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DHTML/XHTML Books

News See also Open

Best Introductory

Intermediate
level(XHTML)
DHTML Javascript
Cascading Style Sheets Reference XML IE5

Frontpage

Dreamweaver Old HTML 4
textbooks
Etc

Basically, HTML now usually means HTML 3.2 XHTML everything above that (including what was previously DHTML).  Old term DHML is now obsolete, but it used to mean HTML with three new features: 

Javascript+HTML can do some amazing things. For example, in Netscape you could use JavaScript 1.3 to detect keys being pressed. That means that you can move images using the keyboard, that created a possibility of programming games like Tetris.  For more complex examples see Javascript books.

 

Nikolai Bezroukov


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Old News ;-)

???? HTML & Web Design Tips & Techniques
by Kris A. Jamsa, Konrad King, Andy Anderson

  • Paperback: 688 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.62 x 9.10 x 7.34
  • Publisher: McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; (January 23, 2002)
  • ISBN: 0072193948
     
  • Average Customer Review: 5 out of 5 stars Based on 14 reviews. Write a review.
     
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: 313,534

Used book is very cheap. Review might be stages, but still to get 14 5-star reviews is an achievement in itself ;-)

**** Sams Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML & XHTML in 21 Days, Fourth Edition
by Laura Lemay (Author), Rafe Colburn (Author)
  • Paperback: 816 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.86 x 9.24 x 7.36
  • Publisher: SAMS; 4th edition (May 14, 2003)
  • ISBN: 0672325195
     
  • Average Customer Review: 5 out of 5 stars Based on 1 review. Write a review.
     
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: 4,929
 
I doubt the Laura Lemay wrote this edition ;-). Looks like ghost-writing. You can get the third edition (by Laura Lemay, Denise Tyler) for much less.  I saw the third edition of $3.50 on Amazon. That's amazing value... 
4 out of 5 stars Excellent Book about HTML for Beginners, November 10, 2000
 
  Reviewer: Doug Keating (see more about me) from Bristow, VA United States
I bought this book to help sharpen my HTML skills for a web site project that I am currently working on for my Master's Degree. Luckily, I made a great choice, because this book has helped me further develop my understanding of HTML in a very short timespan. I use this book more than the textbooks that our instructor assigned to us. I highly recommend the book to anyone looking for a book that can teach them HTML in less than a month.

I found the book easy to read, full of great examples, and very well suited to use as a reference guide. You will find yourself quickly building web publishing skills starting with the very basics, then moving on to tougher subject like using frams, inserting multi-media, creating forms, and other useful topics. My own personal copy is rough around the edges because I have used it so much during my project.

If you are looking for an easy way to learn a lot about HTML, but don't have the time or money to spend on a class, I recommend that you purchase this book. It is money well spent for those looking to expand your web publishing skills. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title

 
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 Web Programming Unleashed
Boris Feldman
Amazon price: $39.99
Paperback - 1029 pages Bk&Cd Rom edition (May 19, 2000)
Sams; ISBN: 0672317109 ; Dimensions (in inches): 2.22 x 9.06 x 7.31
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 374,288
Avg. Customer Review: 5 out of 5 stars
Number of Reviews: 1

Open Books 

There are at least four pretty decent open source books on the subject. See also Etc for old HTML 3.2 open books

***+ Using HTML 4 Special Edition With CDROM read now. no longer availbale online
Jerry Honeycutt, Mark R. Brown / Paperback / Published 1997
(Not available from Amazon, but available from B&N)
 
Publisher: Que
ISBN: 0789714493
Published: 23-Dec-1997
Categories: Web Design, Web Development, HTML
Paperback - 1200 pages 4 edition (December 1, 1997)
Que; ISBN: 0789714493 ; Dimensions (in inches): 2.18 x 9.09 x 7.38
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 30,719
Avg. Customer Review: ****+
Number of Reviews: 6

A reader from Silverdale, WA , January 9, 1999 ****+
Pretty Good Book

This book is pretty good for basic HTML. It really gets you started for the Internet and standard web publishing. The other half of the book was about Dynamic HTML, getting understanding of JavaScript, XML, and other things. It did that pretty well, and I am still reading different sections.

Not the Best book but satisfying and above average.

gennick@worldnet.att.net (Jonathan Gennick) , December 27, 1998 *****
Concise, and answers the right questions at the right time

This is a very good book. The authors have done an excellent job of explaining HTML, yet have maintained an unusual degree of conciseness for a book this large.

I used information from the first twelve chapters to redesign my website. The explanations of tables and frames, in particular, where a good match for my current level of expertise. Not a lot of fluff to read through--just meat. I was able to make use of both features just after reading a few pages. As I read through each chapter, the authors answered the right questions at the right times.

If the remaining 34 chapters are as well done as the first 12, my money will have been well spent.

Richard Ballantyne (rballantyne@rocketmail.com) from Huntsville, TX , October 19, 1998 *****
Incredibly well written!

I have bought several other books on HTML and they were all garbage. Everyone else tries to be too technical and longwinded. While this book reads very well, it doesn't sacrifice content. It takes you all the way from 'hello world' to advanced CGI, though I think you should mainly purchase this as an HTML book. This really is the best programming book I've ever bought.

