I got tired of my computer using friends making fun of my WebTV PageBuilder website URL's. They thought it was real "tacky" that the first 20 letters of our webpage titles appeared in our website URL's. I even started skipping the title box entry so my website URL's would default to the "doc" numbering system, but they still made fun of the content of my URL's. They commented that the most obvious fault with my URL's was that they did not contain authenic looking file extensions after my user name.
In response to their criticism, I started making sure I had more authenic looking WebTV PageBuilder website URL's. This isn't any great PageBuilder "breakthrough;" but actually a procedure that was introduced in the PageBuilder NG's; and which came into general use after the December 1999 PageBuilder upgrade, that allowed separate document and webpage titles, and which led to expert PageBuilders experimenting with title entry variations. Veteran PageBuilders began using the "title-editing, double-publishing" method explained below to customize their URL's. We now routinely see the short customized URL's on experienced PageBuilders websites.
But, we still see many new subscribers start their PageBuilder webpages with the long titles in their URL's. And that is the purpose of the information I present in this tutorial – to help new subscribers learn this procedure when they first start building PageBuilder webpages. I pass this procedure along to all PageBuilders who may want to change the way their PageBuilder website URL's are constructed. Any veteran WebTV PageBuilder who sees a new subscriber with long titles in their webpage URL's should alert the newcomer to the information presented in this tutorial.
Here's the tip for getting short, authenic looking URL's for your WebTV PageBuilder websites. The PageBuilder software program grabs the first 20 letters of the title you first enter in the title text box and adds them to your URL as a file extension following your user name. This first title box entry will be part of the website URL you see on the PageBuilder "Congratulations!" and "Page Settngs" pages. The key to creating short, authenic looking URL's is using the correct sequence and content of your entries into the title text box.
To get a short, authenic looking title after your user name in your WebTV PageBuilder website URL; enter your webpage content and "Publish" the webpage, then type a short title name you like for your webpage URL in the "Title" text box, and then type your webpage description when the "Title" and "Page description Description" text boxes first comes up. This first, short title entry will be used for your URL extension name. Then publish your webpage again - you should see that short name in your webpage URL until you "unpublish" and "republish" with a different title.
After you "Publish" your page the second time, click-on "Edit Title," enter the full title for your page, and "Publish" again. This will be your page title that will appear on your webpage, if you check it, and in our WebTV status bars. Remember to make a title with 35-characters or less so the complete title will appear in our WebTV status bars. And always "click" on "Done" everytime you see it at the bottom of an edited page and after publication on the web.
You can immediately publish a short title first, before you enter any webpage content if you like. Just click "Create" on your PageBuilder Index page. Click on "Add a title" and enter your short title in the title text box. Then click "Publish", then complete the webpage "Description", and click "Publish" again. I suggest you should always leave a new webpage off your "Public list of webpages" until you finish editing it. just "uncheck" the public list box until you publish your webpage like you want it.
Some suggestions for title box entries to get authenic looking file extensions in PageBuilder URL's are: PBadvedit, PBhints, PBtools, PBhelp, etc. You cannot get slashes and periods to appear in your PageBuilder URL's like actual file extensions because html allows text only within title tags - slashes, spaces, and periods entered in the title box disappears when the page is publshed, even if you encode or use ISO Latin-1 (escape) characters – all you get is the first 20 characters of your title textbox entry without spaces, as plaintext. And, you get any HTML code you use in the title text box, like <center>, <font>, etc, to show because the HTML DTD requires that title box entries be displayed as plain text. Title box entries should be used only for "Title Bars" display – 35 character, or less, titles sometimes called "Status Bar" at the bottom of WebTV screens. New Pageuilders will at first click the "Show this title on your page" option until they learn to separate their URL titles from their webpage titles as I suggest here.
URL extensions like those suggested above worked for me. The URL of this page; which shows when I press the "Info" key, is http://community-2.webtv.net/jaxred/PBurls/; and the webpage title, which shows in our title bars, is "Customizing PageBuilder URL's" (which isn't in my URL). Isn't that a better, authenic looking URL file extension, and title bar display? But, there's more. Here's the kicker that gives me a legitimate looking URL to give my computer using friends. The first page of all WebTV PageBuilder webpages is actually "index.html;" but, is not displayed in our URL's when we have just a single webpage. (Note: see "Pagination" below). But, WebTV allows PageBuilders to use an "index.html" extension on any titled webpage. So, I add "index.html" to my URL and give my computer using friends this webpage URL as: http://community-2.webtv.net/jaxred/PBurls/index.html, which looks like I have a PageBuilder website with a "Folder" named "PBurls" which contains a "File" named "index.html." Now that is a legitimate URL! Remember you can't put a period between index.html in the title box, so you have you add it to your URL when you give it to your friends, or type the link in a post or email, if you want the "index.html" extension. Also, note: If you add the "index.html" suffix to your URL, it will show when you press the "Info" key.
