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View Full Version : Any good HTML editors available?


PMGRACER
26-05-2003, 16:34
I just activated my whole 10 MB of webspace through my service provider. Little did I know that I had to learn HTML to build a site. I mostly want to post photos of my Racecar and some FIRST stuff. HTML looks easy enough, but a little tideous to write a cool website with. Are there any editors out there that a novice computer hack like me can use to build a site with? Can you do it with Java? I hear some of the students throwing these terms around like I throw around connecting rod or Blower. If anybody has any suggestions, please let me know.

If I can build a robot in 6 weeks that should take 6 months, building a site should be a piece of cake, right?!:D ;)

yangotang
26-05-2003, 16:59
From your post, I believe that you'd want to try out Microsoft Frontpage or Macromdedia Dreamweaver.

...............
26-05-2003, 17:10
Dreamweaver is pretty adaptive for anyone. Try to stay away from excessive animated Gif's and Java Applets because they are just plain tacky.
Flash is fun and easy once you learn it, and a whole site can fit compressed into the small space allocated
You could also just run a Server from your house if you need more space and you have a fast upload speed. (Apache, Any distro of Linux, or even simpler: Windows Server 2003)

Yan Wang
26-05-2003, 18:22
For textediting... Jedit.org

sanddrag
26-05-2003, 18:37
When I was learning HTML I used (and still do use) Coffee Cup. I've never tried Dreamweaver but I do hate Front Page. Coffee Cup is really easy to use and you can make some cool stuff with it. www.coffeecup.com

Trashed20
26-05-2003, 19:59
i currently use dreamweaver mx for my website coding as it simplified some of my redundant tasks (i use it as a glorified text editor since notepad became a hassle)

I think it would be a good thing to start with as it is a wysiwyg editor that allows for more control and cleaner code than what front page gives you. Since you are also new in learning HTML dreamweaver also has reference help files on html code and css which can always help your site. It also has tutorials to help you get started and to show you some things that you can do. Plus, if you feel daring i think it has FTP built in so you can integrate it into your site (assuming you have FTP) Dreamweaver will grow with you as your skills get better. I would suggest getting that over anything else (besides notepad of course ;))

iBob
26-05-2003, 20:20
DON'T EVER USE FRONTPAGE! Ok, my reasoning is that its a crappy program that doesn't write code to standards but instead uses fronpage extensions and half of your pages won't display correctly without windows IE. I use dreamweaver and love it, its great for a complete site. I"ve made many with it and would never go back to anythign i've tried in the past.

...............
26-05-2003, 20:42
Now there is no reason to just bash Frontpage, if nothing else you can use it as a text editor :D :D

Alexander McGee
26-05-2003, 20:59
Use dreamweaver. Theyre are trials on their website. Its worth buying it, but i hear that there are ways to make the trials last longer and stuff. I dunno, i bought it cause i do webdesign, and its real user friendlly. Dont go with frontpage. Frontpage blows.

Trashed20
26-05-2003, 21:52
Originally posted by ...............
Now there is no reason to just bash Frontpage, if nothing else you can use it as a text editor :D :D

the version i had didn't even do that right. its ment as a tool for people who want a little geocities site to show off their lint collection and 3 family photos, not a serious or advanced website. It does the job, but not efficiently. It's all albout what the user likes.

PMGRACER
26-05-2003, 23:13
Thanks Guys and or Gals! I kneww this was the right place to seek info on web design. I don't think WideOpenWest will accept code from Front page on the included web space, so using it is not an option. Sounds like you guys like Dreamweaver. Think I will give it a try.

WOW does have some tuttorials. I read a couple of them, and writing code in HTML seems a little tidious. Like writing graphics in BASIC or simple trig functions in FORTRAN. I guiess I'm spoiled by some of the newer progs that do so much for you. I hated writing code for FORTRAN or BASIC. So much work for so little out put.

I'll let you folks know how I'm progressing. This is one of the cool things about doing FIRST. There are so many people there to give you a hand when you want to explore something new. I wish the real world were more like this....:cool:

rbayer
27-05-2003, 03:17
Dreamweaver will do just about anything you could ever dream of (no pun intended!), and if you get Fireworks also, it will do literally ANYTHING. The new www.robbayer.com was built using these two tools, so feel free to check it out. Total time to design: 2 hours (although I already had all the content typed up).