A reader from Orinda, California, USA , August 8, 1998 ****+
A Good Tutorial if You Have Some Previous Web Knowledge

Using HTML 4 Spec. Edition is an excellent tutorial and reference for the consumer who wishes to learn HTML. The only downside to this book is that you must know a good deal about web design already, not neccisarily HTML, but the overall idea of web design and publishing. I would recommend this book to most people who are interested in learning HTML.

doull@box.net.au from Adelaide, Australia , March 5, 1998 *****
a worthwhile resource

A big brick of reference book. It's very up to date, including chapters on ASP, CGI, stylesheets DHTML and even Channel definition formats. Over 40 chapters and only a about 4 or 5 useless chapters. Only criticism is that the CD has very few code examples -- don't buy this book just for the CD.

Teach Yourself Microsoft Frontpage 98 in a Week 
David Karlins, et al / Paperback / Published 1998
Amazon price: $23.99 ~ You Save: $6.00 (20%)
read now.
Paperback - 550 pages 2nd edition (January 1998)
Sams.net; ISBN: 1575213508 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.22 x 9.08 x 7.37
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 17,596
Avg. Customer Review: ****+
Number of Reviews: 16

A reader from Phoenix, AZ , April 11, 1999 *****
Solid overview of FrontPage 98 and web authoring basics.
Have had FrontPage 98 on my computer for 6 months and never used it. Bought David's book and have been very impressed. Has made starting my own perosnal web site much easier and fun than if I had tried to start using FrontPage98 without knowing anything. Look forward to reading more of his books. Great content for people who want to use FrontPage98 to author webpages, but do not want to make a career out of learning the program.

janine@jzine.com from Los Angeles , March 6, 1999 *****
A good introduction to this complex program

There may be bigger books about FP98 out there, but this one is just right--all the information you need to get started using the program, but not an overwhelming flood of data. All the basics and a few bells and whistles are well covered. Karlin's website and his email support are also excellent.

** Microsoft FrontPage 97; With CDROM ~ Usually ships in 24 hours
Denise Tyler, Laura Lemay / Paperback / Published 1997
Amazon price: $31.99 ~ You Save: $8.00 (20%)
Outdated and not that informative... 

Denise Tyler
Publisher:
ISBN: 1575212234
Published: 17-Jan-1997
Categories: Web Design, Internet Software, FrontPage,

*** DHTML and JavaScript
by Gilorien. Textbook Binding

Textbook Binding - 1142 pages 1st, Bk & CDRom edition (September 10, 1999)
Prentice Hall; ISBN: 0130863343 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.67 x 9.24 x 7.03

Amazon.com Sales Rank: 81,113
Avg. Customer Review: 3 out of 5 stars
Number of Reviews: 5

Table of contents

Publisher page -- a have very mixed impression about the chapter that is available on the publisher site/
Author page -- the author WEB site. Weak.

This book covers Netscape's Navigator 4+ browsers; no mention of Microsoft Internet Explorer compatibility whatsoever. This book contains a wealth of information about style sheets and other elements of Dynamic HTML. Loads of code samples illustrate all of the concepts, and charts summarize the language syntax, properties, and events. The accompanying CD-ROM provides the book's content in HTML and Adobe Acrobat formats as well as supplemental documents such as Netscape guides.

Here is an Amazon review that I consider objective:
 
5 out of 5 stars A great resource for anyone who's doing website design. November 18, 1999

Reviewer: A reader from Arizona, USA

This book does exactly what it says it will do and it's a great resource for anyone who's doing website design. It provides detailed information that is useful for anyone from a beginner to an expert in website design. If you want to learn about cascading style sheets in both CSS and JavaScript, then this is the book for you. It also covers all of the new capabilites of version 1.2 and 1.3 of JavaScript and integrates it into DHTML. It has lots of working examples which illustrate specific concepts that are easy to understand. It also has a substantial number of very practical real-world application examples and the most complex examples are thoroughly explained. I highly recommend this book to anyone designing web pages, even if you mostly use straight HTML. The HTML primer is a great reference and there are lots of reference sheets from the book that are on the CD-ROM that you can easily print out as a handy memory-jog.

It seems to me that the previous reviewer gave an unwarranted rating which was based on her initial misperception of the purpose of the book. The "Review" information at the site, which was taken from the Back Cover of the book, clearly states that the book was Navigator-oriented.

Just get the book: you'll learn a lot and be glad you did.


Introductory

**** Sams Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML 4 in 21 Days, Professional Reference Edition, Second Edition
by Laura Lemay, Denise Tyler. Paperback (February 2000)
Amazon price:$39.99
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Very nice introductory book for real beginners. Highly recoomended...

Table of Contents


Introduction
Part 1: Getting Started
Day 1: The World of the World Wide Web
Day 2: Get Organized
Day 3: An Introduction to HTML
Part 2: Creating Simple Web Pages
Day 4: Begin with the Basics
Day 5: All About Links
Day 6: More Text Formatting with HTML
Part 3: Web Graphics
Day 7: Using Images, Color, and Backgrounds
Day 8: Creating Images for the Web
Day 9: Creating Animated Graphics
Part 4: Style Sheets, Tables, and Frames
Day 10: Style Sheets
Day 11: Tables
Day 12: Frames and Linked Windows
Part 5: Multimedia and Java Applets
Day 13: Multimedia: Adding Sound, Video, and More
Day 14: Working with Sound and Video Files
Day 15: Using Java
Part 6: Imagemaps and Forms
Day 16: Creating and Using Imagemaps
Day 17: Designing Forms
Day 18: Beginning CGI Scripting
Part 7: JavaScript and Dynamic HTML
Day 19: Creating JavaScript Scripts
Day 20: Working with JavaScript
Day 21: Using Dynamic HTML
Part 8: Designing Effective Web Pages
Day 22: Writing and Designing Web Pages: Dos and Don'ts
Day 23: Examples of Good and Bad Web Design
Day 24: Designing for the Real World
Part 9: Going Live on the Web
Day 25: Putting Your Site Online
Day 26: Letting People Know It's There
Day 27: Testing, Revising, and Maintaining Your Site
Part 10: Setting Up and Administering a Web Server
Day 28: Setting Up Your Own Server
Day 29: Web Server Hints, Tricks, and Tips
Day 30: Web Server Security and Access Control
Appendix A: Sources for Further Information
Appendix B: HTML 4.0 Reference
Appendix C: Cross-Browser Reference Table
Appendix D: Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) Reference
Appendix E: JavaScript Reference
Appendix F: Character Entities
Appendix G: Colors By Name and Hexadecimal Value
Appendix H: MIME Types and File Extensions
Index
 
