HTML editor

Roland of Gilead

So I've been asked to design a web page for work. I don't know HTML very well at all. I've done some very basic stuff in the past for myself but nothing "professional". What is the best editor for me to use as a novice that will let me do the most with the page. I tried hot dog once a long time ago and I'm grabbing a copy of frontpage, but before I get too far along I figured I'd ask here. I don't really need to do anything crazy fancy. I don't think I need any java, shockwave or flash on the page. Though flash could be cool later. I do need to set up some stuff on the page where a customer could buy products on our site. Also some form work for people to fill out and submit for quotes.

Thanks for any help,

CmdPrompt

How much programming experience do you have?

I'd recommend just using a text editor such as Notepad++ and coding the HTML, CSS, etc. yourself, but that may take much more time than you have.

tehmarken

You know, I'm interested in this too. For no reason I can tell Dreamweaver has gone berserk and auto closes itself after about 30 seconds of use. I usually just use notepad for coding, BUT the class I'm taking now requires using an editor with the ability to validate code for xhtml. Notepad obviously doesn't have this functionality...

James Dekk

I use Coda on OSX, which is really fantastic. I like the interface design of Panic's software, and this is no exception.

Realistically though? Notepad works just fine – especially if you're just starting out and don't want to invest in a more full-fledged application that you won't really understand. I think everyone should learn to work with their HTML and CSS without any code assistants or WYSIWG editors just so they understand what they're doing.

Roland of Gilead

I've got a little programming experience. I write CNC programs and have done some qbasic programs a long time ago but I don't really know much HTML code. I was sorta looking for a WYSIWG editor. The price really isn't an issue.

wasted pixels

A WYSIWYG editor isn't going to do what you need it to do, and if this site is for a business, you shouldn't do it yourself unless you're a competent developer. For the love of god, please tell your boss "It'd cost under $1,000 to hire a professional (either locally or via Elance or something), so let's get somebody who knows what they're doing."

Seriously. A novice installing a contact form can go 300,000 kinds of wrong -- that's about how many spam messages will be piped through your website every day if you botch the install or choose a poor script for the job. A novice trying to setting up an ecommerce site without knowing what they're doing can result in anything from massive credit card fraud to identity thieves using your site to con victims.

This is your company's good name on the line, please, please, please do not do this yourself if you aren't a qualified web developer.

Jasconius

http://www.aptana.com


best one I have found for Windows.