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Website design software

This is perhaps stretching the definition of DIY rather a bit, but can anyone recommend an offline (ie not including hosting) drag-and-drop type website designer program? Thanks.

Reply to
Bert Coules
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I don't think there is one, but I would happily hear otherwise.

I know this isn't what you were asking but if you want original design and layout then you really need to write it in html/css or have someone do it. If you are going to be happy with templates maybe just altered and adapted a bit then you could use wordpress or GetSimple or some other CMS.

You can do whatever you want offline with a program like wampserver which sets up an apache server environment on your local machine for web development.

Tim w

Reply to
Tim W

Tim, thanks for the reply.

I have actually written two websites from scratch:

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which I'm fairly pleased with, and

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which I'm not.

I'd like to revamp the second into something more stylish and less bland, but the problem is that I've now forgotten most of the techniques I once knew: hence my wondering about an easier approach. The Wix online editor is exactly the sort of thing I have in mind, but unfortunately it comes with built-in hosting facilities which I don't need.

I'll continue searching...

Reply to
Bert Coules

I've got 1999 on the phone, asking for their questions back...

Seriously, depending on what you actually want, you're best off just looking at one of the online hosted blog/CMS tools. Wordpress is probably the best known, but there are many many others. They're usually free for basic sites, with ad-removal and domain names as fairly low-cost extras.

Reply to
Adrian

All the ones I've seen so far ask for a monthly subscription if you want to get away from the most basic form of design, which invariably includes an ad for their service. While I'd be happy to pay a one-off fee to be able to download the files designed online to my own PC and subsequently upload them to my own existing domains, I don't really want to make a regular payment for a hosting service that I don't actually need.

Reply to
Bert Coules

I've had a hosted Wordpress blog live for about three and a half years now. If it wasn't for the domain name and ad removal options, it'd have been 100% zero cost.

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Reply to
Adrian

BlueGriffon (freeware) might do what you want.

Reply to
Martin Brown

Thanks to Martin and Adrian for the suggestions; I'll look into both.

Reply to
Bert Coules

I've used a few web design programs over the years - but not found anything as easy to use (or as cost-effective) as WYSIWYG Web Builder.

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Free demo available to download, lots of templates (if that's the sort of thing you want) and great support. Less than 50 USD or equivalent.

I migrated all of my client websites to this environment about 4 versions ago - and it was the best month I ever spent!

(and, no, sadly I don't get a percentage on sales!)

a different Adrian!

Reply to
Adrian Brentnall

Dear Different Adrian,

Many thanks for the link and the warm recommendation: WYSIWYG Web Builder is now on my list to look into.

Reply to
Bert Coules

If you have web hosting that can run PHP and have a MySQL database (pretty much any paid web host I imagine nowadays) then you can install Wordpress and use that (all free, and the install is normally very easy)

Though it really started off as a blogging platform, it can be used for more static sites as well. I wouldn't bother nowadays to roll my own I don't think

There are lots of themes around which can download and play with to your hearts content. Though they can often look very samey and 'Wordpressy' with a bit of effort you can make it look less so.

If you want to have a play and see how it works set up one here:

Reply to
Chris French

I seem to recall NetObjects Fusion being recommended as a fairly good point and click site builder:

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Reply to
John Rumm

Thanks, John. Now on the list.

Reply to
Bert Coules

Thanks, Chris. Now on the list (which is growing longer by the minute).

Reply to
Bert Coules

I have used KompoZer with my students and it works fine, nothing fancy and it is Open Source. Blue Griffon is also OK, but I did not like the layout of the toolbars so much, just a personal thing!

John

Reply to
johno

Thanks, John. The list grows! And thanks, Adrian, for the warning: I'll keep it in mind.

Reply to
Bert Coules

Chris,

I seem to have run into an early hurdle with Wordpress. The download and unzipping went fine, but when I try to run wp-admin/install.php, my computer (running Windows 7) doesn't want to play and says it doesn't recognise the file type. Since I can display php files in Firefox with no problems at all, this rather threw me - as did the fact that neither Firefox nor any other browsers appear in the "select a program" list.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

Reply to
Bert Coules

Sorry - a correction. Internet Explorer *does* appear in the list, but Firefox definitely does not. I never use IE and would prefer not to in this instance if there's any alternative.

Reply to
Bert Coules

I had a look, as I have also written websites from scratch (e.g.

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I like the look of both your sites, and my advice is to continue as you have done.

If you use some program like DreamWeaver, you'll end up with things popping up all over the place as you move the cursor, getting in the way, and fancy moving graphics. This seems to be the style of most commercial websites today, AND I HATE THEM! The designers may think they look great, and they probably charged their commissioners oodles of money, but the effect on this potential customer is offputting. The sites usually contain megabytes of code to suit the peculiarities of all possible browsers, and contain lots of code to track which pages you've watched (for marketing research), and large graphics, all of which can take ages to download, even though there may not be many actual words on the page.

One thing I didn't like about your first site is that there is no return-link on the sub-pages listed under each topic, so I had to use my browser's back button.

Most importantly, I don't understand what you want to achieve with your sites. Why would anyone visit them? You should start off with a mission statement, rather than just "I hope you enjoy the site". If you are looking for work, say so. If you have insider information to impart, give teasers to encourage your audience to go to the relevant page.

Reply to
Dave W

In message , Bert Coules writes

Fair enough, must say nowadays I just fire up another instance of WP on my web host if I want to try something out.

The you will need to install a local webserver with PHP and MySQL, easiest way to do this is to install one of the ready rolled packages that will do it all for you (just makes it easier than downloading installing and configuring it all yourself)

Last time I did this I used XAMPP

EasyPHP is another one.

once installed it's just like accessing a server over the web, the only difference is you can just copy files over, you don't need to FTP.

Make sure you follow the instructions on installing WP though:

Reply to
Chris French

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