Website Editor Software Recommendations
Clients often ask me to recommend web editing software to them.
The first thing that I recommend for a small business is a Content Management System (CMS) for their website. This can be built into a new website or added to an existing website.
You can learn more about CMS and try out some demos here:
http://www.kahl.net/demos/
Some folks prefer the DIY approach. Here is a short review of some of the popular website editors you can use. This can help you decide which editor is right for you.
Macromedia Dreamweaver
=========================
THIS IS MY DIY RECOMMENDATION!
- used and recommended by most pro web designers
- I have taught COMPLETE novice clients to use it to UPDATE their websites
- powerful yet even a BEGINNER can learn to use it to develop a site
- if you want more control over your site layout and design this will offer it
Comparative HTML Editor Reviews - Dreamweaver:
http://www.hellonearth.com/edwars/dreamweaver.html
Macromedia Contribute
======================
- useful for letting clients UPDATE advanced sites designed by professionals
- Contribute lets users who don't know HTML from HDTV update and manage existing Web sites. "Existing" is the key word, or key to Contribute's nifty niche -- it's not a full-featured HTML editor or site creator like Macromedia's Dreamweaver MX or Microsoft's FrontPage
Interested? check this article:
http://www.designer-info.com/master.htm?http://www.designer-info.com/Web/contribute.htm
MS Publisher
=============
Comments about using MS Publisher for website design:
- using a desktop publishing tool like ms publisher as a web developmetn platform is kind of like driving nails with a screwdriver - it can be done, but it'll cause a lot of pain and take a long time.
- publisher isn't a comfortable program to work with (on websites) in the long run
- not the most full-featured program you'll find for this purpose
- It puts in many lines of redundant code.
- annoyingly all the graphics are converted to .gif extension. That isn't always a problem but can be if you are trying to use photographs.
- entire pages are sometimes rendered as a large GIF graphic! This is not going to make the page a popular download.
- With little feedback, no site management and no direct HTML editing, there is no possibility of fine tuning your work. In most cases Publisher's defaults will prove adequate, but if the end results aren't what you wanted there is little you can do about it apart from turn to a dedicated HTML authoring package.
MS FrontPage
=============
Popular with beginners but not recommended because:
- it makes considerable changes to existing HTML code, and uses MS-specific language enhancements
- it is not going to give you standard (W3C) website code and some browsers will not display the results properly.
- The code it produces won't pass the standards for HTML/XHTML. This is, as you'd imagine, the major gripe most people have with FrontPage
Mozilla Composer
================
Free and very easy to learn!
- good editor to start with
Web Editors Reviews: Review of Mozilla Composer
http://www.thesitewizard.com/reviews/mozillacomposer.shtml
Want to learn more? Follow these links!
More info on web editors
===================
Top 3 Web Site Design Editors:
http://personalweb.about.com/cs/books/tp/editors.htm
Free HTML Editors, Web Editors, and WYSIWYG Web Editors and Site Builders:
http://www.thefreecountry.com/webmaster/htmleditors.shtml
Amazon list of web page editors:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/289973
A Comparative Round-up of Web Authoring Applications (2004):
http://www.designer-info.com/Writing/best_web_app_2004.htm
desktop web editor comparison:
http://catalyst.washington.edu/catalyst/planning/desktools.html
Web Editing Advice
==================
Get Your Website Right from the Start
The best way of setting up your website to ensure its longterm success:
http://www.designer-info.com/Writing/successful_website.htm
Appearance, Usability and Search Engine Visibility in Web Design
http://www.thesitewizard.com/webdesign/usabilitysearchengine.shtml
The first thing that I recommend for a small business is a Content Management System (CMS) for their website. This can be built into a new website or added to an existing website.
You can learn more about CMS and try out some demos here:
http://www.kahl.net/demos/
Some folks prefer the DIY approach. Here is a short review of some of the popular website editors you can use. This can help you decide which editor is right for you.
Macromedia Dreamweaver
=========================
THIS IS MY DIY RECOMMENDATION!
- used and recommended by most pro web designers
- I have taught COMPLETE novice clients to use it to UPDATE their websites
- powerful yet even a BEGINNER can learn to use it to develop a site
- if you want more control over your site layout and design this will offer it
Comparative HTML Editor Reviews - Dreamweaver:
http://www.hellonearth.com/edwars/dreamweaver.html
Macromedia Contribute
======================
- useful for letting clients UPDATE advanced sites designed by professionals
- Contribute lets users who don't know HTML from HDTV update and manage existing Web sites. "Existing" is the key word, or key to Contribute's nifty niche -- it's not a full-featured HTML editor or site creator like Macromedia's Dreamweaver MX or Microsoft's FrontPage
Interested? check this article:
http://www.designer-info.com/master.htm?http://www.designer-info.com/Web/contribute.htm
MS Publisher
=============
Comments about using MS Publisher for website design:
- using a desktop publishing tool like ms publisher as a web developmetn platform is kind of like driving nails with a screwdriver - it can be done, but it'll cause a lot of pain and take a long time.
- publisher isn't a comfortable program to work with (on websites) in the long run
- not the most full-featured program you'll find for this purpose
- It puts in many lines of redundant code.
- annoyingly all the graphics are converted to .gif extension. That isn't always a problem but can be if you are trying to use photographs.
- entire pages are sometimes rendered as a large GIF graphic! This is not going to make the page a popular download.
- With little feedback, no site management and no direct HTML editing, there is no possibility of fine tuning your work. In most cases Publisher's defaults will prove adequate, but if the end results aren't what you wanted there is little you can do about it apart from turn to a dedicated HTML authoring package.
MS FrontPage
=============
Popular with beginners but not recommended because:
- it makes considerable changes to existing HTML code, and uses MS-specific language enhancements
- it is not going to give you standard (W3C) website code and some browsers will not display the results properly.
- The code it produces won't pass the standards for HTML/XHTML. This is, as you'd imagine, the major gripe most people have with FrontPage
Mozilla Composer
================
Free and very easy to learn!
- good editor to start with
Web Editors Reviews: Review of Mozilla Composer
http://www.thesitewizard.com/reviews/mozillacomposer.shtml
Want to learn more? Follow these links!
More info on web editors
===================
Top 3 Web Site Design Editors:
http://personalweb.about.com/cs/books/tp/editors.htm
Free HTML Editors, Web Editors, and WYSIWYG Web Editors and Site Builders:
http://www.thefreecountry.com/webmaster/htmleditors.shtml
Amazon list of web page editors:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/289973
A Comparative Round-up of Web Authoring Applications (2004):
http://www.designer-info.com/Writing/best_web_app_2004.htm
desktop web editor comparison:
http://catalyst.washington.edu/catalyst/planning/desktools.html
Web Editing Advice
==================
Get Your Website Right from the Start
The best way of setting up your website to ensure its longterm success:
http://www.designer-info.com/Writing/successful_website.htm
Appearance, Usability and Search Engine Visibility in Web Design
http://www.thesitewizard.com/webdesign/usabilitysearchengine.shtml
KC Weather 
KC Web Hosting 
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