Recommendations for web design software

railbuff

I got dreamweaver at a special rate through my college when i was doing a course.
never tried or used WP as too many stories of exploits etc. in WP

also says something when Microsoft Expression is not that old and MS have already abandoned it.

At least FP lasted and is still used by some.

victor2

Another vote for WordPress. Easier to use than FP (whose extensions you use, even if you don't know it) and free with most hosting providers. Lot going for it - you don't quite have the freedom you have with something like Dreamweaver, but you can maintain the site with any internet enabled computer and don't have to worry about browser compatibility.

railbuff

i think i will stick with dreamweaver rather than use something that is full of vulnerabilitities

YorkshireTraveller

thedrumdoctor:

Thanks for your input - much appreciated. I have downloaded Microsoft Expression (it was also recommended earlier in this thread). On first glance it does have a sort of FP look about it but I would really need a book/manual to learn how to use it (I'm rather old fashioned where things like this are concerned!).

Extensions is reading my FP files so all the text and photographs are there however much of the formatting is haywire.

Thee work involved in creating new web site from scratch is rather daunting (time wise). I'm tempted to leave things as is - if it ain't broke why fix it? However this is just putting off the inevitable.

Thanks again.

johnnyboyrebel

Dreamweaver is my recommendation.

It really isn't as difficult as it looks and actually teaches you along the way. I became a web designer entirely off my own back, no degree or courses etc. I got a copy of Dreamweaver (off a friend) and got stuck in. Once I had success job wise and had enough to buy the whole package I purchased Adobe Web Design and Premium (Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks etc.) and now have my own business offering web design, graphic design and digital marketing.

My point being, if you can get a copy of Dreamweaver (as I know it is expensive) then plod away with it, you will master it (and html) over time. Once you have mastered html you can then move onto php and javascript and even mysql if you fancy

In my opinion, your website does need a facelift. Don't take this as a dig but it does need an update. In fact even adding some divs and tables will improve the layout

YorkshireTraveller

johnnyboyrebel wrote: »

My point being, if you can get a copy of Dreamweaver (as I know it is expensive) then plod away with it, you will master it (and html) over time. Once you have mastered html you can then move onto php and javascript and even mysql if you fancy

In my opinion, your website does need a facelift. Don't take this as a dig but it does need an update. In fact even adding some divs and tables will improve the layout

Hi Johnnyboyrebel - thanks for your advice. The cost of Dreamweaver is definitely a sticking point at the moment - it seems to be £300+ for a legit copy on the net.

Yes I agree an update is needed - I want a 'crisper' finish and layout if that makes sense. Trouble is, I'm not sure if I'm capable of doing this! Hence why I'm wavering and thinking of sticking with what I'm familiar with. I am just a home computer user (silver surfer!) with very limited web design experience . . . feeling I'm now getting out of my depth!

P.S. what are divs?

johnnyboyrebel

Yorkshire_Traveller wrote: »

Hi Johnnyboyrebel - thanks for your advice. The cost of Dreamweaver is definitely a sticking point at the moment - it seems to be £300+ for a legit copy on the net.

Yes I agree an update is needed - I want a 'crisper' finish and layout if that makes sense. Trouble is, I'm not sure if I'm capable of doing this! Hence why I'm wavering and thinking of sticking with what I'm familiar with. I am just a home computer user (silver surfer!) with very limited web design experience . . . feeling I'm now getting out of my depth!

Student and teacher version is only £130 on Amazon (if you are a student or a teacher)? I think ultimately you want Dreamweaver if you intend on managing this site for the foreseeable future and really want a great looking site. Even if this means going with something else for now with the goal of getting hold of it. Don't get me wrong, i know many designers who still write code for their sites in notepad/textpad! but ultimately DW is the industry standard.

There are lots of guides out there to help you although I think your best bet is to decide what you want to do eg. have this section in a box, have this linking to this page etc. and then just ask on here how to achieve it. I don't know how many other designers are on here but I will sure help you out no problem. Or google what you want to do, check adobe forums etc. For this you wouldn't really need DW to start with.

This is something I am very passionate about and have sourced lots of help over the years so enjoy giving back (without sounding too soppy)

YorkshireTraveller

johnnyboyrebel wrote: »

Student and teacher version is only £130 on Amazon (if you are a student or a teacher)?

I'm neither a teacher nor student so it would have to be full price.

I might check out my local colleges to see if they do any night school courses on Dreamweaver - they might even do reduced rates for pensioners! (I guess if I enrolled for night school I would then be classified as a student so would get Dreamweaver at the reduced rate).

johnnyboyrebel

Yorkshire_Traveller wrote: »

I'm neither a teacher nor student so it would have to be full price.

I might check out my local colleges to see if they do any night school courses on Dreamweaver - they might even do reduced rates for pensioners! (I guess if I enrolled for night school I would then be classified as a student so would get Dreamweaver at the reduced rate).

Good idea. One thing to remember is once you overcome all the bumpf in the coding of a website and bypass the jargon, web design is actually quite simple and straight forward. Many designers would not say this as they want more business but ultimately anyone can design a website, it just takes a bit of practice. With yours, the info is already there so that's 50% sorted.

victor2

Don't get to focussed on Dreamweaver. It is an excellent package, especially if you want to seriously get into web development. But unless you are looking to make a career out of it, and if FrontPage was enough for you before, then look at a template based system (like the already mentioned Wordpress) that does a lot for you and takes things like DIV's, browser compatibility, PHP and even pure HTML pretty much out of the equation.