Working with Your HTML Editor
Once you choose a web page editor, take it for a spin. Software companies have spent the last decade copying features from their competitors and as a result, common tasks in Expression Web, Dreamweaver, and many free web page editors are startlingly similar. No matter which program you use, the following sections will teach you the basics: how to create a sample HTML document and get it online, all without leaving the comfort of your editor. Once you’re at home with your editor, you can move on to the rest of the book and learn more about how HTML works.
Note
Although future chapters won’t lead you step by step through any of these editors, look for boxes and tips that point out occasional shortcuts, tricks, and techniques for your favorite one. The only exception is the keenly important page template feature that both Dreamweaver and Expression Web provide—you’ll explore that in Chapter 10.
Starting Out
Your first step is to launch your web editor by double-clicking the appropriate desktop icon or making a quick trip to the Start menu (on a Windows computer) or Finder→Applications (for Mac OS).
Some editors, such as Amaya, start you off with a tip of the day. If so, close this window to get to the main program.
Once your editor starts up, you’re ready to open a file and start editing. Usually, that means using the File→Open command, just as in any other self-respecting program. To try out your editor, open one of the HTML file samples you worked on in