HTML Editors, What Is The Best Free Or Paid For Editor?

[darren13]

Hello again all,

I'm currently editing my html with Macromedia Dreamweaver 4.0 which I'm pretty happy about working with for my current websites.

However, I'm wondering if there are any new releases which are free or cost significantly less than Dreamweaver, which seems to cost nearly twice as much in the UK as in the States for a start!

I'm planning on a major site-overhaul pretty soon to try and get CSS in place as much as possible and remove unnecessary use of tables etc, so the html editor will need to be css-friendly and have a wysiwyg interface.

Any ideas guys? I'd be glad to hear what programs other people are using to develop or maintain their sites, what are the pros and cons of these software packages? Maybe you could provide me with links to see the sites you've developed with that package?

Kind Regards,
Darren.

[dharrison]

Hi Darren

Are you looking at WYSIWYG or standard HTML coding?

I can only really talk from my experience regardless: I use GlobalScape CuteHTMLPro (http://www.globalscape.com/cutehtmlpro/) which cost me about £33 ($50-$60) 2 years ago. I like it, because you can edit the HTML, there are shortcuts that pop-up when you want them to save time and a preview tab just like what you get in WYSIWYG editors. Also you can edit PHP, XML, ASP, JS, CSS, files as well as HTML.

I used to use CoffeeCup, which I think was free (not sure), but as a general rule of thumb you get what you pay for.

HTH

[darren13]

Originally Posted by dharrison

Hi Darren

Are you looking at WYSIWYG or standard HTML coding?

HTH

Hi HTH,

Preferably I'm looking for WYSIWYG as it's what I'm used to with Dreamweaver. However, I just don't know if Dreamweaver (or some other software) will enable me to create xhtml compliant pages without going over to hand-coding. I have heard of Coffee Cup before, but not CuteHTMLPro - thanks, I'll look into both
Darren.

[dharrison]

Hi Darren

HTH - Hope This Helps :)

[Chris]

rofl

:):):)

[darren13]

Originally Posted by Chris

rofl

:):):)

You think that's funny Chris, I still didn't get HTH's quote when she said "HTH - Hope That Helps", I just thought she was being really polite! Ha! I just Googled rofl cos I had no idea what the hell was going on, and got

...means rolling on the floor laughing... Shorthand term is used in
postings and online chat to show enthusiastic appreciation of a witticism ...

Then everything made sense - that really did just crack me - I haven't laughed at myself that much for a while!....

[darren13]

Originally Posted by dharrison

Hi Darren

HTH - Hope This Helps :)

Sorry, Debbie, wasn't trying to be facecious, I just really didn't get that at all - you guys need a section on acronyms for people like me who write long-hand!

ta (Thanks again),
Darren.

[Chris]

darren, definitely don't feel bad. i (and many many others) was the same way w/internet shorthand. there's a lot to remember and it seems like there's a new abbreviation/acronym every day. it's good to see people can still be in good spirits about things like this.

[dharrison]

I must admit I never knew what rofl was.

I thought (and this is a bit embarassing) Right old f****** laugh.

So don't worry Darren. I am also learning :)

[webgoddess68]

Originally Posted by darren13

Hello again all,

However, I'm wondering if there are any new releases which are free or cost significantly less than Dreamweaver, which seems to cost nearly twice as much in the UK as in the States for a start!

Should you find you need a hand-coding editor, my pick would be the free HTMLKIT found at http://www.htmlkit.com/. I use DreamWeaver for most stuff, but HTMLKit comes in handy too.

[caromero1965]

Have a look at www.nvu.com for a maturing open source editor that's derived from the old Netscape Composer.

[TrafficProducer]

Netscape Composer may be OK for simple stuff!

Download Netscape Composer. Composer is a free web page editor. Fully integrated, web document-authoring tool.

[ADAM Web Design]

Originally Posted by darren13

Hi HTH,

Preferably I'm looking for WYSIWYG as it's what I'm used to with Dreamweaver. However, I just don't know if Dreamweaver (or some other software) will enable me to create xhtml compliant pages without going over to hand-coding. I have heard of Coffee Cup before, but not CuteHTMLPro - thanks, I'll look into both
Darren.

WYSIWYG editors and compliance are at war with each other. At the present time, WYSIWYG has lost approx. 5000 soldiers to compliance, and compliance has lost 4000 soldiers to pointing and clicking.

In other words...you aren't too likely to find it.

Get yourself a good text-based HTML/XHTML editor. The good ones will colour-code your XHTML code, so you can see where your flaws are (if any). It sounds like a cheesy feature, but if used right, can save about half the time in heartache and frustration.

Having said all that, I used to like HomeSite back in the day before Macromedia got their hooks into it. AceHTML isn't bad, although it can be unstable at times. I've also used EditPad (a Notepad spinoff dealy), and it's not too bad either.

One way or the other, learning to properly hand code will save you a lot of grief in the long run.

