When to Use a WYSIWYG

By Erin Monaghan

We use websites to network, become entrepreneurs and keep in touch with friends and family. It's not unusual to have a web address associated with our name. With that it is becoming easier than ever to create our own websites.

Websites use plain text code or commands which control every aspect of a website, from images to audio. This is called a markup language; the most popular markup language is HTML. For example, the HTML code for this bold function is: <b> bold function </b>. This underlying markup code then translates to the computer how the text should appear. There is an HTML command for every function seen and heard on a webpage. Simple programs like Notepad can even be used as an HTML editor.

The two most popular ways to create a website are; one, code using an HTML (hypertext markup language) text editor or two, get a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get, pronounced wiz-e-wig) editor. Both have pros and cons.

WYSIWYG Editors

There are different types of WYSIWYG website editors. The most popular are Macromedia Dreamweaver, Microsoft FrontPage and Adobe GoLive. Ideally the designer can see exactly how their page will look as they design it.

Microsoft Word is a type of WYSIWYG program in that the user does not have to know a markup language to use the functions and in print layout view the page looks as it would in its final format. Microsoft Word cannot create websites, but WYSIWYG website editors operate with the same principle. These editors are intended to make website design easier and more accessible to the inexperienced or speed up the design process for experienced web designers.

It could cost thousands of dollars to hire a web designer to create a site from scratch. With websites gaining in popularity and necessity, there is a higher demand for easier ways to build websites and place them on the Internet. This has resulted in a market for WYSIWYG editors.

Beginners tend to prefer these types of editors because they are easy to use and don't require extensive HTML knowledge. Pictures and fonts can be easily placed into the program and shortly after a website is born. WYSIWYG editors are also good for incorporating functions that would require complicated codes, like animation.

The most popular WYSIWYG editors cost about $200 to $400. There are many different editors with a wide range of prices, including free.

HTML

Creating websites from scratch using HTML code is a long, tedious process, but there is a good deal of debate centered on the use of WYSIWYG editors. Since HTML can be a complicated language, it's not uncommon for WYSIWYG programs to write incorrect code or codes specific to one type of Internet browser. They are also known for adding or changing existing codes. There are many rules and formats required for the computer to understand the command.

Website language is constantly changing. There are many different types of markup languages like, Java, CSS and ASP that are becoming industry standards. Many “code by hand” diehards find WYSIWYGs out-of-date too quickly to be effective. For this reason, WYSIWYG manufactures are constantly releasing new versions and updates.

WYSIWYG and HTML Editors Combined

Many major manufactures of WYSIWYG editors are incorporating drag and drop features as well as an HTML text editor within their programs. This means once an image is placed into the WYSIWYG editor the HTML code for that image is automatically written; the designer can then refine the HTML code to their specifications.

Advanced designers use WYSIWYG editors to do the initial work in building a website then go back and improve the HTML code where needed. This allows designers to quickly create projects that could take up to two weeks coding by hand. Thus, driving down the cost of elaborate websites and making them more accessible to small businesses or individuals.

Both HTML and WYSIWYG editors have their pros and cons, and the debate will go on. Mostly, to designers these are just tools to achieving the final goal—an effective and aesthetic website quickly. They often suggest becoming familiar with both types of programs. This allows the user to be flexible and more versatile in their web design.

References

About, Inc., A part of. (2006). Hand Coding HTML vs. WYSIWYG Editors - Continued. from http://webdesign.about.com/library/weekly/aa022100a.htm

(2005). Beginner Tip: The Pro's and Con's of WYSIWYG Editors . from http://www.netmechanic.com/news/vol3/beginner_no17.htm

©2003 – 2008 TopTenREVIEWS, Inc.