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down2earth2
04/11/2005, 02:48 PM
It's time for me to get some better web page authoring skills. I'm wondering if there's any advantage, as a PS user, to use Adobe GoLive, over Dreamweaver MX. Or or there other better options I should consider?
Scott
04/11/2005, 04:07 PM
Well, #1 pick up basic HTML. It's easy and if you understand the code it'll make life much much easier.

Then if I were to pick a package today, I'd go with Dreamweaver. I actually own both Dreamweaver and GoLive. I've found over the years that GoLive tends to build very proprietary sites. What that means is a site built in GoLive NEEDS GoLive to edit it properly. Open a GoLive site in Dreamweaver and ... well.. it's a nightmare. Where as a site built in Dreamweaver can be edited in any other WYSIWYG package and look the same. In addition GoLive creates multiple folders for each site automatically. Dreamweaver makes 1 folder/site. I just find Dreamweaver to be far more efficient and tidy.

Now with that said.... I've grown to HATE WYSISYG editors for anything but preliminary site layouts. The code generated by any editor is horrendous when compared to hand-coding. I know they all state "Round trip code" but in reality it's not entirely. Sure it's all working, functional code and it won't break things. But the editors do tend to want to tell you how things should be done and there aren't always correct. Hand-coding is far more efficient but it does take some additional understanding.

Just my 2¢
down2earth2
04/11/2005, 06:17 PM
Thanks for the 2¢. It was very helpful. I'm not ready to learn coding good enough to rely on that to do my web page yet, so I'll get started with Dreamweaver, and pick up the coding as I go.
1cowabunga
04/11/2005, 07:53 PM
d2e2, Don't be afraid to learn basic html. It is easy! I recommend this site --> http://www.davesite.com/webstation/html/ It is very understandable and interactive tutorial. good luck to you.
Dave
04/11/2005, 07:55 PM
Yeah basic HTML is easy peasy even I managed it! :)

This bb code drives me nuts :crazy:
PDG
04/11/2005, 08:56 PM
Ditto what Jolt said. HTML first, then CSS and then Dreamweaver. This is simply the best progression because frankly, there'll be many times you'll need to jump into code view in Dreamweaver to fix something.

Dreamweaver is great at initially inserting code. But when you start to remove and replace stuff down the road it starts falling apart and remnants are left behind. Handcoding is the way to go in the long run.
Physics_Guru
04/11/2005, 10:17 PM
Now a days you should just find a web host that offers CPanel and something like PhpMyWebsite, PhpNuke, or one of those types of things. For those that do not know how to code, it is the quickest and easiest way to get a very nice looking database driven website online in minutes. You just click a few buttons and it is installed and working. Then you just upload your graphics and go through the point n click GUI interface to customize it to your hearts content.
down2earth2
04/11/2005, 11:37 PM
<html>

<head>
<title>You've Convinced Me</title>
</head>

<body>
I suppose if you're going to do something, you might as well learn it the right way, right off the bat. <b>Thanks all</b> for your feedback.
</body>

</html>
PDG
04/11/2005, 11:44 PM
Awesome :) See how easy it is. Now go get EditPad Lite (http://www.editpadpro.com/editpadlite.html) (free), TopStyle (http://www.bradsoft.com/topstyle/), or Homesite (http://www.macromedia.com/software/homesite/)and you're on your way.

Don't forget about CSS! It'll make life in HTML world very easy. Here are some resources (http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=53).
Just check the stickies.
Scott
04/12/2005, 12:29 AM
For the Mac only.... NOTHING beats <a href="http://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/index.shtml">BBEdit</a> for a text editor.
TrinityOfOne
04/12/2005, 03:04 AM
I agree with Jolt, DW is definitely a good one to have - although it can be too clever for its own good sometimes!!

Apparently, Freeway (http://www.softpress.com/en) is a good alternative, it's Mac only so I haven't used it but someone I know does and gives it the thumbs up.
Scott
04/12/2005, 11:26 AM
Freeway is great, but it tends to create a few too many images.