Web Authoring Tools Techniques

   

Web Authoring Tools & Techniques

Now that you know the general steps required to build your Web site, it's time to take a look at the tools and techniques you can use to get the job done.

The way I see it, there are two ways to go about creating Web pages: the hard way and the easy way.

The Hard Way: Editing Raw HTML

The hard way to create a Web page is by typing HTML tags and text into a text editor or word processor. If you take another look at Figure 8.2, you can get an idea of the kind of fun that would be.

Tip

To edit raw HTML, you need to know HTML. There are lots of books that can help you learn it, but one of the best for beginners is HTML 4 for the World Wide Web: Visual QuickStart Guide , a Peachpit Press book by Elizabeth Castro. You can learn more about it at http://www.peachpit.com/books/catalog/K5950.html.


If you know HTML and want to build Web pages the old fashioned way, you don't need special software. Any text editor ”such as WordPad on Windows or SimpleText on Mac OS ”will work. You could also use a word processor capable of saving documents as plain text ”like Microsoft Word. Just remember to save the finished HTML document with the correct filename extension: .html or .htm .

The Easy Way: Web Authoring Software

It may come as a surprise to you, but back when I started building Web sites in 1995, editing raw HTML was the only way to create a Web page. Then a little program called PageMill hit the scene. It revolutionized the way Web authors created pages by offering WYSIWYG editing. You'd build a Web page with a word processor-like interface and PageMill would write all the HTML code for you.

WYSIWYG

Stands for What You See Is What You Get. For Web authoring software, a feature that enables you to see how a Web page will look as you edit it.


They're Not Dead Yet!

When I proposed this book, my editor questioned my inclusion of Adobe PageMill and Claris Home Page as two of the Web authoring software packages I'd mention. She, like so many other people, questioned the continued life of these two products.

When Adobe Systems, Inc. bought GoLive, Inc., doomsayers proclaimed the death of PageMill. But PageMill and GoLive peacefully co-existed for over a year. These two products are for different markets; PageMill is for the entry level Web author while GoLive is for more advanced Web designers who can figure out its complex interface ”something I've never been able to do. In the summer of 2000, Adobe officially announced that it would be discontinuing PageMill, although it would still support PageMill users.

FileMaker, Inc. (formerly Claris Corporation) discontinued development on Home Page in 1999, but the program is still listed as a current product on FileMaker, Inc.'s Web site. And I don't care what anyone says: for creating FileMaker Pro custom Web publishing solutions, Home Page can't be beat.

These two programs are excellent choices for new Web authors because they're affordable (under $100), extremely easy to use, and they keep things simple with basic HTML that will work in any browser. My advice to Web newbies looking for the right Web authoring tool: If you see either one of these programs (preferably PageMill) buy it. You'll get your money's worth and more.

Nowadays there are several software packages that do pretty much the same thing. Here's a quick look at them, along with information about where you can learn more.

Adobe PageMill

Adobe PageMill was the first of the WYSIWYG Web authoring packages and it still has a loyal user base. It's a great package for beginners because it's intuitive and extremely easy to use (see Figure 8.5). Its built-in site management and FTP capabilities, along with a "lite" version of Adobe Photoshop, make it an affordable solution for most basic Web authoring needs.

Figure 5. PageMill's Edit mode offers a word processor-like interface for creating Web pages.

graphics/08fig05.gif

Site Management

A feature of some Web authoring software that enables you to view and work with the organizational hierarchy of a Web site.


PageMill doesn't support all of HTML 4.0 (the current version), but it does allow you to edit the HTML it writes to add unsupported tags and features. This makes PageMill reasonably powerful in the hands of someone who knows HTML.

Until recently, PageMill was my primary Web authoring tool.

Although PageMill has been officially discontinued by Adobe Systems (see sidebar "They're Not Dead Yet!"), you may still find it in stores or mail order catalogs. Learn more about it on the PageMill pages of the Adobe Systems Web site, http://www.adobe.com/products/pagemill/main.html.

Tip

If you're looking for a great book about using PageMill, I hope you'll check out PageMill 3 for Macintosh & Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide , a Peachpit Press book by yours truly. You can learn more about it at http://www.peachpit.com/books/catalog/K5900.html.


FileMaker Home Page (formerly Claris Home Page)

Claris Home Page was another one of the original WYSIWYG Web authoring packages. Since then, Claris Corporation has been dissolved back into Apple Computer, Inc. and Home Page was spit back out as part of the product line of the newly formed FileMaker, Inc.

Like PageMill, Home Page doesn't support all of HTML 4.0, but it does offer built-in HTML editing. It has FTP capabilities, but not site management tools. As a Web authoring tool, it would probably have died by now if it wasn't for one great feature: built-in support for FileMaker Pro custom Web publishing commands known as Claris Dynamic Markup Language (CDML). This makes Home Page an indispensable tool for putting FileMaker Pro databases on the Web.

Home Page is available for both Windows and Mac OS users. You can learn more about it on the Home Page pages of the FileMaker, Inc. Web site, http://www.filemaker.com/products/hp_home.html.

Tip

Looking for a book about Home Page? Try Claris Home Page 3 for Windows & Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide , a Peachpit Press book by Richard Fenno. To my knowledge, this is the only book available about the program. Learn about it at http://www.peachpit.com/books/catalog/69647.html.