And while we're at it, http://gprime.net/video.php/theaolage

[incrediblehelp]

Darren,

You know any students or teachers? You can buy all kinds of software very cheap here:

http://www.academicsuperstore.com/

[Andilinks]

I use http://www.ultraedit.com/ UltraEdit the best IMHO, not Rofl. [/url]

[dburdon]

Caremero got in before me. But Nvu works just fine. Almost the same as Mozilla composer and its totally free.

[ukeyoc]

Another free option: Selida.
NVU isn't my first option (need more work).

[darren13]

Webgoddess - Thanks - I'll maybe download it and give it a try later on.

caromero & dburdon - re nvu - yep downloaded it, not tried it on pc yet, but installed it on iMac (G3 I think, seemed to work okay with a quick edit I tried, only took me seconds to figure out, so I think it's easy to pick up.) and I think it's cross-platform, so will inject it into my pc and see what reaction I get!

Cheers, Darren.

[darren13]

TrafficProducer - Composer? Must admit, never considered it, think I might even have a version of Mozilla on my PC, I'm sure that's based on Netscape isn't it? Will consider that. Thanks.

Adam - Followed the link - rofl is now firmly embedded in my consciousness and I will never forget, I promise! I suppose that while you've got lots of people who want to DIY, you'll always have strong demand for WYSIWYG HTML editors (I bet most people whose work involves editing web pages use DW or some other WYSIWYG editor at some point). DIY'ers, WYSIWYG editors, DW users, I think I'll STFU!
TTFN, D.

[mark3738]

*LMAO* at you *ROFL*

Hi Darren

On a serious note, htmlkit is very handy, but I have also used a WYSIWYG editor called First Page 2000 which you can find at http://www.evrsoft.com/ and has heaps of prebuilt scripts, css options as well as 4 different stages for development, from beginner to advanced.

An Australian company makes this editor and claims to have been downloaded over 3 million times. I used it quite a bit before upgrading to MacromediaMX, but still go back to use it when I need a script in a hurry and the brain isn't functioning well. It is only 6.9mb to download.

Oh, and best of all it is free!

[darren13]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

Darren,

You know any students or teachers? You can buy all kinds of software very cheap here:

http://www.academicsuperstore.com/

Actually, I do know at least one I can think of...thanks, will visit the site later.

[darren13]

Originally Posted by Andilinks

I use http://www.ultraedit.com/ UltraEdit the best IMHO, not Rofl. [/url]

Ultraedit - ta very much Andi, will check it - and I managed to figure out IMHO I think, all by myselft (in my humble opinion???? - do I get a gold star for that?)

[darren13]

Originally Posted by mark3738

*LMAO* at you *ROFL*

Hi Darren

On a serious note, htmlkit is very handy, but I have also used a WYSIWYG editor called First Page 2000 which you can find at http://www.evrsoft.com/ ...Oh, and best of all it is free!

Mark - htmlkit, webgoddess recommended that too, that's two points to htmlkit then. Just been to the Evrsoft site re FirstPage - sounds like it will do what I'd want - but states on the download page this version (2006) expires 1st December - I'll see if I can find any info on what to do after 01/12/05, or see if I can find the 2000 version. I've got this nailed now - Laugh My A*** Off - another gold star, Im on a roll!
Cheers Mark,
D.

[biju]

dreamviewer 8.0 , it is best of all.

I just bought it from the shop and it was really great for the price.

just a little high, though the features are really good.

[ADAM Web Design]

What's Dreamviewer? Do you mean Dr*amw*av*r or something else?

[collusion]

Dreamweaver 8.0 is the latest release and you should upgrade your 4 to 8. There is a ton of features.

[gawdproductions]

I have recommended the free Sothink HTML Editor to clients in the past. It's fairly intuitive with some debugging options, toggle between code/design view, etc. And the price is right! :)

That said, I use Dreamweaver MX which is a huge upgrade from 4.0. If you're hooked on DW (or just lazy to learn a new program like me) I'd definitely suggest upgrading.

'hth' :)
Gina.

[collusion]

MX is old. Ha, I used it last week and upgraded to 8.0 Now I can't live without 8.0

Also, the only thing I would recommend from sothink is the dhtml menu software.

[ezdropshipper_webmaster]

Looks like I'm in good company <g>
If you start out from the basis of writing pages via hard-coding, you rarely depart from it. I started in Notepad back in the early 80's myself.

I use Coldfusion Studio for writing most of my pages now; I'm used to it, and I hate to change.

NVU's not bad as a WYSIWYG editor, but I find it slow and bloated.

No one's mentioned an older free editor, Aolpress. Don't laugh folks; it writes decent, if dated code, and it runs faster than NVU does.

[gawdproductions]

MX is old. Ha, I used it last week and upgraded to 8.0 Now I can't live without 8.0

:)
Yeah yeah yeah, we aren't all RICH! LOL

[darren13]

Originally Posted by ezdropshipper_webmaster

Looks like I'm in good company <g>
If you start out from the basis of writing pages via hard-coding, you rarely depart from it. I started in Notepad back in the early 80's myself.

I use Coldfusion Studio for writing most of my pages now;

Hey ezdrop - what's Coldfusion like to use - what sort of pages do you build?
Darren.