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MichaelB43 · Oct 21, 2003, 07:48 AM

I am a .Mac member, and downloaded the Contribute 2.0 trial. While I really think the sample web design templates are slick, editing them is a huge pain. Maybe I don't know what I am doing, but when I tried to change the templates a bit, all hell broke loose. Things started moving places I didn't want, I couldn't move the table grid lines by simply grabbing them with the mouse and moving them, etc.

I may not be an expert, but I am definitely not a complete novice, and I found Contribute 2.0 very hard to use. If I left the template alone, it probably would have been easy. However, I wanted to make a few minor modifications.

Also, Contribute 2.0 hung and crashed a number of times on my rather new 17" iMac. No other program has crashed on the system.

Does anyone have any advice for something that will cost about the same, but work better?

Thanks,
Mike

lenox · Oct 21, 2003, 03:34 PM

I've always been a big fan of PageSpinner.

http://www.optima-system.com/pagespinner/

It's cool, because it can be as helpful as you want, without being obtrusive. Sometimes I just fire it up and it is basically a text editor with syntax highlighting. Sometimes I forget something about some tag, and it's got a window or dialog to help me through it. It's something between $20-$30, and well worth it.

Also, there's HyperEdit:

http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~deutschj/HyperEdit/

It's main feature is the realtime previewing of files...it's addictive. I am pretty sure this one is free.

Mithras · Oct 21, 2003, 03:52 PM

Two options:

1. Mozilla
Can't get cheaper than free, and the Composer component, while very basic, is WYSIWYG, works pretty well, and has quick access to the source.

2. Freeway
Some rave by it. I've never tried it, so I dunno. But certainly give the free demo a shot.

Weezer · Oct 21, 2003, 07:20 PM

I really like subethaedit, search for it on version tracker.

ambush · Oct 21, 2003, 07:50 PM

I don't like freeway. I looks an acts like an old Mac OS 9 app, and it does not really attract me.

I prefer to work with SubEthaEdit and Photoshop.

WJMoore · Oct 21, 2003, 09:43 PM

Originally posted by Weezer:
I really like subethaedit, search for it on version tracker.

I second that recommendation. It also has a live WebCore based web preview. SubEthaEdit

MichaelB43 · Oct 22, 2003, 08:52 AM

Originally posted by WJMoore:
I second that recommendation. It also has a live WebCore based web preview. SubEthaEdit

I checked out SubEthaEdit, and it doesn't look like a pure WYSIWYG web editor. It looks more suited to those who know HTML code, which I don't. Is this the case, or am I missing something.

Thanks,
Mike

scottiB · Oct 22, 2003, 10:10 AM

Try Freeway Express:

http://www.softpress.com/en/freeway/express

Bennylen · Oct 22, 2003, 10:28 AM

I kinda like
Taco.

VEGAN · Oct 22, 2003, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by MichaelB43:
I am a .Mac member, and downloaded the Contribute 2.0 trial. While I really think the sample web design templates are slick, editing them is a huge pain. Maybe I don't know what I am doing, but when I tried to change the templates a bit, all hell broke loose. Things started moving places I didn't want, I couldn't move the table grid lines by simply grabbing them with the mouse and moving them, etc.

I may not be an expert, but I am definitely not a complete novice, and I found Contribute 2.0 very hard to use. If I left the template alone, it probably would have been easy. However, I wanted to make a few minor modifications.

Also, Contribute 2.0 hung and crashed a number of times on my rather new 17" iMac. No other program has crashed on the system.

Does anyone have any advice for something that will cost about the same, but work better?

Thanks,
Mike

I use SubEthaEdit for all the hardcore PHP stuff :-P but if I need to do something quick then I use Mozilla