Making Web Sites?? Best Program??

[Geek USA]

you write out the html code in simpletext, then you save it as a .html file and presto: its a webpage

[Brain]

actually what you do is you save it as a text file with .htm on the end

ex: page.htm

[jn.loudnotes]

In response to the last two posts - it really doesn't matter.  Most browsers will automatically open it as a web page if it has the right extension (.htm or .html) and its made in a plain text editor (not a word document, for example)

As for my personal preferences, I think the biggest single advantage to an editor like Dreamweaver or GoLive is the ability to preview your pages.  When you're writing out the code by hand, it's awfully nice to be able to simply click a button and see what the product will look like in any browser.

On that note, the graphical outline in Dreamweaver is closest to what you will see in most browsers.  It tends to be more compatible with all versions, etc. and thus is my favorite program.  Both Dreamweaver and GoLive are good options, though, and which you use is mostly a matter of which pallette layout you prefer.

If you're a newbie and don't feel like learning anything at all about web design (by reading websites like the ones that have been suggested, for example) I suggest you use a template from one of the programs.  The easiest ones to use that I've seen have been in Microsoft's Frontpage.  But then again, that's because they are catering to the majority of the population, who know nothing but want to have a website (which is part of why they have PCs...but I won't get into that  )

Other thoughts - Photoshop is an absolute must if you want decent graphics on your site that don't take up huge amounts of bandwidth.  However, I think the code that ImageReady creates for you when you make image maps and rollovers sucks.  Use Dreamweaver or GoLive for that.

Also, hand coding is great, but I've always found it easier to just edit what the editor creates for you.

As for flash, I hate it because it doesn't work with older browsers, and I find it really annoying when a site isn't compatible.  (That's always been my only beef with the forums - they don't work in my antique netscape 4.7)

Whoever had the idea about viewing the source of other web pages was dead right.  That's always been a help for me.

Anything else?  Oh yeah...take a look at my work in progress, my Dad's business website.  Obviously it's not entirely finished yet but I'll let you all know when it is.  I want comments!

Capitol District Law Offices

[Geek USA]

hmm, not bad

[j47 in Spain]

same here, its ok, but u need some life into it! I know its a Law Frim but it still doesnt have that "corporate look". You may go back to the design faze and workout the color and layout. email me if u need some more crits!

[*DAMN Mauti]

I(That's always been my only beef with the forums - they don't work in my antique netscape 4.7)

I just tried the forums out with NS4.72 and everything works fine except the CSS tags. At all you can view the whole site with NS 4.72 but it messes up the backgroundcolors but you get all the info.

Bye,

Mauti