HTML Editor? (Client side programs)

KingofLodis · 08-25-2007, 02:55 AM

I've been looking in several different places for a good web designing program for the client side area of things like HTML, CSS, etc. Something that helps you create your web pages offline (or rather, just enable you to do this... I'd prefer it to be a more advanced program)

I'm not really finding any good advanced programs...

Any idea on some?

(Not many of my friends are really into it... So they're really not too much of a help in finding this -.- Sorry if this question is annoying/comes up a lot... Also sorry if this question is in the wrong place... I didn't see where else it would fit -.-)

**gistek** · 08-25-2007, 04:02 PM

Actually, this is the perfect place for this question. And it is a very good question.

A lot depends on what you want to do with the webeditor and how much you want to spend. If money is tight and you just want to work on basic webpages, you can try Nvu. It's free and can handle both WYSIWYG and text editing. It also has a good CSS manager.

I've also heard some very good reports of DreamWeaver, but it's out of my price range, so I haven't tried it.

At this point, I would avoid FrontPage. While it is very easy to learn to use, it has a tendency to embed MicroSoft specific elements that don't interact well with non-MicroSoft applications.

There are several other webeditors available as well. Some restrict you to specific pre-set templates. This is fine if what you want is in one of the templates, but can be very limiting if you want to do something that is not included in their templates. Some will permit you to add templates and features, but they may charge for each addition.

Finally, there are some online webeditors that help you create and edit webpages either directly to your webhost server, or to files on your computer that you then upload. I use Trelix to manage websites on earthlink. I like the ability to permit other members of my organization to edit parts of the website. The main down-side is the fact that I need to use an ftp manager to maintain the offline copies of the websites. Trelix also limits some options, like templates, but this has not been a problem for any of the sites I manage. The few things that I have not been able to do in Trelix, I created offline and uploaded or I found other services that could handle my needs and linked out to them.

**Redcore** · 08-26-2007, 01:49 PM

Yeah, I agree that FrontPage should be avoided. Like gistek said, it has a habit of injecting MS stuff and it has sloppy code.

I was going to look around and see what programs are available (especially FREE ones) but I haven't found a whole lot in the way of free windows programs...I'll have to look some more.

I used phpDesigner for awhile. It used to be free, then they came out with a free AND paid, but now it's just trial software.

http://www.mpsoftware.dk/phpdesigner.php

I might be able to find the 2005 version that you can use free...but I have to check the legality of that too. Of course, 2007 would be best to try out and see if you like it - and it's only $53 to buy.

**gistek** · 08-26-2007, 02:55 PM

You can use old versions without any problem, but you may sacrifice some newer feature capabilities. Also, older free versions of now non-free applications are often not supported.

KingofLodis · 08-26-2007, 11:00 PM

A friend of mine and I were talking about this subject earlier today.

He mentioned that DreamWeaver was definitely the way to go with things... But yeah, it's expensive...

He also mentioned something about ColdFusion. Is ColdFusion any good?

**KoosHopeloos** · 08-27-2007, 03:39 AM

@ KingofLodis: I can not tell you what I think of ColdFusion since I have never used it. But you might take a look at Nvu which is the freeware version of Dreamweaver.

**Redcore** · 08-27-2007, 03:01 PM

I haven't used Nvu, but it definitely looks like a decent alternative to Dreamweaver. It may not have nearly as many features and functions, but it's all a new designer/developer needs and then some.

As far as ColdFusion, I don't use it either. I have a friend who loves it, but as you can see it's not widely supported so people like KoosHopeloos and myself couldn't help those who have taken it up. Since it is not free to put on servers, you'll end up paying a bit more for your hosting in order to have it on your server. It's not open-source and the community utilizing it is significantly smaller than a community such as PHP, so there are definite disadvantages.

I'd surely like my server to install it some day...and I wouldn't mind paying an extra buck or two a month to test it out. I'm not going to switch servers to get it though.

If you're a new developer and want to do this as a career, it's probably more worth learning something like PHP because CFML (ColdFusion Markup Language) is not something that many employers are on the look out for...whereas PHP is just about required by all of them at this point (unless they're utilizing Windows and their ASP technology - but Windows is now going to be implimenting PHP).

08-25-2007, 02:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
KingofLodis Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 211 OS: Windows 2000 Pro	HTML Editor? (Client side programs) I've been looking in several different places for a good web designing program for the client side area of things like HTML, CSS, etc. Something that helps you create your web pages offline (or rather, just enable you to do this... I'd prefer it to be a more advanced program) I'm not really finding any good advanced programs... Any idea on some? (Not many of my friends are really into it... So they're really not too much of a help in finding this -.- Sorry if this question is annoying/comes up a lot... Also sorry if this question is in the wrong place... I didn't see where else it would fit -.-) Last edited by KingofLodis; 08-25-2007 at 02:56 AM.

