"Web page design" is essentially a combination of web programming and graphical layout. The programming language used for the web is called HyperText Markup Language (or HTML for short). HTML is a text-based language. It is not very difficult to learn, in fact, of all programming languages, HTML is considered to be one of the easiest to learn.
As you may know, there are plenty of web page designers out there. Many such artists use tools to aid them in their production. Some use programs that do all the web programming work for them. Others use programs that leave them with flexibility to program manually or have their program do the work for them. Allaire's HomeSite is such a program, fully capable of doing essentially all the work, but flexible enough to allow the user to manually adjust the page as he/she sees fit.
HomeSite allows a user to edit, compile, FTP and remotely save documents ranging from HTML to JAVA, CGI to PERL. New web designers can use HomeSite to completely overhaul their projects. Experienced users will find HomeSite invaluable in their work. It makes the seemingly impossible possible with its many enhanced features.
One such feature, Extended Find and Replace, can replace a comma, word, or entire page of information with anything you specify. It not only finds the occurrence in a single page, but it can hunt down the occurrence anywhere in an entire web site to replace the old with the new. The previous method of accomplishing that replacement was by copying and pasting, opening and saving-- a process that could take upwards of hours. HomeSite does it in seconds.
HomeSite uses Microsoft Word's Spell Checker, and can open each page on a site and spell check the puppy.
"Save All" is another popular (and extremely useful) command in HomeSite. The multitasking abilities of HomeSite are great. You can have hundreds of pages open at a time. If you have just made a "Find and Replace" that has changed all 200, "Save All" is your savior, re-saving all files automatically in a matter of seconds.
Drag and drop technology is the newest rave with computer programs. It is a good thing HomeSite didnšt forget about its convenience. In HomeSite, you can drag an image file from your computer into the coding. It not only inserts the image tags, but inserts the width, height, border command, and all sorts of good stuff.
Of course, the original intention of HomeSite was to be as user-friendly as possible, so it would be silly to expect anything less from the program. You can fully customize HomeSitešs features to your liking, from the buttons to the locations of the buttons. Menus can be moved, shifted, replaced and relocated to anywhere on the screen you wish.
On a more personal note, I have been using HomeSite since I heard about it this past spring. HomeSite spell-checks each page on Whim, and any additions made (like the text-toolbar beneath EVERY article) were done with "Extended Find and Replace." HomeSite 3.0 is available for purchase, but you can get HomeSite 4.0 (still in Beta mode) free from Allaire's Home page.
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Name:Andrew Bain Major: - Comments:
Er. Did you forget that HTML isn't a programming language? Talk to a CS major. Really.
Name:Brian Comments:
Thanks Kimber for that suggestion. I'll do just that!
Name:Kimber Major: advertising Comments:
okay, hey brian :) i was just thinking...why don't you do an article on how to get a cheap GOOD computer (i know i would read that one!!!!) Like computer shows atc...and what you need and dont need....just a suggestion :) thanks!
Name:Brian :) Comments:
Scott, the beauty of Homesite that makes it superior to MS Frontpage is the way the program is designed.
Frontpage, like all Microsoft programs that aid web design (Publisher, MS Word, etc.), add in so much extra baloney. Microsoft's baloney is orderly and tidy, just not necessary. It creates directories and files not necessary in the web production process, taking up more bandwidth than is really necessary.
With HomeSite, the user has complete control over the working and final products, making it even more of a true WYSIWYG editor.
Name: aimee franco Comments:
Hey Brian, thanks for this info-as soon as I get more memory in my computer I will check this site out, I know some HTML but not like a pro...it sounds really efficient. Great article!
Name: Scott Comments:
Frontpage 2000 is coming out soon.
Name:Rachel Major: IS Comments:
I agree with Brian that Homesite is a great way for beginners and more advanced HTML users to create and organize their work. It is truly a great program because it allows the user to customize the pre-made editing features, or write the code themselves. It also allows you to browse or "see your page" in a window within the programs walls. Finally, there is also a helpful option which color codes the different tags to make them easier to see and edit. After moving to this program from the very basic functions of Notepad, I find that I can't live with out it and would encourage any web designer to check it out.
