Visualizing HTML and CSS makes web design intuitive.
If staring down lines of code sounds daunting to you, you can use a visual HTML and CSS editor for your next web design project. Visual editors provide an intuitive interface in which you can design, code and edit a website. This type of software allows you to edit your code while viewing the result immediately, showing how those lines of text will be interpreted by a browser.
SeaMonkey
Developed by a community of programmers and engineers using the Mozilla platform, Mac-based SeaMonkey is a visual editor that connects web design with web browsing. This bridging of web creation and web consumption gives designers an intuitive process for creating and testing websites. SeaMonkey functions as a browser, similar to Mozilla's FireFox, but includes an HTML editor and JavaScript DeBugger for creating and editing websites. It allows you to manipulate tables, styles and layers both visually and in your code. Since SeaMonkey is free to download, it is an economical option for a visual editor.
KompoZer
KompoZer is another Mac-only program available for free download. The visual editor features a simple HTML editor as well as a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) editor that allows for code-free web design. The tabbed interface allows you to switch quickly between projects and editor views, giving you control over how and what you design. While KompoZer doesn't have JavaScript and CSS features that high-end visual editors possess, it is a free and easy way to create HTML-based websites.
Coda
Panic's Coda is priced at $99, making it a more expensive option than SeaMonkey or KompoZer, but Coda offers plenty of features at that price. Its code view is enhanced with automatic suggestions for common HTML and CSS code, and it offers "Snippets," where frequently used code can be inserted with one click. Coda also offers automatic tabbing for easy-to-read code. The Preview tab allows you to view your site on a variety of popular browsers, and the visual CSS editor makes it easy to match your CSS styles to your HTML elements. Coda works well for web designers who like to deal directly with code (i.e. without a WYSIWYG editor), but still want to work with a visual interface.
Dreamweaver
For Windows and Mac users alike, Dreamweaver is a powerful visual editor. Its $399 price tag is augmented by powerful features and thorough integration with other Adobe Creative Suite software. With its feature-rich HTML and WYSIWYG editors, Dreamweaver provides easy CSS editing, intuitive Flash integration, non-intrusive code hinting and content management system support. Code validation and diagnostics are built into the software, making it an attractive choice for developers and designers alike. Dreamweaver is ideal for those who need extensive features or work mainly with Adobe Creative Suite software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash.
Tags: visual editor, HTML editor, Adobe Creative, Adobe Creative Suite, alike Dreamweaver, Creative Suite, Creative Suite software