Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!

Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!

Register Log in
  • Congratulations strongm on being selected by the Tek-Tips community for having the most helpful posts in the forums last week. Way to Go!

Opinions on Best Programs for Website Creation? 2

Status
Not open for further replies.
Legendiva

Legendiva

Technical User
Oct 28, 2001
28
US
Hi,
I would like some opinions on the best programs for Designing and Creating Websites. I need to get started, and have very little HTML experience; I currently have the CorelDraw8 full suite, but find it very difficult to use ( even though I am a Computer Consultant/Instructer/Builder, and an Artist! )
( I am running Win98SE, MS Office 2000 Professional, CorelWPSuite8, CorelDraw Suite 8. )

1) Which programs do you consider to be the most full-featured ( that an Artist, with good computer/internet skills would be be interested in; but still relatively simple for a beginner at Website Creation?
( PaintShopPro, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, etc, etc. )


2) What about FrontPage?
( I see alot about this one, FrontPage extensions on Webhosting sites, etc. ) Is this worth buying or would what it does be duplicated in another program?

Thanks,
Legendiva
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
I used to use Corel Draw 8, but it was a pain, so when I found a copy of Adobe PhotoShop 7 I switched. The big problem with Corel is that I can't save the images as a jpg without losing lots of quality and they don't look good then.

About the do it yourself, you are right. That is the best way to go. Wullie is sooo right about those people who make a page in Frontpage and then have to have someone else fix it because they aren't familiar with the code themselves. All my friends started out way faster than me because they did their sites in frontpage. I was the almost only one to learn HTML then CSS and JS. Now, they have to come to me for help because they don't know what is wrong with their pages!

In the end it's much better to hard code everything.

Rick if(($question=="has been bugging me"
AND $answer=="fixed the problem") OR $answer=="really good post"){
print("Star");
}else{
print("Thanks.");
}
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Hi all,

Just take a look around these forums and you can see the problems with the "Frontpage coders".

Most of the questions asked by people using Frontpage are basic HTML whereas most of the questions asked by people who have been hard coding for a while are more advanced questions.

Hope this helps Wullie

sales@freshlookdesign.co.uk

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Hi Wullie,

I had a client call me the other day who was trying to get a table to be valign top. He said he had been trying for hours. I did it in a second or two. I guess I don't need to mention my client was using FrontPage.

mike
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Speaking of text editors, IE seems to give me the choice of Notepad,Notepad or Notepad. I would like to change to wordpad or homesite as my pages sometimes become too large in terms of memory for Notepad.

I don't claim to be the best hand coder in the world i'm not! But I know enough to trouble shoot and get myself out of a fix.

Javascript or perl are things that I would like to get to know next. It has been said in an earlier post about the weight of the code made by some of the editors, I know ! I once saw an example of a hand coded rollover alongside a Dreamweaver coded rollover, the difference was huge, and I just don't understand the need for it ?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
My next phase of investigation is, of course, good old WebHosting. I have been pretty shocked by some of the pricing that I have seen; but just started checking this stuff out, recently. ( For personal and business sites, looks like there is a wide choice. It seems to be more tricky, however, for the more complex group of Ministry sites I am planning on. I want a main Domain and maybe 3 Sub-Domains ( I am assuming the sub-domain concept is more appropriate, than just 'pages' on the main domain, for what I want to do: the main Ministry, so far, has the church and fellowship site, and a prison ministry site. ) I currently have this set up as 4 separate sites ( which are linked ), on a Free Host ( OurChurch.com ). It uses the pre-made Template thing/no customization at all, and does not allow for much info to go on each site ( 10 pages ). Each title/subject you add to the navigation list winds up creating its own page. Very limiting. They don't do any submissions to Search Engines either; pretty much a dead end as far as traffic goes. I did all my submissions on my own. ( I am not knocking OurChurch.com in general; anything is better than nothing, and it is really geared to churches and those needing very little space. They respond immediately to any question or problem; great support. )
Any opinions on this? Any inside tips, info, or horror stories?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Hi mate,

It sounds like subdomains would be your best bet.

I am confused about your comments on the search engine submission though. These people offer hosting right? Why should they submit your site? Search engine submission should be done manually, do not use auto submittors, they result only in you receiving spam.

Horror stories?? Hmmm. Don't go near Portland if you can help it, I had the worst hosting experience of my life there.

I can't recommend any hosts to you as I host my own sites so have not used any other host for a long time now.

Hope this helps Wullie

sales@freshlookdesign.co.uk

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I use: they are reliable and cheap Regards
David Byng
spider.gif

davidbyng@hotmail.com
if (My Answer == "Good Post") print (
star.gif
);
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Created one htm file in Visual Interdev and another identical file in notpad.

