WYSIWYG editors

[salsacrazy]

What WYSIWYG editor do you recommend?

I know some basic html, but don't want to spend much time in it. As much as I'm ashamed to say it, I'd rather be in a 'word-like' environment as possible. :-)

In the past I've used dreamweaver MX and frontpage XP. I didn't like either, because I always seemed to end up with formatting bugs. I'd spend ages fixing little things that the editor didn't understand in the HTML.

Are dreamweaver MX 2004 or frontpage 2004 better in terms of their WYSIWYG capability?

My needs aren't too advanced; I simply need to be able to edit pages like this: <snip> (actually this URL is not mine, and I am not trying to promote the site; I just included it as an example of the type of HTML I need to work on).

Any insight would be really welcome..

[edited by: salsacrazy at 1:03 am (utc) on April 19, 2004]

[edited by: Woz at 3:07 am (utc) on April 19, 2004]
[edit reason] No URLs please - see TOS#13 [/edit]

[vkaryl]

Um. Ditch the url, before it gets edited by a mod (see the TOS)....

I like TopStylePro. It's easy, not horribly expensive, and gives you WYSIWYG if you WANT it, but doesn't if you don't.... AND it doesn't do "code bloat" as a regular input attitude....

Oh - Welcome to Webmaster World!

[salsacrazy]

Thanks for the suggestion and the welcome! :-)

I downloaded and tried out the editor you suggested; however it seems to only DISPLAY in WYSIWYG; it doesn't allow you to edit in that mode.

Am I being unrealistic in wanting the ability to edit cleanly and easily in and MS word style editor? I've checked out 10 editors so far and haven't found anything that does what I'm looking for.. :-(

[vkaryl]

I honestly couldn't address that - I don't use Word. Period. I use WordPerfect.... and other assorted "non-MS" programs.... [*sigh* I AM NOT a MS detractor. I just don't LIKE Word....]

I think you're probably looking for a short learning-curve, hoping to find an html/css editor which "looks/acts" like Word, right? I don't know that I can help you there, since I don't have any idea what Word "looks/acts" like....

[Edit after re-read....] Hmm. Well, generally, you're better advised to edit "bare" and look at it later. Honest. Moving stuff around on-screen will dump you on you butt when it comes to html etc. However, if you REALLY can't spare the time etc. to deal with that particular scenario, AND you have money to burn, take a look at any of the "publisher" packages: MSPublisher, Ventura, et al....

[Strange]

A WYSIWYG editor is never going to write the HTML the way you think it should be written.

As far as the type of functionality you are looking for, the only program that is going to come close to a Word like environment is FrontPage.

[pageoneresults]

A WYSIWYG editor is never going to write the HTML the way you think it should be written.

Certain ones will if you set up your preferences correctly.

Alison, Welcome to WebmasterWorld! You should remove the linkless URI reference above. If you don't, a Mod or Admin will. Thanks in advance for your understanding. Please refer to the TOS for further information about posting guidelines at WebmasterWorld.

[IONWeb]

I have to agree with pageone on this.
I use DreamweaverMX 2004 and it works just fine for me. Like anything, you have to make the effort to set it up properly - it will do what you want it to do.

DWMX also gives you the option to work in code view which I prefer - but having the interface does have it's merits. In addition, the validation feature is nice for those of us that like to validate pages. I have very little experience with FP but I assume the same scenarios apply.