If you use PageBuilder's automatic "Pagination" system by adding "Page breaks" to your document, your beginning page will automatically have the "index.html" suffix applied to your "first" page by the PageBuilder software; and, subsequent pages (from added page breaks) will be numbered: "page2.html," "page3.html," etc, successively for all the pages in your document. The "index.html" part of your URL will not show on the PB Index page or the "Info" key unless you type it into the the "Go To" box, or click on a URL with the "index.html" suffix - it's always assumed by the PageBuilder webserver directory that your first page has the "index.html" file extension.
This PageBuilder "Page break" pagination system actually creates separate "webpages" - each of the three (3) pages noted above, of a 3-page document, are actually published as separate webpages, but are listed only by your first page in your PageBuilder Index. This automatic page-break system adds relative URL navagation links, "Next page" and "Previous page" where applicable, to the bottoms of each successive webpage in a multi-page document. You can open and edit any page of a multipage document by clicking on the separate page division, between pagebreaks, in your PB Basic Editor screen.
If you do not put any title entries in the "Title" text box of any page you create, the PageBuilder software will use the automatic "doc" numbering system. Your untitled documents will simply show: "doc0," "doc1," "doc2," etc. A single first ceated, untitled webpage would be automatically titled "doc0/," following your "username" in your URL, by PageBuilder. And then you could add the "index.html" suffix to your URL if you like, as noted above. If you create a multi-page untiled document, PageBuilder will automatically title and number your webpages; as an example, for the 3-page document noted above: "doc0/index.html," "doc0/page2.html," and "doc0/page3.html" following your "username" in your URL.
Finally; in summary, pardon my redundancy on this subject, please remember: As noted above, you can't add the "index.html" file extension to your title in the title box. It's automatically "assumed" by the PageBuilder software - the first page of a PageBuilder website is always recognized as "index.html" (see above paragraph). And, if you use the PageBuilder "pagination" system, of entering "Page breaks," you will automatically get: "index.html," "page2.html," "page3.html," etc. PageBuilder "Page breaks" inserted into a PageBuilder webpage actually create "separate" webpages for each page, with the URL file extensions noted above.
I have additional information about creating links, page breaks and other navagation features on pageBuilder webpages at my navigation options website. I hope this clears up the confusion about the WebTV PageBuilder webpage title and numbering system.
Now, one last problem you must understand. If you "Un-publish" and later "(Re)Publish" a webpage made this way, you will lose your short customized webpage URL – the republished webpage will have the last title entry (long title) in the republished webpage URL. All you have to do after republication is: put your desired short title back in the title box when it comes up with the page description box, "Publish" again, then edit title with your desired long webpage title and publish again.
This "Un-publish" and "Re-publish" procedure noted above is the key to understanding how to change an objectionable long title in your URL. Once you "Publish" a webpage the initial (first) entry in your title box will remain a part of your URL as long as the page remains published, even if you have edited and Re-Published over the original webpage. To get rid of that old long title in your URL, you must "Un-publish" your page and edit your title. Just put in a short title you want to appear in your URL as your first title box entry, "Publish" the webpage to get the short title in your URL, then click "Edit Title" and enter your document title that you want to display in viewer's title bars. Practice on a new short page several times to learn how the sequence of PageBuilder title box entries functions.
Now here's another point you must remember. If you use PageBuilder "Advanced Editor," you cannot use the "checkbox" on the title page to "Add this title to your webpage." The comment tags you add when using Advanced Editor, blocks out the heading" tag that PageBuilder uses to put your title on the top of your beginning webpage. To add a title to a PageBuilder Advanced Editor webpage, you must code a heading, containing your desired title, after you add the new body tag in the large "Add text" text box.
Now a note to all beginning PageBuilders. No, you don't have to use the Advancd Editor to get a short URL title. Just use the "double-title-entry/double-publish" sequence described above to prevent AE code from appearing in your titles. We are going to publish a document twice - once with a short title, and then again with a regular long title of 35 characters or less to show in our title bars, and on your webpage if you choose.
You'd be surprised to know the number of beginning PageBuilders who "dive-in" and start building webpages without thoroughly studing the instructions; then "cuss" the PageBuilder program, or needlessly "beg" for help in the NG's. It's hard to explain PageBuilder procedures to someone who will not try to study, learn, and understand the "Help" pages instructions!
But, PageBuilder is hard to thoroughly learn because there is lots of confusion because the "Help" instructions are not as precisely detailed about each procedure as they could be. So, that's why we have the PageBuilder NG's. PageBuilder experts graciously help many, many PageBuilders each day in the NG's; but, you must always try to "do your homework," folks – you should always study and try to learn all the PageBuilder instructions on the "Help" pages, and follow the latest PageBuilder news in all the PageBuilder NG's! All PageBuilders sincerely wish each other much success and satisfaction in building their own unique personal webpages.
Here's the procedure to follow for creating your first webpage.
(1) Make a starter page with photos, links, text, etc. Don't add a title to your page at this point – it's not necessary, you'll be prompted to later. But; if you must at this point, put in a short, one-word title you want to appear in your URL.
(2) "Preview" your page if you like, then "Publish." Your "Title" and "Page description" text boxes will come up. This is where you enter your first title entry, which will be your short URL title.