Visual Interdev:
size: 139 bytes
size on disk: 4.00 Kb

Notpad:
size: 137 bytes
size on disk: 4.00 Kb
====================================
I love people. They taste just like
chicken!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Cian--Open the one that you made in Word in a text editor and you'll see why its' so big. Word adds a bunch of stuff with xml etc.

Rick if(($question=="has been bugging me"
AND $answer=="fixed the problem") OR $answer=="really good post"){
print("Star");
}else{
print("Thanks.");
}
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Thanks! I will check out your recommendation.
About the Search Engine Submission by Hosters:
I have run into a few who claim to offer Search Engine Submission as a part of their overall Hosting Package. Some offer this option for an extra fee ( never experienced any of this so don't know how well it goes. )


Legendiva
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Hi,

Search Engine Submission: when looking for a host I wouldn't bother considering this as any kind of bonus! It's best to manually add your site to engines, not with one of these automated processes!

What I recommend looking for in a host is:

-Professional & friendly attitude
-99.9% server uptime
-VERY FAST response time
-whatever hosting you require obviously :)
-Good knowledge base
-reasonable price
-no hidden charges (i got screwed on this one)

When considering a host send them an email and ask LOTS of questions, anything that comes to mind. Expect an answer definitly within 24 hours answering all your questions. If it takes them longer to answer then strike them off your list! Their answer must be polite and professional. Don't be scared to ask more and even more questions and expect a prompt answer every time!

This is the first thing I would check with a host! If the above is not acceptable them move on to another one!

Ask also for links to some of their customers, if they say no then forget them!

You are well in your rights emailing some of their customers and asking them what they think of their hosts!

Also, they must have a contact phone number so you can call if required. If they don't have a phone number (which I have seen in the past) then i think it's a bad sign.

When you find one you like don't forget to ask the advice of others! Choosing a host is usually trial and error but you can make it easier by using a strict selection process!

Thats all that springs to mind now! Good luck! :)

Btw I thought these guys had an excellent attitude and will probably host with them in future:
Look here also check their Top 10 list



É

- :: my FIRST site in XHTML, comments/ criticism/ questions much appreciated!! :)
-
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Cian,

Ask also for links to some of their customers, if they say no then forget them!

You are well in your rights emailing some of their customers and asking them what they think of their hosts!

I would have to disagree with that. A lot of hosts will not provide details of customers exactly for that reason. How would you like it if your employees were wasting company time responding to "sales enquires" for your host?

Personally if I had people writting to me asking what my host was like, I would ignore them based on the principal that I am not a sales rep for my host, why should I spend valuable time selling their product for no return?

This is all hypothetical as I host my own and customers sites but I would not be happy with this situation and personally would not provide customer details if asked by a potential client.

I would rather lose a potential client than an established one.

Hope this helps Wullie

sales@freshlookdesign.co.uk

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
for all your hand coding needs. check out


I have their downloadable swatches and html reference.

It is no end of help.

Manic
-----------------------------
I've broken it again !!
-----------------------------
lee.gale@virgin.net
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Hi Wullie,

I see what yer saying and it makes sense, this was the advice I was given when starting out.

But it's sort of like a designer showing his portfolio! I have seen lots of hosts showing a small list of companies who host with them! (they probably got a little discount for this)

I agree definitly that you shouldn't have to act as a sales rep! But from the buyers point of view they like to be able to get some reassurance that they are making the right choice! Maybe that's what testimonials are for, if ya believe them! :)



É

- :: my FIRST site in XHTML, comments/ criticism/ questions much appreciated!! :)
-
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Hi cian,

I understand where you are coming from but I still don't agree that the clients should expect to be contacted regarding your services.

Even with a portfolio for a designer, there is not anything that entitles the potential customer to be able to contact them and ask about your services.

A portfolio is just that, a listing of your previous work, not a list of references.

Hope this helps
Wullie

sales@freshlookdesign.co.uk

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Hi Wullie,

Yeah guess it makes sense. Still, it's nice to know if your host has many other clients and are they happy with the service! But yer right, it's not a list of references! :)


É

- :: my FIRST site in XHTML, comments/ criticism/ questions much appreciated!! :)
-
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Digital Dose
  • Locked
  • Question
My website refreshes twice when it is opened on any browser. 1
Replies
3
Views
270
sartechy
sartechy
JScannell
  • Locked
  • Question
Accessing a localhost website from other devices
Replies
4
Views
272
JScannell
JScannell
tyutghf
  • Locked
  • Question
Chat to current website visitors together
Replies
1
Views
197
antanasdeg
antanasdeg
tyutghf
  • Locked
  • Question
Linkedin updates on website
Replies
0
Views
161
tyutghf
tyutghf
bogdangromov
  • Locked
  • Question
Free-royalty music for a vlog
Replies
0
Views
224
bogdangromov
bogdangromov

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor

Back
Top