How to Build a Simple Website with Adobe Contribute 3

Although there are a number of great products to help you build a quality website, few are as easy as Adobe's Contribute 3. The package is loaded with wonderfully creative templates that you can modify. You can add links, photos, custom background colors and more.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A personal computer
• Internet connection - high speed is preferable
• An installed copy of Adobe's Contribute 3 software

Creating a Website Connection

1. The first thing you'll need to do before you begin building your website is to register a domain name and find someone to host your website. Once you do that, they will give you an FTP link, a password and other information you'll need to begin posting content to your website.

2. 
    

   In order to edit your website, you'll need to register a connection to your host server. Click on "Edit" at the top of the screen, then "My Connections." Click the "Create" button, then "Next." Enter the complete address to your registered website in the box that begins with HTTP://. Click "Next."

3. 
    

   Fill in all of the blanks by entering the name of your FTP server, the FTP name and password. Click "Next." Contribute will attempt to run a test to your domain. If the test is successful, it will ask you for your full name and email address. Enter them into the blank windows. Click "Next."

4. 
    

   Determine which role you would like to assume. It you're the one updating your website, choose "Administrator." You can also create login ID's and roles for people other than yourself who will working on your website. Click "Next," then "Done." The next time that you open Contribute, it will go to that site and ask if you want to connect to it. Click on "Yes."

Creating a New Website

5. 
    

   Click on "File," "New Page," and the plus sign (+) next to "Starter Web Pages."

6. 
    

   Click on each of the succeeding plus signs to expand the list of available templates. There are dozens available, and you can preview each of them in the right-hand window before choosing your selection. Once you decide on a template format, type a title in the window, "Page Title." It should be meaningful, short and contain no spaces or special characters - letters and numbers are usually safe. Click "OK."

7. Begin editing the new page according to the manufacturer's directions. When you have your website just the way you want it, click on the "Publish." button at the top of the screen. Your new page is live on the Internet.

Tips & Warnings

• You can create as many new webpages as you like without publishing them. Each of the new pages will appear in the window on the left side of the screen.
• When you want to go back and edit a page, click on the file in the window. It will fill the edit window.
• It's a good idea to give all new webpages new names so that you don't write over an existing page.
• Most home pages are titled INDEX.HTM or INDEX.HTML.
• Be careful not to publish a page until you are absolutely sure you're ready to post it to the Internet.

Resources

• Where to buy Adobe Contribute 3

[bizewriter]

on 1/1/2008 I wasn't aware of this program. Looks like Adobe's version of Frontpage as to ease of use, but presumably better. Nice tutorial.