HTML Editors

Adobe Dreamweaver

Formerly: Macromedia Dreamweaver

One of the most powerful web design tools available aimed at professional web designers. You can display a graphical view of the page at the same time as the source code, changes to one are reflected in the other. Care is required when using the FTP feature that is not very user friendly. This polished web tool has a straight forward method for adding Java applet scripting, Flash animations and ActiveX controls. It opens a new window for each page you are editing so it can get a bit confusing. Really for expert webmasters.

Adobe: http://www.adobe.com/products/dreamweaver/

HotDog Professional

A fully featured web page builder which includes the Auto-Downloader that keeps track of the files that HotDog uses and connects to the Internet to check that you have the latest versions. Great for more experienced users, if you can put up with the green dog!

Sausage Software: http://www.sausage.com

Microsoft Expression Web

This is Microsoft's new Web Page creation software - part of the Expression suite. It has been designed to create fully standards compliant HTML code, ideal for professionals, but vastly over complicated for home user and beginners

Microsoft Expression Web: http://www.microsoft.com/Expression/products/overview.aspx?key=web

Microsoft FrontPage

FrontPage is no longer supported by Microsoft as it has been replaced with Expression Web, but FrontPage is still a good tool and much easier to use than Expression Web.

FrontPage has comprehensive wizards for site and page creation and includes ready made themes (co-ordinated backgrounds, bullets, banners and buttons). The interface is neat and the table editing tools are particularly good. You can publish your web pages to a server with the FrontPage extensions if you want to use some of the advanced/automated features like forms, or using the Web Publishing Wizard. Support for FrontPage extensions is being withdrawn as Microsoft are only offering support for a limited time and only for Microsoft servers.

Microsoft FrontPage: http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage

Microsoft Office

The components in Office (Word, Publisher, PowerPoint, etc) can also be used to create web pages or convert existing documents in to web pages. However there are some limitations to what is possible, and if you have a complex document it may not covert well to an HTML page.

Microsoft Office: http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/products/default.aspx

NetObjects Fusion

The latest version of Fusion has retained its most attractive features and now incorporates a built in method to edit source code. Many of it's features seem to be inspired by FrontPage. It has customisable tool bars and can automatically connect to the Internet to check for program upgrades. It is easy to create large multi-page web sites.

NetObjects: http://www.netobjects.com

NoteTab Light

A free HTML editor with a simple interface. Search files and format text quickly. Formerly called "Super NoteTab". 100% free with no advertising.

NoteTab Light: http://www.notetab.com/ntl.php

PSPad

PSPad is a freeware editor for Microsoft Windows operating systems. It allows editing in various programming environments including HTML JavaScript and PHP and includes an FTP client. You edit in plain text, but it has automated features including automatically creating a closing tag in HTML when you open a tag. It has simple controls but advanced capabilities and is ready to use as soon as it is installed.

PSPad: http://www.pspad.com

Serif WebPlus

This package has lots of features for a very competitive price. However as it works on a DTP layout type interface it is inclined to add extra code you might not need if you edited the pages in a more conventional manner.

Serif: http://www.serif.com