How do I Create a Webpage?

Develop web pages on Ruby or Isis

Ruby (SILS Server)

Individual HTML documents served by Ruby must reside in the directory named public_html inside your home directory. These files will have a URL of http://ils.unc.edu/~username/whatever.html. To get the files to your Ruby directory, use SFTP.

Enabling Web Access: Before you or anyone else can access your files through a Web browser, you must first change the access permissions for your root folder on Ruby. Here are two options for doing this...

Using UNIX commands in the UNIX shell:

1. Navigate to your root directory (/export/home/u/username/). This is where you start when you first log in. You could also type cd to get there.
2. Type chmod 711 .  (chmod space 711 space period). Do not forget the space and the period after the 711

Using the SSH graphical user interface (SSH Secure File Transfer):

1. Navigate to your root directory (/export/home/u/username/). This is where you start when you first log in. You could also select the Home Icon icon.
2. Hit the Up Arrow button.
3. Find your folder in the list.
4. Right click on your folder and select Properties.
5. Make sure your permissions are set to Read, Write, Execute for "Owner" and Execute for "Group" and "Other". Failure to do this will yield a 403 error when trying to view your Web pages.

Isis (UNC Server)

To create HTML documents on Isis, please consult the ITS helpdoc Creating Web Pages in AFS

Learning HTML, CSS, XML, XSL, XHTML, PHP...

The World Wide Web Consortium (also known as the W3C) has the specifications for these languages and more. They also have online Web tutorials to get you started. If you're just getting started making Web pages, visit the HTML Tutorial. More advanced Web developers should browse the list to find what they need.

There are also many useful books in the SILS Lab that can be checked out with your OneCard. O'Reilly's Web Design in a Nutshell is a handy reference for the initiated and a good place to start for newbies.