The Web Authoring is the category of software that enables the user to develop a Web site in a desktop publishing format. The software will generate the required HTML coding for the layout of the Web pages based on what the user designs. Typically, the user can toggle back and forth between the graphical design and the HTML code and make changes to the Web page in either the design of the accompanying.
Function
- From a user's perspective, web authoring software works much like word processing or graphical design software; users simply type text, drag and position images and insert additional features where they want them to appear on the finished web product. As the user designs the page, though, specialized code quietly translates the text properties, image location and other critical components of the page into web-friendly HTML. When the user finishes designing the page, he simply saves it much like he would any other document, and the software stores the page as a Web-ready .html or .htm file.
- The primary feature of Web authoring software, of course, is its ability to quickly and easily create HTML files without the need for HTML programming knowledge. In addition, some web authoring packages use built-in file transfer protocol (FTP) capabilities to publish the designed pages to a web server and allow the user to edit publish files while making real-time changes. Web authoring software also allows users to create cascading style sheets (CSS) and web design templates, create and add specialized scripts (including Javascript applications) and even automatically afix file properties like create date, author information, and copyright data.
Tools and technologies
Web designers use a variety of different tools depending on what part of the production process they are involved in. These tools are updated over time by newer standards and software but the principles behind them remain the same. Web graphic designers use vector and raster graphics packages for creating web formatted imagery or design prototypes. Technologies used for creating websites include standardised mark-up, which could be hand-coded or generated by WYSIWYG editing software.
There is also proprietary software based on plug-ins that bypasses the client’s browsers versions. These are often WYSIWYG but with the option of using the software’s scripting language. Search engine optimisation tools may be used to check search engine ranking and suggest improvements.
Other tools web designers might use include mark up validators and other testing tools for usability and accessibility to ensure their web sites meet web accessibility guidelines.
Web designers use a variety of different tools depending on what part of the production process they are involved in. These tools are updated over time by newer standards and software but the principles behind them remain the same. Web graphic designers use vector and raster graphics packages for creating web formatted imagery or design prototypes. Technologies used for creating websites include standardised mark-up, which could be hand-coded or generated by WYSIWYG editing software.
There is also proprietary software based on plug-ins that bypasses the client’s browsers versions. These are often WYSIWYG but with the option of using the software’s scripting language. Search engine optimisation tools may be used to check search engine ranking and suggest improvements.
Other tools web designers might use include mark up validators and other testing tools for usability and accessibility to ensure their web sites meet web accessibility guidelines.
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