HTML and graphics software for web page development

Internet Consultants: Neil Macmillan & Associates

Text-level Editing Tools

Examples include:

• Macromedia HomeSite
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• HTML Assistant Pro 2000

Advantages:

• Easy to apply well-formatted HTML
• Encourages development of HTML knowledge
• Custom tools can be created
• Inexpensive to purchase

Disadvantages:

• Need to preview the page in a web browser
• Requires working knowledge of HTML
• Interface can be intimidating

Visual Design Tools

Examples include:

• Dreamweaver
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• Microsoft FrontPage
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Advantages:

• Pages are designed in a browser-like interface
• Authors see graphics and text together
• Text attributes are visible
• JavaScript support usually built in
• Imagemap support usually built in

Disadvantages:

• Some software products add extraneous HTML which is difficult to read or edit
• HTML is normally hidden from view
• Often necessary to use the HTML window for editing

Graphics Software

• Adobe Photoshop
  (includes ImageReady)
• Jasc Paint Shop Pro
  (less expensive than Photoshop)
• Fireworks 8