Any other website design software other than MS Frontpage?

[jimbobalexander]

Hello All,

Having viewed many of the links you guys (and gals) have in your signatures I am impressed with many of your website layouts and designs.

I wanted to know whether anyone has any suggestions on good website design software? I am using MS Frontpage, but am looking for for something more modern and offering better designs etc.

I am know design expert and the thing I like about Frontpage is that you can just enter text/pictures with minimal html skills and the website doesn't finish off looking too bad. But I now want to develop better looking websites, after all if you are an affiliate and want people to buy from your site, it's got to look the part right?

Any suggestions or advice on good web design software packages would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
James

 

[dw1973]

Adobe Dreamweaver is probably the choice of most people, but it is expensive.

If you google WYSIWYG html editor you should find a few suggestions.

 

[jimbobalexander]

Thanks mate, I have heard a few people mention Dreamweaver. Is it easy to use or do you need to be a fairly experienced web developer? What are we talking price wise?

James

 

[dw1973]

It's fairly easy to use once you get the hang of it, plus there are hundreds of tutorials on the net if you get stuck.

You might be able to pick up an old version in CEX for less than £100 but I think there are cheaper (and probably free) packages out there that are as good.

The other option is to use Wordpress or Joomla, plenty of free templates out there for both.

 

[jimbobalexander]

Thanks for all your help, much appreciated.

 

[jj1]

We use Microsoft Expression for web design and Macromedia Fireworks for visuals. We also use Opencube to do the submenus and Lightbox to do a slide-show effect.

Expression is easy to use, WYSIWYG, changing the master file changes all the other pages for masthead footer etc (I've heard Frontpage doesn't do that) and you can use code or WYSIWYG. The disadvantage - as I'm now finding - is it's no good for content management.

 

[jimbobalexander]

Thanks jj1 I will take a look at Microsoft Expression also. Been looking at the prices for Dreamweaver CS4, we're talking over £350 not sure how Microsoft Express compares with that, but will take a look.

Thanks again.

 

[GreyWing]

Mate if you don't have the knowledge to make dreamweaver work then don't bother with it in my opinion.

Go for a CMS, like wordpress or Joomla and buy a template for it.

 

[jimbobalexander]

Thanks mate, I think Wordpress is the way forward for me - don't have the knowledge, experience or time to learn Dreamweaver at the moment.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[Skinner]

Go on 100 quid college course for web design and you can get the whole adobe master collection for pennies

If you want easy peasy look at netobjects fusion even pretty much does wysiwyg databases. Its a nightmare to port away from but prefect for ease of use.

 

[mat]

I think if you are able to use frontpage, a jump to dreamweaver is no problem, thats exactly what I did years ago. Easy to pick up I found.

 

[crabfoot]

As a noted cheapskate, I have problems with this concept of paying out cash for the latest version.

There are free editors and ftp clients available, but they are not easy for a novice to use, and have grotty help and support.

I solved my problems by spending 45p in PC World's sale on a slightly out of date copy of "Web Creation 2006", PC World branded Namo software.

Always worth a dig in a bargain bin ...