This chapter provides lessons on web authoring editors, including the use of online editors, the components, primary uses and drawbacks to Web Authoring software, and a list of several editor programs for the student to evaluate, choose from, download and use.
An HTML editor is a software program that helps in developing HTML code. The functions that each of individual editor performs will vary, as does their basic philosophy. There are many types of editors:
WYSIWYG editors
Tag editors
Multi-Function editors
On-Line editors
Web Site Editors
Web Host Editors
WYSIWYG editors:
WYSIWYG means "What You See Is What You Get". These editors do not allow the author to become directly involved in the HTML programming. The user selects items from menus, clicks on them, types in any text, fills in pop-up forms for certain choices (for instance, a link to an image), and positions the items. On screen what they see is not the HTML code but rather the actual document as it would be seen on the Web. During the page creation the author does not actually see the HTML tags unless they decide to view the code directly. A novice HTML programmer can make use of this type of editor. However, the user must be computer literate and understand the basic concept of HTML. The Netscape Communicator offers a WYSIWYG editor called the Page Composer.
Tag editors:
In this type of an editor the user selects tags from menus and has the option to directly manipulate or type in the code being produced. The code is not hidden. These usually take a programmer who is HTML literate.
A very basic tag editor that almost everyone has would be a simple text program that allows you to save a document with the .htm or .html file extension, such as the one provided in the Microsoft Accessories: NotePad. If you can write the code, you can create the page!
Multi-Function editors:
Multi-Function editors allow both the use of WYSIWYG and Tag editing in one program.
Assignment:
What does WYSIWYG mean?
If you use the Netscape Communicator as your WWW browser, you have the option of using the Page Composer. Click on the File/Edit Page option. What are the Tools options provided?
If you use another WWW browser other than the Netscape Communicator, tell the instructor if your browser includes a Web Page editor/composer and if so, how you access it.
There are two different types of Online editors, Web Site editors and Web Host editors. Web Site editors are provided by different WWW sites. You fill in the blanks of a form and then "submit" the form to generate and view the page you have just created. Then you can save the page to a disk or a folder on your hard drive. Web Host editors are accessable to registered users of a particular Web Site Host/Provider. These providers give you the ability to use their online editors. Most every host provides both the beginners form editor to fill out which then generates a page, and a more advanced editor for the user who understands and writes in HTML code. Most providers also offer both instant web file uploading and/or FTP access to their members. (FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, is the ability to use an FTP program to upload a page. For instance, a page you have created using editor software on your own computer. You will study more about this in the Web Programming II class.)
Assignment:
Send an email to the instructor with an attachment of the sample page you have created using one of the following types of Online Editors:
Web Site Editors:
Mowchuk Pagemaker A "just starting" Online Editor, great for the beginner who just doesn't yet feel comfortable creating a document using HTML.
Shui Long's Advanced Online HTML editor You must feel comfortable with writing in HTML code and your web browser must be Java enabled/capable in order to use this Online Editor.
Web Host Editors:
Below are a few Host sites and their editors. Note: You must be a registered member with the provider to use their editor.
Geocities:File Manager offers a Basic "Index Page" Editor, EZ Editor, Advanced Editor and the Intel.com Web Page Wizard.
Angelfire:Login offers an Index Page editor with a Basic forms type editor with the option of switching to the Advanced HTML editor when the user is ready.
Tripod:Homepage Studio allows First Time Builders a Quick Page form editor as well as a more advanced HTML code Custom Builder and a Microsoft Front Page enabler.
No editor will possess all components on the following list; some will possess more advanced features that we will not cover in this class. The following is a list of some of the more common features to look for when assessing Web Authoring Editors:
Color Selectors: This provides a built-in color selector, versus having to search online for the RGB (red, green, blue) color value.
Documentation/Help Guide: Good off-line and on-line documentation on how to use your editors features is absolutely necessary.
HTML Converter: Many editors allow you to input a text file and have it converted directly into an HTL document. Usually this conversion needs to be heavily fine-tuned.
Hyperlink Insertion: You can "cut and paste" hyperlinks, or select a URL from a bookmark list, using most HTML editors. This helps since URLs are often cumbersome to type in by hand and it certainly saves on the error factor.
Spell Checker: It is always a good idea to run your HTML documents through a "speel cheker". Enough said.
Tag Generator: Most HTML editors allow you to click on menu items for a almost all HTML tags. Others allow you to type the tag in directly. Usually once you have clicked the tag a pop-up or dialog-box appears so you can enter the required information.
Template Creation: Some editors provide the author with premade HTML templates. This is a good document consistency feature.
Tutorial: Many editors provide an interactive tutorial.
Viewer: Not all HTML editors are WYSIWYG. Many do not provide a Viewer so that you can see what the document looks like. However, you can use your browsers Open Page/File option to view your page.
Assignment:
What other feature would you like to see offered in a Web Authoring tool?
For the novice who is not planning to design complex Web presentations, the use of an HTML editor is adequate, even if they have little or no knowledege of HTML. For the more experienced HTML programmers, editors serve three useful functions according to Raymond Greenlaw and Ellen Happ, editors of In-Line/On-line: Getting Things Straight on the Internet:
They allow you to quickly generate a draft of a page.
They help develop a consistant standard in HTML pages. As HTML evolves, it is important to develop code that meets certain specifications. This is necessary so that future generations of HTML support all tags, that CAST compliancy is met for those who are handicapped or use text readers.
They develop a consistent set of pages. If you use the editor to develop all the basic parts of each page, the code in them will be consistent. This can simplify future maintenance of your web site.
Assignment:
Do you think a good HTML editor can "replace" a good HTML programmer? Why or why not?
There are a few drawbacks to HTML editors. The following is a list of several drawbacks compiled by the editors of In-Line/On-line: Getting Things Straight on the Internet.
Feature-itis: Due to fierce compitition to provide the "biggest and the baddest", many HTML editors are overloaded with features. The choices they offer can be overwhelming and complicated.
Incomplete support: The more sophisticated elements that might be offered, such as Java scripting, may not be explained or incomplete in the help documentation.
Poor error reporting: If there is a bug in your code, many HTML editors are not able to let you know where it is or how to correct it. For a novice this can create a serious debugging problem.
Programming style: If you greatly prefer one style to the other or when you start to fine-tune your code, you may have to figure out what is going on with several of the more complicated editors.
User-interface: If the editor has a bad case of feature-itis, the user-interface can become crowded and to complex, making use awkward and frustrating.
There are many HTML Editors available on the market today. Many are available for a free trial period download. A few are offered for free.
Assignment:
If you are working on your own computer: choose one HTML editor to download and install. Review it and design a simple "mock up" or "Hello" Web page using it. Describe your experience to the instructor. Include your page as an attachment.
CNET Downloads For a comprehensive list of current HTML editors available for download from the Web. Type in HTML Editor in the Search bar.
Dave Central for yet another list of WYSIWYG editors.
If you are working on a lab, library, work, or other computer and cannot download and install an editor: Find out from the on-duty computer attendent or technician what HTML editor is available on the machine you are using. Review it and design a very basic "Hello" Web page using it. Describe your experience to the instructor. Include your page as an attachment.
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