(3) Enter your one-word title that you want in your URL. If you entered your desired one-word short title in step (1), leave it as is, and go to step (4) below.
(4) Enter your "Page description" by carefully and competely describing your most important website subjects within the 128 character limit of the description text box.
(5) Uncheck the box that asks: "Do you want this title to show on your webpage," unless you actually want the short title on the top of your webpage.
(6) "Publish" the page and click "Done." Note: always click "Done" at the bottom of any page you see it on, and wait for the next screen to appear.
(7) You will then return to your "Basic Editor" page. Click-on "Edit title" on the sidebar. Prepare your "long" title for your page. Make it precisely define your webpage contents.
(9) Check the title to show on your page if you like, and press "Done." This is a good option for new PageBuilders to get up-and-running. This will give you an ugly, black, left-aligned title (<h2> header), at the top of your webpage. But, soon you will learn to format a separate page title; ie, a different title than the title bar display. And, you will soon learn how to place fancy title "graphics" on your webpages, instead of simple text titles.
(10) "Preview" if you want, then "Publish" and click "Done." The "Preview" screen formats your webpage as it will appear when published on the web. Check all your "links" in "Preview" mode.
(11) Leave this short-title URL page published. Always publish over an old page. Don't "Un-Publish" a short title page or you will lose your short title when you "(Re)-Publish" a page. If you lose your "short title," you'll have to use the "Change a published page title" procedure, noted in (12) below.
(12) If you want to change to a short title on a published page; you must "Unpublish" the page, and follow the "double-publishing" procedure above. – ie; "Unpublish," enter a short "Title, "Publish," "Edit title," and "Publish" again; and remembr to always click "Done" every time you see it on a page.
New PageBuilders must have a lots of patience and the right attitude; just do what you're confortable with, step-by-step, a little at a time. Many PageBuilders try to much too fast, make lots of mistakes, get frustrated and lose interest. They cuss PageBuilder when they're the ones making the mistakes.There's fun ways to learn anything by approaching the project with the correct attitude and plan.
Practice, practice, and practice. Short practice pages with mistakes, can be easily deleted. you can't hurt the PageBuilder program or servers by any kind of mistakes. I've tried 100's of small test pages to learn how it works. You can read, and read instructions, help pages, tutorials and NG posts; but, you must actually learn by doing. Don't be afraid to try anything.
And; remember the greatest positive factor about using PageBuilder, is all the wonderful people in the Pageuilder NG's who are so willing to help anyone with any problem. Just post your problems and watch them be solved by many helpful PageBuilder experts. And, always remember: as you learn you can also help others with the knowledge you gain in the NG's. Happy PageBuilding, folks!
After you finish publishing your webpage, you need to be sure to obtain your correct URL to use and pass along to others. The "Congratulations" and "Page Settings" pages do not list the WebTV webpage server group for your webpage. The WebTV webpage server groups are numbered community-1, community-2, communty-3, etc. You have to add the webserver group number to your URL. Click on the URL for your webpage at the "Page Settings" screen and go to your webpage. At your webpage, press your "Info" key, and you will see your URL correctly shown with the webserver group number in your webpage URL. Use the complete URL shown by your "Info" key as your true, complete URL to use and pass along to others.
Also, note that the URL you see with the "Info" key has your "username" which viewers of your webpage can use to send you email. Your username is shown after the "webtv.net" part of your URL, separated by slashes. Viewers of your webpage can put your username before @webtv.net and send you email. You can get other WebTV PageBuilder's email addresses this way and send email to PageBuilder website owners you want to send comments to.
One final suggestion here is: If you want more options for your webpage's background, study the step-by-step procedure for one of the PageBuilder Advanced Editor methods. But, whether you use an advanced editor or a regular webpage, you must thoroughly understand the proper sequence for entering title box text and code using PageBuilder - that's the key to understanding and using the suggestions presented here.
Please visit the PageBuilder NG's to see all the many expert, experienced PageBuilders who graciously dedicate a large portion of their time online to helping others who have problems with their webpage construction. These individuals are some of the finest people on earth that makes the PageBuilder NG's the most enjoyable news groups you can find anywhere! I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to learn from, and contribute in my small way, to such talented groups!
I created a webpage explaining my additionl suggestions for PageBuilder Advanced Editing, that I suggest you take a look at after you get PageBuilder Basic Editor procedures "down pat." There are many new and "fun" options for PageBuilder website building that are being added daily to our PageBuilder users' database. PageBuilders should be always exploring new ideas for PageBuilders, and pass their knowledge on to others in all the PageBuilder NG's. Helping other PageBuilders in the NG's, in your areas of expertise, is a very satisfying and rewarding experience that you will be appreciated for, and derive great personal satisfaction from seeing all the beautiful websites PageBuilders are creating!
My prayer for all PageBuilders is that they have very much success and personal satisfaction creating webpages; that the Lord will guide them in every thing they do, and abundantly bless their families and friends! Thanks, folks, for allowing me to visit you through this webpage!
JaxRed
© 2000 The Weather Underground, Inc.