Tools for the Webmaster

As webmasters we know the frustration when we cannot find a tool to do the job. The collection put together below should be of help to you. Let me know.

If you can think of something useful we could add to the list, let me know about that, too. If you'd rather fill in a feedback form, you can do that instead. The list will be added to on a regular (sort of) basis. Come back and have a look.

The goodies .......

HTML Editors

The following are a list of web page design tools. Some of them are commercial offerings, some you can get for free.

• Macromedia Dreamweaver. Well known, and expensive, page editor. Good for the complicated bits but only if you know what you're doing. Although it does the difficult bits for them, novices might find themselves lost in the maze eventually. Excellent program - steep learning curve.
• Softquad HoTMetaL Pro. The one I use most - built this site. Again, you need to know a bit about HTML but the program helps heaps. Lots of options and generates clean, pure code. Tells you if you make a mistake and what to expect from different browsers. Much lower price than Dreamweaver and a better program overall in my opinion.
• Microsoft FrontPage. Widely (misused web editor. Can get the beginner up and running quickly but remember the old adage about learning to walk beforehand! Generates bloated code and cares nothing for users of Netscape Navigator. Also causes the most headaches because of its use of 'Extensions', which few free ISPs support, to make life easy for the user. With a lot of care, however, this is usable and capable. Part of the Office package or available separately.
• Evrsoft FirstPage. Free. Excellent.
• Zdnet offers a variety of web editors. Have a look.

FTP Tools

• Ipswitch WS_FTP or WS_FTP_LE. The first you pay for or you can download the second (choose from the list after filling in the form) and use it free of charge for non-commercial or student use. They have similar functions available.
• ZDnet has lots of others.

Help and Reference

• Blooberry. Yes, Blooberry. The best reference ever on HTML and CSS. Available free of charge to view or pay a small (about £6 / $10) licence fee to download and use for 2 years with updates. I cannot recommend this highly enough. Included free of charge, courtesy of Blooberry (thank you!), on the District 1060 Webmasters' CD.
• "The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) develops interoperable technologies (specifications, guidelines, software, and tools) to lead the Web to its full potential as a forum for information, commerce, communication, and collective understanding." So reads the introduction on their web site. Have a look.
• Get totally lost on the Microsoft Developers Network site. Oodles of techie stuff for the geeks.
• Microsoft typography site. Totally techie stuff about fonts and such.