The topic of this guide, web authoring, refers to the practice of creating web documents using various types of authoring software.
Software tools are used to avoid the time and expertise required in creating a website through HTML or other web languages. Generally speaking, the software will generate the required HTML coding for the layout of the webpages based on what the user designs.
In particular, this category is for those software tools that were designed primarily for creating webpages, although they may have other functions as well. Although word processors allow content to be saved to an HTML format for web presentation, that is not their primary function, so they will be listed in the Word Processing subcategory of Office Suites. Similarly, text and code editors can be used to created webpages in HTML and may include features to aid in this, but most of these applications are designed for programming and will be listed in the Text & Code Editors category, parallel to this one. Online website creators are listed directly beneath the Web Design & Development section of the Internet tree.
HTML editors include features that make building webpages faster and easier than using a plain text editor. Depending on the software, an HTML editor might provide code suggestions, check the HTML code for syntax errors, and may include file transfer protocol programs for uploading completed pages.
Some HTML editors offer users both HTML and non-HTML interfaces, with the non-HTML interface showing the user what the page will look like on one side of the page, based on the code that has been written by the user in the built-in text editor that occupies the other side of the page. These HTML editors are used to type raw code, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or XML, much as one would in a text editor. Many of these will include HTML validation checkers that will alert the user to any markup errors or other issues with the code.
Another type of HTML editor is designed for users who don't want to learn to write the actual HTML code. Often known as WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editors, these software programs include an editing interface that is made to appear as the page will appear in a web browser. This effect is accomplished in a variety of ways that include the embedding of a layout engine. With a WYSIWYG editor, the user drags and drops graphics, adding content into text blocks. Once the page is as the user wants it to be, the HTML editor generates the required HTML, and saves the page to a format that can be uploaded to a web server, often including a feature to upload it directly from the editor.
A newer concept in HTML editors is known as WYSIWYM (what you see is what you mean), which is designed to preserve the intended meaning of each element of the page, which may appear differently depending on the size of the screens upon which it will later be displayed. This separates the presentation from the content, meeting the needs of viewers who are more interested in the content than the appearance of the page.
Other types of authoring tools include various types of content management software frameworks, such as wikis, and other web platforms like Drupal, Joomla, and ExpressionEngine, which are appropriate for this category, as well, along with several similar products. Although we have a subcategory of Internet for Blogs, that includes blog software, WordPress is commonly used as website platform today, although it was originally designed for blogs.
These, and other software designed for the creation of websites or webpages, are the focus of resources included in this category, or its subcategories.
Categories
@HTMLContent Management Systems | Web EditorsWiki Engines |
Recommended Resources
Designed for web developers and programmers, as well as users of Mambo or Joomla, the editor is designed to be integrated with custom or third-party applications, allowing non-technical users to create and update web content through their web browser. It is compatible with most common browsers and OS platforms. Its features, integration, prices, and a full user and developer guide are provided, along with an online demo. Volume discounts may apply.
http://editor.asbrusoft.com/
ASCIIweb is a text-to-HTML formatting system that allows for the creation of ASCII-art web pages, using the <pre> tag. As it is difficult and time-consuming to keep all of the HTML, formatting, and whitespace inside of the <pre> tag while coding the page by hand, ASCIIweb is designed to do that for you, allowing users to generate pages on-demand, on command, or through a scheduling agent. Its features are described, and a list of webpages where it is in use is included.
http://www.tastytronic.net/asciiweb/aw.cgi
