For HTML there are four ways to do coding:

  • a simple text editor
  • an enhanced text/HTML editor
  • a WYSIWYG HTML editor
  • a word processor

A plain text editor is always the best choice. These may include Notepad or Simple Text. It saves the coded page in pure ASCII text so you don’t get any of the Word Processor glitches like funny quotation marks and never alters your code. Saving your files with the .html extension will allow you to view the code in your browser.

Enhanced text/HTML editors like NoteTab Lite, Crimson and 1st Page 2000 provide a plain text editor the also adds the convenience of inserting standard HTML code with menu options. All the editors above allow you to send your file to your browser for preview.

WYSIWYG HTML processors, like Front Page or Dreamweaver, provide you with the ability to quickly format your HTML. But they teach you nothing. Often they produce code that is bloated, and most times you will still need to clean the code up so that it works correctly on eBay and even Websites, for that matter. Use Front Page with caution – it alters your code if you switch from the code mode to the preview mode.

Word processors. I really really hate them. And do not know why anyone would use one for creating HTML with several other free options available. Word processors will double the file size of a HTML file by adding unnecessary code – and most times it is even that is wrong! The first 2 lines are what Microsoft Word produced, the second 2 lines are correct. I do not think I need to say anymore.

<B><SPAN LANG="EN"><P>The text should be bold.</P>

<FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=5><FONT FACE="Arial" SIZE=5><P>This text is in plain arial.</P></font></font></span></B>

<p><b>The text should be bold.</b></p>

<p style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">This text is in plain arial.</p>

The biggest difference in these are control and convenience. It really is a matter of personal preference and choice. The best program is the one that works best for you.

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