Dreamweaver alternative?

[chriskn]

I'm an IT Management Consultant who occasionally does a bit of web site authoring for my daughter (www.joknowles.co.uk) and in support of a charity I am a trustee of (www.cumbria-in-bloom.org.uk). (I didn't author the latter, I just make textual changes).
I currently use Dreamweaver MX bought back in 2002. I have just moved to Vista and tried to install Dreamweaver. It installed ok, but when I try to run it I get a "Xerces panic error", and the program closes. I have tried to get support from Adobe, but they're not interested (not surprisingly).
I don't really want to pay for the new version - particularly as we typically have to pay a lot more than is charged in the USA - but also because I can't justify it for the small amount I use it.
So, to the question,can anyone recommend an alternative tool that I could use, assuming I can't get around this error?

[123Racing]

You might want to try a free trial of a product from a company called Evrsoft (http://www.adspecs.co.nz/esoft.htm)

I've been using Dreamweaver for a number of years and found that the Evrsoft product is more than suitable as an alternative.

AdSpecs Free Link Exchange (http://www.adspecs.co.nz/links/)

[arvana]

You could also try the open-source and cross-platform Nvu (http://www.nvu.com). Not quite as good as Dreamweaver but certainly a good effort by the open source community... and it's free!

[chriskn]

Thanks a lot to both of you, both products look good. I've installed Nvu (heck I like the price!!), and have successfully accessed my local and remote files, so I'm going to give it a go with that. Thanks again for the advice.
Chris

[HHI_Golf_Guy]

If you're looking for a professional authoring tool, the new Microsoft Expression Web Designer is far and away the best authoring tool available (sorry Dreamweaver fans, but Microsoft actually got this one right).

If you just need a free, standard editor then Coffee Cup (http://www.coffeecup.com/free-editor/) is a nice tool.

[southplatte]

If you're looking for a professional authoring tool, the new Microsoft Expression Web Designer is far and away the best authoring tool available (sorry Dreamweaver fans, but Microsoft actually got this one right).

If you just need a free, standard editor then Coffee Cup (http://www.coffeecup.com/free-editor/) is a nice tool.

The Microsoft Expression Web Designer is a nice tool, especially for ASP and Microsoft oriented web sites, though in playing it would appear you can use other languages. I also have used the Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2005 Express which was pretty solid for being free.

I still prefer Dreamweaver as it has some nice tools I frequently use and integrate with Fireworks and Flash.

Nvu is a great editor as well on the windows platform having used it too.

[chriskn]

To Arvana - just noticed where you are from - small world, I'm coming over to Guelph in March to my niece's wedding. Don't worry, I'm not going to drop in on you!

[dburdon]

Chriskn,

I'm a NVu fan. And you're right about the price. I'm largely working in XHTML 1.0 strict using CSS and it does the job. Its got a few bugs and glitches but there's a good forum too.

[bj]

I know you said you're trying NVU, but since there may be other people interested, here's a good resource, though I think it'll be awhile before things are caught up to Vista.

css-discuss.incutio.com/?page=CssEditors (http://css-discuss.incutio.com/?page=CssEditors)

These are the editors the CSS-Discuss group recommends as supporting standards compliant code. Many are open source, but not all. TSW is excellent, but he's a one man company so may not be vista compatible yet. I've heard good things about StyleMaster as well, though I personally wasn't wild about it when I tried it (but I've been in the DW rut for MANY years . . . )

[shannonlp]

I use Dreamweaver and NVU I also use Zend Studio. I tried expressions and found it to create extra code which was meaningless.

If you don't want to fork out any extra cash for the upgrade give NVU a try. If I remember right it is backed by W3C.

[kevan]

Well,
I can only post from an academic view point, but the big plus goes out for Microsoft and their expressions tool - it makes a big change to the Frontpage comments about all the wasted code that is added - horrible tool. Expression also appears to follow all disability guidelines, even more so than dreamweaver.
Many Computer Science academics at the University of Essex are well impressed with this new tool, apart from the fact we will have to pay for it, so sadly will probably not be going into our Labs.
I will definitely be checking out the other free products mentioned, thanks for this.
Microsoft are really working hard to get their products into the Universities these days, a MSDNAA subscription allows a magnificent set of software, including things like Vista for free download to qualifying students and academia. It is a shame they still need their pound of flesh when they get a product right, and do not need it beta tested, like most of their products.
Kevan

[mantawebsolutions]

I am a huge fan of the old Homesite and also the new Homesite+ (now owned by Adobe). I also make use of PHP Designer by MPSoftware (http://www.mpsoftware.dk/phpdesigner.php) for PHP programming

[covingtonscustoms]

How about good old notepad?

