HTML or WYSIWYG?

Question

I've been learning front page for sometime and I'm nearly done with the basics.
But I sometimes wonder, if I was making a website, how will I do it? Will I keep on typing HTML code to get what Iwant. Or simply, do it using an editor and getting BETTER results?

I'm confuzzzed!!

Answer 1

I use Topstyle Pro to do HTML and CSS editing. I dont know why people say use Notepad. It doesnt have line numbers, syntax highlighting, code library, reference, or any other tools to make the job easier.

The WYSIWYG editors are usually a waste of time. Most people will have their editor open in one window and a browser or 2 in another. After making a change, they will save the page, and test it in the browser. If the page looks crap in the browser, the client wont care when you tell them, "oh it looks ok in Dreamweaver/Frontpage".

Allways test in the browser. If possible, design for Firefox as its the most complient to W3C specs then tweak the design at the end to get it looking good in IE. The web developer toolbar for Firefox is a must have tool as well allowing you to pick apart and edit in real time any webpage on the web. A good tool to learn how other peoples pages are put together.

Dreamweaver is good for the dynamic database stuff tho, lots of the code library functions are pretty good and save time. Frontpage? Just say NO.

Answer 2

Paintball summed it up, different than the little misdirection that html and wysiwyg are the comparable element. Wysiwyg has no longer something to do with html, its an acronym , basically a wysiwyg editor lets you layout web content and notice what they seem to be with out having to place in writing any html code (the workstation does it for you) yet they should additionally show you how to edit the html code sperately too. in case you're beginning out i decide for to advise Coffeecup unfastened Html editor, in spite of the undeniable fact that as you progrss that's extremely useful to purchase Dreamweaver, in case you intend on arising a company out of cyber internet site layout

Answer 3

Most websites these days require a fair amount of scripting, and in my experience most WYSIWYG editors eventually get confused by it and start screwing things up.

If you're using CSS then editing HTML in a text editor is remarkably quick and easy, and generally produces smaller files which load faster for the user. I might just be saying that because I learned HTML1.0 in Notepad and have stuck with text editors ever since though.

You don't need to remember the entire HTML language to use it - that's why we have reference manuals.

The only way to get better results is to improve your skills. The only way to do that is to practice. It might be worth going on a design course - I've met a lot of people who spend ages learning HTML but can't design things for toffee. They end up with sites that make you think "nice HTML - shame about the website".

Saying "I prefer Flash" isn't exactly a useful contribution now is it...? For the huge majority of websites, Flash is completely unsuitable.

Answer 4

It takes a combination of both. If you are already working with Front Page, you know that the "Normal" view (WYSIWYG) os an easy way to do the initial layout, insert pictures, format text, etc. But you can not enter scripts and other advance features in the Normal view. You have to go to the HTML view to do the more advanced programming.

So the answer is to use a graphic interface for the "grpahic" portions of the page design, and HTML for the programming part of the page design. That is why they give you both views - you need them both.

Answer 5

I came to field of web building from a programmer's perspective (having programmed in BASIC, FORTRAN, PASCAL, COBOL, and C) so I much prefer to develop pages from scratch with a text editor. I started with Notepad, then switched to CoffeeCup's HTML Editor (http://www.coffeecup.com/), which has a lot more functionality than just HTML.

I dislike Front Page because of all the "extra" stuff it puts in. It tries to be "all things to all people."

You need to be familiar with HTML and CSS but you don't have to memorize it all. As someone else said, that's what reference manuals are for.

In addition, you should also be familiar with web design in general -- that is, what makes a "good" web site, as opposed to a "bad" one. What is effective and what is not? There are plenty of books and web references to help you in that respect.
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Answer 6

Using FrontPage will definately not help you learn to use HTML. I make all web pages with good old Windows Notepad.

Answer 7

WYSIWYG is a heck of a lot easier i'm sure, i don't see how people can remeber all of the HTML code, i know i can't, but i'm not much of a programmer.

Answer 8

HTML it compatible with all the other languages i dont knw if the other is but i feel they dont get compatible...

Answer 9

i prefer flash