 
4 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource for Beginner/Intermediate, August 1, 2000
Reviewer: Brian Baute (see more about me) from Elon College, NC USA

I've come back to this volume again and again in my work as a professional webmaster. It's great for those just beginning to work with HTML or those like me who have a strong grasp of HTML but have some gaps in our knowledge. The index is thorough and helpful, and the examples are clear and concise.

Where it does come up lacking, though, is when you get off the beaten path with your HTML work - trying to do non-standard things, for instance. This book is not for advanced HTML tricks - it's for fundamentals. It does an excellent job at what it set out to do - couple it with an advanced HTML programming reference (from Que or Sybex, for example) and you'll have almost all your HTML bases covered. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

4 out of 5 stars Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML 4 in 21 Days, March 23, 2000
Reviewer: Mark C. from Orlando, FL, USA

I specified this book to teach a Web Site Design class. I really liked the "Teach Yourself HTML 3.0" book, so I decided to use this one. It has a lot of information presented in a very methodical manner. It's not as visually pleasing as the previous version though, nor does it have color illustrations. Great desk reference!


4 out of 5 stars A Good HTML Reference with a Few Exceptions, July 16, 1999
Reviewer: A reader from St. Louis, Missouri

Provides a good overview to web page development using HTML 4. Some issues with the book, however: a number of sections were written before specifications were firmed up and although this is noted in the book, they still cloud its value. Some of the links referring to additional information within the book also no longer function. Finally, the HTML reference was printed to conserve space rather than to enhanced readability - making it very hard to read. Should have been split up into one page per major item rather than letting one topic spill onto the page of another. But covers all of the major topics involved in web page publishing - so is a good starting point for serious beginners. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.


2 out of 5 stars Lacks on carefulness, June 20, 1999
Reviewer: suurhoff@hotmail.com from Amsterdam, Netherlands

This book is an easy to follow manual on HTML 4, even containing some interesting items that go beyond it. A major problem however is the number of inconsistencies made by the author which annoyed me no end. These are not printing errors since the author clearly acts against her own rules. The next edition should be checked thoroughly, this time by an editor having some basic knowledge on what this book is all about.

 
**** HTML 4 for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide ~ Usually ships in 24 hours
Elizabeth Castro / Paperback / Published 1998
Amazon price: $14.36 ~ You Save: $3.59 (20%)
Paperback - 384 pages 4th edition (October 20, 1999)
Peachpit Press; ISBN: 0201354934 ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.74 x 8.91 x 6.97
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 58
Avg. Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Number of Reviews: 234

This is a decent and definitely inexpensive book for beginners. The main advantage is that illustration can help you see the effects of the tags. Other then that bokk is so-so. Amazing number of positive reviews on Amazon is a lemmings effect ;-). Here are several reviews that I think are most or less objective:

4 out of 5 starsExcellent start for beginners, very reader friendly. April 25, 2000

Reviewer: Jay (see more about me) from Canada

As a professional web developer, I rarely read the visual quick start guide series. I come across this book when I start to teach some novice web programmers. To my surprise, this book is so concise and is quite different from many HTML books. The author introduces the major features of HTML 4 and web development in a very reader friendly and fun tutorial. Readers will not find web development is not a dry and tedious task. Take a look at the table of contents link on the left hand side and you will see the topics being covered in it.

I think it is an excellent start if you don't know that much about HTML 4 and found traditional books a little bit too boring to get start. It covers all the essentials and briefly introduce the future, XML. It is an inexpensive book too. However if you are looking for an in-depth reference, you can take a look at "HTML: The Definite Guide". If you are serious about web programming after reading these two books, read Wrox Publication's ASP, e-commerce, databases and XML series.

5 out of 5 stars A great "how to" book! March 5, 2000 Reviewer: Midwest Book Review (see more about me) from Oregon, Wisconsin

A few weeks ago I developed a simple strategy for evaluating how-to books about technology. Books about computers should: 1) weigh less than a gallon of milk; 2) cost less than twenty dollars; 3) be updated yearly; 4) come with some kind of technical support via a website or an author email; and 5) Be clear, be clear, be clear. Books that comply with these requirements will achieve every author's dream of being good and popular at the same time. Elizabeth Castro writes books in this manner, and once again her HTML 4 For The World Wide Web (fourth edition) has found its way to the top of the bestseller lists for books about computers and the Internet.

The book covers all the important aspects of HTML 4, including the latest updates about Cascading Style Sheets, Level 2. Each chapter gets right to the point and teaches you how to do things: format text, make links, add multimedia, make tables, frames, and forms. You get a handy color chart on the back inside cover of the book; and a whole chapter called "Extras" that teaches lesser-known tricks such as how to password-protect a directory, soup up your mailto links, create buttons with tables, and create and automatic slide show. There are also chapters about scripts, the essentials of JavaScript, and how to get people to visit your page after you've published it on the Web.

