Web Authoring Software

What is it?

A web authoring package is specifically designed to allow one to create web pages and web
sites. 

What is it used for?

Web page authoring

How were things done before web authoring?

Web designers would have to write the page using HTML code.  Whilst this is very powerful,
it is a lot slower than using a web authoring package.

It is also possible to save word processed documents or DTP publications as a web page. 
However, this is not recommended because they produce large amounts of code which is
not required.

A category of software that enables the user to develop a Web site in a desktop publishing
format. The software will generate the required HTML coding for the layout of the Web
pages based on what the user designs. Typically, the user can toggle back and forth
between the graphical design and the HTML code and make changes to the Web page in
either the design of the accompanying code.

Features of web authoring applications

WYSIWYG Web pages are created using Hypertext Markup Language

INTERFACE (HTML).  Whilst it definitely helps to have some basic knowledge
of this, it is not essential when using a web authoring package
because there is the option of using a  WYSIWYG interface.
Generally this works well, but unlike word processing packages,
sometimes don't always go exactly where you want them or
display as you had planned.  In this case, the only solution is to
switch to the HTML code and edit that directly. 

Although many of the features in a web authoring package are

similar to those you find in standard office applications, generally
you need some technical skill in order to be able to create
suitable web pages and use the tools effectively. 

Templates Templates can be set up to ensure that the main features on a

web page are the same throughout the site, e.g. the banner, the
side menu.  Many web authoring packages contain a selection of
templates.  There are plenty available on the Internet to download

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 for little or no cost.  It is also fairly easy to create your own
template.

Wizards Most web authoring software has a number of wizards to help

you with things such as setting up the site, specifying the FTP etc

Multimedia Web pages can contain text, images, animation, videos and
sound files. 

CGI Web forms They can also contain interactive CGI forms (Common Gateway
Interface) which enable people to fill in their details using a form
on a webpage and then submit the completed form to the
website.  A web authoring package makes it easy for the user to
set up these interactive forms.

Hyperlinks and The software also allows makes it possible to set up hyperlinks
hotspots and hotspots which when clicked will take the user to other
pages, other websites or a place within the same page.   If a web
page is moved to another place in the website by using the web
authoring application then any links to that page will automatically
be updated.

Site Manager This is a tool which enables you to view the overall structure of
your website and to update links quickly if any pages are moved
from within the web authoring software

Examples of Web Authoring tools

 Arachnophilia, by P. Lutus
 BBEdit, by Bare Bones Software
 CoffeeCup HTML Editor, by CoffeeCup Software, Inc.
 Dreamweaver, by Adobe (formerly by Macromedia)
 Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 Upgrade Another top-ranking HTML program.
 EditPlus, by ES-Computing
 Expression Web Designer, by Microsoft
 FrontPage, by Microsoft
 GoLive, by Adobe
 HomeSite, by Macromedia (formerly by Allaire)
 HotDog, by Sausage Software
 HTML-Kit Tools (Formerly HTML-Kit), by Chami
 NoteTab, by Fookes Software
 PageSpinner, by Optima System
 PSPad, by Jan Fiala
 TextPad, by Helios Software Solutions

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 Using web authoring software to create pages

Advantages Disadvantages

Not intuitive to just pick up and use,

WYSIWYG interface normally needs some training and/or
technical knowledge

Many of the features available in

Need a basic understanding of HTML to
more commonly used office
overcome any formatting problems
applications

Can set up and use templates to Doesn’t normally come as part of a general
ensure consistency between office suite and can be quite expensive to
webpages purchase.

Can set up hyperlinks and

 
hotspots

Can insert multi-media into

 
webpages

The site manager facility can be

used to update links within the  
website

Using general application software for pages

Advantages Disadvantages

If you want to move pages there is

Very easy to create a web page, no
no site manager facility to track
technical knowledge required
and update the hyperlinks

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 Using general application software for pages
Advantages
Do not need to pay the extra costs of
purchasing web authoring software
because most computers already have
general office packages which are capable
of creating web pages
The output is compatible with most
browsers
Company does not need to employ
specialist web design/development staff
Generally faster to produce web pages
using standard application software
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Disadvantages
A lot of extra HTML code is
created which is unnecessary and
can interfere with browser
compatibility. This is known as
'bulky code'
May not be able to create all of the
features needed on the website,
for example CGI forms
It can be difficult/impossible to edit
the code - especially if no one
understands HTML