Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Your Favorite Web Editor??

Mar 8, 2004 1:49AM PST

Hey all, I'm getting ready to jump into the wonderful world of web design, and I was just wondering what everyone uses?? I'm not HTML proficient.....YET, but will want to use it as I go because I understand it will help in having a more solid site. So I'm boggled as to which editor/builder to get. So maybe if I knew what everyone here was using (and possibly "why") it could help me narrow my search!!! Please!!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Mar 8, 2004 3:04AM PST
- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Aug 27, 2004 4:08AM PDT

Hey..

Don't know if you are still looking for a good web editing tool.. By far the best (I have used it for years) is AolPress. It is WYSIWYG.. and very, very easy to use.. now here is the best part..it is FREE. It is hard to find the setup file on the Internet though since AOL no longer supports the program BUT..

Don't worry little camper you can download it from the link below and get a users manual to boot:

http://www.ydegraw.com/aolpress.html

good luck!!
Ed
eddiesix@ix.netcom.com

- Collapse -
Agree with Mr. Proffitt
Mar 8, 2004 3:47AM PST

I like Notepad, since there are no limitations. But Composer will get you up and running quickly.

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Mar 14, 2004 10:15PM PST
- Collapse -
Re:Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Mar 22, 2004 1:27AM PST

Michael,
you have a bunch of broken image links on your site.

I've been a long time user of Composer. I actually prefered the 4.7x versions but I am now using it sometimes with Netscape 7.1 and sometimes with Mozilla. I will sometimes use IBM NetObjects Top Page but Composer is simpler and what I usually reach for.

Here's my site http://rd400d.com/

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Apr 23, 2004 1:23PM PDT

Macromedia Dreamweaver it is your best bet.

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Mar 14, 2004 11:34PM PST
- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Mar 14, 2004 11:41PM PST

Hello my favorite HTML editor is a freeware editor called 1st page2000. Their hompage is: www.eversoft.com
On the upside this web editor has a WYSIWYG editor
with an extensive HTML and CSS tutorial that can't
be beat best of all it's a freeware program.
Now the only downside is that you need a unzip program
to install it on your computer. Check this sites download page. I used winzip 9.0.

Hope this helps my friend

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Mar 15, 2004 1:51PM PST
- Collapse -
NT - Actually it's http://www.evrsoft.com/
Mar 16, 2004 1:04AM PST

.

- Collapse -
An Easier ZIP Program - Completely Free!
Mar 16, 2004 10:41AM PST
- Collapse -
The trouble with 1st page 2000 is that it's no longer being updated. An
Mar 21, 2004 11:13PM PST

HTML editor much like 1st page (I think better) is TSW WebCoder v4, also free, and the author is finishing v.5. V4 doesn't have help files, you can buy a pro version with help files but it's not sold by the author of WebCoder.

http://www.tsware.net/download.php

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Mar 22, 2004 3:12AM PST

I've beem using Visicom Media's AceHTML 5.0. Allows XHTML coding without changing the tags, has preview features, code validator, etc.

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Mar 22, 2004 11:40AM PST

Expensive, but the best editor is Dreamweaver from Macromedia - current version is Dreamweaver MX 2004 v 7.0.1
You can use code only, code and design view or design view only (WYSIWYG). A very powerful editor with enormous help files (in program and online), plenty of tutorials (eg. why not to use WYSIWYG!) and a very helpful and active support/news site.
To save any FP protagonists posting rebuttals Happy, the latest version of FrontPage is not bad (and a lot cheaper) but doesn't cut the mustard compared to DW.
Other editors mentioned: AceHTML (from visicommedia) and 1stPage (from evrsoft) are pretty good learning tools, as are CuteHTML (from Globalscape), Arachnophilia (a Java built editor from arachnoid.com) and my favourite, NoteTabPro (from fookes.com).
Whichever editor you choose; as you learn about HTML then CSS (1 & 2), JavaScript etc. (try HTMLgoodies.com as a source of information whilst learning) and get better at building web sites, you will gravitate towards Dreamweaver as the ultimate editor out there.
As an aside, when you have learnt enough HTML to realise that using CSS is almost an essential, you will need a good CSS editor too (Dreamweaver has CSS editing within it, but it still needs "help" at times Happy), then try TopStyle (or buy TopStyle Pro) from bradsoft.com - whichever way you go, good luck with your endeavours.

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Mar 22, 2004 1:37PM PST

For me a good start was Frontpage and it doesn't matter what everybody else says or what you've heard about it. It's a very simple program where you can create tables in a "normal" mode like in word sort of ... and there is "html" mode where you can look what it looks like in HTML. It helps because everytime you make a change you can compare it to the HTML code and see what changed there. There is also a "preview" mode to see what it looks like and you can open it in different browsers with different screen solution. THe only thing you have to be careful of is that you don't use scripts that are not compatible with IE and Netscape the same time because those are still the most common browsers. There are other programs like GoLive and Dreamweaver but if you have Windows XP or Office you might all ready have the program too and don't have to spend any extra. If you want to do it the hard way, you could also use notepad and do it from scratch but I find it harder to learn that way. What works to is if you go to a website and view the source, copy it to frontpage into the "html" mode and then look at it and learn what what does. There are also some tutorials out there but I learn by trying and experimenting. What ever works for you. Sovereign.