The Visual Quickstart Guide format itself is an exemplary vehicle for Castro's instructional skills. Every page contains at least one diagram, so that the reader can SEE what's happening on their computer screen. All the lessons are divided into small bite-sized segments which are easy to digest. This strategy, known as "micro-uniting," has been proven to be the most effective way to teach. You can read the book straight through from start to finish, or you can use it as a reference book and jump in to any chapter. After each lesson, you may find yourself saying amazedly: "It's easy to do that!" In just a short time, working with this book, you'll be able to create useful, sophisticated and attractive effects on your web pages. Elizabeth Castro is one of those great how-to writers who anticipate your questions and thus make the learning process fast, efficient, and fun. HTML 4 For The World Wide Web is the ideal book to beginners who want to learn how to make web pages, and for intermediate-level users who want to give their web pages more features and a thoroughly professional look.

5 out of 5 stars An excellent HTML guide for all levels February 18, 2000

Reviewer: Rahul Das (see more about me) from Boston, USA

I am a java programmer who never really learnt HTML formally. I needed to learn it for a project, and I was looking for a book that starts with basics, but doesn't leave you hanging after just explaining some basic concepts. Great reviews prompted me to buy this book but when I received it, I was disappointed with the small size of the book. But after reading it, VOW! Make no mistake folks. This book beautifully covers everything in its small size which many other books cover in thousands of pages. An excellent tutorial, and even a better reference after you have read it once. Despite its small size, I can't think of a topic that has not been covered well in this book. Easy going language, and visual depiction of concepts, I have never written a review for books before this due to lack of time, but I had to review this one as I was so impressed. And at this price, it's a steal. Covers the latest HTML 4 version which should last for some years to come. Don't think twice, buy it now.


Intermeduate Level (XHTML)

***** Beginning XHTML
Frank Boumphrey, et al
Amazon price: $31.99
Mass Market Paperback - 700 pages 1st edition (March 2000)
Wrox Press Inc; ISBN: 1861003439 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.64 x 9.08 x 7.29
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 23,405
Avg. Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Number of Reviews: 6
5 out of 5 stars Great beginners guide as long as you know some HTML, August 26, 2000
Reviewer: Jim Parshall (see more about me) from Seattle, WA USA

This is a good book for learning XHTML. It is not as "programmer-ish" as the other two major contenders (XHTML: Moving toward XML and XHTML Language and Design Sourcebook). Containing both very good examples (yes, there are some mistakes name me a computer book that has none) and some of the best descriptions and graphics of difficult topics I have seen to date, this book illustrates a difficult (relative to HTML) topic well.

I have read through it twice now and paid particular attention to not just the text but the flow as well and must say it is well designed. Yes, I see the incontinuity here and there though I do not believe this is a major issue as it makes its points quite well.

It has excellent coverage of the media tag and also how the whole parsing process is done. As a person who has helped to write courseware for some pretty major companies I understand the challenges in covering a topic like this. It is bound to have some issues here and there as they are basically attacking a moving target. Yes, there is a specification put out by the W3C, but that does not make the topic stand still. If I were to pick one book to begin teaching someone XHTML this would be it. Then I would move on into others, like maybe reading the spec from the W3C itself.

The only caveat I have on recommendation is that this technology is NOT for beginners. One needs a grounding in HTML 4.1 before starting on this book. Go through a book on that first. A good one is the one by Peachpit Press "The Visual Quickstart Guide to HTML 4". Great stuff. You don't need to be an expert to go on to this book, but it would help to have some vocabulary and basic ideas down before reading this book.

Have fun with it and welcome to a new age of web design!

Jim Parshall

4 out of 5 stars Beginning XHTML is not for beginners, June 19, 2000
Reviewer: A reader from North Carolina

This comprehensive, up-to-the-minute text contains a wealth of useful information but it is definitely not for beginners. I would recommend a fairly good knowledge of HTML and some acquaintance with Javascript before reading this book. If you have that background, you will find this book both readable and fascinating.

XHTML Moving Toward XML
by Simon St.Laurent, B.K. DeLong
Amazon price: $23.99

Paperback - 400 pages (July 2000)
IDG Books Worldwide; ISBN: 0764547097 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.06 x 9.21 x 7.49
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 29,223
Avg. Customer Review: 5 out of 5 stars
Number of Reviews: 1

XHTML 1.0 Language and Design Sourcebook: The Next Generation HTML
Ian S. Graham
Amazon Price: $31.99
Paperback - 0800 pages (March 16, 2000)
John Wiley & Sons; ISBN: 0471374857 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.54 x 9.16 x 7.45
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 8,614
Avg. Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Number of Reviews: 6
 

Xhtml 1.0 Web Development Sourcebook : Building Better Sites & Applications -- Ian S. Graham; Paperback


Old HTML 4 Books

 
**** Creating Cool Html 4 Web Pages
Dave Taylor / Paperback / Published 1998
Amazon price: $23.99 ~ You Save: $6.00 (20%)
Paperback - 464 pages Bk&Cd Rom edition (March 1998)
IDG Books Worldwide; ISBN: 0764532014 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.23 x 9.23 x 7.41
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 3,649
Avg. Customer Review: ****+
Number of Reviews: 13
Mastering HTML 4 Premium Edition
by Deborah S. Ray, Eric J. Ray. Hardcover (June 1999)
Amazon price:$34.99
You Save: $15.00 (30%)
Usually ships in 24 hours
Average Customer Review: 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover - 1188 pages 1st & CD Rom edition (June 1999)
Sybex; ISBN: 0782125247 ; Dimensions (in inches): 2.88 x 9.35 x 7.95
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 15,051
Avg. Customer Review: 4 out of 5 stars
Number of Reviews: 10
 
