Help Pages and Links - 2003 Canada Wide Virtual Science Fair

The Help Centre will be updated and enhanced during the 2011 VSF.

Software is updated frequently thus some of the tutorials etc. may be slightly out date. As well, some may not display properly on some devices such as iPads. Alternative Apple friendly versions will be added as they become available.

Please contact me if you have problems with website software.
Ask for help via email at: Larry@virtualsciencefair.com
Tutorials Etc.

• iWeb - Using MAC iWeb to build and upload a VSF Project (Nov. 23, 2010 Version)
• Video - Introduction to the Virtual Science Fair
• Tutorial - Getting Started - Introduction
• Tutorial - Complete Cycle Using NVU
• Tutorial - Connecting to VSF Server with FileZilla
• Tutorial - How to Register for Forum
• Tutorial - How to Change Team Info

Choosing a Project
• Browse some of the VSF Projects: 2010 Winners,2009 Winners, 2008 Winners, 2007 Winners, 2006 Winners , 2005 Winners 2004 Winners ,2003 Winners, 2002 Winners (Note: Some older projects will not display due to issues with previous server.)
• Discuss your ideas with your teachers, parents, and classmates.
• Most importantly, choose a topic in which you are interested.
 
Building a VSF Project Web site

• There are two components to building a VSF project web site.

  • Creating the web pages on your computer.
  • Transferring the web pages to the VSF web server.
•Tutorial - Getting Started - Introduction
•Tutorial - Complete Cycle Using NVU (Note: Substitute 2010 for 2008 references)

• It is best if these two tasks are performed in unison. If is preferable that you transfer your pages to the server every time any changes are made. This is the only way to know for certain that the intended changes were successful.

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Creating Web pages

 

There are many ways to create web pages for a web site:

1. Using web page authoring software such as Dreamweaver, Frontpage, NVU, WYSIWYG Web Builder and many others.MAC's come with website authoring software named iWeb.
NVU is free, WYSIWYG Web Builder appears to be very good by may cost about $40 once the 30 day trial expires. Frontpage is used in many schools while Dreamweaver tends to be used by professional website builders. Dreamweaver and Frontpage are rather expensive.
Selwyn House School used WUSIWYG Web Builder and Photostory (free) to build their projects. See: •All 2007 Projects and Awards Select Selwyn House School from drop down list to see the projects.

2. Web sites can be build using Macromedia Flash. A .html file named index.html must be the top page of the website. Flash .swf files can be embedded in a .html file.

3. Many common desktop applications such as Word, Publisher, and Powerpoint have a "convert to web page" function which converts documents to web pages. This is the least desirable method of building a web site for the VSF, since the files created are often very large resulting in long download times. As well, websites created with these applications are hard to trouble shoot.

4. Web pages can be created using only a simple text editor such as Notepad and HTML code. This may provide the best learning experience.

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Posting Web pages to the VSF Server

Transferring the web page files to the VSF server is often challenging initially, but once the system is place it is easy and convenient.

There are basically two methods of transferring the web pages to the VSF server.

  1. Using the publishing function with the web page authoring software.
  2. Using a separate File Transfer Application such as FileZilla.                


Publish Settings for web authoring software - NVU:

•Tutorial - Complete Cycle Using NVU


 

Publish Settings for web authoring software - Dreamweaver:

Screen shot of remote site connection box for Dreamweaver 2004 MX

 

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Publish Settings for web authoring software - FrontPage 2002

 

Check your online/uploaded index.htm file using a web browser.

Replace drea7t2 with your username.

Notice filename index.htm is not needed in the URL.

Check other pages by adding the filename and extension to the URL.

For example to view page data.htm use the URL
www.virtualsciencefair.org/2007/your_username/data.htm  

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Using a separate FTP program such as FileZilla to upload the files to the server.

•Tutorial - Connecting to VSF Server with FileZilla

 

 
• VERY IMPORTANT- FTP your project to the VSF server as you build it. FTP new work and check the work often. Do not wait until you have finished the project. Check your work on the server to avoid frustration later. Links that work on your local desktop computer, may not work on the server.

 

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