On Mon, Feb 16, 2004 at 02:21:49PM +0000, Martin Alderson wrote:
> Ok, basically I should of said 'design a heavily graphical site
> _efficently_.
> I'm sure you can create a site with a text editor (and I do it
> sometimes over SSH if I'm out of measures) and it will work fine.
I take it you know then that a good text editor for HTML has lots of
supporting functions, e.g. shortcuts for tags, syntax highlightin,
automatic indention and the likes. Many people (I don't know whether you
do...) seem to think using a text editor (or a tool like Bluefish) for
HTML means they have to write all those pesky tags manually. This is not
so.
> However, I use Dreamweaver because a) it has a half decent 'source' tab
> to edit with (which I do most of my stuff in) and b) I can lay stuff
> out graphically without constantly having to redo CSS. Also, I find
> that being able to use split screen code and design view allows me to
> code as I usually would but also have the benifit of not having to
> save, go to a webbrowser and refresh every 15 seconds is a great
> benifit.
Understandable. There is nothing wrong with using a graphical tool IF it
produces W3C conform output, however, I can understand the sentiments
of some posters - and indeed do share them.
In the not too distant past, Pseudo-WYSIWYG[0] HTML tools produced such
deplorable output code-wise (Netscape Composer or MS Frontpage, anyone?)
that it wasn't anywhere close to being near to being proper, W3C conform
HTML. With the result being browser dependent pages, thus negating the
whole idea of the WWW.
Maybe there are graphical tools out there that *are* able to produce
W3C conform HTML/CSS and maybe Dreamweaver is one of them. I don't know,
but I admit I won't hold my breath... :-}
> Also, there is a real lack of vector based graphic tools (like
> Fireworks) on Linux. I can't stand using The GIMP or Photoshop for
> anything more than editing a photo.
Have you looked at XFig or dia? I've been using XFig for vector graphics
(mainly drawings) for years now, first under Solaris and now under Linux
nd Cygwin. It may look old fashioned, but I think it's quite powerful.
Cheerio,
Thomas
[0] there is NO WYSIWYG in HTML/CSS. There CAN'T be, as the author of a
site has only very limited influence whatsoever on the platform the
site is displayed on and therefore should not rely too much on
assumptions thereover.
Basically, a "WYSIWIG" tool for HTML is the same as LyX for LaTeX...
--
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Thomas Ribbrock http://www.ribbrock.org
"You have to live on the edge of reality - to make your dreams come true!"
