alternate web design software

[Goose]

Awhile back DavidF referenced Serif's Webplus as alternatitve WYSIWYG
website design software to Publisher. I have tried Webplus X2 and
wanted to offer the following quick points with respect to
Pulisher . . .

- Webplus (nor any of the companion Serif design products) do not
import/open Publisher files. This is written in their website
Knowledge Base, though you do have to search a bit for it. I
attempted to open an existing Publisher created site, but the results
were useless. As far as I can tell It's a do-over to create the new
Webplus file.
- It is an easy learning curve for the program however as many, many
Publisher commands and menus are the same/similar in WebPlus. Webplus
does not have the Pantone color wheel available in Publisher however,
which I've come to rely on for a lot of color selection.
- Newest Webplus version is X4, just released this past week, which
replaces X2 (Serif skipped X3 titling) - but you can currently get X2
for $40, less a $20 mfrg rebate from Amazon.com (US Amazon.com at
least - expires 10/31 and make sure you buy from Amazon.com for the
rebate, not a 3rd party). The package includes design templates and 1-
yr. free webhosting with Jumpline (shared server). Even if you don't
use the software you save $60-$100 in webhosting costs (I truly don't
understand the business world!). I suspect X2 will handle web designs/
features needed by Publisher users.

Didn't mean to turn this into a Webplus forum, but since I heard about
it here I thought I would follow up.

Goose

 

[Eric James]

Or get the free version from here: http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/

 

[Rob Giordano [MS MVP]]

correct Pub created websites are nearly impossible to edit or import with
other software.

 

[GeoffreyChaucer]

There is a facility in both IE7 and IE8 to edit websites created with Pub
2000 using the FrontPage editor in the local browser. I have opened files
with it but I have never attempted to edit.

Don't know if it works for later versions of Pub.

 

[MAURH]

You can copy and paste your design into other software though. Sometime ago
I downloaded the Serif freebie that Eric mentions here. It's WebPlus SE and
not that good, but once you have it, Serif will then offer you later
products at discount prices. I purchased the next version, WebPlus 10 at the
discount price and Serif have just offered me WebPlus X2, again at a
discounted price.

I created a website with WebPlus 10 by doing a copy and paste of most of the
text and designs etc., from my Publisher website and with a little tweaking
it looked ok. It is another learning curve and there are elements of it that
are similar to Publisher and fairly easy to use. It also offers some options
that Publisher does not, but there are some features that I don't like and
find frustrating to use. However for someone just starting out, it's a good
tool and very reasonably priced and it does give people another choice of
programme without too much expense.

Maureen

 

[Rob Giordano [MS MVP]]

yep

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP Expression Web

 

[Rob Giordano [MS MVP]]

yep you can with any html editor...but try to edit it !....much faster to
just redo it

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rob Giordano
Microsoft MVP Expression Web