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Mar 22, 2004 9:22PM PST

My favorite is Frontpage 2000. It makes it easy tp import other programs and items like flash. I am working on a site now www.thebrotherhoodofbikers.com using frontpage2000,In a Flash, and xara 3D.

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Mar 23, 2004 12:26AM PST

I dont know if its just me, but your site zchuckz loads really slow due to the animation and big graphics.

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Mar 28, 2004 5:06PM PST

I use Dreamweaver MX. It does everything I ask of it, however, it is expensive.

If you plan to just use CSS then Notepad will do it just fine.

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Mar 29, 2004 1:50AM PST

Are you planning on making your living building Web sites? If so, do some research -- CNET software reviews are helpful -- and find a good product. I use the Macromedia MX suite. With it I can author HTML, produce optimized graphics, produce animations, upload my files to a Web server, and -- if I knew how -- could get into high-end database development. I've used the product since the early days (I started with Dreamweaver 2) and have found it indispensable. However, it's my living, and I depend on a usable, stable product. (Honestly, I don't work for Macromedia, but I've tried enough WYSIWYG editors to know which ones I like.)
My sites include:
www.connectionscommunications.com
www.heartlandagency.org
www.ryanbannerman.com
www.sarahgalvin.com
www.blackmediaworks.com
www.totaltrucking com

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Apr 12, 2004 12:22AM PDT

Personally, I prefer and have been using a program called "NoteTabPro," which is a general purpose editor which comes with numerous libraries to assist you in your development.

This is a very powerful editor, and you can use it just like windows notepad, however, this editor can do it all, and is very easy to use, will stay in your task bar (or not), highlights all html tags, strip html, make into html etc...

Get a free copy, then register it if you like it. It really works great!

Go to http://www.notetab.com/ to get a free copy.

See my web site at: http://www.cmytravelphotos.com/

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Apr 18, 2004 11:49PM PDT

Dreamweaver Rocks, forget all the others especially
Front Page

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Apr 19, 2004 1:15AM PDT

Amen, Brother!!

Front Page might be fine if the only browser in the world was IE. But there are so many other browsers out there that are not going to work very well with a site that is authored with FP. Just think about it. Do you really think that a product put out by MS will be 100 % compatible with all the rest? Not so. I've tested enough web sites with enough different browsers to probably put out some stats on the matter. It just does not fly. In fact, I tested some of the sites mentione much earlier in this thread and I could not see a good bit of the graphics. I wasn't getting paid to find out why or why not so I didn't dig any further. I just know from my experience that not all browsers will see things properly when done with FP. Sorry, folks.

DW, on the other hand, is not put out by any OS development company so is more compatible with more browsers. At least, that is what I'm thinking is the reason for the issue of compatibility. Anyone else?

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Apr 19, 2004 1:20AM PDT

For the novice or the experienced IBM's Web Sphere "Homepage Builder" is the GREATEST. I had absolutely NO web design experience. With this sofware I designed an eleven page site that Google ranked 34th in web design ideas. The cost for the software is under 70.

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Apr 19, 2004 1:46AM PDT

Dude - forget Frontpage. Composer is good to start with. Of course, if you're feeling a little bold, there's nothing better than Dreamweaver. It's easy enough to learn as you go along.

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Apr 19, 2004 2:37AM PDT

When starting a new site, I prefer NetObjects Fusion http://www.netobjects.com/ it's a wysiwyg but also allows you to edit the code if you need to.
I also find it easier and faster then FrontPage and the results are more professional looking then Composer.

For making a quick HTML edit, NOTEPAD is free, but of course Macromedia Dreamweaver this best, but expensive!
(Note: if you are a student you can get Dreamweaver cheap!).

Good luck!
Chris

- Collapse -
Seems ****08 has left the building..
Apr 19, 2004 10:02AM PDT

Well, still much good info here for web design newbies.

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
Apr 27, 2004 6:07AM PDT

I know there are tons of arguments against MS Frontpage software (like massive amounts of unnecessary code), but when I had to teach some people to create websites, I found that the interface had the easiest learning curve for newbies. I've used it myself after using Dreamweaver and some of the other products mentioned - I seem to keep going back to it because it's very easy to use. I run my finished pages through an HTML shrink program and it really helps reduce the dirty code to a minimum.

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
May 10, 2004 3:00AM PDT

I have been doing web pages for quite some time and have, on a regular bases, downloaded and tried as many editors as you can memtion, just to keep up with any changes. I can not see paying $100.00+ for an editor unless you are going to be doing web developement for a living. I have used Note Tab Pro ( http://www.fookes.com ) about 20 bucks, since 1997 as my primary editor. Do use HTML-Kit also ( http://www.chami.com/html-kit ) a free editor. If your into WYSIWYG, a real easy to use editor is Web Page Maker ( http://www.webpage-maker.com )
Hope I helped;
Primetime

- Collapse -
Re:Your Favorite Web Editor??
May 13, 2004 9:25PM PDT
- Collapse -
NOTEPAD IS SUPERIOR
May 15, 2004 2:23AM PDT

I have designed many pages and done rheims of coding in HTML, XHTML, CSS, PHP, JavaScript, etc... The only editor I reccomend is Notepad. Every box running Windows of any sort has it and it is free. All you have to do is save the files as pagename.html or.php and select All Files instead of .txt extension. That's it. You can experiment with HTML very easily by typing into Notepad, saving and refreshing in a browser that is displaying your page.

Good Luck!