If you are happy to use a text rather than a WYSIWYG interface I would
recommend Lorenz Graf's HTMLTool, which doesn't mess with your code. Of
course understanding HTML is important for something like this, and
sometimes it's quicker to start off a page in something like FrontPage and
then refine it in a text based editor (Coffee Cup is another good one). I
can't afford Dreamweaver, though it's reputation is formidable, but in any
case I find it quicker just to type in what I need. If you take a bitty
approach like me, using several tools, you might also like to try tools like
PrettyHTML to tidy everything up.

FrontPage stays in my repertoire of tools essentially for one reason only:
it keeps track of links if file details or paths change. As does
Dreamweaver, I understand. In fact, this is of limited use since I do use
various "bells and whistles" for navigation, mainly javascripting, which FP
won't pick up and change. FP really messes with scripting anyway, especially
if it uses the NS DOM rather than the IE one, and it replaces all sorts of
things incorrectly with it's webbot code if it fits. This is incredibly
annoying. So more and more I use text-based editors, or just good old
Notepad. Overall I'd say try CoffeeCup, it includes various free scripts (I
haven't tried any but they look OK) and it's easy and cheap (or free if
you're content with the basic version)

Cheers

Jeremy


----- Original Message -----
From: James Tichgelaar <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 29, 2000 2:51 PM
Subject: Re: website software and on-line collections records


> I agree.  If you avoid features that require the FrontPage extensions
> and stick to basic HTML, FrontPage works just fine (and the link check
> command and site-wide spellcheck are very handy).  I also use Publisher
> for part of my site because it allows me to create print and internet
> versions of the same material (why do the same work twice?).
> I am experimenting with Past Perfect as a third website creation
> software, but am currently limited by the space available on our campus
> server (and compatibility issues with the version of UNIX running on the
> server).  I will eventually place many (but not all) of our collections
> records online.  It will be useful for both casual surfers and
> researchers.  The photo collection and our quilts are two areas that I
> expect will see lots of use, and our fossil collections will reach a
> broader research audience.  However, I want to have better data about
> the collections before I put 20,000 objects on the internet, and so I
> will not go too far before I do an in-depth inventory of the
> collections.
>
> "thegentry.com project" wrote:
> >
> > i totally disagree that frontpage should be tossed. that statement is
too
> > extreme and unjustified in that post.
> >
> > i've seen a number of pages done in frontpage (mine is one of them) that
> > have pleased me, my needs, and my industry greatly. remember one thing -
a
> > quality page lies with the designer -not the program being used. the
program
> > just faciliates the work. you can do everything you need to with
frontpage,
> > with great ease.
>
> --
> James H Tichgelaar
> Registrar, Arkansas State University Museum
> http://museum.astate.edu
>
> "All we ever wanted was everything.  All we ever got was cold."
>
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