[jScott_Harris]

It's called limewire....and if you know the language I speak, then you would have already done it.

But, Firefox source viewer does color coding and it has a ton of html editor extensions. It also has a few FTP extensions, so in theory, you would never have to leave firefox. Won't Microsoft just love that.

[nickymccatty]

Contribute probably has all the functionality you need for updating that site, and it's considerably cheaper than DW.

Also, there are some sites that sell more cheaply to non-profits, perhaps you should try finding one of them. Or buy at an eduacational rate, since it's for your daughter's use.

[kgun]

Note:

Dreamweaver is and IDE with intellisence functionality, not at least for writing .css files.
It has inbuilt page check on the file menu like markup, accessibility etc.

No better tool until disproved.


I'm an IT Management Consultant who occasionally does a bit of web site authoring for my daughter (www.joknowles.co.uk) and in support of a charity I am a trustee of (www.cumbria-in-bloom.org.uk). (I didn't author the latter, I just make textual changes).
I currently use Dreamweaver MX bought back in 2002. I have just moved to Vista and tried to install Dreamweaver. It installed ok, but when I try to run it I get a "Xerces panic error", and the program closes. I have tried to get support from Adobe, but they're not interested (not surprisingly).
I don't really want to pay for the new version - particularly as we typically have to pay a lot more than is charged in the USA - but also because I can't justify it for the small amount I use it.
So, to the question,can anyone recommend an alternative tool that I could use, assuming I can't get around this error?

First reason not to upgrade to Vista now. I knew it would come. What about drivers? I have, an expensive Matrox graphics card for two screens. That was the main reason I personally did not upgrade. It did not function on Vista Beta that I have on my D drive.

[bj]

kgun, you made a good point. So good in fact that I spun off another thread to address it.

Vista-- which legacy programs and drivers won't work? (http://www.webproworld.com/viewtopic.php?p=352087#352087)

[kgun]

Bj, very important post:

I have (at least) two principles:

Not being in the front on upgrading to new versions of an operating system. In my view, XP, is one of the best products Microsoft have ever delivered. The same with Office. I let other people take that job.
Not being in the front if I buy a new computer. You pay too much for the last GB's, Mb's and MHz's etc.


P.S. My son participated on a Microsoft seminar and won a version of Vista ultimate, so he takes that testing for me.

Today I ordered a new domain in stead:

wwww.allr84U.com (navigation along the right edge :-))

Cool domain to include in my linkfarm :-)

[Orion]

I downloaded and installed NVu.. looked at it.. then deleted it ... might install it again... lol..

Like bj I've been using DW since V2.0... but $ and paranoia over what Adobe will do with it I'm starting to look out there see what's around.

Awesome thread though! Looks like there's a few 'new' kids on the block to check out.

On the Vista wagon.. There's almost NO way I'll upgrade to an OS that's going to need sooooo much resources... It's almost rediculous (yaya I'll be eating those words in 10 years I know). But I'm about 90% convinced I'm going to play out this system on XP.. then when the time comes I think I might switch to a MacBook... (unless Mac finally makes their OS installable on a PC).. I think that day is coming!

That might be for another thread. =o)

[smbotans]

i tried NVU but found that it kept crashing ... so i uninstalled it (windows xp sr2)

then i found that it could run it from a usb drive as a portable application (portableapps.com) and have been happy with it as it worked great

then i found Komposer which is a version of NVU that has had its bugs fixed (http://kompozer.net/)

now i am happy :-)

serge

[JohneeMac]

VISTA. The hype of programs/ drivers not installing is nonsense!

The only thing i havnt managed to install is 3D max 9, and there is an update coming early April to fix that niggle.

Forget Betas, the official release of Vista is very stable and 90% of software will run on it.

[gelcreative]

I just upgraded to Vista and now my Dreamweaver 8 program won't even open! I just get "The paramter is incorrect" - so what am I supposed to do now?

[bj]

so what am I supposed to do now?

Restore to a pre Vista backup would be my suggestion, especially since, as your username suggests, DW is a tool you use every single day.

[JohneeMac]

Im not exactly sure how the update works but iv heard problems with other software when updating and not installing from new.

Id do as said above and maybe try the latest DW update. I tried a quick Google search and a few things came up, the answer is out there its just a case of searching, but try above first.