Web Authoring Tools

HTML/Text Editors:
Adobe PageMill
AOLPress
BBEdit
Claris HomePage
Crackerjack

Site Management Tools:
Adobe SiteMill
DeltaPoint QuickSite
GoLive CyberStudio
HoTMetal Pro
Microsoft FrontPage
NetObjects Fusion

Additional Resources:
Beginner's Guide to HTML
Two HTML Guides from c|net
Doctor HTML
The Web Developer's Virtual Library (TM)
Web Mastery
webreference.com

The Web Authoring Tools section of Web Tools contains a listing of direct links to the most widely used HTML editors and site management tools. Many of the editors listed below are What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) HTML editors, some of which have the option to view the HTML source code. These are quite popular due to the low learning curve, yet it is important to get some understanding of HTML since WYSIWYG HTML editors can be limiting. Also included are links to great web authoring resource sites. For those interested in learning HTML or checking HTML documents, direct links to guides and online syntax checkers have been made available.


HTML/Text Editors

Included below is a list of the more widely used HTML editors.

Adobe PageMill
http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/pagemill/main.html

Adobe PageMill is a WYSIWYG HTML editor equiped with an interface that allows users to "view-as-you-create." Users can opt to view and edit the HTML source code. This application also supports frames/tables, site upload via FTP, and text imports from programs such as Microsoft Word, Corel WordPerfect, Microsoft Excel, dBASE, and comma delimited files. PageMill is provided by Adobe Systems Inc. for both Macintosh and Windows 95/NT platforms.
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AOLPress
http://www.aolpress.com/press/

AOLpress is a free WYSIWYG HTML editor that offers a WYSIWYG and HTML editing mode. MiniWeb, a feature capable of functioning as a simple site manager, also allows for existing HTML files to be easily imported with relative accurately using a process referred to as "Webizing." The editor also supports auto creation of tables, frames, lists, and various other page attributes with the click of a button. Pages can be published on non-AOL servers that support the HTTP PUT protocol. AOLPress is provided by America Online, Inc. and is available for Macintosh, UNIX, and Windows 3.x/95/NT.
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BBEdit
http://www.barebones.com/bbedit.html

BBEdit, provided by Bare Bones Software, Inc., is a text and HTML editor available for Macintosh only (non-WYSIWYG). This editor offers great functionality and control over HTML code. As a powerful text editor, it offers features such as multiple undo, multi-file find and replace, the capability to read all DOS/UNIX/Mac files up to 2 GB in size, and more. At the same time, acting as an HTML editor, it offers HTML specific features such as floating tool palettes, syntax coloration, and HTML syntax checking. Using this editor with a browser is as simple as clicking a button, allowing one to view a web page as it is created. It also supports 13 different languages including C and C++, HTML, Java, Perl, Pascal, 68K Assembly language, Rez, Fortran, Tcl, ScriptX, TeX, and Guidescript.
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Claris HomePage
http://www.claris.com/products/claris/clarispage/clarispage.html

Claris HomePage is a WYSIWYG HTML editor that supports frames, tables, form tools, Java applets, multimedia plug-ins (i.e., Shockwave and Quicktime - see the Web Browser Plug-ins section for more information), and more. A direct source code HTML editing option is provided. The publish feature facilitates easy site consolidation and upload of files to the chosen server. HomePage is provided by the Claris Corporation and is available for Macintosh and Windows 95/NT.
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Crackerjack
http://www.telacommunications.com/crackerjack/

Crackerjack is a non-WYSIWYG HTML editor, available for Microsoft Word 6.0 and later, used to create web pages. HTML code is inserted into any prepared Word or ASCII document. Features of this program include syntax coloration, as well as auto addition of HTML tagging for lists, paragraphs, forms, backgrounds/colors, etc. The auto addition of HTML code is completed through 4 toolbars, an HTML 2.0 spec tags, HTML 3.0 spec tags, customizable, and forms toolbar. Crackerjack, provided by Tela Communications, is available for Macintosh and Windows 95/NT.
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Site Management Tools

Included below is a list of the more widely used site management tools.

Adobe SiteMill
http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/pagemill/main.html

Adobe SiteMill offers an easy solution to managing HTML documents and their links at new and existing sites. Links can be checked and corrected with the simple drag-and-drop of a file in both HTML and PDF documents. Currently, this application is included with PageMill for the Macintosh, but can be used with various other editors. SiteMill is provided by Adobe Systems Inc.
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DeltaPoint QuickSite
http://www.deltapoint.com/qs/index.htm

This web tool offers all-in-one site development and management capabilities based on database technology, where documents are created and maintained in a database. With the click of a button, links and other web page features are quickly added and HTML pages are generated. While QuickSite offers a WYSIWYG HTML editor, it contains other unique features such as a forms and URL librarian, site templates, web site wizards, automatic menu pages, and more. QuickSite, provided by DeltaPoint, Inc., is available for Macintosh and Windows.
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GoLive CyberStudio
http://www.golive.com/

CyberStudio, going beyond a basic WYSIWYG editor, offers many helpful features enabling one to completely design and publish a website. Pages can be edited within layout, HTML code, or the unique outline editor mode, all of which are accompanied by helpful tool palettes. Site document and graphical management capabilities are also included. There is a built-in JavaScript editor with easy drag-and-drop script building. CyberStudio supports multimedia and animation technology, WorldScript (Apple technology which enables multi-language documents, thus making pages readable worldwide), AppleScript, and HotSause (an Apple plug-in that allows viewers to efficiently navigate sites supporting Apple's proprietary Meta Content Format (MCF)). CyberStudio, provided by GoLive Systems Inc., is available for Macintosh.
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HoTMetal Pro
http://www.sq.com/products/hotmetal/hmp-org.htm

