Week Four (MGDP2050)
Lecture notes and exercises for Week Four of Web Design and Development II (MGDP2050).
See also Week Three (MGDP2050) - Week Five (MGDP2050).
- February 2 class cancelled due to winter weather
- Continue working on your Week Three (and previous) exercises
- February 9 is the new Week Four
Contents
- 1 In the news
- 2 Java and JavaScript
- 3 Review from previous weeks
- 4 Class web server
- 5 Class web server credentials
- 6 File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
- 7 FTP clients
- 8 Using FTP clients
- 9 Limited FTP connections
- 10 Digital images
- 11 HTML img element
- 12 Background images
- 13 Graphics software
- 14 Responsive images
- 15 Responsive images in Bootstrap
- 16 Exercises: in class
- 17 Exercises: for next week
- 18 Reading
In the news
Java browser plugin deprecated
Oracle deprecates the Java browser plugin, prepares for its demise @ Ars Technica
- Java plugins are deprecated (no longer in use)
- Deprecation is discouragement from using a feature, without actually removing the feature (for the time being)
- This is important for backward compatibility
See also:
- Java applet - allows Java to run in a web browser
- Plug-in (computing) - general term for software which adds features to other software
Java and JavaScript
Caution: Do not confuse Java with JavaScript.
- Java and JavaScript are different, unrelated programming languages
Similarities
Java applets are similar to JavaScript -- both run in web browsers.
- Java applets have declined in popularity
- JavaScript has become more powerful, more universal
Review from previous weeks
Human factors
- Accessibility
- Graphical user interface (GUI)
- Mockup
- Proof of concept
- Prototype
- Usability
- User (computing)
- User experience (UX)
- User interface design
- User research
- Web accessibility
- Web usability
- Website wireframe
Add to list:
Class web server
The class web server is located here:
The example home page is located here:
Your student home page will be located like this:
Class web server credentials
You will need FTP credentials:
- Host
- Username
- Password
- Subfolder
Instructor will provide these credentials.
Secure your credentials:
- Keep secret
- Do not share
- Be respectful other students and instructor, this is a shared FTP account
File Transfer Protocol (FTP)
File Transfer Protocol (or simply FTP) is a widely-used protocol for transferring files across computer networks.
FTP consists of two programs:
The FTP server has two tasks:
- Receive uploaded files from clients
- Send downloaded files to clients
FTP servers are typically associated with web servers. If you have a web server account, you probably have an FTP account to go with it.
The FTP client has two tasks:
- Upload files to server
- Download files from server
In this course, we will use FTP clients to upload and download files.
- We will not download, install, or work directly with FTP servers
FTP clients
Many FTP clients are available. All do essentially the same thing.
For this class, You may use any FTP client you like.
FileZilla
FileZilla is a popular FTP client:
- Free and open source
- Available for Mac, Windows, Linux
FileZilla uses a two-panel display:
- Local files (on your computer)
- Remote files (on web server)
Fetch
Fetch is available for Mac only.
- Fetch uses a single window to display remote (web server) files
- Use a Mac Finder window to display local (your computer) files
Using FTP clients
You will need:
- An FTP client
- FTP credentials
- Log in using your FTP credentials
- Upload files (transfer from local to remote)
- Download files (transfer from remote to local)
- Close your FTP program
Document with screenshots:
Limited FTP connections
We have limited FTP connections.
Please do your part to share the limited number of FTP connections:
- Run your FTP client when you need it to download or upload files
- Close your FTP client as soon as you have finished your tasks
How many is this "limited number" -- ?
It could be as few as three or four total FTP connections in the classroom.
That's not entirely clear. The numbers vary from class session to class session. And the numbers may be different inside the classroom, as opposed to outside.
In any case, we have limited resources -- please use them courteously.
Digital images
See:
HTML img element
See HTML img element.
Background images
See Background image (web design).
Graphics software
See:
Responsive images
Responsive images resize to fit different circumstances.
This is done with media queries.
Responsive images in Bootstrap
In Bootstrap, you make an image responsive by adding the img-responsive
class:
<img src="image.jpg" alt="example" class="img-responsive" />
The image will expand to fit the available space, up to the full image size.
See Bootstrap responsive image.
Exercises: in class
FTP
Use an FTP client of your choice to upload your class files to the class web server.
Be sure you upload your work to the correct remote sub-folder!
View your work in a browser of your choice.
- Test the links, make sure everything works correctly
- Make sure all of your pages have appropriates titles
- Make sure your styles are consistent across pages
Exercises: for next week
Finish (or improve) previous exercises
Finish any unfinished exercises from previous weeks, and improve anything you thing needs improvement.
Bootstrap
Revise your wireframe
page: use Bootstrap responsive images.
Be sure to use appropriate alt
attributes for each image.
Upload to server
Finish any unfinished exercises from previous weeks, and improve anything you thing needs improvement.
Browse online, test your work
Browse your work on the class web server.
Use two (or more different) devices to browse your work:
- Phone
- Tablet
- Laptop/desktop
Make sure your content is readable. Change your custom CSS rules as necessary.
make sure all links work.
Instructor will review everything before class next week.
Reading
Next week will emphasize Web page layout and the Bootstrap grid.
Overall topics for tonight and next week:
- Bootstrap grid
- Bootstrap responsive image
- Backward compatibility
- Cascading Style Sheets
- Class rule (CSS)
- Column (typography)
- Composition (visual arts)
- Client-server model
- Deprecation
- File Transfer Protocol
- FTP client
- FTP server
- Graphics software
- HTML element rule (CSS)
- ID rule (CSS)
- Image file format
- Page layout
- Plug-in (computing)
- Style sheet (web design)
- Web page layout
- Web server