Josh Hambright
27-05-2003, 09:23
I'd say go with dreamweaver or notepad.

That all i use when i do my freelance stuff and my stuff for work.

You can still find good HTML tutorials out on the net.

Be sure to check out http://www.webmonkey.com my favorite interenet geek related site. All kinds of great tutorials and guides.

Good luck and be sure to show us what you come up with!

PMGRACER
27-05-2003, 20:21
I heard it was possible to create a page using Microsoft Word? I haven't had too much time to look at some of the links you guys have posted. Maybe when I'm done working on the Camaro tonite, I'll log on and check this stuff out. Thanks again for all the cool suggestions!:D :cool:

AlbertW
28-05-2003, 00:37
::shudder::

web pages using word? you'd land yourself in that special circle of hell reserved for people like bush if you did that.

haha, seriously though, save everyone the eyesore and don't even think about it. :D

Josh Hambright
28-05-2003, 09:11
You CAN make webpages in Microsoft Word, In fact i think most all of the office products have a feature that can export themselves into HTML files (Converting EXCEL spreadsheets to html is a pain by hand...) But if you ever have to go back and reedit the code later without word or with another program or heaven forbid with a text editor you will find yourself waiding through alot of extra content that you dont need to read or deal with. Also the filesize of WORD exported HTML is HUGE! Heck dreamweaver even has a function called "Clean up WORD Html" to clean up how sloppily microsoft exports it.

AlbertW
29-05-2003, 02:01
i'm very well aware that you can, though why anyone would WANT to is another question ;)

tatsak42
29-05-2003, 17:54
Notepad! Go Notepad! w00t!

And for some operations, as everybody's said, Dreamweaver 4.0 or MX does well. Pretty easy to learn too. :D have fun

HFWang
01-06-2003, 19:59
People ACTUALLY USE NOTEPAD?

I find nothing wrong with pure text-editing... but notepad is IMO very, very (insert verys as needed) painful. At the very least, get a program with syntax coloration (I'm partial to HTML-kit, google it if you want, but there are alot out there.)

Joel J
01-06-2003, 22:41
Originally posted by HFWang
People ACTUALLY USE NOTEPAD?

I find nothing wrong with pure text-editing... but notepad is IMO very, very (insert verys as needed) painful. At the very least, get a program with syntax coloration (I'm partial to HTML-kit, google it if you want, but there are alot out there.) I use it because.. the icon is right there in my quick launch bar. If I am suddenly inspired, or notice a bug in something, need to jot an idea down, etc, I click the notepad icon and less than a second later it pops up.. free of any complication or glitter regularly present. Nothing more than a.. notepad for me to write on. Reasons, times, and uses for everything.

Brandon Martus
01-06-2003, 23:14
Originally posted by Joel J.
I use it because.. the icon is right there in my quick launch bar. If I am suddenly inspired, or notice a bug in something, need to jot an idea down, etc, I click the notepad icon and less than a second later it pops up.. free of any complication or glitter regularly present. Nothing more than a.. notepad for me to write on. Reasons, times, and uses for everything.

Ditto. Notepad loads faster than any editor I've wanted to use for small 'less than a few minutes' tasks.

jonathan lall
02-06-2003, 16:23
Notepad to code does not make you 1337! It's useful on occasion, like in the cases that Brandon suggested, but opening up Dreamweaver in code view is very efficient. For small changes (adding in a word or tag here and there), obviously Notepad is the best, but a good editor is great for someone who knows how to use it properly.

HFWang
02-06-2003, 22:05
on the other hand, typing in every single code elements yourself means you actuall know whats going into your site's layout.... which is more than i can say of some WYSIWYG users...

Greg
07-06-2003, 21:02
If all you want is a very simple page, and you want to create it really quickly, you could just open Outlook Express, type all the stuff in, go to View>Show source, and copy the html :) I know it is stupid, but the code is actually pretty clean and simple ;)