1 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle From My Home Page to FrontPage An Overview of Authoring Tools Patris van Boxel Netskills Trainer © Netskills, Quality Internet Training University of Newcastle

2 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Web Authoring l HTML - HyperText Markup Language - is the standard format for web documents l Tools for generating HTML span from plain DIY text editors to packages which automatically generate HTML behind a graphical WYSIWYG interface l Authoring tools can help generate HTML - but are also becoming web site managers

3 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Overview of Authoring Tools l Text Editors l Graphical (WYSIWYG) Editors l Web site management tools l Hybrid Editors l Advanced Tools

4 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Issues Considered: l Cost l Ease of use l Accessibility & Standards l Long-term maintenance l Advanced/interactive features

5 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Using a Text Editor l Free (Notepad, Wordpad, PFE,…) l Good way to learn and understand HTML l Welcome l A new paragraph l Netskills l Maximum control over outcome l Need to remember all the HTML tags l Easy to make mistakes

6 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Using a Text Editor Welcome A new paragraph Netskills>

7 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Graphical Editors Different Types: Embedded in word-processors and browsers l Microsoft Office l Netscape Composer Self-contained l FrontPage (also web site management tool)

8 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Graphical Editors l Microsoft Office l Has built-in HTML conversion in all applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint,...) l Suitable for quick conversion of large documents l Outcome looks better in IE than Netscape as it produces non-standard HTML l Office 2000 has improved conversion sld001.htm

9 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Graphical Editors l Netscape Composer l Free as part of Netscape Communicator package l Described as web-based word processor l Direct preview in browser l Can edit HTML source directly l Instant web page editing feature

10 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Graphical Editors l Microsoft FrontPage l FrontPage is a popular WYSIWYG authoring/site management package l Combines WYSIWYG editing of pages with site management features l Maps out site visually in flowchart style l Features include automatic creation of navigation links and verifying of hyperlinks l Makes it easy to add interactivity (e.g adding a hit counter, timestamp, search facility, form)

11 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Graphical Editors Advantages l Easy-to-use interface - menus, buttons l Automatically generates HTML Disadvantages l Loss of control over page creation l Creates non-standard (ugly) HTML l Limited features l Best guess conversion

12 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Hybrid Editors l HoTMetaL Pro is a popular example l Hybrid - easy switching between HTML coding and WYSIWYG authoring l You need to use a combination of the two to get most out of the package l Also strong web site management features l HoTMetaL has built-in mechanism for checking of HTML standards

13 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle HoTMetaL Pro - HTML View

14 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle HoTMetaL Pro - WYSIWYG View

15 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Advanced Tools l DreamWeaver l to produce animation/multimedia…. l Drumbeat l integrates very well with databases l NetObjects Fusion l for graphic-intensive design/layout l..and many more / /

16 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Conclusions Which tool you choose depends on: l The size and complexity of your website l Features you plan to include: plain text, graphics, sound, video, interactivity... l HTML knowledge of web author(s) l Number of authors l Money?

17 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Further References providing/authoring-clients.html htmluser/wysiwyg.html ausummary

18 © Netskills Quality Internet Training, University of Newcastle Delivers a range of Internet workshops including: l Authoring on the World Wide Web l Getting to Grips with FrontPage l Databases and the Web l The Internet: Your Research Library Is based in Newcastle but runs workshops across the UK Provides training materials for other Internet trainers under licence Uses the Web to provide free online training - TONIC Is part-funded by the JISC of the HEFCs About Netskills Check out the Netskills Web for details of workshops & prices: