I hate to admit this... but I do straight HTML using Notepad. I started my site using a design template I found online and then just moved the content into it. This isn't going to be a good idea for everyone and it probably takes more time than using an editor, but for me I like to have that control over the site. Doing straight HTML, you know how it will display because there's no funky style sheets or XML or other strange things that some editors put in that don't work as expected in all browsers. Plus, then you can upload one file at a time through an FTP server (which is a biggie for me because I like to upload while I'm working on stuff in case something goes wrong and it starts displaying funny I can find out what's causing it a lot quicker). Of course this is really only a good idea for people who almost strictly update content, it's not the best idea for doing redesigns. It's also not a good idea for people who aren't pretty comfortable messing with the HTML or people who like to add non-HTML components to their sites. So I can't really offer suggestions on editors, but for those wanting to do minor updates and upload them quickly, I recommend Notepad and FileZilla. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

There is nothing wrong with doing your HTML in Notepad. Dale Cook and I both do it. I'm CC for 2 counties and several towns. I also have one of the largest vital records projects outside of the pay sites. Being able to hand edit all of this gives me the abilty to go in and fix a problem much faster than people using automated systems. I know every bit of code in all of my thousands of files. However, there is another side to keeping things simple. People with older browsers don't have a problem because this is nice straight forward HTML. There is no problem checking whether or not Rootsweb's servers will allow what we are doing. I'd dearly love to be using some XML or ASP so I could build a more effiecient database for the vital records. As it is, I do it in HTML and everyone wins. Another thing is the dramatic savings in file size which translates into faster page display and lower bandwidth used. I consider this important on two levels. First, the majority of people still have dial-up connections. Second, Rootsweb graciously grants us all this free space. They may be supported by Ancestry.com, but it still costs money for the internet connectivity. The more use there is, the higher the cost. Okay, I'm off the soapbox. :-) John Slaughter In loving memory of our son, Brennan. 11/10/88-5/31/01. http://john-slaughter.rootsweb.com/Brennan.html MA-Bay-Colony list moderator USGenWeb County Coordinator Essex County, MA - http://www.rootsweb.com/~maessex Middlesex County, MA - http://www.rootsweb.com/~mamiddle USGenWeb Town Coordinator Ipswich, Essex, MA - http://www.rootsweb.com/~macipswi >From: "Lena C." <[email protected]> >Reply-To: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Subject: [ROOTSWEB-HELP] Web editors and uploading files >Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2007 06:36:39 -0700 (PDT) > >I hate to admit this... but I do straight HTML using >Notepad. > >I started my site using a design template I found >online and then just moved the content into it. This >isn't going to be a good idea for everyone and it >probably takes more time than using an editor, but for >me I like to have that control over the site. > >Doing straight HTML, you know how it will display >because there's no funky style sheets or XML or other >strange things that some editors put in that don't >work as expected in all browsers. Plus, then you can >upload one file at a time through an FTP server (which >is a biggie for me because I like to upload while I'm >working on stuff in case something goes wrong and it >starts displaying funny I can find out what's causing >it a lot quicker). > >Of course this is really only a good idea for people >who almost strictly update content, it's not the best >idea for doing redesigns. It's also not a good idea >for people who aren't pretty comfortable messing with >the HTML or people who like to add non-HTML components >to their sites. > >So I can't really offer suggestions on editors, but >for those wanting to do minor updates and upload them >quickly, I recommend Notepad and FileZilla. > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around >http://mail.yahoo.com > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >[email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >quotes in the subject and the body of the message _________________________________________________________________ MSN is giving away a trip to Vegas to see Elton John.  Enter to win today. http://msnconcertcontest.com?icid-nceltontagline

At 12:56 PM 4/25/2007, John Slaughter wrote: >There is nothing wrong with doing your HTML in Notepad. Dale Cook >and I both do it. One slight correction to John's post - I don't use Notepad, I use a computer programmer's editor called Vedit, which has many features such as macros and syntax highlighting that make the work easier. John is correct about the principle - Vedit is an editor, not an HTML creation program. As with Notepad, the user must have a thorough knowledge of HTML. John's comments about simplicity of the code, file size, and the ability to edit or modify the code are quite correct, and very important to me as well. Dale H. Cook, Member, NEHGS and MA Society of Mayflower Descendants; Plymouth Co. MA Coordinator for the USGenWeb Project http://members.cox.net/plymouthcolony/index.shtml

At 09:36 AM 4/25/2007, you wrote: >I hate to admit this... but I do straight HTML using >Notepad. This is NOT directed at anyone in particular. Just another soapbox message. Straight HTML is just as easy to do working in code view of an editor. IF you know the ins and outs of using your particular editor you can create clean, compliant code. The secret is in knowing the program you use and what features create code that is not compliant. The same is true of notepad or NoteTab for that matter. If you know how to write html code and if you know what code is VALID and compliant you can create clean code. If you add tags willy nilly the code you write will be just as "crappy" as any html editor. >I started my site using a design template I found >online and then just moved the content into it. This >isn't going to be a good idea for everyone and it >probably takes more time than using an editor, but for >me I like to have that control over the site. A template you download from the Internet whether free or paid is only as good as the person who originally wrote it. I've seen plenty of PAID templates that did not validate to start and have worked with people to clean them up. >Doing straight HTML, you know how it will display >because there's no funky style sheets or XML or other >strange things that some editors put in that don't >work as expected in all browsers. Style sheets are not funky. They separate the way your content is presented from the content itself and are the way of the future. The style sheet loads once and works on every page it is attached to. The styles within your page - all those font tags and color tags and on and on have to load with each and every page they are included on. >Plus, then you can >upload one file at a time through an FTP server (which >is a biggie for me because I like to upload while I'm >working on stuff in case something goes wrong and it >starts displaying funny I can find out what's causing >it a lot quicker). I can publish one file at a time or the whole shebang using my editor, it is my choice. You can ONLY find out what is causing display errors or funny looks by knowing what the code should be and how the browser is going to interpret it. What everyone thinks looks terrific in IE may totally fall apart when viewed in Firefox and Opera. And don't discount those browsers. If you want people to view your site, make sure they can see it no matter which browser they use or at what resolution they view your site. Validating your code will go a long way towards correcting display errors. I certainly do not discount NotePad, Note Tab or any plain text editor, I do use them. If you are going to use a WYSIWYG editor, then LEARN how to use the program correctly, learn what features cause problems and if you choose to use a plain text editor, take the time to learn how to write valid code. Learn html http://www.w3schools.com/html/default.asp Learn xhtml http://www.w3schools.com/xhtml/default.asp Learn css http://www.w3schools.com/css/default.asp I'll get off my soap box now. pat ---------- Pat Geary, Microsoft MVP - FrontPage We discuss FrontPage and Expression Web http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gearyfamily/frontpage/ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gearyfamily/expression-web/ Genealogy Web Design Tips and Tutorials http://www.genealogy-web-creations.com/ http://www.blog.family-genealogy-online.com/