What's New in the 4th Edition?

Although the responses to the previous editions of Learn HTML In a Weekend have been very positive, there's always room for improvement. The 4th Edition has been thoroughly updated and revised, reflecting many of the suggestions and responses I've received from readers of the previous editions. Here are some of the improvements to this edition:

• The book can now easily be used by users of any platform, with all example files available for download in Windows, Macintosh, and Unix/Linux formats.

• New "mid-day" sessions have been added to increase the number of sessions that can be done over the weekend from seven to nine. The sessions have been streamlined so that they should take only one to two hours to complete. Only the first two HTML sessions are required to meet the objective of the book; all of the other sessions are optional.

• The book has been updated to teach HTML 4.01, the latest HTML standard. The reader learns to create valid HTML 4.01 pages, validate Web pages using the W3C's HTML Validator, use CSS styles in place of deprecated elements and attributes, and create accessible Web pages that are both backward- and forward-compatible.

• Current browsers now enable the creation of Web pages that conform to Web standards, largely eliminating the need to use non-standard code and cross-browser tricks to achieve particular effects. This edition places a strong emphasis on teaching the current HTML standards (HTML 4.01 and XHTML 1.0). Instances where non-standard code may still be required, to ensure backward-compatibility with earlier browsers, for instance, will be clearly identified.

• Practical real-world examples are now used in the book so you can more easily apply what you learn to future projects. All examples are focused on creating effective, attractive, and accessible Web pages.

• Coverage of creating your own Web graphics has been updated to include coverage of the latest techniques used by Web professionals to create their own Web graphics. Coverage is included of using a variety of different popular image-editing programs, including Paint Shop Pro and Adobe Photoshop. Examples are provided for creating your own banners, logos, buttons, and balls. Optimizing images for display on the Web is thoroughly covered.

• The HTML Quick Reference is now a true A-to-Z quick reference, rather than being broken up into sections, making it much easier to find an element.

• The Special Characters appendix has increased coverage of using Unicode characters in Web pages.

• Increased coverage of using styles is included, with a focus on using styles to create valid accessible HTML Web pages that do not use deprecated elements and attributes.

• A companion Web site for the book is available at the publisher's Web site from which all example files used in the book can be downloaded. The author has also created a reader-support page where readers can find FAQ, additional downloads, and resource links, and query the author if they have questions the book does not answer.