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Head First HTML with CSS

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web tools<br />

#4 Tools for Creating Web Pages<br />

Now that you know X<strong>HTML</strong> and <strong>CSS</strong> you’re in a good position to decide if tools like<br />

Dreamweaver, GoLive, and FrontPage are for you. All these applications attempt to provide<br />

what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) tools for creating Web pages. We’re sure you know<br />

enough about X<strong>HTML</strong> and browser support to know that this goal, while worthwhile, also<br />

comes up short from time to time. But, that said, these tools also provide some very handy<br />

features, even if you’re writing a lot of the X<strong>HTML</strong> yourself:<br />

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n<br />

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A “code” window for entering X<strong>HTML</strong> and <strong>CSS</strong> <strong>with</strong> syntax<br />

checking to catch common mistakes and suggest common names<br />

and attributes as you type.<br />

A preview and publish functionality that allows you to test pages<br />

before making them “live” on the Web.<br />

A site manager that allows you to organize your site, and also<br />

keeps your local changes in synch <strong>with</strong> your Web site on the server.<br />

Note that this usually takes care of all the FTP work for you.<br />

These tools are also not <strong>with</strong>out their downsides:<br />

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Often these tools lag behind standards in terms of support,<br />

so to keep your X<strong>HTML</strong> and <strong>CSS</strong> current – you’ll need to<br />

write the X<strong>HTML</strong> yourself.<br />

Often these tools don’t enforce strict standards, and may<br />

allow you to get sloppy <strong>with</strong> your X<strong>HTML</strong> and <strong>CSS</strong>, so<br />

don’t forget to validate (some tools help you validate as well).<br />

Keep in mind you can use a combination of simple editors along <strong>with</strong> these more<br />

sophisticated tools; one solution doesn’t have to fit all your needs. So use a page<br />

creation tool when it makes sense.<br />

Some tools to consider:<br />

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Macromedia Dreamweaver<br />

Adobe GoLive<br />

Microsoft FrontPage<br />

n GNU Emacs (open source)<br />

644 Appendix

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