process. Even though I have a bit of experience, I've started at the beginning of this book and already learned a lot. And I'm only up to page 50! This book is well thought out, very logically laid out, and is a wealth of knowledge. And this book is also a great reference. Each two pages essentially stands on its own. Frankly, a great book regardless of your experience level.

What I like about this book is the building approach used. I teach html and web design. Rob's layout allows me to quickly find information needed for classroom work and show the students how and why it works. I will have this book with me in the classroom from now on as an easy to use reference, not only for me but students to.
Mel Rose

Nice text, I am using for an introduction to web development class. However, in the next edition, PLEASE make the font size in the notepad screen shots larger !! I'm getting old - and even with glasses the text is difficult to read.

Thanks

I love this book! It has helped me sssooo much in my classes. I tried to find more for Java and for some lame reason they have quit making them. STRAT MAKING THESE BOOKS AGAIN PLEASE!! This book is a life saver!