Creating an HTML file (Windows)

If you’re reading this page you must be a Windows XP user. If not, you might want to skip a couple of pages ahead. Or, if you just want to sit in the back and not ask questions, we’re okay with that too. To create HTML files in XP we’re going to use Notepad – it ships with every copy of Windows, the price is right, and it’s easy to use. If you’ve got your own favorite editor that runs on XP, that’s fine too; just make sure you can create a plain text file with an “.html” extension.
Assuming you’re using Notepad, here’s how you’re going to create your first HTML file.

Step one:

You’ll find the Notepad application in Accessories. The easiest way to get there is to click on the “Start” menu, then on “All Programs”, then “Accessories”. You’ll see Notepad listed there.

Step two:

Open Notepad
Once you’ve located Notepad in the
Accessories folder, go ahead and click
on it. You’ll see a blank window ready
for you to start typing HTML.







Step three (optional):

Don’t hide extensions of well
known file types.
By default XP’s File Explorer hides the
file extensions of well known file types.
For example, a file named, “Irule.html”
will be shown in the Explorer as “Irule”
without its “.html” extension.
It’s much less confusing if XP shows
you these extensions, so let’s change
your folder options so you can see the
file extensions.
First, in any Explorer window select
“Folder Options...” from the Tools
menu.
Next, in the “View” tab, under
“Advanced settings”, scroll down until
you see “Hide extensions for known file
types” and uncheck this option.
That’s it. Click on the OK button to
save the preference and you’ll now see
the file extensions in the Explorer.