Which package is the best for web design? I have Frontpage, but have only used it to run up auction pages for ebay etc.. Any pointers would be appreciated.

Package? Or program? FrontPage is the best WYSIWYG editor out there right now for the price. Although the default code produced in FrontPage2003 vs Macromedia's Dreamweaver MX 2004 is not as great. FP falls behind in this category. Is it worth sending the extra money and purchasing Dreamweaver? I don't think so. I used FrontPage for the longest time, and I am acustomed with its various features. Dreamweaver on the other hand I believe lacks specific elements that FP delivers that I use. If dreamweaver had a "good" form like FP I would prolly switch to it. Until then, I will stay with FP. The biggest other reason I stick with FP is lets say you have a web site with over 100 pages. And you would like to change the file name associated with the picture, you only have to update ONE field- that is rename the file. You do not have to go ahead and edit every page that had the picture, since FP does this for you. Not sure if DWMX2004 does this or not, but it is something I love in FP.

If I was you, I would pick up a copy of FP, play around with it for a bit until you learn some HTML. Then move onto better programs that you think would be easier for you- unless you think FP is good enough.

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Mr. Bob's Web Design - Tirelessly looking for ways to enhance the customer base of your business.

Thanks for that, I'll stick with frontpage.

If I can pick your brains again, whats the easiest way to set up a retail website with the typical 'shopping basket' interface? Do I have to reinvent the wheel and design the thing from scratch, or is the HTML available 'off the shelf', preferably for low/no cost? Thanks.

For FrontPage? I would suggest SalesCart Pro. It works only on a Windows server(which really sucks for me). This shopping cart has to be the best I have EVER seen. Once they create one for the Unix enviroment, their company will skyrocket in sales. It does not only work on FP, but ALSO on DW.

If you are looking for the method where you would spend the least amout of money, I would suggest you signup for a PayPal account. PayPal accounts are free, of course, but you have to pay a specific amount per transaction. The payments are less when the amount you are receving is les.. www.2checkout.com is also another place that I hear is good, and same goes with www.paysystems.com.

If you used PayPal, you could just add some Buy Now buttons, or a PayPal Shopping Cart to your site. If you wanted to use the other methods you would have to encorporate a shopping cart into your existing web site.

Some people have had MAJOR problems with PayPal. I have never experienced any of these problems. Most of them occur when lets say I purchase something from you using a stolen credit card. Then you transfer the funds you received from me, into your bank account. Then the credit card company issues a chargeback. Yet you have already transfered the funds into your account. What they do is charge your PayPal account the amount that I sent you while using the stolen credit card (if you do not have the amount, your account becomes negative and is frozen.) To unfreeze the account you simply need to fax in some information about yourself, and deposite the funds that would bring your account balance to either $0 or positive.

This is just what I have heard. I have heard nothing bad about the other mentioned places above, but I am sure there are a few unhappy customers their too. An interesting site to look at regarding PayPal's Unhappy users is www.paypalsucks.com. I have read it, spent about a week on the site, but I still trust PayPal and I use it for all of my transactions.

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Mr. Bob's Web Design - Tirelessly looking for ways to enhance the customer base of your business.

Thanks, I'll try salescartpro. As for Paypal, I still have a negative balance after a backcharge 3 months after a sale to a fraudulant buyer in Indonesia. I now realise you DONT accept visa payments from Indonesia. Ho hum.

Cheers.

Hmmm, I'm not a FP fan, but thats only because I like total control over my HTML and I also don't think FP is the best place to learn HTML. But hey, thats just me, really its whatever is best you.

If you want a non WSIWYG editor, I would recommend you having a look at (all free):
TextPad (www.textpad.com) - My replacement for notepad

Crimson Editor (www.crimsoneditor.com/) - I currently use this for PHP and HTML

HTML-Kit (www.chami.com/html-kit/) - Has tons of plugins.

I've also heard good things about:
TopStyle - (www.bradsoft.com/topstyle) from the same guy that created HomeSite.

Happy coding

FWIW,

I prefer Homesite.

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I am using UltraEdit right now to code HTML. I use FrontPage when I am lazy or when I am working on a low cost site.

You can really get a full site in FrontPage in minutes (using a few of their very easy features). It is something I would strongly reccomend for beginning web design. It is what I used to learn HTML, and what I still use today.

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Mr. Bob's Web Design - Tirelessly looking for ways to enhance the customer base of your business.