08-25-2007, 04:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
gistek Folding Along Join Date: May 2007 Location: PA, USA Posts: 1,904 OS: Bobbi=xp, sp3 Muse=Vista Home Premium	Re: HTML Editor? (Client side programs) Actually, this is the perfect place for this question. And it is a very good question. A lot depends on what you want to do with the webeditor and how much you want to spend. If money is tight and you just want to work on basic webpages, you can try Nvu. It's free and can handle both WYSIWYG and text editing. It also has a good CSS manager. I've also heard some very good reports of DreamWeaver, but it's out of my price range, so I haven't tried it. At this point, I would avoid FrontPage. While it is very easy to learn to use, it has a tendency to embed MicroSoft specific elements that don't interact well with non-MicroSoft applications. There are several other webeditors available as well. Some restrict you to specific pre-set templates. This is fine if what you want is in one of the templates, but can be very limiting if you want to do something that is not included in their templates. Some will permit you to add templates and features, but they may charge for each addition. Finally, there are some online webeditors that help you create and edit webpages either directly to your webhost server, or to files on your computer that you then upload. I use Trelix to manage websites on earthlink. I like the ability to permit other members of my organization to edit parts of the website. The main down-side is the fact that I need to use an ftp manager to maintain the offline copies of the websites. Trelix also limits some options, like templates, but this has not been a problem for any of the sites I manage. The few things that I have not been able to do in Trelix, I created offline and uploaded or I found other services that could handle my needs and linked out to them. __________________ I am not a computer professional, My advice comes from personal experience and/or friends who are computer professionals. Learn By Doing Un-versity Interested in Search and Rescue? Check out the Civil Air Patrol. Come Fold with us. TSF Folding@Home Team

08-26-2007, 01:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Redcore Design Team Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Jamestown, CA Posts: 715 OS: Linux Mint 7 My System	Re: HTML Editor? (Client side programs) Yeah, I agree that FrontPage should be avoided. Like gistek said, it has a habit of injecting MS stuff and it has sloppy code. I was going to look around and see what programs are available (especially FREE ones) but I haven't found a whole lot in the way of free windows programs...I'll have to look some more. I used phpDesigner for awhile. It used to be free, then they came out with a free AND paid, but now it's just trial software. http://www.mpsoftware.dk/phpdesigner.php I might be able to find the 2005 version that you can use free...but I have to check the legality of that too. Of course, 2007 would be best to try out and see if you like it - and it's only $53 to buy.

08-26-2007, 02:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
gistek Folding Along Join Date: May 2007 Location: PA, USA Posts: 1,904 OS: Bobbi=xp, sp3 Muse=Vista Home Premium	Re: HTML Editor? (Client side programs) You can use old versions without any problem, but you may sacrifice some newer feature capabilities. Also, older free versions of now non-free applications are often not supported. __________________ I am not a computer professional, My advice comes from personal experience and/or friends who are computer professionals. Learn By Doing Un-versity Interested in Search and Rescue? Check out the Civil Air Patrol. Come Fold with us. TSF Folding@Home Team

08-26-2007, 11:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
KingofLodis Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 211 OS: Windows 2000 Pro	Re: HTML Editor? (Client side programs) A friend of mine and I were talking about this subject earlier today. He mentioned that DreamWeaver was definitely the way to go with things... But yeah, it's expensive... He also mentioned something about ColdFusion. Is ColdFusion any good?

08-27-2007, 03:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
KoosHopeloos TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 555 OS: Windows XP Pro & Windows Vista Ultimate browsing the web with FF, Opera, Safari and IE.	Re: HTML Editor? (Client side programs) @ KingofLodis: I can not tell you what I think of ColdFusion since I have never used it. But you might take a look at Nvu which is the freeware version of Dreamweaver. __________________ KoosHopeloos, straight to you from .nl via the world wide web!

08-27-2007, 03:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
Redcore Design Team Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Jamestown, CA Posts: 715 OS: Linux Mint 7 My System	Re: HTML Editor? (Client side programs) I haven't used Nvu, but it definitely looks like a decent alternative to Dreamweaver. It may not have nearly as many features and functions, but it's all a new designer/developer needs and then some. As far as ColdFusion, I don't use it either. I have a friend who loves it, but as you can see it's not widely supported so people like KoosHopeloos and myself couldn't help those who have taken it up. Since it is not free to put on servers, you'll end up paying a bit more for your hosting in order to have it on your server. It's not open-source and the community utilizing it is significantly smaller than a community such as PHP, so there are definite disadvantages. I'd surely like my server to install it some day...and I wouldn't mind paying an extra buck or two a month to test it out. I'm not going to switch servers to get it though. If you're a new developer and want to do this as a career, it's probably more worth learning something like PHP because CFML (ColdFusion Markup Language) is not something that many employers are on the look out for...whereas PHP is just about required by all of them at this point (unless they're utilizing Windows and their ASP technology - but Windows is now going to be implimenting PHP).