Microsoft FrontPage

Microsoft FrontPage is the third of the original three WYSIWYG Web authoring tools. Like PageMill, it offers an easy way to create Web pages, along with site management and FTP capabilities. But unlike PageMill, it supports all the current Web technologies, including HTML 4.0, DHTML, JavaScript, and more. That's a double-edged sword; if Page Options are not properly set for each Web page, it's possible to create pages that include Microsoft server-specific codes which may not work on your server.

FrontPage is available for both Windows and Mac OS users ”with a catch. The Mac OS version has not been updated since its original release several years ago so it lacks most of the features available in the Windows version. For this reason, I do not recommend the Macintosh version of FrontPage.

You can learn more about FrontPage for Windows on the FrontPage pages of the Microsoft Corporation Web site, http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/.

Tip

Another program, another Visual QuickStart Guide. For FrontPage, try FrontPage 2000 for Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide , a Peachpit Press book by Nolan Hester. Learn more about it at http://www.peachpit.com/books/catalog/K5914.html.


Macromedia Dreamweaver

Oddly enough, when Dreamweaver first appeared at computer shows, it did not include a WYSIWYG editing tool. Instead, it's main focus was on site management and the Web designer was required to code in HTML. (This was back in the days right after WYSIWYG Web authoring programs first came out and some silly purists insisted that raw HTML editing was the "right" way to create Web pages.)

Microsoft's Other Web Authoring Tools: Publisher & Word

Microsoft does offer two other programs that can create Web pages, but I'm not sure I'd recommend either one. Here's the scoop:

  • Microsoft Word is a word processor with the ability to save formatted documents as HTML documents. It does this by writing HTML code when you save the document. Although this isn't bad for creating quick and dirty Web pages to put information on the Web in a hurry, I don't consider it a serious Web authoring tool. You shouldn't either, no matter what Microsoft's marketing material might say.

  • Microsoft Publisher is a page layout package that also has the ability to save documents as HTML. How it does this, however, is rather frightening: it creates huge graphics for the text and images that make up the Web page. As a result, the pages it creates take a very long time to appear in Web browser windows. From what I've seen, once they do appear, they're usually not worth waiting for.

Would you use a corkscrew to open a can? Personally, I'd use a can opener . That's what they're for.

Nowadays, Macromedia Dreamweaver has both WYSIWYG and HTML editing. (What's really cool is that you can view both the WYSIWYG window and the HTML window at the same time, make changes in one, and see the effect of those changes immediately in the other; see Figure 8.6.) It still has great site management tools, as well as both upload and download FTP capabilities. It supports all of the current Web authoring technologies and is extensible through the use of "objects" that can be added to the program. (Many of these objects are available for free right on the Macromedia Web site.)

Figure 8.6. Dreamweaver is a full-featured WYSIWYG authoring program that supports all of the current Web technologies.

graphics/08fig06.gif

Dreamweaver is not for everyone. It's a bit advanced for new Web designers, although its relatively intuitive interface makes it easy to use. It's the kind of program that can grow with your Web authoring skills ”but it can also get you in trouble if you don't know what you're doing.

Dreamweaver has become my Web authoring tool of choice. I can't say enough good things about this program.

Dreamweaver is available for Windows and Macintosh. You can learn more about it on the Dreamweaver pages of the Macromedia Web site, http://www.macromedia.com/software/dreamweaver/.

Tip

If you're looking for a book about Dreamweaver, try Dreamweaver 3 for Windows & Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide , a Peachpit Press book by J. Tarin Towers. You can learn all about it at http://www.peachpit.com/books/catalog/70240.html.


Adobe GoLive

GoLive is another powerful, feature-packed Web authoring program. Originally developed as GoLive Cyberstudio by GoLive, Inc., it joined the Adobe family of products when Adobe Systems, Inc. bought GoLive. One name change and two revisions later, it's a popular package among professional Web designers.

GoLive includes Web authoring, site management, and FTP capabilities. It supports all the current Web technologies, making it a good tool for building Web sites with the latest and greatest features. The guy who shows off the product at computer shows gives a great demo that has the audience drooling. Unfortunately, the program's interface is far from intuitive and, when you get the product home, you wonder how he did it.

GoLive is one of the few software programs I've never been able to learn, despite tutorials, manuals, and other learning aids. Either it's difficult to learn or I have some kind of mental block against it.

GoLive is available for both Windows and Mac OS. You can learn more about it on the Go Live pages of the Adobe Systems Web site, http://www.adobe.com/products/golive/main.html.

Tip

You'll need a good book about Go Live if you plan to master it. Try one or both of these:

  • Adobe GoLive 4 for Macintosh & Windows: Visual QuickStart Guide , a Peachpit Press book by Shelly Brisbin. Learn about it at http://www.peachpit.com/books/catalog/K5934.html.

  • Adobe GoLive 4 Classroom in a Book , an Adobe Press book by the Adobe Creative Team. Learn about it at http://www.peachpit.com/books/catalog/L7694.html.

New versions of these books may be available by the time you read this.


Others

There are other WYSIWYG Web authoring packages out there. The ones I've mentioned here are just the most popular of the bunch. Check the Web sites for your favorite software catalog stores to see what's available. Then visit the sites of the software developers to get more information and trial versions.

   


Putting Your Small Business on the Web. The Peachpit Guide to Webtop Publishing
Putting Your Small Business on the Web
ISBN: 0201717131
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 1999
Pages: 83
Authors: Maria Langer

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