Recommendations for do-it-yourself site update software?

[freeplessinseattle]

My site sorely needs some updates and I'd like to do it myself if possible. Budget constraints, control freak tendencies, trust issues and a need to update frequentely, especially during campaign season. Being able to update on my own sounds so appealing, but I'm not naturally tech savvy and need a relatively simple program, with instructions even my dial-up, sleep-deprived brain can understand. The last thing I want to do is screw up my site completely.

On top of that is the FTP transfer thing, how difficult is that? I have some vague idea that you need to use that to upload files to a site, and also my site needs to be transferred to a new host, a process I am afraid to do myself for fear of doing something dumb and my site ends up on tube to nowhere.

Despite all this nervousness I would love to be able to take care of my own site, what a wonderful feeling that would be. It would be like learning to drive, or cook, neither skill which I do very well, but enough to get by.

Any advice much appreciated!

[RC]

1. Learn HTML, even if you use a WYSIWYG program.

The right book from Barns & Nobel is all you need.
The intertubes are full of HTML information, also.

I use SmartFTP Client: http://www.smartftp.com/download/
It is easy, Click and drag.

I'm self taught and I haven't killed the site yet. :evilgrin:, which is good because it is not my site. I maintain it for someone else.

How complicated is your site? I'm assuming no Flash, etc?

Changing 'sounds' is as easy as uploading the file and changing some code. The same for graphics.

You can use Netscape, FireFox, or 'cough' IE to look at the code. Netscape 7 will let you play with the code on your computer and see the effect, without worrying about mucking up the site. FireFox has several plug-ins for maintaining web sites.

[freeplessinseattle]

2. So is learning HTML easier or just cheaper?

I already have HTML for Dummies, and while a great supplement and insomnia aid, I'm pressed for time and patience. So what I am really looking for is suggestions for a decent toolkit. May as well just grab something in mid price range. I did try googling for reviews and am not sure what is a reliable source, so if someone could at leats point me in that direction that would be fantastic!

Thanks for the response tho, and the advice!

[RoyGBiv]

3. Well, here's the thing ...

You can buy the most full-featured HTML/CSS editor out there, but if you don't at least know the basics, you're going to be limited in what you can do ... and by limited I mean being able to make things show up in the part of the page you want. Even with a WYSIWYG editor, you're going to have dialog screens asking you to define things that will mean nothing to you if you don't have the fundamentals.

You don't need to know how to build a site from scratch, but understanding some of the basic tags and how it is all constructed will save you a lot of headaches.

That said, Dreamweaver is probably the best. It's also rather expensive if I recall correctly, and it is so full-featured that it can be confusing.

[freeplessinseattle]

5. so the HTML book is a supplement

as I figured, but a software program will help me save time, is that the gist?

[RC]

4. I have the book HTML4.

Which while not cheap, will have most any information you need. Barnes & Nobel has some good books, or start with your local library.

I didn't find any of the Dummies books on web making much good.

Learning HTML is fairly easy and dirt cheap. Think of it as a language.

On FireFox click on View > Page Source Find simple clean web page first and look at the code.

IE is View Sourcefor the same thing.

Try this site for looking at the code. http://www.blueandgrey.com/

[freeplessinseattle]

6. Thanks guys

I'll still buy some random program to supplement and maximize my time ( I really should stay away from the DU if I want to get anything done, damn that McCain) and just contact someone in this tech teeming town if I have any more questions.

[Jersey Devil]

7. If you use Firefox try the extension FireFTP

It is about the easiest I've ever seen for ftp transfer of files to your website. A few clicks and you are uploading.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. NVU

Free and full of features.

[RoyGBiv]

9. Yes, or Kompozer ...

Kompozer is a fork of NVU, which is no longer in development, that fixed a ton of bugs.