Section A.4. #4 Tools for Creating Web Pages

A.4. #4 Tools for Creating Web Pages Now that you know XHTML and CSS you're in a good position to decide if tools like Dreamweaver, GoLive, and FrontPage are for you. All these applications attempt to provide what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) tools for creating Web pages. We're sure you know enough about XHTML and browser support to know that this goal, while worthwhile, also comes up short from time to time. But, that said, these tools also provide some very handy features, even if you're writing a lot of the XHTML yourself: A "code" window for entering XHTML and CSS with syntax checking to catch common mistakes and suggest common names and attributes as you type. A preview and publish functionality that allows you to test pages before making them "live" on the Web. A site manager that allows you to organize your site, and also keeps your local changes in synch with your Web site on the server. Note that this usually takes care of all the FTP work for you. These tools are also not without their downsides: Often these tools lag behind standards in terms of support, so to keep your XHTML and CSS current you'll need to write the XHTML yourself. Often these tools don't enforce strict standards, and may allow you to get sloppy with your XHTML and CSS, so don't forget to validate (some tools help you validate as well). Keep in mind you can use a combination of simple editors along with these more sophisticated tools; one solution doesn't have to fit all your needs. So use a page creation tool when it makes sense. A.4.1. Some tools to consider: Macromedia Dreamweaver Adobe GoLive Microsoft FrontPage GNU Emacs (open source)