Software
Help for your Website
Website Authoring Software:
You will hear many different
ideas about the best web-authoring software and problems associated with the
different available softwares.
First, realize that you DON't need to learn HTML, or XHTML,
or any other software codes to be successful at this. Don't waste your
time with it. You will find it useful to learn four or five simple HTML
commands - but other than that - your software will take care of all of that
for you. Just as you don't need to know the commands that make Word work,
you don't need to know the commands to make your web site software work.
Personally, I use FrontPage. It
is part of the MicroSoft package that comes with MicroSoft Office and you
may already have it. No need to buy or download other software. As it is
compatible with MicroSoft Internet Explorer - the web browser that 95% of
the world uses - you won't have problems with what people see when you post
up your website. Also, FrontPage works a lot like Word, and like MicroSoft
Publisher if you are already familiar with them.
Other people have strong opinions
about the software they use. That's okay. I don't find it important to get
too stressed about the software, as the content of your website is far more
important. I CAN see that FrontPage has a few problems, but I am more
concerned that my websites look consistent from page to page and that the
content is useful. And, I suspect, all the other softwares have minor
problems too.
FTP Software for your Website
This software is for uploading
your website to the Internet. I use EFTP - downloadable FREE, just do a
search for it. There are many, relatively simple FTP programs free on the
Internet. Get the simplest one you can find. Remember: KISS =
Keep your Software Simple.
Menu and Navigation Software for
your Website
This is a BIG issue and important
to get a handle on early in the process. If you had seen my earlier websites
you would note my homemade navigation systems. It was the source of
many many hours of hard work - and help from friends. AND, the biggest
problem was I wanted to change the menu - I had change it on each of
the 90++ pages of each website. What a headache!
Notice the this
page - across the top. It is VERY worth buying a
simple menu system such as this one. You have only to make your changes and
upload them and the menu will automatically change on EVERY page of your
website. Thus no long days of changing every page.
I use Xara Menu Maker, it is
inexpensive and easy to use. It offers about 28 PAGES of different looks
and styles - so you can easily find something to suit your website.
I like to keep it simple as you can see above - but they have lots of fancy
options too. Take a
look at their webpage to see how it works:
That's all the software you need
to get started! Don't struggle with the software issues - just get
started.
