Web tools for iMac?

Sorry, not familiar enough with the Mac myself, but I know that my husband, a flegling at HTML, has recently fallen in love with BBEdit because of the coloured syntax and auto-closing of tags.

Not sure about WYSIWYG for Mac other than Dreamweaver or GoLive or the other full on packages.

Suzanne

Thanks.

BBEdit keeps coming up wherever I ask - but is it really suitable for novices?

I can't imagine my friend dabbling in HTML tags.

Are there no drag and drop type tools?

If you're lucky (or resourceful), try finding a copy of Claris Home Page or Adobe PageMill. Both used to ship with iMacs back when I bought mine two years ago, but I don't know what software ships with them these days. Be forewarned that they write very ICKY code -- having BBEdit around in order to clean up your code isn't a bad idea. When I started out doing HTML I used SimpleText but moved to PageMill as my first WYSIWYG editor. Now I use Dreamweaver.

Another good resource is http://www.versiontracker.com. Search for 'html editors', download a few, and keep what works best for you.

if your friend isn't ready for HTML and you can't afford the REAL WYSIWYG editors then you may not be ready for web work......

it sounds to me like your friend wants the easy way to the web.......

here's what I'm saying:

I embarked on web design because I needed a website to show my film reels. So a friend lent me a copy of DW3 and I learned the program.

Early on, it was obvious to me that I couldn't completely control every aspect of the page because I didn't know and understand HTML. So I quit working with DW and began working with HomeSite 4.5 (to the PC what BBEdit is to Mac).
I learned HTML that way and firmly grasped how to control layout.

THen I rewarded myself by buying DW4. And since Macromedia, the makers of DW, bought Allaire, the makers of Homesite, I have the best of both worlds. I have the incredible design features of DW and the code engine, and the knowledge to use it, of Homesite.

Make no mistake. Until your friend gets serious about learning HTML, there's not a lot they can do.

There's a reason why DW gives you access to the code. Because from time to time you have to manipulate it. Plain and simple.

Granted I create pages in a WYSIWYG environment now, but whenever DW doesn't accurately do what I want it to, I go into the code and make it happen.

You must know HTML to be effective at web design.

I guess what I'm saying is I don't understand why your friend isn't gung ho about learning HTML. I would think that they would see it as a necessity and go after that knowledge.

It is, afterall, pretty easy to grab hold of.

kf

Quote: Originally posted by kearsefreak
if your friend isn't ready for HTML and you can't afford the REAL WYSIWYG editors then you may not be ready for web work......

it sounds to me like your friend wants the easy way to the web.......

It is, afterall, pretty easy to grab hold of.

kf

I have to disagree with you here...

Firstly, you don't know what he is trying to achieve.

Secondly he could afford the software, he just doesn't expect to get a lot of use out of it.

There are services which build quite respectable pages online via menus, e.g. geocities, Freeservers etc. which he'd be happy to use. It's just that in Europe we pay for our telephone connect time.

FrontPage or equivalent is actually more than enough for many people.

I actually think WYSIWYG and exact positioning is actually missing the point of the web, given the delivery to different browsers and in future different devices.

I'm personally interested in tools like PHP Nuke which allow the content producers to get on with that without worrying about the presentation.

Brookie your interest in PHPNuke, is this in referrence to your friend?

If so I can help you gain hosting, and the installation of that package.

K

Quote: Originally posted by brookie

I actually think WYSIWYG and exact positioning is actually missing the point of the web, given the delivery to different browsers and in future different devices.

I hear ya but I have to disagree with this quote. It's not the WYSIWYG editors that are missing the point of the web, it's the self-serving interests of the browser manufacturers that are missing the point of the web.

kf

You may want to check out http://download.com/ under Mac software section.

I'm currently using a PowerBook G3 with Dreamweaver 4, BBEdit 6 and Symantec Visual Page.

Laura Brandt

Laura,

are you using the Pismo PB? The one with 2 firewires?

if so how do youlike it.....? I'm thinking of buying a used one since they seem to be better than the new Tibooks and the new iBooks.....

kf

I'm using Lombard. Lombard has no built-in Firewire ports and is still using a SCSI port. l'm quite okay with Lombard since it has a larger screen than my old PowerBook G3 (first generation). Lombard's CPU is not as hot as my old PB too.

One of my colleagues owns a TiBook. It's awesome since it supports wireless internet with AirPort (Lombard doesn't support AirPort). TiBook also comes with a gigantic HD (30 GB, which is gigantic compared to my 6GB Lombard HD).

TiBook is thinner and lighter as well.

I hope to upgrade to TiBook when I have the cash

I think if you have the cash, TiBook will be a better choice, but if you don't, I would suggest buying Pismo than the new iBook simply because Pismo has a larger screen than the new iBook (the new iBook has a small screen and uses 1024 by 768 resolution -> you will see very tiny fonts and icons)

Laura B

Quote: Originally posted by Laura Brandt
I'm currently using a PowerBook G3 with Dreamweaver 4, BBEdit 6 and Symantec Visual Page.
[/B]

Do Symantec still sell Visual Page?

I can't find it on their website.

Can I download it somewhere else or is it a shrinkwrap product?

According to VersionTracker.com, Visual Page is no longer available from Symantec.

It's really too bad, this editor is pretty good (not to mention that it loads a lot faster compared to my DreamWeaver)

Laura Brandt