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How Do You Build Your Site?
While completing an install of the $7 Secrets software for a client this last week (yes, part of it while I was on vacation), the question came up about how to create and/or edit web pages, particularly the templates that come with 7DSS.
Unfortunately, my web page creation experience goes back to 1995, when I began hand-coding my HTML, and I'm alternately proud and sorry to say that I still code by hand. (I use TextWrangler and/or BBEdit, for anyone that's interested.) I've tried a few WYSIWYG editors over the years—even bought a couple,—but I found that they would add in all sorts of cruft that bulked up the page. (And some of them are quite expensive!)
Then when I started coding CSS-based layouts, the WYSIWYG editors were slow to keep up with tools that made the job easier, still giving me table-based layouts that combined content and structure—making for sites that were difficult to maintain.
I realize, though, that the landscape is constantly changing. There are plenty of free and low-cost HTML editors out there, in addition to the expensive offerings. Some of them actually have the ability to add "Web 2.0" features to your site.
I'm interested in learning (and so are my readers) what you use to create and edit your web pages. If you have sites other than 7DSS-based sites, feel free to share, but I'd really like to know how you modify the $7 Secrets templates.
Do you use a text editor? Do you have a favorite WYSIWYG editor? Why do you like it? Do you buy niche templates and/or have them made for you, and then modify them? Or do you start from scratch?
Give us all your comments below and we'll see if we can come up with some options for newbies and experts alike.
html editor - Front Page
I still use Front Page including the code view if I need to hand code something. Yes I hand code too but intensely dislike doing it.
I am switching over to WordPress for most of my sites as it is an easier CMS and comes with a ton of templates to use.
CSS - Mostly I hand code my CSS as needed. If I use a CSS editor, Top Style Lite works fine.
Marshall, Editor
http://www.110flyfishingtips.com
NVU or Dreamweaver
The original netscape heritage belongs to NVU. It is free and easy to use with a css editor built in.
Of course for much of my design work I still use dreamweaver. But that is like using a sledge to kill a fly.
Thanks Don
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Bishop James 'I Feel God' Brown
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You say Composer, I say KompoZer
Hey, James! Yes, Nvu (pronounced "N-view") is based on the old Netscape Composer, which was part of the Mozilla Suite that has morphed into SeaMonkey. I probably hear more about Nvu than any other tool besides Dreamweaver.
It looks like Nvu's been discontinued in favor of KompoZer (which Steve mentions). Have you given that a try?
Dreamweaver & Kompozer
I use Dreamweaver when I need to see fast results and need to get a page set up fast. Still you need to know what you're doing and be able to change code by hand. The latest versions (8+) have nice CSS support as well btw. But Dreamweaver needs a lot of system resources: so while it starts up you can see the lights dim in your house and you'll have enough time to boil a cup of coffee - when you return, it's probably ready to use.
So when I just need the code for a bigger HTML form or a more complex table I quickly open up free Kompozer (http://www.kompozer.net - based on Mozilla as well) and do it there. I would not use it for complete pages or projects, but a newbie can see quick results with it - more than OK for a sales letter oder squeeze page.
But all the finetuning is done by hand of course :-)
How I Build My Sites
I code by hand, from scratch, with HTML-Kit. If you know XHTML and CSS, this is a very advanced AND all-inclusive tool. Visual (wysiwyg) editors only work (optimally) if you know and understand the code and terminology. (Dreamweaver is good).
Check out the site linked to my name, as an example. It was created for a client, again, by hand and from scratch.
If you egg me on, I'll create a 7DSS site form scratch and document it with video... go ahead.
I Use.... FrontPage
I am one of very few who are still "stuck with" Front Page. I remember picking up at Office Depot over four years ago and paid something like $149 for it.
It still does the simple HTML job for me. I think back four years ago, it was still a "skill" to be able to build a website, but now that population has grown so much since.
Frontpage
I use Microsoft Expression Web which is the current state of evolution for Frontpage.
I hear a lot of complaints about how html editors add extra junk to your web pages, well Expression Web is not one of them
Expression Web adds absolutely nothing extra to your page, it is in fact the HTML editor that I have always wanted and much much more.
It allows you to view your finished pages in multiple browsers and will hi-light all syntax errors and unsupported features for the DOC Type you have chosen.
It also comes with its own built in browser so you can check your work with a single mouse click, no need to load a browser or anything else, you can view your work almost instantly whenever you want.
It understands and hi-lights CSS syntax and catches errors during edits. It also provides CSS syntax help via drop-down lists, right in the editor, on the fly, while you work!
It tells you which browsers support the HTML you generate.
It also understands PHP syntax which works just like the CSS support. If you have a PHP interpreter installed on your workstation you can view your work with full PHP support.
It also understands ASP and ASPX syntax and fully supports the use of ASPX Master pages.
And when you are done editing you can copy your work to your host via
several methods with one click of the mouse.
Do a Google search for "Expression Web" and you can download a fully functional 60 day free trial.
If your want to learn and start taking advantage of the power of CSS then there is no faster way than Expression Web.
I am not kidding, for HTML editing this is as good as it gets...
Editors for HTML / CSS
I have never liked WYSIWYG editors and prefer these 2 tools for editing web pages:
CSE HtmlValidator for HTML. Great tool and customizable
http://www.htmlvalidator.com
Topstyle is my preferred CSS editor. The Lite version does everything I need (bottom of the page at)
http://www.newsgator.com/Individuals/TopStyle/Default.aspx
If readers need or like WYSIWYG editors, try CoffeeCup Editor 2008. It handles HTML and CSS and more.
http://www.coffeecup.com/html-editor/
There you go. My 2 pennies worth
-=[ Karl ]=-
Learn Digital Photography at
http://www.TeachMeToShoot.com/blog
HTML Editor
Hi Don,
I have used a free editor/browser from Mozilla named SeaMonkey. It is actually a good browser and has an email client, newsgroup reader and the editor all in one. It is very functional, has several nice features like highlighting all the tags in the page, it can save a whole website (great for backups of your site) and more. It also supports add ons and plugins.
I have tons of free and paid for templates and with SeaMonkey I can turn them into full sites without much trouble. I haven't used them on the $7 templates but it should work equally well.
It can be downloaded here: http://www.seamonkey-project.org/
Hope this helps,
Phil
Ah, SeaMonkey
It's easy to forget the browser suites; not much is made of them nowadays. SeaMonkey comes from a heritage of Netscape Communicator and includes a codebase similar to Firefox and Thuderbird.
That should make it an excellent editor, since what better to edit a web page than the program that's eventually going to display it?
Thanks for the comment, Phil!