HTML Template Instructions

TechBlue, TechGreen, TechOrange

The tech* series of templates was created to help you create a complete website that will present your information in a single column. You can customize it by using small tables and images to break up the single column into an interesting arrangement. Depending on the level of functionality you downloaded, it can be an information site, a mini-site, or a full membership site. You can do ecommerce with just a few modifications. For information about this Click Here.

First Step—Installation

Move the techxxxx.zip file into the directory you want to use for your web site. Normally this is named the same as your domain name without the ’.com’. Use WinZip to install the program in that directory. Remember to ’Use Folder Names’ in the WinZip parameters. This will place the files and sub-directories into your web site folder.

Second Step—Personalization

Open each file (one-at-a-time) and edit the header:
Change the highlighted areas to your own domain information and your email address. Leave the rest of the header as you found it. Each page can have its own title, description and keywords. The abstract is a statement of purpose or mini-mission statement for your site. Do not be wordy. Try to keep this to 65 characters or less. This step will customize each page for you and provide the beginning of Search Engine Optimization.

Next you need to setup the top banner and install your own logo image.

The first highlighted section is for the address or your own logo image. Try to keep the height and width the same. You may need to edit your own image to match these dimensions. You can just type in text for your company name or if you wish you can create a company logo that includes your company name that is the full width of the banner. The next line is for a statement or tag line.

The next section to change is the Menu Bar.
Click on the image to enlarge it.
This is a demonstration of a tri-state mouseover menu bar. You do not need to keep all the buttons and you can change out those buttons that you don't need. This image only displays the code for the first two buttons. The highlighted areas refer to the button names to with the link address. Match each link address with the correct name and should you need to change a button image replace that name also.

Open each file (one-at-a-time) and edit the header:

Change the highlighted areas to your specific page headline and tagline. These will be just for the page you are working on. Leave the rest of the header as you found it.

Now we will add the individual page content.
Notice the comments that surround the ’Paragraph2’ text. On the individual pages there will already be structured web content. You need to add your own content between these comments labeled "Paragraph2". Open each page and place your own text, images, forms and whatnot in this space.

You will also want to change the Footer.

Change the highlighted section to the current date and your own web site. Remember to copyright your site or remove this whole section.

If you do not know HTML then you may want to search for an online tutorial or purchase a basic book on the subject. You can use the content we ship with the template to help you to understand the basics and help you with the organization of your pages. If you are stuck and have a specific question, email me with your question.

Third Step—Upload to your Web Site Host

For this edit you will need the username and password to your Host Server Account.

If you have purchased one of our premium templates:

Open the ’db_conn_open.php’ file.

Change the username and password to those provided by your Web Site Host. Now you can use your FTP program to upload your entire web site to your Host Server.

If you are using a free template:

Use your FTP program to upload your site files to your Host Server.

Last Step—Database and Testing

If you have purchased one of our premium templates:

Check the instructions at BOET instructions. Open your browser and navigate to your site and add "\boet\createdb.php" to the address after your domain name. This will take you to the screen that will allow you to create your new database. You will be prompted to enter your own information in the fields. These should match the fields you edited in the last step. Press the create button and the screen should display successful completion messages. If not, press Alt-PrintScreen then open your image editor. Open a new image and press Ctrl-V to copy your clipboard image into the new image. Save this image and email it to rallen@htmltemplates.net with an explanation to help us troubleshoot the problem.

Now you can use your browser to navigate to your own home page and sign up for your own newsletter. This should add your address to the database. To test this you can then navigate to http://www.yourdomain.com/boet/index.php. Select ’Edit Addresses’ on the left hand navigation bar. You should see two addresses in the list box. One is my own and the other should be yours. Once again, should this not happen, email me with the error message and an image of the screen that reports the problem. Continue testing your entire site (all pages with the new sign up form). If there are no problems you are now live and ready to collect those very valuable opt-ins.

If you are using a free template:

Open your browser and navigate to all pages of your web site. Note any problems and correct the code then upload again. If you have any problems, follow the procedures listed for premium templates and send me an image with an explanation of the problem(s).

Thank you for using our templates and if you are interested in HTML Tips ’n Tricks as well as Web Promotion advice sign up for our newsletter if you have not already done so.