Community Newsletter: Q&A: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design
- 11/3/05 5:23 PM
The first one is always the hardest!
by bob3160 - 11/4/05 4:01 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I was lucky enough to come across NVU.
"Nvu (pronounced N-view, for a "new view") makes managing a web site a snap. Now anyone can create web pages and manage a website with no technical expertise or knowledge of HTML."
I started with NVU and am still using it and if that sounds like an endorsement, well, it is.
You can get all the information from their website:
http://www.nvu.com/ and good luck with your first website project.
Web page Recommendations.
by wmarr - 11/4/05 4:22 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you don't like using MS Front Page, do this.
This is what I have done in the past.
You can open up a blank word document, edit it (put in the text past pictures etc, where you want them in the document. Now save it as an html, or web page. Just upload it to your webspace as instructed by your provider. Too easy.
no to Front Page
by sleesolene - 11/4/05 4:23 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
If you are interested in creating a site which is W3C compliant and will display pretty much the same in all browsers, I would definitely discourage you from using Front Page, or any other Microsoft product. Amaya, an open source WYSIWYG editor, would be a much better option. It is hosted by the W3C, so you are much more likely to be writing compliant code with it. [and let put in here, a bit off topic: do not let Microsoft own the internet! the patchy compliance they seem to have adopted as policy has slowed down development of the web in so many ways. their selective compliance to W3c regs means that web design costs on average 10% more than it would if desginers didn't have to write special code for IE in order to make sites code compliant AND render correctly in Internet Explorer, the special needs child of the WWW].
FrontPage Rocks
by allendick - 11/4/05 7:26 AM In reply to: no to Front Page by sleesoleneEveryone knocks FrontPage, but, IMO that is all either ignorance or sour grapes, because FP makes the job much less mysterious and anyone can get a good-looking site running in minutes. Moreover, no matter how sophisticated the site gets, FP can handle it. That really irks those who can charge high prices for simple pages. (I've done that) 
Back when computers ran on coal, I used to write my own web code in an editor, (That was after the web was finally invented and before all the new editors came out) but when Microsoft bought what would later become FrontPage, I bought FP. It was pretty crude and buggy back then, but I liked it, and have used it increasingly ever since. I now use nothing else.
That does not mean that I haven't been looking for alternatives. I don't like M$ any better than anyone else, having seen UNIX and then OS/2 out-marketed by what was at the time a vastly inferior product: Windows
Nonetheless, for what 95% of us need 99% of the time, FP is just fine, (and, yes, I do check my pages in multiple browsers and never see problems). Moreover, for the purists and masochistics, FP allows writing code manually, while observing a WSIWYG pane at the same time, and will then check and correct all links in all documents.
The thing I love about FP is that I maintain webs with hundreds or thousands of files and many directories, subsites, etc. and FP allows drag and drop re-arrangement of the files without breaking links. Links are changed in all documents as I move or rename things!
For those who haven't tried FP lately -- or ever -- FP has improved vastly over the years, and I would suggest trying it for a while before knocking it -- or wasting time doing things the hard way.
I've looked, and the only thing that comes close, as far as I can see, is Dreamweaver. I've searched and tried many different tools, looking for freeware or Linux software that comes anywhere close, including Nvu, which has been highly touted, but appears to only do pages, not sites.
As far as I can tell, NONE of the freeware or shareware software programs have the folder and general site management that FP does, and I really depend in the maintenance and report features of FP to find broken links, and generally maintain my sites.
If you only plan to have a page or two, then you don't need FP, but if you are going to create a maze of pages, then you will appreciate what it offers. You don't have to take my word for it. Try FP for free at http://www.microsoft.com/office/frontpage/prodinfo/trial.mspx or http://www.runaware.com/microsoft/frontpage2003/
Before you go too far, however, I recommend that you check to see if the provider of your web space includes web creation tools or templates. Many do, and, if so, you can likely do what you want using a web drag 'n drop interface.
allen
Frontpage is Bloatware
by Thompa - 11/4/05 5:46 PM In reply to: no to Front Page by sleesoleneCompare the size of a file created with Frontpage with the same page created in Dreamweaver (which I recommend for heavy web sites) or straight html code.
You will find that the Frontpage file is absolutely huge and contains many lines of non compliant W3C code which means that it will not be viewable in all browsers - an important issue if you want the site to be available world-wide.
THe huge size also means that downloads are slower per page and that there is less room for pages in the ISP's allocated space.
