Best Free HTML Editor
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Introduction
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Many professional designers and web developers use Adobe software, such as DreamWeaver, but quite a few just use a simple text editor and take a certain pride in doing so. Text editors are fine for programmers or those who really want to learn how to code raw html, but most users have no interest in this. They just want an editor that allows them to produce web pages quickly in a WYSIWYG environment. Ideally, such an editor should also be able to validate that the html is standards-compliant, include a FTP client, preview the page in different browsers, support meta-tags and provide basic image editing, while still being free. |
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Discussion
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But what software is for those who rely on WYSIWYG?
The problem with this kind of software is that it needs continuous updating, because of the arrival of new browsers and browser versions, new versions of XHTML or CSS, Ajax, etc. Unfortunately, little is happening with KompoZer - the last release was in July 2006, while Nvu, the product on which KompoZer is based, is now discontinued.
There are three additional free HTML editors worth mentioning.
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3.4.1 
Unrestricted Freeware 
Windows, Mac, Linux
Portable version available
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Editor Request
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This software category is in need of an editor. If you are interested in taking it over, please email Elizabeth, our editorial co-ordinator with a little bit about your background and in particular, whether you have any commercial affiliation with products in this category. If you are currently logged in, you can contact Elizabeth directly by clicking here, if not then click here. |
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Other people have mentioned it also but what about Visual Web Developer Express Edition?
http://www.microsoft.com/express/vwd/
I'm looking for an WYSIWYG HTML editor that's simple, reliable and easy to use.
Anyone tried this one?
DFM2HTML
http://www.dfm2html.com/
Any idea which of these "free" editors might support vertical editing? I only saw one that listed it as a feature (not free however) but many of these editors don't have a feature listing.
Notepad++ is very similar to PSPad in that it is a general text/multi-language editor. It is open source and seems to have pretty regular updates. There are also some plugins for it and lots of customization options.
I use it for HTML and other Web and general programming, and when just typing up little notes here and there. It does text highlighting based on the language you're using and can do autocomplete if you have that turned on. It also allows for folding (hiding of intermediate sections) of any and ALL levels of indented text to a point that more "professional" programming editors like Visual C++ Express 2005 do not allow. That is to say that every single level of indenting groupings can be folded closed or compressed and then re-expanded, versus just higher-level sections, which is extremely helpful when dealing with very long files with lots of loops and trying to get an overview. Additionally, if you are running into errors because of a missing bracket or similar, you can easily find the problem by folding all your sections together and seeing where a section compresses in the wrong spot--and it can save you a lot of time.
You can download it at http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net.
I use Trellian with Vista and found it to be really good, apart from the ftp publishing. So i imported CoreFTP into Trellian to publish, and it works fine. I have used NVU and Kompozer but they have caused problems and they are outdated now. Trellian is continually updated.
This site is excellent. Thank you
R.Pimm
what about visual web developer express? it doesnt support all protocols, but it damn good for html css javascript and asp.net
Do you know if Trellian is working well in Vista?
I tried it but then I want to write something in Editor it just freezes for a few seconds, writes a few letters, freezes again and so on.
I'd like to recommend another one, which I am surprised is not mentioned here! This tool is very well known by programmers and is Visual Web Developer Express Edition (http://www.microsoft.com/express/vwd/). While this tool does way more than just html (and xml and css and javascript, etc.) editing, it also contains absolutely all of the features mentioned here plus many more plus within a powerful environment.
I was using PSPAD and Nvu before, PSPAD for html editing and Nvu only for automatic html generation (Nvu is unusable for other purposes as full of bugs and with that crazy habit of modifying your code whenever you update it from the wysiwyg area). I switched very happily plus started coding in ASP.NET as well when Microsoft made that great tool free.
Visual Web Developer Express is awesome, but I doubt the average Joe is capable of using it. Online installation is a bit tricky, in several occasions I couldn't tell if the window was frozen. It is not designed to be easy for novice and it does require knowledge of HTML and CSS to use. Interface could be more intuitive. Power tool for advanced users.