This application offers three editing environments, which include a WYSIWYG graphical HTML editing mode, an HTML-Tag view mode, and a direct HTML source code editing mode. HoTMetal Pro provides helper features such as: (1) Site Maker, a step-by-step tutorial for creating a website without exposure to HTML; (2) Information Manager, a visual means by which to manage site documents and links; (3) Power Tools, a collection of the latest tools including a personal web server, database-enabling software, Java editor, VRML creator, and animated GIF tool; (4) FX, a drag-and-drop collection of Java applets and scripts, animated GIFs, image maps, and dynamic HTML, and (5) an HTML syntax checker. In addition to this, HoTMetal Pro contains a frame, cascading style sheet, and graphics editor, and it offers the ability to import text from programs such as Microsoft Word 97, Corel Word Perfect, Microsoft Excel, and more. HoTMetal Pro, provided by SoftQuad Inc., is available for Macintosh, UNIX, and Windows 3.x/95/NT.
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Microsoft FrontPage
http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage/

Microsoft FrontPage makes designing, building, and maintaining a website easy. It includes a WYSIWYG editor which supports frames and tables, Microsoft Image Composer, Microsoft GIF Animator, and an archive of over 2,000 images for facile graphics incorporation. FrontPage supports the inclusion of Dynamic HTML, Cascading Style Sheet (CSS), browser plug-ins, database content (performing dynamic database queries), Java applets, JavaScript, ActiveX controls, and Microsoft Visual Basic. Other features such as wizards and templates accelerate the building process. For existing sites, FrontPage offers an import function. To facilitate management capabilities, FrontPage offers a view of navigational links, folders, and all files, as well as its best management feature: automatic hyperlink updates. This web tool is available for Macintosh and Windows 95/NT.
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NetObjects Fusion
http://www.netobjects.com/

NetObjects Fusion is unique since it offers a "site-oriented approach" rather than a simple WYSIWYG page editor. In other words, it allows you to visually map out the site structure, make global changes, automatically update your links, and construct and organize the individual pages without using HTML coding. Once the site is designed, the entire site structure including the HTML pages are generated from a NetObjects database. NetObjects Fusion is provided by NetObjects, Inc. and is available for both Power Macintosh and Windows 95/NT.
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Additional Resources

Beginner's Guide to HTML
http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/General/Internet/WWW/HTMLPrimer.html

The Beginners's Guide to HTML is an excellent resource both to learn HTML and to use as a quick reference. It is provided by The National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It addresses basic topics including what an HTML document is, what it requires, and how to put HTML documents on the Web. The rest of this site focuses on creating HTML documents. This guide does a great job of explaining markup tags, linking, images, tables, and more.
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Two HTML Guides from c|net
"Know the Code: HTML for Beginners" by Donald St. John
http://www.cnet.com/Content/Features/Howto/Basics/

Great for beginners, this informational guide explains how to set up a page and then add text, links, images, and a background, as well as how to create lists. The tutorial concludes by offering an HTML quick reference guide and additional resources.
"HTML Tips and Tricks"
http://www.cnet.com/Content/Features/Howto/Htmltips/

HTML authors and would-be HTML authors can learn many tricks of the trade by consulting this article written to elucidate more advanced HTML skills regarding text, layout, frames, graphics and more. After this tutorial, tweeking text and using tables and graphics to create a web page with a precise layout should be easier.
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Doctor HTML
http://www2.imagiware.com/RxHTML/

Doctor HTML is an HTML syntax checker provided by Thomas Tongue and Imagiware, Inc. To use this online utility, the user simply enters the URL of the HTML document to be analyzed. The output is an easy-to-understand summary. Doctor HTML will check form structure, hyperlinks, spelling, image syntax, and more. This analysis can be done on a single page or on an entire site. Also included at this site are other HTML resources.
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The Web Developer's Virtual Library (TM)
http://www.charm.net/~web/

The Web Developer's Virtual Library contains most everything one needs to know about Web development. This site, provided by CyberWeb SoftWare, contains articles, links, demos, and much, much more. Web topics addressed include authoring, HTML, software, multimedia, and general Internet topics. The Web Developer's Virtual Library also provides a glossary for quick access.
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Web Mastery
http://union.ncsa.uiuc.edu:80/HyperNews/get/www/html/guides.html

The Web Mastery Forums and Resource Lists, created by Daniel LaLiberte, contain informative discussions and links regarding various web authoring topics. Some of the topics include learning HTML, HTML editors, WWW, servers, HTML converters, and images. The one drawback to this site is the download time caused by lengthy threaded discussions; it is still worth the wait. Accessing the information as well as subscribing to the HyperNews source is free.
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webreference.com
http://www.webreference.com/

webreference.com, provided by Athenia Associates, is the must-see web authoring resource. webreference.com provides up-to-date valuable information on the latest tools, news, and skills. Best of all, this site will benefit the novice as well as the webmaster. This site offers online workshops, articles, contests, and more including the Webreference Update newsletter, a valuable resource. Subscription information to this weekly newsletter is included at the site.
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