Dreamweaver
by philip.bankhead - 11/5/05 3:47 AM In reply to: Frontpage is Bloatware by ThompaI completly agree Frontpage produces really heavy files. I bilt my first site with Frontpage but had so much trouble with the updating that I bought Dreamweaver (a bit expensive but very good) I then spent about 2 months deleting tons of useless files on my site ! Now my site is slim and efficient.
Philip
recommendations for Web design
by DorisRL - 11/4/05 4:29 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I agree with someone who said Coffeecup software is good. It is easy to use, does the html stuff for you, and relatively inexpensive if you want to upgrade from their evaluation versions. I also used Globalscape's Cutesite Builder, it gives you templates to start with and lots of them. It also has an upload program included in the menus. If you want to download an evalutation copy, try this link to their website: http://www.cuteftp.com/store/purchase.asp?product=csb. The paid version costs about $70 with email delivery, but I have an older version which was quite nice (version 4.0 I believe). Good Luck! ps: I now am using Microsoft Visual Web Designer, it is a test version yet, and very complicated, but has great features for when you get the urge to do something more sophisticated.
Doris R-L
More website help for newbies
by Eskiegirl302 - 11/4/05 4:38 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I loved charlenes answer and here is a bit info for some of you learning. html my not be very exciting, but it is an absolute must know for creating websites. There is an excellent tutorial here for learning it. http://www.w3schools.com/ This site is wonderful for people. Have fun! Esk
TSW WecCoder
by Galley - 11/4/05 4:50 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
You should check out TSW WebCoder 2005. It has every feature you could ever want, and it's a bargain at $29.99.
http://tsware.net/
Learning HTML
by jodi_d - 11/4/05 5:00 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi Bruce,
When I wanted to make my own web site, a friend referred me to http://www.lvsonline.com/. They offer
a multitude of classes that includes "Build Your Website", which has three levels. It starts with basic HTML and uploading your files and continues through advanced CSS. You're given "homework" every week and the instructor is readily available to help you. Most of the classes are six weeks long and cost $20-$25. After completing several of them, I really didn't need to use Microsoft FrontPage anymore....I found that it was easier to write my own code.
You might want to take a look at their course schedule
and see what they offer.
Take care,
Jodi
That's good advice
by cobwebs - 2/15/06 10:04 AM In reply to: Learning HTML by jodi_dLearning to write code, in a classroom situation, is the best advice yet. All of the software mentioned is great, but there is no greater reward than seeing your own code "work". After you get a solid understanding you will be able to edit the software code for more personalization. I have taken HTML and Javascript on-line classes so far, but without that, I would consider myself to be blind and feeling my way around in the dark. When you can get the software (discounted at college book stores for their students) I highly recommend taking a current Photoshop class so you can edit photos with the pros and make your own graphics and animations. After these 3 basic classes you will have a great footing, and choosing the right software for yourself will be so much easier. A friend gave me the book "Websites for Dummies" which helped me decide which classes I needed to get where I needed to go. It’s easier to digest more if the courses are taken in a structured order. Bon Appétit
use openoffice
by jasonkornbau - 11/4/05 5:06 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use OopenOffice.org works great also sometimes i frontpage I don't know why people make such a big deal using Microsoft Products. They are going to be popular no matter what.
What about Macromedia Dreamweaver
by bucksguy14 - 11/4/05 5:11 AM In reply to: 11/04/05 Newbie needs recommendations for Web design by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I'm also getting ready to setup a web site and have been advised by a couple of people that Dreamweaver is a much better choice than Frontpage. Anyone have any experience and/or comments about Dreamweaver?
Go With Dreamweaver
by daygo140 - 11/4/05 5:37 AM In reply to: What about Macromedia Dreamweaver by bucksguy14I myself use Dreamweaver. Not only does Dreamweaver allow you to create websites with ease, it makes updating them also an easy task. Although it will help to have some knowledge on how HTML, PHP, etc. works. If you find these to be hard to understand or you don't have the time to learn these I suggest a good WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor.
If you do decide to go with Dreamweaver YOU WILL come across styles and things were you will need clarification or additional instruction. That's were Dreamweaver's support is top notch. Go to http://www.macromedia.com/cfusion/webforums/forum/index.cfm?forumid=12 .
Enjoy creating your first Website. Check out mine to maybe give you some ideas. http://www.dellarte.us if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.
Run from Dreamweaver!
by karaleah - 11/4/05 6:01 AM In reply to: What about Macromedia Dreamweaver by bucksguy14First post here (hi everyone!) but I have to warn you about Dreamweaver. I can't stand this program. If you use the WYSIWIG editor your page's code will be so unfreaking-believably bloated with redundant tags that it makes editing the code itself (which you'll want to do at some point) a nightmare.
Run away from this program! There are better ones out there.
Take care,
Shari
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