frontpage replacement?
 

I have a client looking for a replacement for frontpage to build his websites. I have suggested HomeSite and Dreamweaver, but he says that both of these are too technical. He is looking for something very easy which does not require html knowledge.

Can anyone suggest a program that is as easy to use as frontpage but without all the garbage code that fp generates and without the reliance on fp extensions?

thanks!
Luke

frontpage can still work with non-frontpage enabled sites through FTP. I always have tried to get people to stick with what they know.

That being said, there is Coffee Cup which is fairly easy, CuteHTML, AdobePremiere. HotMetal Pro used to be widely used, but, I don't know if it has been updated.

Depends on the sophistication of the site being designed, but, you might try and teach them how to use FrontPage with FTP to avoid further training issues.

Namo web editor is a good wyswyg :)

You didn't mention what their what they are actually doing or what their budget is.

If it is just updated an existing site each day or something like that then they might want to go with Macromedia's web publishing system.
http://www.macromedia.com/software/w...ation/smb.html
"So Easy, Anyone Can Use It
Macromedia Contribute 3 is an integral part of the Web Publishing System and is the easiest way to update, create, and publish web content to any HTML website. Because it works like a word processor, it's simple for non-technical users to update text and images, insert links, create new pages, and do much more.'

They could pay a real webmaster to convert their existing site and then do everything else themselves using the client.

Like MML said, Namo - http://www.namo.com/index_fc.php - is what I switched to after I gave up on Front Page. It's wonderful :)

Try http://nvu.com/

...art

thanks guys, will be checking out those links, I don't think its a matter of budget for him its just a matter of gettign a tool that is easy to work with. Right now he creates frontpage sites for small non-adult business clients, but is running into issues with these sites not loading properly on their servers.

cheers!
Luke

that namo one looks awesome - professional and very affordable, I think we have a winner!

cheers,
Luke

I use frontpage and not ashamed of it and I went to a dedicated box and it messed up the built in ftp so I just use cute to upload and yes you dont need frontpage ext. on your server, most of that stuff is useless and most dont need it anyway and if he likes frontpage tell him to do what I do and if he needs questions answered he or you can hit me up..

and when I get time and extra cash I want to try namo and dreamweaver..

This is actually a great post for me because I want to learn more about design. I've heard of coffee cup, but have no experience with it at all. Anyone else here use it? It is more for the newbie or the more experienced webmaster?

i think i will try this namo, getting sick of frontpage, i never use the extentions always ftp or just upload some stuff from the server, and always have to fix the code :D

Out of them all Ive always thought dreamweaver was newbie friendly. I personally think the user would benefit learning html basics before using any html editor never mind trying to make a living being a webmaster

I personally like Adobe GoLive. I find the interface more designer friendly. It also seems a bit easier to learn then Dreamweaver for new users but both are good.

If they are designing web pages then they need to learn a decent program. GoLive or Dreamweaver would be my choice. You can download trials of both at Adobe and Macromedia.

I've used Coffeecup for years. I cant compare it because I have never used anything else.

As for level of user, I suppose if I had read the tutorials it might have been easy for the novice to use. But, I learned to code by hand first, so I found it to be more of an intermediate level editor.

It has lots of features and "wizards" for just about any thing. And it includes an ftp feature.

They used to offer a trial, download it and see what you think.

By the way, the "drag and drop" feature is very cool. Every feature can use drag and drop. Its great for making galleries. Mouse over the jpg file in the list, left click, drag it to where you want it in the html and release the mouse. I know, I know, other editors do that, but like I said its the first and only one I have used to its cool to me : )

I reccomend it.

I'm not sure about the other editors mentioned but GoLive has excellent site management. It alerts you to broken links with an icon next to the file. Fixes links if you rename something. Has a site layout wizard for designing new sites. You can also have it automatically update the files on your server with the push of a button.

All drag and drop as well.

*Note
I don't use any of the advanced features myself. I like the page layout mode of designing my pages but then I switch to code mode, it has a really nice code editor, to finish off my pages and then just drag and drop my files into the FTP window.

i use frontpage for drawing tables and the good old textpad for writing html, old handcoding, geeze i am old:D

Frontpage? Welcome to 1998. LOL

Seriously though, Dreamweaver MX is what I would recommend.

There are any number of decent programs out there. You can use frontpage is "neutered" mode (only using the editor) and it is pretty decent overall. It isn't any worse than any others out there.

You have to be VERY careful in WYSIWYG editors, as many of them add tons of useless code that needs to be removed before your site is usable. This is often the case with table (one editor adds tons of useless invisible gifs to space things out, others will create weird overlays and such).

Truly the best thing? Use whatever editor they want, but convince them to learn a little html as well. They will do much better when they understand what is going on under the hood.

Alex

yeah no doubt, I love Dreamweaver MX, and I love the code/design view so that i can code and use with wysiwyg for other shite

Have to chime in on Namo... I got a copy of Namo Web Editor 4 with my Web Builder magazine last month. I put it on my kids' computer because my daughter is always nagging at me to help her with her website - she refuses to learn HTML. Within MINUTES literally, my 13 year-old had built her shrine to Good Charlotte and it wasn't half bad for a first try and ZERO HTML knowledge.

My personal fave is Note Tab Pro... it's the best of both worlds... little enhancements that make it oh-so-much-better than my old notepad, and raw enough so I can maintain control over my page creation. But I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who DIDN'T know HTML. Just thought I'd throw it in for others reading the thread that were looking @ other options.

|thumb

I have passed these all along to my client, he is pretty keen on namo as well, he downloaded the trial and is testing it out right now.

Thank you all once again for your help.

cheers,
Luke