WYSIWYG tools....

how useful are they?

[rolfewinkler]

Been reading these forums for a few weeks now. Great stuff.

First question:
My boss is interested in buying a tool to help non-techies build and update our web pages. He keeps asking me about Dreamweaver, but I'm not sure if that will be useful. The backbone of our site is HTML, but the vast majority of the coding is in JavaScript....What do you think?

Second question:
While we're on the subject I'm curious: what can you really accomplish with a WYSIWYG tool like Dreamweaver or GoLive? How sophisticated are these programs?

Thanks.

[rfontaine]

Of all the wysiwyg editors I think Dreamweaver is the least worst.

[msr986]

> The backbone of our site is HTML, but the vast majority of the coding is in JavaScript

Under these conditions, I think that switching to a WYSIWYG editor is probably a step backwards, IMHO.

[pageoneresults]

The right tool for the right job!

WYSIWYG editors are great tools if used properly. Many will knock this editor or that editor not knowing the full capabilities of the programs.

You'll need to make sure that you get an editor that is fully configurable like Dreamweaver or Frontpage.

Have you looked into any CMS (Content Management Systems)? That may be an alternative to the WYSIWYG solution.

[DrDoc]

help non-techies build and update our web pages

It also depends on what you mean with "build and update". If it's merely a question about adding news and similar information, then you should consider a simple CMS or blog or whatever...

Another idea would be to use a universal template.

<h1>[TITLE GOES HERE]</h1>

<p>[TEXT GOES HERE]</p>

etc, and just give them instructions on how to use it. It depends on how "non-techie" they are.

[rolfewinkler]

>WYSIWYG editors are great tools if used properly. Many >will knock this editor or that editor not knowing the full >capabilities of the programs.

Exactly my problem. I don't know what they're capable of. That's really my question. I guess what I'd love to see is a good, sophisticated web site that was designed entirely in Dreamweaver or FrontPage. Know any?

[txbakers]

Go to Macromedia.com and you'll see some professional stuff with Dreamweaver.

If you must buy a tool, buy Dreamweaver. It's far and away the best.

To see if a site is made with Dreamweaver, just start Viewing the Source on every site you like. If you see a bunch of stuff with "MM_" in front of the javascript variables, it's a Dreamweaver site.

[tedster]

Also check out Macromedia Contribute. With it you can set editable zones for the non-techie contributors and keep them away from the javascript.