How to Create a Home Page on Your LincolnNet UNIX Account

    If you have a LincolnNet account, you can create your own World Wide Web site. You may include text, links to your favorite sites, pictures, sounds, and even video. You may "advertise" your URL ("Uniform Resource Locator"--i.e. your web address) so that others can visit your site, or you may simply tell your Web browser to make your customized home page the starting point for your Web explorations. Your creation of a Web presentation will run more smoothly if:

    • You've explored the Internet using a Web browser.
    • You know how to transfer files from your computer to your LincolnNet account.
    • You know how to use one of LincolnNet's UNIX text editors, such as pico, joe or vi.
    • You've gathered the files and URLs that you'd like to include in your home page.
    • You're willing to invest some time in independent study.
    • You're familiar with basic UNIX file management commands.

    Basic Steps
    After receiving your LincolnNet account, there are six basic steps to creating a home page:

    • Create a http directory on your LincolnNet account using the setup command.
    • Transfer files from your computer or the Internet (e.g. images) to your http directory.
    • Create a home page using HTML and the files in your http directory.
    • Save your document.
    • Adjust your http permissions with the setup command.
    • View your document with a browser, and then make corrections.

    Creating Your Home Page

    1. Create a personal http Directory on your LincolnNet account
      To build a home page on the WWW, you must first create a personal http directory in your home directory on LincolnNet's UNIX system. Your http directory will store HTML files and support files, such as photographs, images, and sounds. Http -- HyperText Transfer Protocol -- was created specifically for distributing HTML documents over the Web. In order to create your http directory, you must complete the following steps:

      1. Use Tera Term or another telnet client to connect to ln1.lincolnnet.net
      2. Log in using your LincolnNet login name and password.
      3. At the lincoln% prompt, type: setup
      4. Select "Create my WWW http directory or adjust the permissions"
      5. When it says "more", hit enter.
      6. When you are finished, type: q

      You now have a directory named "http" on your UNIX account, and LincolnNet's WWW server can distribute HTML documents from your UNIX account.

      Note: All the HTML documents and supporting files that you create for your home page must reside in your UNIX http directory or subdirectories. This includes text, graphics, sound files, etc.

    2. Transfer files from your computer to your LincolnNet http folder
      Use a file transfer client, such as WS_FTP, to transfer text, images, photographs, etc., into your http directory. (For details, see the section on Using WS_FTP

    3. Create your home page using HTML
      At the lincoln% prompt, type cd http. This places you in your http directory (/home/your username/http). Now choose an editor (such as joe, pico, vi) and start a new file named home.html. At the lincoln% prompt, type pico home.html.

      You are now ready to compose your HTML document. Here's where your knowledge of HTML and your experience on the Web come into play.

      HTML, or HyperText Markup Language, is the markup language used by the Web. It is a method for marking text so that it appears the way you want it to when viewed by a Web browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mosaic, or Lynx). The marking codes may look confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll have the confidence to move on to more sophisticated document construction.

      To familiarize yourself with HTML, in addition to using your bookstore and local library as resources, you can visit the following websites:

      NCSA -- Beginner's Guide to HTML
      How Do They Do That With HTML?
      Library of Congress Internet Resource Page

    4. Save Your Document
      Save your HTML document in your http directory. (When using the pico editor, you can save your document by holding down the control key and typing the letter X).

      Because your file's name is "home.html", the URL (or Internet address) will be http://www.LincolnNet.net/users/your username/home.html

    5. Adjust your http permissions
      Now that you have a new document, you must adjust your http permissions so that Internet surfers can view your site on the Web. Remember, every time you place a new file in your http directory (e.g., "essay.html"), you must run setup in order to "adjust the permissions." This step is not necessary when you make changes or additions to an existing HTML document.

      To adjust your permissions, repeat the numbered portion of step #1.

    6. View your document...then make corrections
      You can now view your saved HTML document with an Internet browser like Netscape to determine whether or not the document has translated into a satisfactory presentation. In Netscape, select "Open Location" from the "File" menu and type in the URL for your home page (http://www.LincolnNet.net/users/your username/home.html).

      If you find that you must edit your HTML file (e.g., home.html), return to your text editor and make the changes. Then return to Netscape and click the "Reload" button on the tool bar at the top of the page. The changes will be reflected in the on-screen display.

      You will probably find yourself shifting back and forth from the UNIX editor to the browser, making adjustments...viewing the changes...making more adjustments, etc., until you have a final product that you are proud of.

      For problems or questions, contact us at helpdesk@lincolnnet.net