I downloaded both the free and the trial version of the HTML editor.

And I really can't figure out what's the difference..

Also In the normal HTML editor, does it support WYSIWYG editing ?

If yes I can't figure out how it works..

If no well.... I'm disappointed


As for the visual editor. How can't i edit an existing HTML page with it ? only supports it's file format what if i want to tweak an exiting page not create a new one.


I mean i was thinking of buying coffee cup but found the free open source Komposer offering all these stuff for free which i can't figure out how to work in coffee cup.

Anyway I it supports WYSIWYG and not only previewing i will reconsider buying it ?


Can anyone shed some light on the matter...

Thank you

In the normal html select
menu tools
click preferences
on the general tab you will see various options to display/hide visual editor and preview displays

And to your question about the Visual Site designer (VSD): You cannot import and edit existing web pages. (But you can in the HTML Editor, visual mode...)

One thing to note, in the retail version of HTML Editor, switching back and forth from code edit and visual edit is not supported. Think of them as two separate tools in your toolbox. Switching back and forth causes hinkey changes in your code and will skew things on your page. This is NOT a bug, just a known limitation.

You get what you pay for. Kompozer is a supposedly updated version of the old Netscape Composer, which came as part of the Netscape Navigator package (continued today as Seamonkey). It is a fine editor but limited. If you need WYSIWYG editing, then the CCHTML editor is not for you. The Visual Site Designer is more like what you need but, as you pointed out, it uses (as most do) proprietary file formats so you can only edit pages within that editor.

There are many freeware editors out there if this is the issue. Most have limitations in that they are supported by a few die-hard fans or a small community of people. Most end up fading away once the shine wears off. It takes an enormous amount of time to code and continually update something like that, and to do it for the love of it soon wears thin. This is why so many of these neat projects founder and die.

At the end of the day the CCHTML editor, while it does do WYSIWYG in html, is really for code-cutters who don't need the visual side of things. As pointed out, switching between the two types is not recommended as changes are made to the code (as all WYSIWYG editors must do to accommodate the sometimes inappropriate choices beginners make in positioning elements or other content).

As far as I know the trial versions are identical to the paid versions of CC software; the 'full' version has no nag screens.

Dave.

I think dwindo may (?) be referring to the difference between the trial version (of HTML Editor 2009) and the "Free HTML Editor v.9.2" (under the tab "Free Stuff" at the top of this page).

Anybody know what that difference is?

Dave, thank you for that post. Most informative and useful! I will remember it, and quote it, the next time similar questions come up - as they always do.
I did not know about the Composer/Kompozer and Navigator/Seamonkey evolutions - or 'guises'...

Nor did I thanks for the information.

I thought Kompozer was a fork of the now-defunct Nvu editor. Anyway, the only difference between the free and paid HTML Editor program is the Visual Editor (and some additional graphics in the paid version).

Visual Site Designer may be the way to go for you but if you want to be able to manually edit code and also work with a WYSIWYG editor, you'll need to look at other programs.

I've used Namo WebEditor 5 in the past (still do from time to time). Newer versions of that program have received some pretty bad reviews and their tech support is horrendous (non-existent, really).

Others to consider are Dreamweaver and MS Expression Web but you'll pay a few Benjamins for 'em.

Another to consider is the free WebPage from Trellian. Reviews seem to be pretty positive but I'm concerned it may be adware or spyware (according to SiteAdvisor).

NVU is defunct. I must live in a cave.