Choosing
Web Site Authoring Software
Now that you have decided which web host you want to use and have a
rough idea of what subject you are going to build a web site on, you
will need to choose a web editor.
All
you need is Notepad
Seriously! If you can write code by hand, then all you actually need
to build a website is a text editor such as Notepad. There are loads
of HTML tutorial sites and 'Teach yourself HTML' books to choose from
if you fancy the challenge.
For those who don't, what you need is a WYSIWYG (pronounced; wizzywig).
WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG stands for 'What You See Is What
You Get'. These type of web editors are unsurprisingly,
the most popular type for people who are not coders.
Usually, you choose from a template within the program and simply
add your text and perhaps some graphics. When you are happy with your
work, click 'publish', and it will automatically publish your website
to the server.
The main players:
DreamWeaver
Macromedia's DreamWeaver is considered to be the top of the
range when it comes to WYSIWYG's. A bit like the Ferrari of web site
building. However, if the price doesn't put you off then the learning
curve probably will because it is a steep one. DreamWeaver tends to
be used by the pro's.
FrontPage
Microsoft's WYSIWYG web editor, FrontPage. When it first
appeared as FrontPage 98, this web site creation software was a bit
buggy and produced 'sloppy' code. Microsoft learned from this and produced
FrontPage 2002, which is a vastly superior product to FP 98 but is a
little lacking in features.
They made up for this in the next incarnation which is Microsoft
FrontPage 2003. Relatively easy to use, particularly if you know your
way around other Microsoft Office products. Fairly well priced too.
As with the other FrontPage products, it does require FrontPage
Extensions on the web host server, so do check first.
Adobe
Adobe also produce a range of website creation software such as
GoLive ® CS. As usual, Adobe deliver a top class product.
Like Dreamweaver, GoLive ® CS is expensive for
the hobbyist and so is mainly the reserve of the Pro designer.
Places to look for some of the best alternatively priced (sometimes
free) website creation software are
download.com,
tucows and
ZDnet.
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