Page Design and Editors -

I think it all comes down to 'the right tools for the job'...

When I am creating a new site from scratch, I'll oten create a basic table layout with Word 97 (fastest table tool around), view the source, cut and copy into Programmers File Editor (imo, the best tool available for acsii-based development, see: http://www.eons.com/software ). I leave Word open for drafting and spell checking the text based content. I always have my own site open to generate snippets of code (mouse rollovers, image swaps, etc.) as I wrote the page initially to ensure the tools I need are available anywhere there is an internet connection). I will, on occasion, use Front Page to generate some code when working on MSIE specific implementations. I can't stand the web managment tools in the different editors, so For graphics, I'll primarily use Photo Shop, but will open Paint Shop Pro to browse images. I will also fire up MS Photo Editor because it has the best transparencty tools. I'll open Fireworks to split an image. I will have WS-FTP open for file transfers. I'll usually have an instance of Explorer open, along with IE 4, Netscape 4, and Nestcape 3 for testing. Then I switch to another PC for testing IE 3 and IE 5.

Simply stated, there is not a single tool for the job. I'll have as many as 12+ windows open to fully create and test a single web page, and it take two systems!

When you find a tool that can do all this, I'll take two!

What are you favorite tools for designing web pages. Which ones do you hate? And why?

------------------
Jeffrey Ellison
[email protected]
http://www.eons.com - Free Online Tools for Webmasters

Jeff,
The tools used by people will also be affected by where they live. Myself, for example, living in the UK [land of expensive phone calls] cannot afford to keep an FTP running while I design a site, I have to mess about first offline, then upload it quickly, see what it looks like [SSI and other server needed thingys] the log off and adjust. Annoying but sadly essential in the UK.
JP

------------------
Kindest Regards, JP Stones
.
The Webmaster Promotion and Resource Site
www.what-next.com - Winner of 20+ Awards
The NEXT step in Designing and Promoting your Website

[This message has been edited by JP Stones (edited January 31, 1999).]

JP, as you know, i'm based in the UK too. Those capped 50pence calls with Cable & Wireless on a Saturday are a godsend

Seriously, I use Dreamweaver to acheive a basic 'template' of a new site, then load it up into Homesite to polish it up. I then do all work off-line by hand using Homesite and finally upload to the server.

I do make extensive use of SSI, but the calls are simply pasted over the top of the relevant 'dummy code' once it is all finished...

Craig,
I don't use C&W, still use BT (British Telecom).
Weird how I work in the same way as you.
I put up all the framework (tables, colours, etc.) in Dreamweaver. I then move onto a code editor (Siteaid in my case - Free at http://www.siteaid.com ) and add final touches and the content.
I do most updating in Dreamweaver though.
JP

------------------
Kindest Regards, JP Stones
.
The Webmaster Promotion and Resource Site
http://www.what-next.com - Winner of 20+ Awards
The NEXT step in Designing and Promoting your Website

JP,
A tip that will obviously be lost on our overseas friends - you don't have to have a C&W phone line to take advantage of the offer - they offer an indirect service (over BT lines) too. Remember Mercury ? That's C&W...

Craig,
I will look into this offer again then. Though at 0.7p a minute, and considering I don't spend more than an hour and a bit at a time online, it might nto be worth it?
Thanks a lot.
JP