Hello everyone,
I'm just wondering what you all use to write and edit your HTML and
organize your websites. I currently use Microsoft Frontpage 2003. Hold
on! Before you all jump on me for using a Microsoft product, hear me
out! :>) Where I used to use Frontpage in WYSISYG mode, I have
completely forgone that and now use it in text edit mode. It's actually
a pretty powerful html editor.
There are certain features that Frontpage has that I really like and am
wondering if there are other editors that will do the same thing as
well or better than Frontpage. Here are some features that I like:
1) Color coded editing: HTML tags have a different color (purple). So
do attributes (red) and their text (blue). So <p style="text-align:
left"> would look like: <p (purple) style=(red)"text-align: left">
(blue).If you mis-type or forget a quotation, all the colors change to
"mistake" mode (all red), providing an easy visual that something is
wrong.
2) Keystoke based code snippets: By pressing CTRL-ENTER, I can easily
insert snippets of frequently used code (like Doctype declarations) to
save typing time.
3) Tag finders/selectors: If I think I have a wayward start or end tag
and can choose that tag and select "find matching tag". Same goes with
braces, etc.
4) I can use the Microsoft "Find/Replace" feature to change/replace/add
sections of code to multiple pages at a time. For instance, if I wanted
to replace my Transitonal Doctype with the Strict Doctype throughout
the whole website, I can use Find/Replace to change it in all the
pages, just selected pages, or just the open pages. If I wanted to
change <div class="today"> to <div class="tomorrow">, I can use
Find/Replace to replace that code throughout the site.
5) Site management tools: Frontpage keeps track of all the
files/hyperlinks and website structure. If I change a file name, it
will let me know how many pages are linked to that file and ask if I
want to update the links with the new file name. It will do the same if
I move the file to a new folder.
6) Visual, flow-chart style view of the website so you can see how the
site is layed out and how it flows.
7) Built-in FTP feature that will upload for your. Keeps track of
changes and gives you the option of only uploading changed files.
Compares local copy with published copy and tells you of any
mismatches.
Those are some of the features that I like. What other HTML editors or
site-management suites do the same types of things? What do you all
use? I'm wondering if what else there is out there (besides Macromedia
Dream Weaver) that I may possibly switch to?
Looking forward to hearing from you all...
Viken K.
