Shopping for a new editor

[puffnstuff]

I currently use MS FrontPage in order to create and edit my website pages. I am told that this is very old technology, and that MS has dropped support for it. In addition, several websites are not able to have FrontPage extensions (i.e. access via FrontPage).

I really like using FrontPage, but then again I have nothing to compare with. I like the following features:
- being able to manage the folders and files on the left side of the screen.
- being able to do a straight-forward copy/paste of image files from my computer hard drive (via Explore), to the appropriate folder in the website.
- having the ability to quickly flip between edit/html/preview modes so I can see the results of the changes before saving anything and not having to "upload" to the site via ftp before being able to see the changes

I don't really use many of the WYSIWYG feature of FrontPage; just a few basic ones. I rely heavily on being able to edit the html and css and instantly see the results.

What other packages are available, that would allow me to "open" the website, manage and edit and folders and files, etc., that would have similar features and benefits to FrontPage? In other words, what would you recommend?

[hamfast]

Hello there

I think I'd be right in saying that Macromedia's Dreamweaver 8 is pretty much industry standard. If you want freebie PageBreeze is decent fare

[Minos]

If you like Frontpage that much *shudder*, the only reason MS dropped support of it is that they have updated it to "Expression Web". My guess is they changed the name to shed the negative connotations of Frontpage.

Incidently, if you have the money to drop on Adobe Dreamweaver, it is generally regarded as top dog.

I've also heard whispers of an Open Source software package called Joomla, but I haven't used it myself, so I can't judge.

Me? I use Notepad.

[puffnstuff]

I don't have much coin to spend, as most of my website work is for community groups and non-profit.

[thetestingsite]

I've also heard whispers of an Open Source software package called Joomla, but I haven't used it myself, so I can't judge.

Joomla is just a CMS package that you can download and insall on your PHP/MySQL enabled server, not an editor. Personally, I use Notepad++; but then again, I like to "hard-code" everything.

[Minos]

Like I said, I've been hearing only whispers of Joomla. Good to know though, thanks.

[troberto]

I, like you have realised that FrontPage is old stuff.
I've changed to Notepad++ (I never used the WYSIWYG features).
But along the way I tried Notepad Plus (don't buy it), Jedit (also old, but still decent), and PageBreeze (probably what you want.)
I'd also recommend CMS Made Simple (but you probably don't want that).
Troberto

[codeexploiter]

I personally feel that using a text editor like Notepad++ you can improve your coding skills to another level as you need to fill every bit of items for your page. But the time taken would be higher if you compare it with a WYSIWYG editor.

I would have done something like this start with a an editor like Notepad++ and after gaining some experience in the coding change to some WYSIWYG editor so that you can improve the development time while you can adjust everything if that is necessary. I personally don't trust the WYSIWYG features of any editor as most of them moves towards any one popular browser.

Some of the popular WYSIWYG editors are

Microsoft Expression

Adobe Macromedia Dreamweaver CS3

CoffeeCup

Hope this helps

[traq]

I also started on FrontPage, and I still use it for it's preview capabilities, but when I do, I work almost exclusively in the "HTML" window now. Certainly make sure to avoid any of the FPSE features, and be careful when saving your work, because FP likes to rearrange your code to be "correct" (microsoft-correct, anyway). Image maps and some other minor features are FP-specific, too.

Stay away from Expression Web (FP replacement). It looks a lot cooler and easier, has good css editing -especially when it comes to positioning- BUT the underlying software is basically the same. FPSE are still at the base of most of the functionality, so you will have all the same problems you have with FP now.

I'd recommend Notepad. Once you know what options to look for to do what you want in a web editor, it's not much of a jump to figure out how to do it by hand. Turns out cleaner, too.

[boogyman]

if you want an open-source "dreamweaver" like application check out HTML-Kit