Free (or almost free) Website Authoring Tools

[Clocker]

Hi Guys-
I might do some stuff for this website. Are there any free (or close to free) website authoring tools available that are any good?

Thanks,
C

 

[ddrueding]

I've been using HTML-Kit for quite some time. But I am in no way even close to literate in HTML, much less anything else.

 

[CougTek]

I visited the site you linked and it tried to open a pop-up window.

That's EVIL.

 

[sechs]

I can Adobe GoLive for cheap. Does that count?

 

[Howell]

What, you don't like Frontpage anymore?

 

[ddrueding]

I visited the site you linked and it tried to open a pop-up window.

That's EVIL.

Sorry, I've never seen the popup as I use Firefox.

 

[Clocker]

I can Adobe GoLive for cheap. Does that count?

What is that & what do you mean?

 

[Clocker]

What, you don't like Frontpage anymore?

It works good enough but I don't want to make the Emerald Society put out the $ to buy a copy.

C

 

[Handruin]

If they intend to do future updates on the site, maybe something like Mambo might remove the complexity of them using an HTML tool?

 

[Handruin]

You could also try Mozilla's composer.

 

[Clocker]

Yeah...something that is WYSIWYG would be nice. I'll check those out. Thanks,
C

 

[Tea]

Hoolie Dolie! That'sa page hat seriously needs some work, Clocker.

Why don't you just explain what you want it to look like, and see if the SF team can knock the base code up for you? Once you have a basic templace coded, everything else is easy - and you are no longer tied to Frontpage or anything else of the training wheels flavour?

I'd be happy to devote an evening to the project, just say the word.

 

[Tannin]

I think the Incoherent One was trying to say:

Hoolie Dolie! That's a page that seriously needs some work, Clocker.

Why don't you just explain what you want it to look like, and see if the SF team can knock the base code up for you? Once you have a basic template coded, everything else is easy - and you are no longer tied to Frontpage or anything else of the training wheels flavour.

I'd be happy to devote an evening to the project, just say the word.

 

[Will Rickards WT]

New project by main developer of mozilla's composer called nvu. Still kind of beta but it should be usable for a site like that, which incidentally locked firefox up something fierce.

 

[Clocker]

That's a very nice offer. I'll talk to the President and see what he thinks. It probably would not fly though as there is already a 'webmaster' for the site and I doubt he'd take the kind of criticism that the website deserves very kindly. I don't mean to knock the guy at all, however. He's just trying to help and he should be commended for taking the time to do what he has done, FOC. They're also using a free host which is the cause for the annoying popup.

I'll be going to our 'meeting' Wednesday night. We'll probably start talking about it by the 6-7th beer... :wink:

C

 

[Buck]

What a shame, I remember coding like that when I took my course in IIS 3.0 and used the likes of Frontpage. Anyway, EditPlus2 is a very nice tool, which I have been using some time. Also, if you need some assistance, I'll be happy to help -- anything to make that site more attractive.

 

[Handruin]

I'm willing to help contribute along with Tea and Buck. Let us know if you want some reviews.

 

[Tea]

Ahh, you are another EditPlus user, are you Buck. I couldn't agree more. It's a superb text editor. Highly recommended.

 

[LiamC]

Me 3 (if you need coding help). Clocker, I wish I had meetings that didn't start until the sixth or seventh beer...

 

[Clocker]

Thanks for all your kind offers. I will be following up here in the next few days.

C

 

[ddrueding]

I was thinking of outsourcing some web design work to the forum, then putting the money earned into the collective. What do you guys think of that? It wouldn't be much, but in my experience, a site like this could always use some dough.

I'll put up the requirements, and if someone is interested they can take it. When I get paid I'll send the money to the group.

Thoughts?

 

[Handruin]

What kind of web work did you have in mind? I'm curious to see your requirements. Also, what collective are you speaking of?

 

[Mercutio]

Buck is a design god. Handy knows PHP. Tannin's got mad HTML skeelz. Will Rickards is VB (don't hate me if I'm wrong...) developer... There's actually a pretty good base of Web-monkeys here.

 

[Tea]

And, of course, one talented Web-Ape.

 

[Tea]

Sure, Dave. Why not? For me, it would be a useful exercise. I've just done a fairly major rebore and update on my HTML skills, and if I do the usual thing and just stop now I'll forget it all again before the year is out. Dave or Clocker or both. I'm in.

(Disclosure of ulterior motive: any code I post here gets looked over by the Design God and the PHP God, and usually improved - so I'm bound to learn a little more.)

 

[Handruin]

I'm interested in learning more. I don't know if the PHP reference was to me, but I'm no God at it by any means.

I've considered using handruin.com as a web resource. I'd like to start collecting my newfound php tricks and organize them in one place. I can them start placing all my small projects on there and get around to finishing them. (Sorry Buck, I'm really slow-going these days) If there was a cure to remove laziness, I'd sign up. I hate taking any kind of drug/medication, but if they had one to remedy laziness, I'd reconsider.

 

[Tea]

If there was a cure to remove laziness, I'd wait till you could get it without having to go through all that bothersome signing up stuff.

 

[ddrueding]

Well, the requirements and the pay are relatively small. But it could be an interesting test of this idea.

Re: "The collective". I guess it would be at the discretion of the users involve in the project; but putting it directly towards the administrative overhead of the site sounds like a good cause to me.


---------------------
Project 1
---------------------

A website with 2 pages, the first page is 100% static. The second page includes a table that needs to be editable from within the site (via login). This table will include a parts/pricing list that needs to be maintained by someone with a very low understanding of computers (I gave them their first e-mail address yesterday).

The technologies available though the hosting service are:

ASP
MSSQL

I was initially going to use the Dot Net Nuke portal software, but it's a bit overkill and a little unstable.


---------------------
Project 2
---------------------

A web site consisting of a main page and several galleries. There needs to be a web interface to change/add pictures and subtitles, with the ability to tie in with an e-commerce site. More information will be provided when it is available.


I will be paid a few hundred dollars for each, and will pass on 100% to whatever cause is decided.

 

[Handruin]

Before we go too far, maybe we should split your ideas into a new thread so that we can keep track of Clocker's project here... (thoughts?)

I won't be able to help with Project 1. I'm not at all familiar with ASP, and I only have a little experieince with MSSQL.

The second project I could show you a couple of PHP based web galleries, but I don't know if PHP is an option you can use for Project 2. You can also use a vbulletin portal gallery system, but that cost money.

Tying that into an e-commerce might also be tough...that depends on the e-commerce site, and how that is written.

 

[Buck]

Interesting idea Dave. If I can apply my meager HTML skills, I'll be happy to help. Was that "design god" comment for Gary?

 

[Mercutio]

ASP isn't a big deal, Doug. It's just writing VBA or Javascript or PHP or Perl or whatever, and having your server interpret it, rather than passing it to a client.

 

[Buck]

ASP isn't a big deal, Doug. It's just writing VBA or Javascript or PHP or Perl or whatever, and having your server interpret it, rather than passing it to a client.

So that means you need to know VB, Javascript, PHP, Perl or [enter script language of choice]. I know some HTML, and some CSS (I wish I knew more, but my mind refuses to learn).