Can anyone recommend good HTML code books to clean up my websites code

[Clarrie]

cbosleeds has a good point about invalid code probably not being the problem of reduced traffic from the other search engines - particularly as you're in the UK - UK search market share is dominated by Google, and the others only get a tiny slice of the cake anyway - about 2 months ago we did a survey of some of the heavier traffic sites we look after, ones that are ranked well on Google and on Yahoo/Bing, and the average for organic search engine driven traffic was 88% Google, 12% the rest, so just be thankful you're getting traffic from Google!

Most search engines are pretty tolerant of code with errors in it unless it's really broken, but I'm always in favour of cleaning up errors if possible, so to come back to things to help you...

Most people here have pointed to the W3C site, but there are also browser based tools that help you identify problems with your existing code:
Opera with the optional debug tools (that link out to W3C validation tools etc) plus Dragonfly
Firefox with the HTMLValidator Add-in + Firebug

But for me the best HTML reference is http://www.w3schools.com/

Covers pretty much every technology as well as HTML. Searchable, continuously updated to latest specs (and browser compatibility), with good explanations and code examples and it's FREE! Stacks of tutorials as well if you need them.

[mikmik]

Sorry, I digress. The main thing was, that I tried for hours to get the code right even though a specific test page rendered fine in the test browsers. However, continuing on, when I just about had all errors fixed, a new bunch errors came into play. I gave up 3 hours later after choking down a cold dinner and the best I could do was 9 errors. I think all are JavaScript errors but the page reneders fine in the 4 browsers I tested it on. But as tiring and frustrating as the experience was, I think I learned a thing or two.

Yes, you definitely learn. Have you checked out HtmlTidy? It cleans up your code where possible and lists the other problems by line for your attention. I haven't used it for a while, but it's really good and it is free!

In ant event, the parsing of your document by the validator can be sort of side tracked, like two wrongs make a right(purely analogy), so that when one error is fixed, others become apparent. It happens all the time - nothing like thinking, "Hey, almost there!" only to get another bunch returned. (LOL, I used to think, "Hey, why were these okay a few minutes ago!!")

[LD]

Yes, you definitely learn. Have you checked out HtmlTidy? It cleans up your code where possible and lists the other problems by line for your attention.

I will check it out for sure.

In ant event, the parsing of your document by the validator can be sort of side tracked, like two wrongs make a right(purely analogy), so that when one error is fixed, others become apparent.

Exactly - when I was almost done - bang - another 30 errors/warnings appeared! And you are right - those errors were ok at last scan - WTF??

[weegillis]

Best advice I can give is don't be alarmed when the validator spits out 56 errors. One open tag can cause the whole page to break. Usually, the more errors, the closer to the top of the code listing to look for the most glaring mistake or omission. Fix one thing at a time, starting at the top, and revalidate. Work down the page, and fix another error. Re-validate. In many cases it's one or two or three errors that cause the whole cascade to crash.

[Rod Abbotson]

Hi Warren,
I had to do this several years ago and found that WC3 schools worked well...I managed to get all my website validating with no errors in XHTML 1.0 Strict

I since use CS lite (free validation checking program for editing my pages so I can check for errors before uploading them each time.

It require patience, especially if you have many pages..but satisfying when completed...many many people on this forum have an opinion that correct coding validation doesn't matter..... well in my case once I found I could have "no errors" I cannot tolerate any errors!! Also it has improved y business from my website above all my local competitors...none of whose page validate at all!

One more point if you have a "free" hosting as mentioned earlier in this thread there will be ads etc for the hosting service and they may well have errors..I had this problem with a free hosted site...even though I could correct the errors I couldnt overide the host and correct them...very annoying so I basically paid for the hosting..... Go Daddy have some very economical hosting options and since I have been using them I have had better customers service than 4 other hosts I was using previously....

Good luck

Rod

[nickoran]

personally I use a HTML validator plugin for firefox to check for errors that might get fixed, but its certainly not always possible.
a site you might be interested in is http://diveintohtml5.org/ which Ive found really good for getting into html5 if your updating a current site.

[SnerdeyWebs]

Ahh.. ever check out how Google, Yahoo and others fair in the W3C Validation reports? LOL

[LD]

Ahh.. ever check out how Google, Yahoo and others fair in the W3C Validation reports? LOL

Yup - Big G has upwards of 40-50 errors if I recall correctly.

[weegillis]

Ahh.. ever check out how Google, Yahoo and others fair in the W3C Validation reports? LOL

Yes, but remember the part about 'user checks'? And the part about one error causing a cascade of errors? We've been down the road of the big sites not validating, many times. It doesn't mean they are ignoring the specifications or the need for valid markup, they are building largely valid coded pages. Theirs' are sites that definitely fit under the 'user check and justify' umbrella. A small site, built of native HTML does not have this 'safe harbour,' nor should it be in need of it.

[astro]

Any chance of a link here? I am curious enough to take a look. Then maybe more constructive opinions can be offered.

I have never been a huge fan of host generated web pages and web building software. (Even though I offer them to my own hosting clients on my hosting site) they serve a valuable purpose for those who have no idea what so ever about web sites, but want an Internet presence. But if a site is to be commercial and ranking high, then build it from scratch. There is excellent software out there which is easy to learn. Just use the manual! Don't do the usual male thing, ignore the instructions, play about a bit then give up whilst cursing the stupid waste of cash, dumb software.

To prove a point to myself a while back I used the software I offer to build a site. I failed to prove the point! The template was excellent (I loved it and still do) but the software was limiting in what I wanted to achieve, when I complained to the provider it was explained I was only feeling limited because I knew HTML Which is true. In the end I downloaded the site from the server to my computer and tweaked it with my own software. But the net result of that is I can never go back to the server software again.

To sum up, if you want your site to work on a commercial basis, then I suggest you get professional help. More than enough excellent people here who would love to oblige. Just not me please!

/astro