Apr 16, 2004 08:32 PM
2809 Views
(Updated Apr 16, 2004 08:32 PM)
Well I discussed the HTML editors many times in my past reviews and this time I want to sum it up. As usual I will point out to the free alternatives too. It is very difficult question that how can you choose the HTML editor.
On many web design forums I found that there are many web designers who use Dreamweaver MX but what if it don't fit in your budget.
HTML editors are like word processors with some additional handling of external plugins like Flash, Genarator, activex etc. That means you can create web pages with Word processor but you can't achieve the flexibility that HTML editors offer, also Word processor lacks in many areas where HTML editors remain alive.
If you think about Macintosh platform I found that only Adobe & Macromedia is offering Good HTML editing software.But when we think about Windows Platform there are many giants are out there.Microsoft Frontpage is the choice of many peoples as it is easy to learn and many web hosting service offer publishing on thier servers.
Adobe is good at Photo editing/Video Editing software but Web deisgning software GO live 6 is crappiest software.it's latest release takes control of all text related file associations and it will remain on'Open with' list even if you succesfully uninstalled the application, and it is very difficult to undrstand many of it's new fuctions so you can't create your website as smooth as you do with Dreamweaver. Well anyway adobe golive supports flash/activex/Vbscript/Javascript to insert in webpage. Before launch of Dreamweaver allaire Homesite & Hot metal pro was doing excellent job of making web pages but now they are really outdated and overpriced.
Selection:-
As there are many web editing softwares are there in the market you can't judge them in one minute.If you are new to making web pages & only want to publish the persoanl web page on the internet then you can purchase the cheap yet effective HTML editing software. Some of the options in front of you are Trellix software yes one that featured in tripod's website. At tripod they are offering this for free, try it so you can understand how software works that will give you full idea about CD Rom version. Next one is Netobject's fusion which is very good software for those who want to create professional looking website, good for small buisness. Well there are many simmilar software like trellix but they're not that good.
For commercial or Community based websites those working with flash, PHP, XML they have to go for much advanced and powerfull editors like Dreamweaver, Go Live. Both these editor's handle many HTML, XML and PHP related extensions/fuctions. Excellent at table and text formatting but dreanweaver is at top for handling layers.
Check out time
Well after a lot of window shopping we have to make decision on purchase, so we will look for following points.
Editor is good at text formattiing no comparison with any other software, means all options are there including any new.
Web page modification with Tag editor & Table/Frame/Image Map handling is good & page is low on file size.
Safe for extensions( It is not touching file extension for open with fuction) also support for Scripts like(Java & Flash/Vb script)
Free Templates/Software Updates facility from thier website is available.
Help file/Guided tour to understand the software.
Technical support or even Online forum or community to help out.
Built in FTP client for publishing it from your editing envirement.
Cost well it's all upto you.You have to sacrifise when it is not in your budget.
Well all the points mentioned above are not important though but are points to check out if any editor is not satisfying these points then it is not suitable for commercial or community based websites.if any software is meeting maximum requirement then go for it.
Freeware
Well sometime I really think that many features that you look for in commercial software are avilable with free software then why go for Shareware apps.IMS web dwarf is also good HTML editor available for free from
https://virtualmachines.com.it is loaded with many tools that u see in frontpage. But I don't think there is support for flash swf file is there or not.
DHE editor is also simple to understand and it falls between frontpage and dreamweaver so it will easy for those who want to use the free one.it is available from https://hexagora.com/en_details_dhe.asp
Netscape composer is also good idea to create webpages without insatlling any other editor as this composer comes with your browser.well it is suitable for newbie's to publish thier persoanl website.it increases file size I don't know how.
For online edting on the internet you may check out these two links:-
https://transload.starblvd.net/ or https://submitside.com/HTMLeditor.
Or even Netjane if she is still alive on https://netopia.com
You can even discuss many of your WYISWYG problems at sitepoint.com or kirupa.com. This is the only way to learn new tricks or to get new tips. Anyway software is just the tool for arranging your objects but it is upto you to create your web world.
That's it! What I dig since last six years on the web is this. Comment on this review, suggestion or anything I missed in this review.
