Website Buildign Programs, what are out there?

[resqd1]

Ok so I no nothing about writing code. Is there a program out there to purchase that is what you see is what you get and then you hit publish and your site IP and it goes there? Or something like this, I hear people talking about frontpage and dreamweaver, but waht are they, how do they work, do you need to know code?

Give me a list of programs I can choose from for building my website, thanks

[Karl C]

Dreamweaver is one of the best web design programs available, very robust but takes time to learn. Frontpage is from Microsoft and is targeted to the average (read: home) user. Dreamweaver requires knowledge of HTML, CSS, etc. Frontpage, IIRC, not as much. I believe web design can also be accomplished in Word and Publisher.

If you don't know anything about HTML or CSS, it's probably not a wise idea to purchase Dreamweaver (not to mention it's expensive). It would be better if you went to your local book store and bought a book or two on HTML. I'm not sure if there is a WYSIWYG editor available.

Good luck.

[resqd1]

I guess I am looking for something that I open up, Then say i want a black background, so i choose that, then, I want to have five links down the let side so I choose text, write them and then make them links, then I want to add a picture here or there. With the flow like photoshop and tools and text the same. Is this out there, or am I way more of an idiot than you already thought I was?

[ifonline]

Windows: check out Namo WebEditor (http://www.namo.com/)
Mac: check out RapidWeaver (http://www.realmacsoftware.com/rapidweaver/)

I have used Namo WebEditor when I had a PC and it was nice, but you do need to know how to write code to make the most of it. I have never used RapidWeaver, but it promises to be an easy-to-use program for web development.

I use Dreamweaver CS3 myself, but it has been a bear to learn, and that's with two books for help. Great program, though, if you have the time to learn it.

[Karl C]

I guess I am looking for something that I open up, Then say i want a black background, so i choose that, then, I want to have five links down the let side so I choose text, write them and then make them links, then I want to add a picture here or there. With the flow like photoshop and tools and text the same. Is this out there, or am I way more of an idiot than you already thought I was?

I never said, implied, or thought you were an idiot. I don't know if a stand-alone software program, performing design such as you described, exists. The programs you mentioned, especially Dreamweaver, do not perform web design in the manner you wish.

There are many web hosting companies that provide some form of basic web design packages with their hosting services. I know GoDaddy offers this service.

[resqd1]

so I am goign to have to learn some kind fo code to make this work then huh?

[resqd1]

So i am an idiot dang it, thanks

[resqd1]

if anyone else has input let me know

[ThomasOwenM]

WebEasy 7 by V-Com is a program oriented toward people who know nothing about web design. You choose a template and color scheme and plug in all your info and it generates all the HTML for you.

However, I don't recommend relying on a program like that too much. You're much better off taking some time to learn HTML and some basics. You don't have to know everything there is to know about web design to make effective pages. For example, you can do so without knowing how to code Java or JavaScript.

Honestly, I think you would be better off using Namo Web Editor or Dreamweaver and learning some about web design. Use WebEasy 7 if you're sure you don't want to learn any of this. Namo does have some auto-generation capabilities. A good compromise may to to start with that and then learn about web design and go from there. You could still get Dreamweaver down the road. You don't have to use one or the other any more than you have to use only one image editor.

[stathunter]

With Vista FrontPage has been replaced with Microsoft Expressions Web. It is much like Dreamweaver and seems to do a very good job so far. But if you have no expereince building you might want to purchase a simple template and build from there.

[HarleyQuinn]

Actually you can use DreamWeaver in "Design View" it greatly simplifies it.

I knew NOTHING about web design or code and taught myself how to use Dreamweaver in a few weeks.

[jdevito]

I have tried teaching myself Dreamweaver, and it does have a rather high learning curve. I would recommend SiteSpinner as a WYSIWYG html editor. It is pretty straight forward, and requires no knowledge of html code. You can get a 30 time use trial for free to see how it works.

Another recommendation is to take a look at the W3 Schools website, google it. They have good tutorials for the beginner.

Best of luck.

[resqd1]

Wow w3 is freakin awesome, I guess one could learn some html pretty easy, I guess I do not understand what dreamweaver and these other programs do then, if they are not WYSIWYG and html can be done in notepad, what does dreamweaver do?

[MartinN]

Have a look at www.bluevoda.com Very easy to use & theres lots you can do with it.

