HTML editors share the same problems and most do not write very good HTML documents. Most of this is due to their rigid sets of rules, or complex graphical user interfaces. Many of them do not support Java, Javascript, Styles or any of the more advanced technologies, and those that do lean so heavily on the most advanced features that the result is broken for all but the latest browsers.

The best advice we can give you is to use one only if you must, and look for some good books on the subject of HTML or some of the better online help systems to learn how the language works. This site was made with Microsoft's Wordpad applet- a "plain text" editor, as is most of the coding we use. If you have to make changes to batches of pages you can rename them to .txt (using batch renaming software like NameWhiz) and use the macro functions in Word to make "batch" changes (Microsoft have now polluted Word so it turns into FrontPage when it encounters an html file, forcing this mysterious, confusing wysiwyg editor on you) or more sophisticated search and replace software like CodeSwitcher. The reload button and a few web browsers and emulators makes all the difference in tweaking good code out!

Even an old program like HTML Assistant is not bad to use for everyday writing, and can save a lot of extra typing for such things as common tags. Since Microsoft decided to monopolize the Internet, the network's "standards" body, the W3C have been unable to standardize languages and define tag behaviour, as they seem intent on sketching dreamy new objectives and accomodating their wealthiest benefactors, rather than building universal, compatable standards. A prime example of this is their crazy redefinition of the CSS (cascading style sheet) standard, which after being suddenly changed over 3 years ago, is still not working properly in any browser yet developed for any computer!

An excellent article on the subject:
The WYSYWIG Shootout at WebMonkey!

The winner:

Codeswitcher - A dream come true for many serious webmasters, allows whole families or selected groups of html files to be searched and replaced for and with anything, no matter how badly written or what needs to be updated or fixed! Will do what none of the straight jacketed programs below can, because it relies on the webmasters knowledge, not some strict ibtransigent doctrine or one size fits all routine. Ideal for repairing, upgrading and maintaining existing sites.

Here is a list of some of the most popular WYSWYG (What You See Is (usually not at all like) What You Get) types of site writer- page makers out there! These programs are intended to allow somebody with no knowledge of HTML to create and publish web pages. In most cases, they produce very bloated, badly deficient html code that does not work in more than a few recent browsers.

Macromedia Dreamweaver -Not Free, fairly good. The best overall program in this group! Includes Homesite(Win) or BBedit(Mac). Offers the widest variety of features and functions.

HoTMetaL Pro 5.0 -Rather clumsy interface, but excellent document testing (preview) features that guarantee broad compatibility.

au2HTML -Professional site-writing tool popular among image-centric sites (read: adult) effectively catalogs huge image archives into customizable thumbnail webpages. Produces excellent, clean HTML.

Drumbeat 2000 -Fairly competant, capable of producing a variety of different output standards, with varying results. Makes pages that only advanced browsers can understand that rely too heavily on dozens of external one-size fits all scripting and style documents, not good at HTML3.2, a compatablility and maintenance nightmare.

Adobe GoLive -A good effort, fairly versatile, far from free, but well worth a look at.

Adobe SiteMill - Pagemill -Older versions of the GoLive program, rather buggy.

Allaire Homesite - (Text Editor) Offers enhancements that automate batch operations. Any experienced user of a macro-capable text editor (Word) can accomplish similar batch-modification functionality.

BBedit - (Text Editor) Mac version similar to Homesite for modifying large groups of documents.

Netscape Composer -Freebie, doubles as a good File Transfer system for uploading them as well. Produces pages that may not display properly in other browsers. Lets you edit documents fairly easily, but rather limited for creating new ones.

Microsoft Internet Assistant (Plugin for Word) -Easily the worst mistake a Windows user can make! Permanently ruins Word's htm/html macro-text editing abilities. Worst HTML editor ever written. (now an integral part of Word, requires NameWhiz to work around)

Becoming reliant on most such tools above to do what is otherwise rather straightforward, can mean a lot of wasted time learning to use the crutch rather than becoming familiar with the actual language skills you need to master creative HTML site design.

Proprietary Systems:

Cold Fusion -Sophisticated, server dependent system that produces .cfm pages. These proprietary pages, and the server software that supports them allow large workgroups of contributors to maintain large educational or corporate websites using a standard tool. Handles advanced features that would otherwise require simple server side scripting (cgi) or server side include (SSI) to produce dynamic or interactive pages and interfaces to online databases. An excellent IS tool for the large organization.

Microsoft FrontPage -Lame File Transfer system for uploading. Very poor, produces pages that deliberately won't work properly on any other browsers or platforms. Requires that you have a website host that supports it's crippled upload system, maliciously engineered to promulgate proprietary, closed-source NT server software. Trashy free version, grossly overpriced "Upgrade 2000" version is only partially repaired. Relies on Microsoft's Front Page Extensions Robot to be installed on your web server (Unix flavor now available) to keep track of web pages and interpret robot codes it adds to the pages to handle some rudimentary interactive tasks, like emailing form results.

Active Server Pages -No tool has yet been produced to streamline the creation of .asp pages which are usually hand coded by the developer. This is Microsofts imitation of PERL-CGI and SSI functionality built into their proprietary Internet Information Servers. Any program or web software written to operate under the yoke of this oppressive environment remains and becomes the property of Microsoft.

Summary Note:

Any oddball web page system that relies on proprietary, closed source server software "helpers" to be seen by the world leaves one vulnerable to the whims of it's owners. One cannot guarantee that your hosts won't be forced to upgrade behind your back. (unless you host yourself) There is no guarantee that a website made to rely on version "x" of some helper will work on a newer server, or that the helpers won't be updated, necessitating a costly upgrade for you. Such websites are very limited as to portability, since they rely heavily on this proprietary support.

Plain HTML with (FreeBSD) PERL scripting or that relies on open source (Apache) Server Side Includes is the simplest and safest route to advanced interactive website programming with the highest level of portability. Alternative PHP technologies also show great promise of continuing this tradition. Open source software is the most economical and widely supported option, and it guarantees you can shop for web developers (software writers) to update your server programs on the open market, and that they will easily be able to take over where your original developers left off.