 
*** Special Edition Using HTML 4, Sixth Edition
by Molly E. Holzschlag. Paperback
Amazon price:$31.99
You Save: $8.00 (20%)

Usually ships in 24 hours
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
 
Paperback - 1109 pages 6th Bk&cdr edition (December 22, 1999)
Que; ISBN: 0789722674 ; Dimensions (in inches): 2.30 x 9.09 x 7.34
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 5,290
Avg. Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Number of Reviews: 4
 
Html 4 Bible
by Bryan Pfaffenberger, Alexis D. Gutzman. Paperback (August 1998)

Our Price:$39.99
You Save: $10.00 (20%)

Usually ships in 24 hours
Average Customer Review: 4 out of 5 stars

Paperback - 903 pages Bk&Cd Rom edition (August 1998)
IDG Books Worldwide; ISBN: 0764532200 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.83 x 9.23 x 7.38
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 7,831
Avg. Customer Review: 4 out of 5 stars
Number of Reviews: 17
 
A very good book on HTML! May 11, 1999
Reviewer: A reader from Pennsylvania, USA

I was learning HTML 3.2 and later found out this version of HTML was outdated. I also found out the newest version of HTML is 4.0, so I decided to look for a book on the 4.0 version of HTML instead of continuing to learn 3.2. I came across HTML 4 Bible, read the description, and read the reviews. After reading all of this, I decided to order the book. After reading the book, I would apply some of what I learn by practicing HTML 4 on my computer. After doing this, I was really impressed with HTML 4. I like this version a lot better than I like 3.2. People who are getting started with HTML will learn a lot easier with 4 than with any other version! The only thing I didn't like about the book, is that it did not cover enough basic JavaScript like I expected it to and the theory was kind of boring.

2 out of 5 stars Not what it's cracked up to be May 26, 1999
Reviewer: A reader from Portland, Oregon

After reading the entire book, I am very disappointed. The book is not at all what it claims to be. As I read it, I kept waiting...It seemed every chapter said "..(blank) will be covered more in depth later on.." But (blank) was never covered at all, or when it was covered it referred back to the original reference, which was of no help. Perhaps more upsetting were the grammatical and typographical errors made. Also extremely frustrating was the misinformation or conflicting information given. There were a couple of places where the authors talk about the support from different browsers for certain elements etc. that were contradicted later on. For example, in one place the author says a certain element is supported only by IE 4, and later says that same element is supported by Netscape 4 and IE 3 and 4. The editing of this book was very poor, and more research should have been done into the practical application of the information presented to avoid the inaccurate info. given. This book could have been about 1/4 the size for the useful information it contained. A lot of unnecessary junk was included and a lot of necessary information left out.

The Advanced Html Companion ~ Usually ships in 24 hours
Keith Schengili-Roberts, Kim Silk-Copeland / Paperback / Published 1998
Amazon price: $35.96 ~ You Save: $8.99 (20%)
 
Html : The Definitive Guide ~ Usually ships in 24 hours
Chuck Musciano, et al / Paperback / Published 1998
Amazon price: $26.36 ~ You Save: $6.59 (20%)
Read more about this title...
Html Artistry : More Than Code ~ Usually ships in 24 hours
Ardith Ibanez, Natalie Zee / Paperback / Published 1998
Amazon price: $32.00 ~ You Save: $8.00 (20%)
Read more about this title...
Html Complete
Paperback / Published 1999
Amazon price: $15.99 ~ You Save: $4.00 (20%)
Very good price
**** Using HTML 4.0, Fourth Edition ~ Usually ships in 24 hours
Lee Anne Phillips, Rick Darnell / Paperback / Published 1998
Amazon price: $23.99 ~ You Save: $6.00 (20%)
 

DHTML

***+ Dynamic Html in Action
Eric M. Schurman, William J. Pardi

Paperback - 497 pages 2nd Bk&Dk edition (March 1999)
Microsoft Press; ISBN: 0735605637 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.41 x 9.46 x 7.47
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 4,586
Popular in: Bismarck, ND (#3)
Avg. Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Number of Reviews: 9

Not bad coverage of both HTML and JavaScript for those who already know C or Java or other C-like language. Not recommended for beginners that has no programming experience. 

***** Good training for beginners and information for advanced January 8, 2000

Reviewer: jnz08 from Honolulu, Hawaii

I disagree that this book covers only the very basic. It begins with a great overview of HTML (though I'm a pretty good web programmer, I read the HTML chapters and found some things that I did not know before)and then covers scripting quite well. It also has a good overview of css, including some screenshot differences between how IE and Netscape display styles. After this, it gets into more esoteric subjects like data binding, scriptlets, and font embedding. It also has a chapter or so for XML, talks about javascript error handling, and has a big section on cross browser coding.

I liked this book-I thought it was very well written. It definitely wasn't a hard core reference-but it points you to specific places in all sorts of real references, most on the net, though it also recommends some real reference books.

5 out of 5 stars The BEST tutorial/learning book on HTML/DHTMLAugust 7, 1999
Reviewer: JoeCarls@yahoo.com from San Diego, California, USA

This is the best book I've seen for learning DHTML. I taught for years and the author has a gift for explaining both simple and complex ideas in a very readable but information-rich format.
Like a reviewer below, I also found the book to be full of tons of links to useful online references and the CD to have a lot of useful info/demos.
As far as the book's coverage of different browsers, I thought that it covered the most important issues-what does not work in different browsers. There are even a few places where it deals with Opera and things like spiders and text only browsers, though of course most of the coverage is of Netscape and Internet Explorer.

