Advanced HTML Overview:

Advanced HTML Editors focus on developing high-end sites by giving capabilities that standard HTML Editors do not supply.  Advanced editors can include several types of editors, link analysis tools, image design clients, audio streaming tools, and other advanced tools.  Advanced editors include professional design tools such as Fireworks (graphics), QuickTime, Real, Macromedia Flash, Shockwave, Generator,  Flash (animation), RealSystem G2 (Multimedia), Web Tools (graphics), or ImageReady (graphics),.  Advanced HTML Editors also will supply support for leading-edge web technology and the advanced editors are updated more often and keep in step or ahead of the latest web browsers releases.  Another feature that advanced editors may have is the “site management” and “site synchronization” features.  These features can simplify file transfer synchronization and synchronization of multiple sites.  

Advanced editors may also have check-in/check-out file tracking so if multiple people are working on the site, no one is working on a page at the same time and there may be a place to add design notes to each file for communication between programmers.   Inline image maps might allow adding of hotspots and change links and targets.  Some of these editors may also include JavaScript and HTML debuggers, predefined JavaScripts and DHTML scripts, wizards for tool uses, HTML to XML converters, and preview functions for animation.  Ease of use changes between editors.  Some editors support drag-and-drop, some have tutorials and levels for beginners on up to advanced users, some will require knowledge of HTML and JavaScripting, while others will require no programming experience with these language

Beware that some HTML editors assume that the HTML will be run from the same site using the same program it was created with.  A few of the top rated Advanced HTML Editors aare:  AceHTML by Visicom Media, Arachnophilia by Paul Lutus, HomeSite by Allaire, 1^st Page 2000 by Evrsoft (free, but you need to know HTML programming), and Dreamweaver by Macromedia. 

Dreamweaver is an advanced HTML editor. It is easy to use, but if you are unfamiliar with HTML editors, then it may be wise to do the tutorials that Dreamweaver offers to learn how to use it and to learn the advanced featujres it offers. Dreamweaver has an educaation version for $99 and offers Dreamweaver for costs $249 up to $499 depending upon if Dreamweaver is boxed with Fireworks, Flash, and/or Generator.

Dreamweaver is used by many of the professionals. It allows one to syncronize, manage and debug multiple sites through advanced tools included within the HTML editor. It also offers all of the design tools that professional web developers are asking for in order to make custom animated graphics and interactive web sites. Dreamweaver allows for interaction with Microsoft products such as using Access to create database backed web pages for easy handling and analysis of data obtained through the use of forms on web pages. The only thing I disliked about the program was that to do simple things like draw a circle, box, border, or other drawing function, you actually had to do it outside of the program and import it in.

Dreamweaver was very easy to use and the menus were easy to follow and utilize. The tutorials, references, and help files were easy to understand. The program offered many of the special characters and symbols along with a multitude of text formatting options. I believe the screen layou with moveable menus are intuitive and facilitate the use of Dreamweaver. The program allows for easy editing and previewing of pages. If you are not creative, the program offers templates and color schemes that you can use in preparing your web. Dreamweaver also allows for animated graphics, use of vector graphics, text, and the freedom to make links within the page or to other pages out of images or text. The program made this very easy to do. You can add movies and audio to the web pages, but be sure you have enough space to store the audio and video files.

The program allows for editing under design or code view. You do not have to be able to code in HTML to be able to use Dreamweaver. The program offers debugging tools for broken links, JAVA script, and HTML code problems.

There are many advanced features that this program has that many web page developers may never use. However, the fact that advanced HTML editors keep up with browser changes is a big plus for any developer.

For places that post data to more than one web, updating is made easy especially since you can use databases to house web components and update the database once to update all of the sites. Dreamweaver manages multiple site updates for you automatically if you so desire. This might be beneficial to placaes that have pop-up windows that come up on other sites or where parts or all of the web is housed at multiple sites for added employee and public access as well as minimizing seerver bottlenecks.

Dreamweaver's site offers additional extension downloads which mades Dreamweaver capable of integrating with other database software and other software packages. Dreamweaver offers download upgrades at their site for easy access to keep the software current with today's browser and computer platform changes. Dreamweaver is also compatible with Windows and Macintosh platforms. Using both platforms, this was a plus for me.

Cost Analysis:

I approached the cost analysis to see if the cost of the software gave me any features that I really needed that I could not do through Microsoft Office which is on all of the computers we currently own. I alsos compared Dreamweaver to 1st Page 2000, which is a free advanced HTML editor.

While 1st Page 2000 is free and is considered an advanced HTML editor, you have to program in HTML and do not have the graphical user interface that makes using Office or Dreamweaver will give you. Unless you have a preference in using HTML programming solely to produce web pages, I believe that the graphic user interface is better during web page design. I believe that this program adds time to product development. This program includes tutorials for all levels of programmer so it will take longer to learn to use. While I know HTML programming, I was not motivated to use the program since it was more time consuming.

When I tried to recreate the web page in Word, I was surprised to find that I could recreate a lot of this site. Please preview this page in Word to see what I could or could not recreate.

Unless you have a need for syncronization, specific file management needs, manage multiple sites, site reporting needs, debugging helpers, or have specific collaboration needs, I do not see the purchase of Dreamweaver as being worth the cost. Individuals can use Word, almost any word processor, free editors such as Frontpage Express or Netscape Composer to produce web pages. With access to JAVA script makers, and applets on the Internet along with the ease of a graphic user interface, these programs will surfice for most individuals and for school districts with one building.

Rollover Image

To activate rollover place cursor over the image - two pieces of clipart were chosen and when the rollover is activated, one clipart turns into the other clipart.

Flash Button

(click button to learn about 'Frames")

To activate button place cursor over the buttonand click on it- Button can act as a hyperlink to another spot within this page or as a hyperlink to another page within this web or to a different web. You do not need to use buttons to create hyperlinks. You can make text, tables, or images into hyperlinks.

http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/students/jwbates/Activity6.htm