What is an HTML Editor
HTML, the code that makes up your Webpages, can be written using a simple text editor. The following code makes up a simple Webpage that when viewed in a browser reads "Hello World" in large black letters.
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Test Page</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<h2>Hello World</h2>
</BODY>
</HTML>
To create this page with a text editor, every opening and closing tag must be in the right place, and you must know that <H1> is a large text heading tag, and that it must be closed with a closing tag. Further you must remember that the TITLE tag goes between the HEAD tags, and that a set of BODY tags would be nice too. Again, every piece of code must be in the right place for it to work. By-the-way, there are about a thousand other codes used in the creation of a Webpage
That is why HTML editors exist. They simplify an already complex subject. They let you concentrate on creating a Webpage, rather than learning what code does what. They can also make you hair turn white or gray, or loose it altogether, it you allow it to. :) Web pages are complex, but by using HTML editors you can save a great deal of time and produce a much better page.
For beginners, DaySite recommends the Front Page HTML editor by Microsoft. The primary reason is popularity, losts of people have it, lots of people use it, as such it is available and you can get the help.
For advanced users, or if you want the best-of-the-best, go with Dreamweaver. The learning curve is intense, and it never ends! However if web desing is your job, Dreamweaver is the best.
To create the Hello Word example page with Front Page, you:
- You open the program
- Type 'Hello World'
- Highlight 'Hello World' and select Heading 1 from the menu
- Right click on the page, select Page Propeties and edit the TITLE
And you are done. Then as an added bonus, click the Publish button and your entire Website gets uploaded to the servere. It will take an experienced designer under a minute to create and publish this page using Front Page. It will take a new user under 5 miniutes the first time, and less than a minute the second time.
Oh, by-the-way, remember the thousand other codes?
