View Full Version : Addicted, but need help/suggestions!
zenshack
4-28-06, 10:18 PM
Hey!
I started my very first web site 5 days ago and am totally addicted!
www.zenshack.net (http://zenshack.net)
Problem is I have been using FrontPage because it is easy. I am not a programmer at all but am slowly learning. Pasting html scrpt for my Google adsense ads etc.
I could go on like this forever but I know that ultimately FrontPage is going to be my achilles heal. So before I spend much more time building my site I should probably switch programs.
On the forums a lot of people recommend Dreamweaver. Problem is this is a $300 investment, unless someone knows different.
Does anyone have any other suggestions that aren't so espensive? Or is Dreamweaver really worth the expence? Is it non-programmer friendly?
I am willing to learn over time but I need something that can get me results fairly quick (like FrontPage) too. It is so rewarding to be able to see my site up so fast!!
Also, how easy is it to "import?" my FrontPage stuff into a new webdesign program in the future?
There are a few around but I'm fond of CoffeeCup software. It's WYSIWIG, easy to use and relatively inexpensive with lifetime upgrades.
There's a link in my sig to it.
Hey!
I started my very first web site 5 days ago and am totally addicted!
www.zenshack.net (http://zenshack.net)
Problem is I have been using FrontPage because it is easy. I am not a programmer at all but am slowly learning. Pasting html scrpt for my Google adsense ads etc.
I could go on like this forever but I know that ultimately FrontPage is going to be my achilles heal. So before I spend much more time building my site I should probably switch programs.
On the forums a lot of people recommend Dreamweaver. Problem is this is a $300 investment, unless someone knows different.
Does anyone have any other suggestions that aren't so espensive? Or is Dreamweaver really worth the expence? Is it non-programmer friendly?
I am willing to learn over time but I need something that can get me results fairly quick (like FrontPage) too. It is so rewarding to be able to see my site up so fast!!
Also, how easy is it to "import?" my FrontPage stuff into a new webdesign program in the future?
Frontpage is a good program. Provided you don't use features that need FP extensions, then transferring to other ways of creating web pages ought to be easy. As you've got FP already, Dreamweaver would be an expensive duplication of 'top end' programs. Whilst NVU and CoffeeCup are free or inexpensive they'll lack features of FP or DW.
Creating web pages directly in HTML (or PHP) is the next step from FP or DW (IMHO). A good program for that is notepad++ (search for notepad plus). It indents to help you see what you're creating when nesting tables etc and supports many languages.
Good luck with your learning.
The major problem with FrontPage is that it encourage you to create MSIE-specific web sites that are ugly, don't work with all browsers and require special server support. If you are aware of this and avoid the traps, then FP is ok. Just stay away from its "helpful" features of adding navigation bars, etc.
Dreamweaver is certainly the #1 choice of professionals, but some find it complex.
Another problem with frontpage is that it adds a lot of rubbish into your site and codes the long way, although in the age of broadband this isn't as big a problem as it was a few years back when I started making my first websites and it took an age for a FP created website to load in your browser, I suppose I am still a little biased against it.
If you find building websites rewarding though, I suggest trying to learn the HTML, it should not take more than half a day to learn it all, and there are very few things as rewarding as coding your website entirely by hand and seeing it displayed infront of you.
I'll also note that FrontPage has been discontinued by Microsoft.
handaajay15
5-1-06, 03:01 PM
Suggestion:
You can try, JOOMLA, MAMBO, phpnuke and other open source Free state of the art very popular very functional softwares. Instant publishing. No need of any software. Small learning curve. Professional results.
Wow, thanks for all your advice.
I believe with the PowWeb account I can instal 5 programs through the site tools tab, none of which I have done.
Of the popular choices like JOOMLA & MAMBO etc does anyone else recommend any of these.
There are just so many choices for someone who doesn't know the difference. Again I would prefer programs that are instantly usable for a non-programmer but that would allow more complicated features as I learn.
I am particulairly interested in building FLASH components on my site.
I was wating until I learned a little more about programming before I got into any of this.
What about the image galleries and discussion groups?
What is wiki?
Thanks again for all the help. these forums are such a bonus.
i used to use mambo, but now mambo is pretty much no more, joomla is where its at. i run a few joomla sites, and it can be so simple to begin with. then, once you get knowledgable, you can go into such depths with joomla that you could do anything a pro web coder can do.
www.joomla.org just take a look at it, easiest way to learn it is just install it and play with it, its so sweet.
http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,5503.0.html/
that is a page on how to do nearly anything with joomla, at least for you to start with if you decide to use it. that guide is simple, yet i learned alot from it even though i have been using joomla for nearly a year.
good luck
I have been using FrontPage 2002 for 3 years and have learned to live with its many quirks. Personally, I have learned over the years how to do quite a bit of coding on my own, so I only use FrontPage when absolutely necessary.
As far as FTPing, FrontPage can be a hassle, particularly with large or numerous files. Instead, consider a program like CuteFTP to accomplish that task. You will be a lot less aggravated and more likely to enjoy the experience.
Hmmm...I did not know MS dumped FrontPage. Well, I am too cheap to buy anything else, but if I wasn't then Dreamweaver would be my choice.
Yeah, FrontPage is just too easy right now for me to change. Eventually I will make the leap.
Can you do Flash type intros with FrontPage? I have 2002 as well.
On Flash (http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/when-good-flash-goes-bad.html)
A good HTML editor helps write good code and keeps your site maintainable. I used to do all my HTML by hand - no more. Dreamweaver is very good - it doesn't add junk and has lots of features to keep you from making mistakes (such as unclosed tags, etc.) that can cause browser compatibility problems.
And so is your response. Nyah! :D
Each to his own, I say. I've been doing web sites for a decade now, and programming for more than three. I do look at the HTML source and make sure it's clean, but I find a good WYSIWYG editor such as Dreamweaver to be liberating and it allows me to be much more productive.
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