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#1 2004-12-05 9:21 am
Web Dev Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
• What web editing software do you use?
• Why don't my PNGs look right in IE/Win?
• What are those icons in the left side of the address bar? How do I get them on my website?
• What software is there to administrate MySQL databases?
• How do I send an HTML email?
• I want to track usage of my site. What are some of the packages that let me do that?
• What are some good FTP clients?
• What is a good hosting service?
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Last edited by Miles (2007-09-10 11:13 pm)
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#2 2006-03-31 2:01 am
Re: Web Dev Frequently Asked Questions
What web editing software do you use?
When it comes to actually designing a web page, many people choose to use a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) design program. These programs allow you to work with a document much like you would a word processor or page layout program, writing the required HTML code for you. This does not mean that these applications are easier to use or designed with beginners in mind because some applications (like Dreamweaver) are geared towards professionals. Achieving high-quality results often requires a good knowledge of the underlying technology.
• Macromedia Dreamweaver($399)
• Adobe GoLive ($399)
• Freeway (Express: $89; Pro: $249)
• Mozilla Composer (Free)
• Nvu (Free)
• WYSIWYG Pro ($47 - $1300)
• Amaya (Free)
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An emerging class of application focuses less on the design aspect and more on web publishing; these applications come with themes, and are designed to make it easier for novices to create their own websites.
• RapidWeaver ($34.95)
• Sandvox (Beta)
• iWeb ($79 for iLife)
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If you have a good enough handle on HTML and CSS, you can create a website with just a text editor. These applications offer features that make the task easier, such as real-time previews, auto-indentation, and syntax coloring, but if you wanted, you could use TextEdit, which comes with Mac OS X. Many of these applications can also be used to write related web development code in programming languages such as PHP, Perl, Python or Ruby.
• BBEdit ($180; lite version free)
• Cobweb (Free)
• HyperEdit ($20)
• jEdit (Free)
• mi (Free)
• PageSpinner ($30)
• skEdit ($25)
• Smultron (Free)
• SubEthaEdit ($35; older versions free)
• Taco HTML Edit (Free)
• Tag ($19.95)
• Tex Edit Plus ($15)
• TextMate ($49 / €39)
• TextWrangler (Free)
The following free, open-source editors require X11:
• Bluefish
• nedit
• Quanta
For those times when you just have to use Windows:
• EditPlus ($30)
• jEdit (Free)
• Notepad++ (Free)
• SciTE (Free)
• SourceEdit (Free)
• TextPad ($30)
• TopStyle ($80)
Related Topics: [1] [2] [3]
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#3 2006-03-31 2:02 am
Re: Web Dev Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't my PNGs look right in IE/Win?
IE for Windows doesn't correctly implement 24-bit PNGs (8 bits of transparency). Sleight is a JavaScript hack that allows IE/Win 5.5 and newer to properly support PNGs with alpha transparency. This modified version by Drew Mclellan works with background images. Other browsers will not be affected by this script.
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#4 2006-03-31 2:02 am
Re: Web Dev Frequently Asked Questions
What are those icons in the left side of the address bar? How do I get them on my website?
Those icons are called "favicons", and are 16x16 pixel graphics in Windows .ico format. This website has instructions for creating and uploading them. A photoshop plugin for the creation of ico files is available here.
You can also deliver favicons in other image formats, such as PNG or GIF, which will work in most browsers (except IE), by placing the following code in the <head> of your pages:
Code:
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="/path/to/image.png">
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#5 2006-03-31 2:03 am
Re: Web Dev Frequently Asked Questions
What software is there to administrate MySQL databases?
• CocoaMySQL
• Complete MySQL
• Navicat
• PHPMyAdmin
• SQL4X
• YourSQL
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#6 2006-03-31 2:03 am
Re: Web Dev Frequently Asked Questions
How do I send an HTML email?
HTML emails can be generated by a mutlitude of different methods. If you have the coding skills you create your own script to send them. If you're looking for list management as well there are a few programs that can help you out with that.
