Write & Develop HTML Offline with First Page

Jan. 2nd, 2008 By Mark O'Neill

Whenever I have had to write HTML for a webpage I’m working on, I have always used this online real-time HTML editor. But therein lies the problem - it’s online and if your internet connection blinks out for a while, you are obviously unable to use it. So I wanted an offline standalone application that could help me to write my HTML if I didn’t have an internet connection. I wanted it to be free and easy to use, as well as having a WYSIWYG interface (What You See Is What You Get) You couldn’t begin to imagine how difficult that made it finding something to fit all those conditions.

I finally found “First Page 2006” which is developed by a company called Evrsoft. It does a good job, especially the two paned windows so as soon as you input HTML at the top, you can see a few seconds later underneath what it looks like.

firstpage.png

You can also specify particular features you would like and First Page automatically generates the HTML for you and inserts it into the document at the right place. So if you want a particular colour in the background or a particular font style, just input everything into the program and the HTML will be automatically generated for you. This is particularly handy if you are not a big HTML whiz and you are not sure which tag to use.

But the real killer here is the ability to generate instant scripts and have them automatically inserted in, including javascript and pop-up windows. But that’s not all - you can also make tables, anchors, meta tags, scroll bars, photo galleries and java applets - all at the click of a button. You can then use the program’s FTP function to upload everything to your domain.

Do you have another preferred program which is similar to First Page?

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7 Comments Add Comment
2008-01-03 06:33:34

This is an EXCELLENT find!
Am Digging, Stumbling and passing it on right away to everyone I know
who can “habla HTML” …(and suggesting everyone else do the same! ; )
~Linda~

2008-01-03 06:50:03
gLf

Hi!
HomeSite 5, from Macromedia

2008-01-03 07:46:20

If I need an “offline” HTML editor and am not using the brilliant Notepad++ for quick editing, I use Kompozer. Kompozer is based of the gecko engine and is a great open-source HTML, CSS, etc… editor.

Finally, a top-notch WYSIWYG web page program for the rest of us! Now there’s no need to pay a little fortune for a program to create and edit great-looking web pages, including powerful and easy to use CSS capabilities.

KompoZer is a complete Web Authoring System that combines web file management and easy-to-use WYSIWYG web page editing capabilities found in Microsoft FrontPage, Adobe DreamWeaver and other high end programs.

KompoZer is designed to be extremely easy to use, making it ideal for non-technical computer users who want to create an attractive, professional-looking web site without needing to know HTML or web coding.

2008-01-03 08:36:14

Well yes, but I suppose it does cost if you don’t have lunarpages.com as your host site.

I have coffeecup software that is great and gets updated. I use the visual editor, plus I get the whole software bundle (photo gallery maker, video, jukebox, lockbox,….the list goes on and on) for free just by signing up with them…and the updates are still available to me.

They also have an HTML editor that is pretty cool.

Everything is done off line then you can preview how the site works, then upload with there ftp

I saw first page when googling around on the internet, is it like a simpler version of the now outdated frontpage?

2008-01-03 13:07:10

I like both Kompozer and First Page, both offer everything I am looking for.

2008-01-08 11:46:08

NVU: http://www.nvu.com/ (now Kompozer, though I still use Nvu)

2008-02-18 01:57:01
MagooGirl

I know i’m way late, but just discovered this site today. I use HTML-Kit and couldn’t live without it. It allows for so much functionality due to it’s extensible nature.

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