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Windows Web Editing Suites

By Jennifer Kyrnin, About.com

Sometimes all you want is one program or group of integrated programs to do your Web design and development work. These Web suites combine the basic necessities of Web design - HTML and graphics editing. If you buy or download one of these packages you'll have all you need to maintain a Web site including the graphics.

1. Dreamweaver

Dreamweaver CS3Image courtesy Adobe
Dreamweaver is one of the most popular professional Web development software packages available. It offers power and flexibility to create pages that meet your needs. I use it for everything from JSP, XHTML, PHP, and XML development. It is a good choice for professional Web designers and developers, but if you're working as a solitary freelancer, you might want to look at one of the CS suites like Web or Design to get graphics editing capability as well.

2. Adobe Creative Suite

Adobe released Creative Suite 3 in a bunch of different combinations. While you can still buy each product separately, buying a bundle might save you money. But how do you decide between the different versions which one is best for you? I believe that any of these four editions would work for most Web designers: Web Standard, Design Premium, Web Premium, or the Master Collection. But you should buy the edition that works best for your needs.

3. Microsoft Expression Web

Microsoft Expression WebImage courtesy PriceGrabber
Expression Web is Microsoft's newest Web editing software. It offers everything professional Web designers have come to expect from a world-class Web editing tool, including HTML validation, WYSIWYG and text editor support, support for CSS and non-HTML pages like ASP, and lots of pre-built templates to start with. The biggest benefit to Expression Web over other top-quality Web editors is the price. But with Microsoft products you get locked into Microsoft - there isn't a lot of native support for PHP or JSP and it doesn't have the photo gallery maker like FrontPage used to.

4. Microsoft Expression Studio

Expression Studio combines Expression Web with Expression Design, Blend, and Media to give you a full graphic and Web design suite. If you are a freelance Web designer who needs to be able to edit graphics in something more powerful than Microsoft Paint, then you might want to look at Expression Studio. It offers all the features you expect from a world-class Web editing suite. The only drawback (and it may not be a drawback) is that with Microsoft tools you are strongly encouraged to use only Microsoft technologies. For example, there is a lot of ASP support, but very little or no PHP and JSP support.

5. Homesite

Homesite 5Image courtesy Adobe
Homesite is still my HTML editor of choice. I use it primarily because it is so customizable that I have created a tool that is indispensable to how I do my daily work. Homesite includes an HTML validator, extended search and replace, a site manager and FTP, XHTML, CSS and JavaScript support, and a whole lot more. When it comes to text-only HTML editors, Homesite still can't be beat.

6. Adobe GoLive

Adobe GoLive CS2Image courtesy Adobe
Adobe GoLive is a powerful Web page editor with all the features you come to expect of a high-quality editor. In version 9, I couldn't easily find the hooks to Illustrator and Photoshop that were there in previous versions, but if you're familiar with these programs you'll recognize the interface. GoLive is a high quality Web page editor, and if you've used previous versions, you'll still be happy with this one.

7. Hot Dog Pro

HotDog is one of the first WYSIWYG editors that I actually liked. And version 7 still lives up to the quality standards. A feature that stands out is the Flash wizard that makes it really easy to import SWF files into your Web pages.

8. Namo Web Editor Suite

Namo might not be a name you've heard of, but it's a Web suite that deserves looking at. Its graphics and Web editing tools are great and easy to use, and best of all the price is more affordable. Namo Web Editor Suite comes with a graphics program. If you need to edit Flash as well, consider the Namo Web Editor Pro.

9. CoffeeCup HTML Editor

I've always liked the CoffeeCup software. They do a great job of providing what the customers want for a low price. Plus, with free upgrades and support for life, the cost of their products becomes next to nothing. The CoffeeCup HTML editor is a great tool for Web developers. It comes with lots of graphics, templates, and extra features - like the CoffeeCup image mapper. And I've found that if you request a feature, they will add it or create a new tool to take care of it. I love CoffeeCup!

10. Namo Web Editor Pro

Namo might not be a name you've heard of, but it's a Web suite that deserves looking at. Its graphics and Web editing tools are great and easy to use, and best of all the price is more affordable. Namo Web Editor Pro comes with a Flash editing program as well as a graphics program.

What is your favorite HTML editor? Write a review!

Do you have a Web editor that you absolutely love or positively hate? Write a review of your HTML editor and let others know which editor you think is the best.
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