Mac applications
• HTMLMailer ($12)
• Intellimerge ($80)
• MaxBulk Mailer ($39)
• Newsletter (Free)
Web applications
• Freshview: CampaignMonitor/MailBuild (A mailing costs $5 + 1¢/recipient)
Related Topics: [1] [2]
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#7 2006-03-31 2:03 am
Re: Web Dev Frequently Asked Questions
I want to track usage of my site. What are some of the packages that let me do that?
There are a few packages that let you do that. Some work by processing the server logs periodically, while some actively track visitors with additional server-side code. You may need to set up a cron job to run the program automatically, while others run entirely on-demand.
• Analog (Free)
• awstats(Free)
• BBClone (Free)
• Google Analytics (Free+)
• Mint ($30)
• Shortstat (Free)
• Summary ($59+)
• Webalizer (Free)
• WebDruid (Free)
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#8 2006-03-31 2:03 am
Re: Web Dev Frequently Asked Questions
What are some good FTP clients?
You should consider using a protocol that supports some form of encryption, such as FTP/SSL, SFTP (FTP/SSH), or SCP—all the applications listed below support at least one of those in addition to FTP.
• Cyberduck (Free)
• CuteFTP ($29)
• Fetch ($25)
• Interarchy ($39)
• Transmit ($25)
• RBrowser ($35)
• Fugu (Free; no basic FTP support)
• FTPeel ($19)
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#9 2006-03-31 2:04 am
Re: Web Dev Frequently Asked Questions
What's a good hosting service?
You gotta find a place to keep your stuff, and when it comes around to that point in time, you're going to need to find a company you trust with the best features for the best price. Users on this board, experts that they are, suggest the following for your review. Remember domain registration, too... most of these companies will register yours for a fee.
• asmallorange
• DayanaHost
• DreamHost (refer by reh)
• Hasweb
• HostDime
• Mayacen
• NearlyFreeSpeech
• Network Redux
• Powweb (refer by Basseq)
• RealWebHost
• Subjungo (powered by Scott)
• TJR Networks
• TextDrive
Related topics: [1] [2]
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#10 2006-03-31 2:07 am
Re: Web Dev Frequently Asked Questions
Other useful resources
Here are some tools, resources, or utilities we think might be useful in the wide world of web design.
• Web Freelancing Advice Courtesy of your fellow forum members
• Font survey results for Windows machines How sure can you be that the font you specify will be present on the end user's machine? Here's the answer.
• Color Scheme Generator Generator of color schemes and palettes to create good-looking and well balanced and harmonic web pages.
• Browsershots Wondering how your new site will look in a variety of browsers?
• Little Boxes A variety of examples for CSS boxes and positioning.
• EasyRGB Genrates color harmonies, tints, et cetera.
• Loreum Ipsum A dummy text generator to fill your designs with yet-unwritten content.
• Holy CSS A listing of everything not listed here.
• Web Design References A huge collection of links to resources, sorted by topic, such as Accessability, CSS, Dreamweaver, PHP, Usability, and XML
• CSSZenGarden A wonderful demonstration of the power of CSS-based design. Basseq made it into the list with his impressive Mediterranean design.
• A List Apart A bunch of great tutorials for the standards-based world.
• Stock.Xchng A free stock photography site. Who doesn't love stock photography?
• StyleGuide Proper English is the best way to sound intelligent. Here's a style guide from the Economist.
• DaFont More free fonts than you can shake a stick at.
• Veerle has been nice enough to put together a pretty nice hyperlinked PDF with CSS related links.
• Listamatic provides a nice resource for styling lists with CSS. Our very own Scott has a sample in there.
• evolt.com offers multiple versions of IE for Windows that will run alongside a standard install of IEWin. Very handy for testing.
• Centricle: CSS Hack Guide shows which hacks will be shown by which browsers in an easy to read chart.
• HTML Ref A reference guide to html & xhtml elements.
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