68 Chapter 5 – HTML OverviewHTML Editing Tools
Web Design in a Nutshell, eMatter EditionHTML Editing Tools
HTML documents are simple ASCII text files, which means you can use any
minimal text editor to write them. Fortunately, there are editing tools designed
especially for writing HTML. These save time by providing shortcuts for repetitive
tasks like setting up documents, tables, or simply applying styles to text. HTML
editors are not the same as WYSIWYG authoring tools (discussed next)—you need
to know how to compose HTML by hand; editors just make the process faster and
easier.
There are scores of simple HTML editors available, and many of them are free. Just
enter “HTML Editor” in the search field of Shareware.com (http://www.shareware.
com/) and wade through the results. For purposes of brevity, I’m going to cut to
the chase.
Windows users should definitely check out HomeSite, a high-powered and inex-
pensive HTML editor from Allaire Corporation. It, too, has HTML shortcuts and
templates, color-coded HTML syntax, an FTP function, spell-checker, HTML syntax
checker, and multi-file search-and-replace. In addition, it includes wizards for
creating more complex elements (such as frames, JavaScript, and DHTML) and
many other attractive features. For more information and to download a demo
copy, seehttp://www.allaire.com/.
If you’re working on a Macintosh, you want BBEdit, a commercial HTML editor
from Bare Bones Software, Inc. It is overwhelmingly the editor of choice among
Mac-based web developers. It includes features such as an array of HTML shortcut
tools, color-coded HTML syntax, multiple-file search and replace, a built-in FTP
function, support for 13 programming languages, a table builder, an HTML syntax
checker, and a lot more. For more information and to download a demo, seehttp:/
/www.bbedit.com/.WYSIWYG Authoring Tools
The last two years have seen an explosion in the web authoring tool market.
WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) HTML editors have graphical interfaces
that make writing HTML more like using a word processing or page layout
program. In the beginning, their goal was to spare authors from ever having to
touch an HTML tag in the way that page layout programs protect designers from
typing out PostScript. Today, their role has shifted towards making document
production more efficient and automated while still providing access to the HTML
source.Should You Use Them?
These days, nobody pretends that WYSIWYG authoring tools will excuse you from
learning HTML completely, but they do provide a considerable head start for many
menial tasks. Because these tools are notorious for adding extra code to HTML
files, the question of whether or not to use them for web production has become
something of a holy war among web developers.