5 out of 5 stars a readable, accessible primer-to-intermediate guide July 11, 1999
Reviewer: t.d.s@mindspring.com from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

True, this is not a great reference, though the CD contains great reference material and there are www links scattered liberally throughout the text. For more general DHTML references one would do better with either Goodman's "Dynamic HTML: The Definitive Guide" (O'Reilly & Assoc., 1998) for a cross-platform perspective or Francis et al. "IE5 DHTML Prog. Ref. 2nd Ed." (Wrox Press, 1999) for a very IE5-centric text.

What this book excels at is showing you how to do stuff with DHTML, combining (Java)script-ing, CSS, and touching on XML. It doesn't go deeply into any particular subject, nor does it skim too lightly, and its "portal" approach almost guarantees there are links to more information.

Netscape-centric developers will find this text off-putting to offensive. This book stresses - though is not exclusive to - IE4 and 5. As Microsoft and Netscape converge on the W3C DHTML specification we can hope browser-specific DHTML books will be replaced by more standardized texts.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is at least slightly familiar with the technologies and wants to put them together quickly to create eye-catching sites. Its Javascript tutorial is weak - if you're not already familiar with Javascript or its siblings (JScript, ECMAScript) start elsewhere then return to this book for practical uses of Javascript.

 
****  Inside Dynamic Html (Microsoft Programming Series) -- Scott Isaacs; Paperback
Paperback - 450 pages Bk&Cd-Rom edition (November 1997)
Microsoft Press; ISBN: 1572316861 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.33 x 9.11 x 7.44

Amazon.com Sales Rank: 25,087
Avg. Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars Number of Reviews: 9
One of the creators of DHTML tells you how to build fast, interactive Web pages with Dynamic contents, Dynamic styles and Dynamic positioning. Covers HTML, cascading style sheets, scripting fundamentals and explains object model and element collections. Paper. CD ROM included. DLC: DLC: HTML (Document markup language)
5 out of 5 stars Perfect
Reviewer: A reader from Beijing      October 8, 1998

It seems that old Microsoft is starting to get its act together and taking instructional design seriously! When I lived in the USA, they used to just dump products on the market with no real support, but if one looks at their own publishing arm...wow. This book is a fine example of same. I was able to get up to speed and start knocking out killer web sites with just the code that comes with the CD. If nothing else, buy the book for the CD alone. But in total the book is awesome. A most have if you are either a beginner or a web wiz!

Too bad other companies do not follow the same. Microsoft will truly dominate multimedia if it keeps it up. xie jing Bill gates!

Building Dynamic HTML GUIs
Steven Champeon, David S. Fox / Paperback / Published 1999
Amazon price: $31.99 ~ You Save: $8.00 (20%)
 
DHTML : For the World Wide Web (Visual Quickstart Guide)
by Jason C. Teague. Paperback (October 1998) Amazon price:$14.36
You Save: $3.59 (20%)

Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Dynamic Html : Master All the Essentials
by Joseph Schmuller, et al. Paperback (February 1998)
Amazon price:$25.49
You Save: $4.50 (15%)
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars

 

Dynamic Html : The Definitive Reference
by Danny Goodman. Paperback (August 1998)

Amazon price:$35.96
You Save: $8.99 (20%)

Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars

 

Dynamic Html : The Html Developer's Guide
by Jeff Rule, Jeffrey S. Rule. Paperback (November 1998)
Amazon price:$31.96
You Save: $7.99 (20%)
Average Customer Review: 4 out of 5 stars

 

Dynamic Html for Webmasters
by Tom Dell. Paperback (September 1998)
Amazon price:$33.96
Average Customer Review: 4 out of 5 stars
Dynamic Html Reference And Software Development Kit
by Microsoft Corporation. Paperback
Amazon price:$39.99
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Dynamic HTML Web Magic
by Jeff Rouyer. Paperback (July 1998)
Amazon price:$31.99
Average Customer Review: 3 out of 5 stars
 
Learn Advanced HTML 4.0 With DHTML
by Jose Antonio Ramalho. Paperback (October 1998)
Average Customer Review: 4 out of 5 stars

Cascading Style Sheets

***+ Html Stylesheet Sourcebook ~ Usually ships in 24 hours
Ian S. Graham / Paperback / Published 1997
Amazon price: $19.99 ~ You Save: $5.00 (20%)
Amazon.com Ian Graham Interview
Paperback - 352 pages (October 1997)
John Wiley & Sons; ISBN: 0471196649 ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.98 x 9.22 x 7.50
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 87,705
Avg. Customer Review: 4 out of 5 stars
Number of Reviews: 2

Slightly outdated (1997), but still useful.

4 out of 5 stars Graham comes through again April 7, 2000
Reviewer: Ariel Wolfer (see more about me) from DC

Graham is able to explain things quite easily if you have any questions. Rarely, however, could I find myself reading a book like this cover to cover. If you want to learn how to design in CSS, then this book can help you, but you could save some money and look for on-line resources. This book is best used as a reference tool and detailed information when you need to understand something better. It can help you become quite proficient.

On the plus side he is thorough and easy to understand, on the negative side, all of the pictures are black and white. "Cascading Style Sheets: Designing for the Web" by Lie and Bos has all color pictures, making certain examples more powerful in nature.