Please consider adding http://www.ewisoft.com/ (New version 4.3.4.22 released June 2008) It's totally free and looks really easy to use.
-Herb
Could you point us to exactly where the free version is? Cause I can't find a "totally free" version on the site.
Nvu created tables when i used v1 in late 2004(iirc)
pspad is nice, but seems a bit heavy. the ui is bulky too. i like crimson editor, but it of course has "flaws". there are so many "syntax color" editors... so find one you like... also use topstyle (or tslite) to help w/ css.
should mention that oe's compose window (in "rich text" mode with the view source turned on) can work as a crude html editor. (somewhat messy results tho)
macromedia dw sites tend to be messes, but perhaps only cuz dw inspires messy html writing?
Some of them wich I test or love :
AceHTML
http://software.visicommedia.com/en/products/acehtmlfreeware/
HotHTML Pro 2001
http://www.wsoftware.biz/products/hothtml2001/
HTML Kit
http://www.chami.com/HTML-Kit/
MoreMotion Web Express, from Mor Yazilim
http://www.moryazilim.com/webexpress/index.html
PSPad
http://www.pspad.com/
thanks for this post - downloading HTMLKit while I write this comment.
-Des
http://www.qvvo.com/link/f974a7cc/10370
If you want something a bit more heavyweight check out the Community Edition of Aptana Studio:
http://www.aptana.com/studio
Hi Cristian,
An editor I like to use is KaSaB Web Editor available free from http://www.kasabsoftware.com.au
This is not a WYSIWYG editor but it does have a preview function. You can edit HTML, PHP, SQL, CSS, & JS.
Thanks for your efforts.
Kind regards,
John Mc Grath
Re WYSIWUG editors Trellian Webpage is a very good option. Kompozer is very buggy. Nvu is fine but getting a little outdated.
Trellian is still actively developed and has a number of add ons you can choose to purchase.
It has additional capabilities to Nvu, like the ability to include iframes for example
- but most importantly it guarantees absolute posititioning of html elements - perhaps the most important feature of a WYSIWYG editor. Another feature I like is the html validator which indicates any problems with your code. Lastly it is rock solid in operation. www.trellian.com
Kompozer is pretty buggy in my experience. Nvu is better and has a spell checker.
But for a really good WYSIWYG html editor try Trellian WebPage. http://www.trellian.com/webpage/
It states it gives absolute positioning of HTML elements - which is critical if you want a WYSIWYG editor - and from what I see it does. I'm still to get ftp working - but the app feels rock solid. Becareful not to install the non free SOE and browser toolbar on installing - unless you really want them.
Hi everybody,
First I want to thank you all for your contribution, Arachnophilia 5.3 and Netobjects Fusion Essentials will be considered in the next revision of this page.
As to PSPad I want to point out that this site does not provide detailed reviews but summary recommendations covering the most important product features and differences.
I cannot check KompoZer right now as the web site is down, I´ll try it later.
Cristian Eslava
Projects:
Justtellmewhy.com
You seem to have forgotten Arachnophilia 5.3 at
http://www.arachnoid.com/arachnophilia
This is a free program written in Java so it works on any computer. It is versatile and can be used by new users and experienced code writers. This program has been and will be free forever. This program actually introduced me to freeware way back in the old days. Give it a try.
I've tried to post on this before, but I guess it didn't come through on the list. One of the best free programs to put up a website fast is the free version of Netobjects Fusion Essentials. Get it from HERE.
It has a lot of templates, and is as easy as naming folders in a tree which creates all the linked pages with (named) rollover buttons for you.
Features include: drag and drop design, full website management, website asset management, built-in FTP, form builders, photo galleries, e-commerce tool and more.
It's easy to layout stuff, too, just like a desktop publishing program: drag out a textbox, put some text in it and place it where you want.
And no, I don't work for them. Just impressed with the software.
- Joseph Francis
PSPAd info could be enhanced.. for even more extra points ;)
KompoZer was more recently updated -- Aug. 30th, 2007.
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