Web Design Question

[wsteineker]

I know I posted a thread similar to this one about a month ago, so bear with me. I need to design a web page over the summer, and my budget is $0. i was wondering what you guys might recommend as a good (read: cheap) web design program. I'm open with the fact that I know nothing about HTML, and that I REALLY don't want to learn it. Are there any decent WYSIWYG programs out there for Mac? I dabbled with the trial versions of Dreamweaver and GoLive, but they just served to confuse me. And they're EXTREMELY expensive. I'm asking if there's something as idiot-proof as, say, FrontPage. I know it's a Microsoft product, and I know it generates horrible HTML, but it's also really simple. Any ideas? Thanks in advance, guys. I appreciate the help.

 

[iGav]

If you have access to Adobe Photoshop, you can slice stuff up and generate the HTML and produce a website that way........ or try Indesign, as you can export designs as HTML that way aswell, as either graphical or live text........ with images.... very simply..... you can get 60 day fully working trials of Indesign, that allow you to save and export etc. etc.

I've heard of a package called Freeway, although I have no idea if this is any good or not, nor do I know the price.....

Short of that try learning HTML and use BBEdit, HTML isn't rocket science and to learn the basics won't take you that long........ with todays WYSIWYG software it's taken alot of skill from generating complex websites, but having a thorough knowledge of the programming languages means that you'll understand why a site is doing what it's doing and how you can improve the iffy code that the WYSIWYG software generates......

just a thought......

 

[Ensign Paris]

try finding a copy of Claris HomePage, its simple and very cheap, infact Version 1 is free (on MacWorld CD once)

Ensign

 

[cleo]

If you have MS Office, Word X will write some bad code for you.

Are you doing this site for yourself, or for someone else? If it's for someone else, why don't you do it in exchange for the tools you'd need? "I'll make your website if you'll buy me Dreamweaver." (If you can manage educational pricing, this really isn't a bad deal at all).

 

[Ensign Paris]

Originally posted by cleo
If you have MS Office, Word X will write some bad code for you.

Are you doing this site for yourself, or for someone else? If it's for someone else, why don't you do it in exchange for the tools you'd need? "I'll make your website if you'll buy me Dreamweaver." (If you can manage educational pricing, this really isn't a bad deal at all).

I would try to avoid Word were ever possible it create really horrible HTML!

I would look at edu prices because they are often 50% cheaper (I buy my software this way )

I like the title "Demi-Godess" very funny

Ensign

 

[Hemingray]

I hate to mention this just because of my loathing for Netscape, but Netscape Communicator 4 has Composer built in that will let you do some basic HTML coding. I shudder to think that I actually used to design sites with that thing four? years ago!

 

[wsteineker]

Alright guys, thanks for the input. I tried designing in Word X before posting the thread, but all of my previews looked AWFUL. That's why I was asking about WYSIWYG editors. I downloaded Freeway, and it is terribly confusing. I'm hoping that I can become marginally efficient through brute force, despite the fact that this method has never worked for me in the past. Any other ideas before I get in too deep with Freeway?

Oh, and to answer Cleo's question. The page is for my Fraternity (Kappa Sigma). Our old page is TERRIBLE, and we really need something. I got volunteered to do the grunt work because I know how to do more than check my e-mail, order bongs, and look at porn. Suffice it to say that this will be a "labor of love".

 

[mac15]

I would get youself a copy of the dreamweaver beta
you can get it from macromedia's sites still, thats what I'm using for my upcoming site. I can't wait to to put it up.
It still needs finshing touches but it getting there

 

[D0ct0rteeth]

Without actually learning HTML; Dreamweaver is the best bet... there are tons of tutorials and books out there that will guide you threw it...

you can download a trial version from their site

It is the easiest way.. stick with it and it will begin to make sense... if you have any questions.. post 'em here and im sure we will help you out..

My advice is to get the whole page mocked up on paper (including flowchart) and then in photoshop cut it up into smaller images.

Layout your tables in dreamweaver then insert your images.

Debug

Good luck. Its all about the tables.

C-