Bottom Line: Both books are highly recommended, but neither should be used for people just starting HTML. Be proficient in HTML before you get these books or you may be confused. I feel confident in CSS specs with these books as a resource.

*** Cascading Style Sheets, Second Edition Designing for the Web
Hakon Wium Lie, Bert Bos, Robert Cailliau
Amazon price: $31.96
Textbook Binding - 396 pages 2nd edition (July 2, 1999)
Addison-Wesley Pub Co; ISBN: 0201596253 ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.54 x 9.53 x 7.28
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 5,735
 

2 out of 5 stars don't waste your time - most features can't be implemented, April 14, 2000
Reviewer: A reader from Boston, MA

This would be a great book if it discussed more than the W3C specifications, most of which are not implemented properly by today's browsers. If you are serious about learning CSS, you need to understand browser implementations, and practical uses of the CSS spec. For example, the discussion on CSS-Positioning leads one to believe that this will replace HTML table alignment. It gives no indication to the usefullness of CSS-P to DHTML and such effects like drop-down menus.

If you want to learn CSS, there are many online resources. Also, a great product called TopStyle has built in code validation that clearly reveals browser implementation issues...it can't be beat.

 

Cascading Style Sheets The Definitive Guide
by Eric A. Meyer
Paperback - 480 pages (May 2000)
O'Reilly & Associates; ISBN: 1565926226
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 489

DHTML For the World Wide Web (Visual Quickstart Guide)

Amazon Price: $14.36 You Save: $3.59 (20%)

Paperback - 248 pages (October 1998)
Addison-Wesley Pub Co; ISBN: 0201353415 ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.55 x 9.01 x 7.00 Amazon.com Sales Rank: 1,527
Popular in: Hayward, CA (#14)
Avg. Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Number of Reviews: 21

This is actually CSS book

**+ Cascading Style Sheets Complete (McGraw-Hill Complete Series);

David D. Busch, J. W. Olsen
McGraw Hill made it again -- Compete junk book

2 out of 5 stars Tough Luck April 2, 2000
Reviewer: dan e. greenlaw from Washington State

I was not impressed with the book. Here's why: 1). having a strong HTML background and some CSS background, I did not learn a substantial amount worth anything to me and 2). I did not feel that it dealt with the problem of browser inconsistencies adequately. I learned more by printing off the 338 pages of CSS2 specs from the World Wide Web Consortium.  


Reference

Dynamic Html : The Definitive Reference ~ Usually ships in 24 hours
Danny Goodman / Paperback / Published 1998
Amazon price: $31.96 ~ You Save: $7.99 (20%)
 
Dynamic Html Reference And Software Development Kit
by Microsoft Corporation
Amazon price: $39.99

Paperback - 700 pages Bk&Cd Rom edition (March 17, 1999)
Microsoft Press; ISBN: 0735606382 ; Dimensions (in inches): 2.06 x 8.88 x 7.42
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 34,461
Avg. Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars Number of Reviews: 4
***+ Html 4.0 Sourcebook ~ Usually ships in 24 hours
Ian S. Graham / Paperback / Published 1998
Amazon price: $27.99 ~ You Save: $7.00 (20%)
Amazon.com Ian Graham Interview
Paperback - 712 pages 4th edition (April 1998)
John Wiley & Sons; ISBN: 0471257249 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.49 x 9.21 x 7.46
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 10,467
Avg. Customer Review: 4 out of 5 stars
Number of Reviews: 11
 Not bad, but previous editions were somewhat poorly organized and very weak on forms.
5 out of 5 stars You get what you pay for March 8, 2000

Reviewer: Ariel Wolfer (see more about me) from Washington, DC

This book delivers on its promise of a thorough review of HTML 4.0. Every tag and attribute is explained well enough for you to get the hang of it on your own. This is not the "end-all" book on HTML, but simply a quick (but thorough) reference and a starting guide. It explains HTML topics in a natural language that can appeal to all classes of readers.

I was greatly pleased with one feature that this book possessed where others did not. Every tag and attribute in the book is labeled so that you know exactly what is currently supported by which browser. That is immensely important in web design. Graham also consistently included pictures of how various web pages were interepreted by differing browsers, along with the code itself.

This book is good for a beginner as well as a quick reference for developers. If you want a large quantity of specific information on specific topics within or related to HTML (E.g. CSS, XML, cgi, etc), then buy a different book. However, for all of the features proprietary to HTML 4.0, this is the book to get.

5 out of 5 stars Better than O'Reilly and Associates--This is THE GUIDE. December 14, 1998

Reviewer: John Rodenbiker (jrodenbiker@hotmail.com) (see more about me) from North Dakota State College of Science, North Dakota, USA

I have read both this book and O'Reilly's _The Definitive Guide_. Both are excellent books. However, Graham (or his editor) has laid his book out in a more logical format and goes beyond simple HTML.

If you are a beginner, Graham will gently guide into the complexities of advanced web page and web site design.

If you are an experienced web document creator, you should find new and enlightening info in this book. The detailed descriptions of each individual tag can be compared to no other book.

Graham begins with an introduction to HTML and basic document design. He also includes very pertinent graphics information. In later chapters he returns to and expands on the basic tags. He thouroughly examines every tag, helpfully separating them into standard tags and advanced/proprietary features.

He goes far beyond any other HTML guide I have read by including information on page collection and site design, info that *should* be standard coverage when talking about the web. He also includes information on URLs, HTTP, and CGI.

