Web Publishing Software Recommendations

[pdy818]

Hello,

I would appreciate some input from experienced web designers. What software do you use to create your websites?

I have been using Frontpage 2002 for the past six years….yes, I know I'm a little behind technology. Now I HAVE to make the jump to a more current software. HTML is not used as much and I need to create more dynamic sites.

I am considering Microsoft's Expressions and Abobe Dreamweaver. Can you offer me your opinion? Which software should I consider if I have been using Frontpage? I understand that Expressions is very good, however it does not offer good support.

Any direction that you can offer me is greatly appreciated. I don't want to purchase the "wrong" software. It ain't cheap! ;)

Thank you,
P.

[jbladeus]

If you're looking for a wysiwyg editor, Dreamweaver is the king of the hill. Even though expression has lessened the gap between the two quite a bit, however there still exists a substantial gap.

[felgall]

There is a lot of info on how to select the right editor for how you want to work at http://webdesign.about.com/od/htmleditors/a/aa121304.htm

[7egend]

Dreamweaver is a very powerful program, basically it is the photoshop of website design. If I was going to use a program to design a website this would be the one I would choose.

I have some exp. with it but not much as I like to build my websites from scratch using just notepad and a good imagination.

Good luck selecting a program though.

[felgall]

If you don't want to buy one of the hundred or so web editors that are for sale you can always use one of the thousands that are available as free downloads instead.

[charlesp]

I like Dreamweaver but I haven't used anything else for a long time. And that was FrontPage in its early days. Lately though I have used the code interface more than the wysiwyg. And for just coding EditPlus is a good program for about 30 bucks. It has good color codes and has a built in ftp client. With a click of the mouse you can see a preview of what the web page will look like although it's not very accurate.:D

[felgall]

HTML kit and CSE Validator Lite are good free programs if you just want to write the HTML yourself.

Kompozer is about as close as you can get to a free WYSIWYG web editor that doesn't create garbage although as with Dreamweaver you have to have a fairly good knowledge of standard HTML to be able to configure it properly.

[AL_Pond]

Hi,
I use dreamweaver, and it will do all that i need and more. I started out using boomorang software design shop, which was really easy to use, and it had a lot of nifty features, but it did not offer an easy way to edit your code.

I bought dreamweaver to remedy that situation. I found dreamweaver to be somewhat difficult to master, (There are a lot of things it can do that i can't yet do) Lately I discovered that Adobe has a lot of instructional material on the web, as well as the university of arizona. So far dreamweaver has had everything i needed.

[felgall]

Well if DreamWeaver (the most advanced and most expensive web software) hasn't got it then it can't be done on the web. In any case DreamWeaver has an option that allows you to edit the HTML directly for anything that can't be done using the WYSIWYG interface.

The closest option to DreamWeaver that is a free download is Kompozer. Expression Web probably falls somewhere in between these two both in price and features provided.

[sringer]

Dreamweaver hands down, imho.
If you're just looking for a barebones type deal, check out Anachrophilia, it's free and runs light, but is a slight upgrade as far as convenience from using notepad to do your html coding.

HTH!

[HectorD]

Hands down, Dreamweaver, the best of the best in my opinion.