Which HTML Editor Should I Use?

There are several tiers of HTML editors. One of the most powerful and complex is Dreamweaver. Frontpage is slightly lower in terms of features and complexity, while desktop software such as MS Word is on the bottum rung. The HTML editor that is best for you is very much based on what you want to do and your expertise with HTML and technology. If you only want to create a single HTML page in a one off situation then Word, PowerPoint etc will do fine. If you are behind a firewall and want to be able to update pages on the Medicine web server then FrontPage is the best option. If you are going to be working on full web sites, have multiple people updating the content of the site, using templates to create new pages or creating WebCT courses from an HTML editor then Dreamweaver is probably your best choice.

If you only need a editor to create HTML for insertion into a WebCT course then any of the editors will work. Dreamweaver however allows you to use templates and create all of the the HTML files for a whole course on your local computer and then upload them in one go when you are ready. Using Dreamweaver in this way does require training.

There are many more editors out on the market but the Faculty is predominantly using Dreamweaver or Frontpage.

The following is a summary of things to keep in mind when choosing an HTML editor:

Dreamweaver

It can not upload files through the hospital firewalls to any of the UNSW web servers, can still be used to create files locally on your computer that can then be transported to UNSW for upload on to the web servers
It is a good site management tool
Better in a collaborative environment than Frontpage, templates allow only certain sections of the page to be edited
Works well with WebCT. It can be used to implement templates for the creation and editing of WebCT courses, can upload directly to the WebCT server
Relatively easy to use for basic HTML editing
Very powerful fully featured editor
Cost - $175
If HTML files have been created in Dreamweaver with templates then you can't use Frontpage to edit the files, as template information will be lost

Frontpage

Can be used with Faculty of Medicine web pages through the Hospital firewalls
Easy editor to use, standard Microsoft "look and feel"
Provides easy access to files on the Medicine server to allow changes without uploading the whole site
comes with OfficePro, otherwise cost is $60
Frontpage extensions are already loaded on to the Medicine Web server
Tends toward Microsoft "standards"
Rewrites existing HTML when editing exiting files that contain script or have Dreamweaver template information which can render the existing files useless

Microsoft Word and other desktop applications

Very simple to use
Good for one off creation of web pages
Doesn't require any training
Creates very messy html code that is very hard to change with other editors
HTML pages created in Word are large in download size
Word HTML editor is included with Office
You must manually upload HTML to the server