What sets this book apart from any other computer book I have ever read is the unbelievable amount of reliable and pertinent external sources, books and web sites alike. That, and the excellent index, make this what should be a standard book the shelf of anyone who has anything to do with the web.


IE5

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 (Microsoft Programming Series)
by Scott Roberts
Amazon price: $39.99 (20% off)
Paperback - 511 pages (July 1999)
Microsoft Press; ISBN: 0735607818 ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.41 x 9.20 x 7.39
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 6,525
Avg. Customer Review: 4 out of 5 stars Number of Reviews: 7
 
Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 Web Programming Unleashed
Boris Feldman
Amazon price: $39.99
Paperback - 1029 pages Bk&Cd Rom edition (May 19, 2000)
Sams; ISBN: 0672317109 ; Dimensions (in inches): 2.22 x 9.06 x 7.31
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 374,288
Avg. Customer Review: 5 out of 5 stars
Number of Reviews: 1

Book Description
Internet Explorer 5 Web Programming Unleashed focuses on Web programming. Regardless of what the topic material is for the chapter, the focus of the book is how or why to program for IE 5. This book fills the need that other books on the market miss: an overall look at web programming within the Internet Explorer 5.0 environment. Content includes IE 5.0, Dynamic Pages, Components, Dynamic Web Content, Data Access Techniques, Multimedia, Providing Support, Expanding the Box, Out of the Box, Offline Browsing, and Security & Distribution.

Shows you how to take IE 5 out of the box and maximize its capabilities to create striking, dynamic web sites

Details the "how" and "why" as well as the "what" of web development with IE 5

Provides in-depth and comprehensive coverage

CD-ROM contains web development utilities and programming code

Book Info
An extensive guide that helps the user to obtain the skills, understanding, and breadth of knowledge to unleash the full potential of Internet Explorer 5 Web programming. Softcover.

 

Etc

 
****+ How to Use Html3 (How It Works Series) ~ Usually ships in 24 hours
Scott Arpajian / Paperback / Published 1996
Amazon price: $19.99 ~ You Save: $5.00 (20%)

Publisher: Ziff-Davis Press
ISBN: 1562764969
Published: 05-Nov-1996

Paperback - 240 pages (March 1996)
Ziff Davis Pr; ISBN: 1562763903 ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.60 x 9.97 x 8.50
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 70,241
Avg. Customer Review: *****
Number of Reviews: 3

A reader from Italy , October 14, 1998 *****
Beginner's best choice
Resently I got an assignment to build a web page but I had absolutely no experience. Fortunately, I had picked this book up intending some day to read it. Using HTML3 as my only source of reference, I was able to build a multi-paged web site with over 400 links world-wide. If it hadn't been for this book, I'd still be scratching my head and wondering how to start.

A reader , February 23, 1997 *****
Excellent beginner's book
This was the fourth book on HTML I've purchased and the only one that was clear and made sense. The explanations are great and pictures helpful. I followed it and created my web page in a short time.

A reader , January 10, 1997 *****
Clear, concise, and easy for a "newbie" to HTML.
As a beginner, learning HTML was a daunting prospect. Scott Arpajian's book, HTML3 was a real FIND for me. Since reading this book (more than once) I have constructed a personal homepage, and successfully completed several college computer courses requiring HTML work. THANKS.

***+ Graphics & Web Page Design (Laura Lemay's Web Workshop Series)
Laura Lemay, et al / Paperback / Published 1996
Amazon price: $55.00 (Special Order)
read now.

Paperback - 363 pages Bk&Cd-Rom edition (September 1996)
Sams; ISBN: 1575211254 ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.91 x 9.14 x 7.41

Amazon.com Sales Rank: 68,215
Avg. Customer Review: **+
Number of Reviews: 6
***+ Web Publishing Unleashed : Professional Reference ~ Usually ships in 24 hours
William Robert Stanek / Hardcover / Published 19-Dec-1996/ ISBN: 157521198X
Amazon price: $48.99 ~ You Save: $21.00 (30%)
read now.
Hardcover Bk&Cd-Rom edition (January 1997)
Sams; ISBN: 157521198X ; Dimensions (in inches): 2.46 x 9.38 x 7.91
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 22,580
Avg. Customer Review: ****+
Number of Reviews: 89
The World Wide Web Unleashed; With CDROM ~ Usually ships in 24 hours 
John December, Neil Randall / Paperback / Published 1996
Amazon price: $39.99 ~ You Save: $10.00 (20%)
read now.
 
See http://www.december.com/works/wwwu.html for more information and support about this book's contents.
 
** Laura Lemay's Guide to Sizzling Web Site Design
Molly E. Holzschlag, Laura Lemay / Paperback / Published 1997
Amazon price: $36.00
Molly Holzschlag
Publisher:
ISBN: 1575212218
Published: 14-Feb-1997
Categories: Web Design, How To,

Disappoining

Web Scripting Secret Weapons
Scott Walter / Paperback / Published 1996
Amazon price: $39.99 (Special Order)
read now.
Scott Walter
Publisher: Que
ISBN: 0789709473
Published: 22-Nov-1996
Categories: Web Design, Web Development, Web Scripting,

Copyright © 1996-2009 by Dr. Nikolai Bezroukov. www.softpanorama.org was created as a service to the UN Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP) in the author free time. Submit comments This document is an industrial compilation designed and created exclusively for educational use and is placed under the copyright of the Open Content License(OPL). Site uses AdSense so you need to be aware of Google privacy policy. Original materials copyright belong to respective owners. Quotes are made for educational purposes only in compliance with the fair use doctrine.

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Last modified: November 08, 2008