How good are websites created with Microsoft Office Publisher 2003?

Question

I have just recently discovered Microsoft Office Publisher 2003. It seems like creating a website with it is very easy when compared to creating a website using XHTML, CSS, .... .NET/PHP, MYSQL/SQL Server and other programming languages.

But there has to be a catch. If creating a website was so easy, why would we have to spend so much time and energy learning how to code?

Answer 1

It generates the worst HTML code imaginable. Just awful unintelligible stuff that can't be fixed up even with something like Tidy. You won't be able to modify it by hand or drop in Javascript functionality in any meaningful way afterwards.

Trust me when I tell you that you do NOT want to do this. If you need a GUI program to do websites, use one designed for the task, like DreamWeaver MX. In Publisher, websites are an afterthought and it does an awful, awful job.

Answer 2

They are awful. Microsoft uses an implementation of VML (vector markup language) that only works properly with Internet Exploder to render Publisher layouts to Web pages.

Your pages will look fine in IE, but in Firefox, Safari, etc., they'll be awful.

That's the catch.

Answer 3

They are ok for text only sites but when graphics are involved you should use frontpage or a similar program. The nice thing about publisher is for novices its easy to get a good layout and be able to see much easier how your site is coming along.

From a Webmaster point of view I dont like them because there is too much extra code. But thats just my opinion. If it works for you then use it. Its your site.


Good Luck

Answer 4

it always depends on the compatibility of the program,your trying to work with some are mucheasier and the ones with wizards are great ,i use yahoo because they actually teach you how to use the page as well as set one up or try sally cashman series discovering computers for ad vice or opitions,also try http://mlin.net/ he is ausome...