[jdevito]

Dreamweaver is commonly used by many professionals and gives you the ability to design websites with javascript, php, ASP, XML, CSS, built-in forms etc... included. Dreamweaver can also be a WYSIWYG or code based web design program. It can also be setup to manage transfer any changes to your web server. The features that are offered are far beyond any of the basic web design programs.

As for W3 it definitely helped me on the learning curve. I started with SiteSpinner and then worked backwards through the code that was generated to figure out how things were done.

[resqd1]

ON the site it says a vodahost account is needed to publish, is this correct or can you download bluevoda free and then publish it to another host site server?

[PhotosGuy]

I want to have five links down the let side so I choose text, write them and then make them links, then I want to add a picture here or there. You might think about starting with a Skin from JAlbum.net which is a free program for displaying pictures. You can make an album, & then add the few html links you need before you upload & publish it. Simple html isn't all that hard to use & you can proof the web on your computer before you publish it. See the link in my sig for some simple results.

And take a look at this: http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp
There are "Try it Yourself - Examples" that will show you the results of changes you make. Then just add the code to the album that JAlbum makes.

[jacobsen1]

it depends on what you need to do, but I've used different web based platforms that do all the work for you, you just edit some layout crap. Check out the 4 sites in my signature. 3 are wordpress blog layouts, but that can be used for something that's not a blog very easily... One is a gallery2 site. All the software I'm using is freeware and pretty easy to play around with and still get great looking sites. If you have any specific questions on any of my sites let me know.

[jdevito]

jacobsen1, I like the gecko theme on your gallery. I've been using the carbon theme and wanted to put something together for my photography that was different.

[jacobsen1]

thanks, I found it here:
http://www2.ramoth.org/gecko/

then you just modify it to have whatever pages you need beyond the gallery... I just need to figure out how to have a flash slide show on the first page instead of that hideous .gif...

[MartinN]

ON the site it says a vodahost account is needed to publish, is this correct or can you download bluevoda free and then publish it to another host site server?


Yes you will need a vodahost account but its a good price & you get lots of space with them, they also give you all the help needed to get it right for you.

[Oneslowz28]

I use NVU to build my site. Dl it at NVU.com

[nofire]

Try the share ware program called "Web Page Maker" you can try it free before you register it.
Check-out my site constructed with it at http://www.photocrossaction.com

[chickymcnuffin]

Try the share ware program called "Web Page Maker" you can try it free before you register it.
Check-out my site constructed with it at http://www.photocrossaction.com

I second this! This is what I've used! I love it, and you don't have to write any sort of codes!

[JeratBP]

Once your homepage is all set, you could try SimpleViewer (http://www.airtightinteractive.com/simpleviewer/) as an add-on to Google's Picasa2.....and it's FREE!

Here's one of my website pages that use it - Portrait page (http://www.baileysphotoofnorfolk.com/portrait/index.html)

[S.Horton]

Consider a BLOG

[jacobsen1]

Once your homepage is all set, you could try SimpleViewer (http://www.airtightinteractive.com/simpleviewer/) as an add-on to Google's Picasa2.....and it's FREE!

Here's one of my website pages that use it - Portrait page (http://www.baileysphotoofnorfolk.com/portrait/index.html)

the problem I have with simpleviewer is getting it to "flow" well with the rest of the site. You can match the colors easy enough, and you can use their admin program to have a picker page, but getting a header image in the gallery is a PITA... This leaves the only easy option to run it as a pop up so that people can easily get back to my site... I don't want them liking the photos, then not being able to get back to contact me, getting frustrated, then just closing the window...

It is pretty slick software though, especially for free. I'll setup galleries with it for events I attend where they aren't my pictures. For example I sailed in a regatta and everyone had their wives/friends taking shots. I offered to host them since I was the only one there with a site... So they all sent me CDs, but since I'm not selling those images I don't care that there is no link back to my site once you get into the slideshow:
http://www.benjacobsen.com/I14Newport/

[snowyowl13]

FrontPage works well for the type of thing you asked about. You will also need an FTP program to do the uploading but that's easy because there are lots of free ones available on the web.

[andrewc]

or something like Joomla and add a template or skin to it.

[ifonline]

Try the share ware program called "Web Page Maker" you can try it free before you register it.
Check-out my site constructed with it at http://www.photocrossaction.com

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